Story:
Maurice Henry Burden was born in 1895 on Sherborne Causeway, Motcombe, Dorset. (NB The GRO Index shows his name as Morris but the spelling 'Maurice' was used thereafter for all purposes.) He was the son of Bessie Kate Burden, single and a General Domestic Servant, working at Fernbrook Farm. Bessie married Frederick Stokes in 1897. The family lived at Hartgrove, East Orchard, Dorset. At the time of the 1911 Census Maurice was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Newtown, East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, as a Private and joined the 1st Battalion of Prince Albert's (Somerset) Light Infantry (Service No. 50781). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 21st Oct 1918 and was buried at Verchain British War Cemetery, Verchain-Maugre, Nord, France (grave id. A.22). He is remembered on the memorial window in St. Thomas's Church, East Orchard.  

Story:
Walter Frederick Gibbons was born in 1880 in Acton, Middlesex. He was the son of Arthur Gibbons, a house decorator, and Mary Ann Gibbons ( née Powley). By 1901 Walter's mother was living with her father in Chiswick whilst his father, Arthur, had been placed in the Heston, Middlesex, workhouse and was described as an 'imbecile'. He later died in 1906. Walter had by then found work as a Domestic Stable Helper at Sunningdale Park, Windsor. On the 23rd December, 1908, he married Sarah Ellen (known as Nellie) Arnold at Tooting Graveney, Wandsworth, London.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Walter was a Regular Soldier in the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 5371) based at The Barracks, The Depot, 13th Prince Albert's Light Infantry & Military Hospital, Mount Street, Taunton, at which time he held the rank of Sergeant. His wife was living in married quarters also in Taunton. Walter's mother was then living in West Ealing, Middlesex. In the First World War Walter served in France & Flanders and at the time of his death he was with the 1st Battalion of the Regiment. He died on 1st March 1915 and was buried at Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium, in Flanders (grave id. I C 2). He was awarded the Victory, British War and 14 Star medals and was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches on 22nd June 1915. He is remembered on the Motcombe War Memorial, Dorset. His wife is recorded in the 1939 Register as living at 'Clovelly' in Motcombe, (near the village shop.)