Wiltshire Regiment Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Albert Edward Butt

Surname: Butt

Other names: Albert Edward

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Wimbourne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset
St. James Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
Albert Edward Butt was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th October 1896 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 29th November 1896, the son of Henry Butt and Emma Jane Butt (née Lydford). He lived most of his early life at the family home at 82 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted and joined the 1st/4th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 201800). He served in France and Flanders and on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals. It is known he married an Ivy R. (maiden name unknown) but no records can be found other than on the 1939 Register. He is shown as married and living at 441A Wimbourne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, working as a Builders General Labourer. His death was recorded in Bournemouth in 1967. Albert's brothers, Henry (Harry) Charles Butt, Frederick Arthur Butt and Reggie Butt all served in the conflict but were all killed or died as a result.

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Frederick Arthur Butt
Reggie Butt
Henry Charles Butt

George Charles Hodson Kent

Surname: Kent

Other names: George Charles Hodson

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Taunton, Somerset
Frome, Somerset
France & Flanders
Calcutta, India
Co. Monaghan, Ireland
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Charles Hodson Kent was born at Cann Villa, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1895 and baptised at Cann on 21st November 1895, the son of Charles Hodson Kent, a Solicitor, and Ethel Mary Kent (née Manby). He lived his early life at Cann and later at Bleke House, Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, until, by 1911, he had become a boarding scholar at Kings College, Taunton, Somerset.

He enlisted with the 6th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment with the rank of Lieutenant, later promoted to Captain. He served in France and Flanders and following his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Margaret Olive Henry in Co. Monaghan, Ireland on 30th December 1924. He and his wife went to Calcutta, India, and his medals were directed there after the war. He returned to the UK and died on 17th March, 1952 at Frome, Somerset, and was buried there at St. Mary's Church.

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Frederick George Thomas Alford

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alford

Other names: Frederick George Thomas

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Germany
Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury

Story:
Frederick George Thomas Alford was born in Shaftesbury on 8th October 1897 and baptised at St. James' Church on 31st October 1897, the son of Samuel George Alford and Eliza Jane Alford (née Oborne). Apart from Military Service, he spent all his life in the Shaftesbury area. He enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 23666). He served with the 1st Battalion in France and Flanders but was captured and spent time as a Prisoner of War in Germany. Following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Violet Irene Bessie Stacey at Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1925. By the 1939 Register he was living at 'Inglenook', St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Fish Merchant (Retired). He died on 6th September 1982 per the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry and was buried on 10th September 1982. It is noted his father, Samuel George Alford, also served in the war, with the Royal Engineers.

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Samuel George Alford
The National Archives

Ernest King

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Northamptonshire Regiment, Royal Engineers, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: King

Other names: Ernest

Locations in this story:
Pigtrough Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Swindon, Wiltshire
Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Fovant, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Ernest King was born at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 6th December 1886, the son of Augustus King and Anne King (née Lewis). He spent his early life at the family home in Pig's Trough Lane, Donhead St. Andrew. (Modern usage of the address is Pigtrough Lane). He married Kate Gibbs in Swindon, Wiltshire, on 11th February 1911 and they went on to have five children. By 1911 they were living at Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire.

Ernest enlisted on 27th February 1915 as a Private with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 18895). He transferred on the 13th March 1915 to the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment (Service No. 202423) and he served with them in France and Flanders where he suffered from shell shock and was repatriated to the UK. He returned to France having transferred once again to the Royal Engineers (Service No. 359463) working with the Transport Section with the rank of Sapper. He moved back to the UK and was posted to the Fovant Light Railway Training School, Fovant, Wiltshire, as a Lance Corporal (Service No. WR/284715). He was eventually discharged on 27th May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. By the time of the 1939 Register he was back at Pig's Trough Lane, Donhead. St. Andrew, Wiltshire, working as a Journeyman Tailor. His death is recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry in 1965.

