Wiltshire Regiment Archives - Page 2 of 7 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Hugh Davey Labrum

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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The National Archives
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
Caversham, 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 though he qualified for at least the British War Medal. By the 1921 Census he was back living with his parents in Gutch Common, Semley, where he assisted his father on the farm. 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 Crescent, Reading, Berkshire, working as a Road Labourer. He died in Reading on 19th December 1964 and was buried in the Henley Road Cemetery, Caversham, Reading, on 23 Dec 1964.

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The National Archives

Jack Parsons

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Jack

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Wardour, Semley, Wiltshire
Duck Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
France & Flanders

Story:
Jack Parsons was born on 21st August 1896 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised on 20th September 1896, the son of Fred Parsons and Emma Maria Parsons (née Gray). He lived his early life in the Semley and Wardour, Wiltshire, area. He enlisted on 15th February 1916 as a Private with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 23671). He served with both the 3rd and 1st Battalions in France & Flanders from 25 Jun 1916. At a medical examination on 29th July 1917 he was found to have defective vision and was transferred to the 447th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 496005) on 9 Aug 1917. He was discharged on 26th April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Elizabeth Laura Parham at the Zion Hill Church, Tisbury, Wiltshire, during in Jan 1921 and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 125 Duck Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, and was working as a Roadman for the Wiltshire County Council. He had moved to 9 Doctor's Place, Tisbury, by the time of his death on 19th Oct 1959 which was registered at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry.

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Frederick John Marchant

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Marchant

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Wimborne, Dorset
Cranbourne, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Egypt
The Glebe, Semley

Story:
Frederick John Marchant was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 3rd November 1881 and baptised at St. Leonard's Church on 6th January 1882, the son of Henry Thomas Marchant and Elizabeth Marchant (née Burt). His early life was spent with his family at the The Glebe, Semley, Wiltshire. He married Edith King on 9th April 1913 in Holt, Wimborne, Dorset and they went on to have one child.

Frederick enlisted on 27th June 1916 as a Private with the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18657) and attached to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 28 Jun 1916. He reverted back to the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 27863) on 22 Aug 1916 and on 29 Jan 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders as a Lance Corporal. His moves continued with one to the 1st (Reserve Battalion) of the Worcestershire Regiment on 27 Jul 1917 (Service No. 48995) then to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 37618) on 17 Oct 1917 at which time he was posted to Egypt. He was assessed with poor eye sight and finally transferred, on 12th March 1918, to the 36th Battery Hospital of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Service No. 145481). He was discharged on 4th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at The Shop, Witchampton, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Draper and Grocer and by the 1939 Register at The Stores, Cranbourne, Dorset, now described as a Master Grocer as well as being an ARP Warden. He died in the Jan/Mar Quarter of 1961 in the Poole, Dorset, Registration District.

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The National Archives

Arthur Haime Bugden

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Horse Artillery, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bugden

Other names: Arthur Haime

Locations in this story:
Hook Lane, Semley, Wiltshire
Herriard, Basingstoke, Hampshire
Winchester, Hampshire
France & Flanders
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Arthur Haime Bugden was born in Semley, Wiltshire on 3rd Aug 1887 and baptised at St. Leonard's Church on 6th August 1887, the son of Francis Henry Haime Bugden and Eliza Bugden (née Fisher). He spent his early life at Hook Lane, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 19th February 1909 as a Territorial (Service No. 855) and was discharged on 18th February 1913. He re-enlisted on 27th May 1917 but was not mobilized until 14th March 1918 as a Private (later Gunner) with the 6th Reserve Brigade of the Royal Horse & Field Artillery (Service No. 253850). He served in France & Flanders from 29 May 1918. He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 1 Jan 1919 (Service No. 448585) and was eventually discharged on 21st June 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Manor Farm Cottage, Herriard< Basingstoke, Hampshire, employed in General Farm Work. He married Dorothy Alice Hurst in the Basingstoke District in 1923. There are no records of children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register Arthur had moved to Hinton, Winchester, Hampshire, and was working as a tractor driver. He died in 1963 in the Winchester area.

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The National Archives

Harold James Stone

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stone

Other names: Harold James

Locations in this story:
Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Tilshead, Devizes, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
France & Flanders
South Newton, Wiltshire
Egypt
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Harold James Stone was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1890 and baptised there on 13th August 1890, the son of James Stone and Ellen Stone (née Merryweather). He lived in Charlton until his family moved to Tilshead, Devizes, Wiltshire, just before 1911. He had previously enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Territorial on 