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George Brown

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brown

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Glyn Arms, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
South Stoneham, Hampshire
Eastleigh, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium

Story:
George Brown was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1877 and baptised there on 14th October 1877, the son of John Stanford Brown and Emily Harriet Brown. George's father was licensee of the Glyn Arms, Melbury Abbas. George spent all his early years in Melbury Abbas until he married Annie Louise Fanny Gear in Stoneham, Hampshire, in 1902. There was one daughter of the marriage. George set up home in Eastleigh, Hampshire, where he was employed at the railway works by the LSWR as a Coach Finisher. He enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 31609). He served in France & Flanders and was presumed killed on 31st July 1917. He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium. (Ref: Panel 53). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

James Phillips

14th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Phillips

Other names: James

Locations in this story:
The Barton, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Le Touret, Pas de Calais, France
Arundell Arms, Tisbury

Story:
James Phillips was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1886 and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, on 29th August 1886, the son of Edward Phillips and Edith Phillips (née White), a local family. James spent his early years in The Barton, Enmore Green, until, by 1901, the family had move to Tisbury, Wiltshire. In 1911 James was working as a Servant (Boots) in the Arundell Arms, Tisbury. He enlisted and joined the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 6403). He served in the very early weeks of the conflict in France and Flanders and was killed in action on 21st October 1914. He is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial, Le Touret, Pas de Calais, France, (Panel 33 & 34.) and also on the Tisbury War Memorial. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914 Star.

Three of James' brothers served in the First World War: Albert Charles (b.1877) with the Dorsetshire Regiment and South Wales Borderers; Frank (b.1885) with the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Field Artillery; Frederick William (b.1875) with the Dorsetshire Regiment.

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Albert Charles Phillips
Frank Phillips
Frederick William Phillips

Harold Francis Cosser

14th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Cosser

Other names: Harold Francis

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mesopotamia
Basra, Iraq
Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Story:
Harold Francis Cosser was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 30th November 1894 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24th January 1895, the son of George Cosser and Anna Louisa Cosser (née Hopkins), a local family. Harold spent his early years in Donhead St. Mary until, by 1911, he was boarding in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and working as an apprentice ironmonger. He enlisted with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 1191). He was later attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200122). He served in Mesopotamia and died in Turkish hands whilst a prisoner on 22nd May 1917 and is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq, (Panel 22 & 63). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Frederick James Staples

14th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Staples

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Hainaut, Belgium

Story:
Frederick James Staples was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, in 1897, the son of Bennett George Staples and Annie Kate Staples (née Horlock), a local family. Frederick lived all his life in and around Tollard Royal. He enlisted and joined the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 202416). He served in France & Flanders where he died on 12th April 1918. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium, (Ref: Panel 8.). He is also remembered in the church at Tollard Royal with an inscription 'died in France, youngest son of Bennett George'. He does not appear on the village War Memorial. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Hugh Davey Labrum

10th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Labrum

Other names: Hugh Davey

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Warminster, Wiltshire
Mesopotamia
Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq

Story:
Hugh Davey Labrum was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1895 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 8th May 1895, the son of Richard Newman Labrum and Frances Mary Labrum (née Davey). Hugh lived his very early childhood in Shaftesbury before the family moved to Warminster, Wiltshire. Hugh enlisted with the 1st/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 1550 and 200220). He served in Mesopotamia attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment where he was captured and eventually died as a Prisoner of War on the presumed date of 24th May 1917. He is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq and on the Warminster War Memorial, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Alfred John Toogood

17th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Army Service Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Toogood

Other names: Alfred John

Locations in this story:
Gutch Common, Semley, Wiltshire
Reading, Berkshire

Story:
Alfred John Toogood was born on 16th May 1884 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 13th July 1884, the son of George Levi Toogood and Mary Toogood (née Haines). He lived all his early life at Gutch Common, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 7th April 1916 and joined the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 21463) as a Private. On 30th March 1917 he transferred to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment, Agricultural Company, (Service No. 34284) and again on the 30th June 1917 to the 442nd Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 263189). He was transferred yet again to the Motor Transport Section of the Royal Army Service Corps on 1st December 1918 (Service No. M/410835). Throughout this period he served solely in the UK. He was discharged on 17th February 1919. There are no evident medal records. He married Harriet Sarah Kate Trowbridge in Semley in 1929 and they went on to have one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 16 Valentine Court, Reading, Berkshire, working as a Road Labourer. He died in Reading on 19th December 1964.

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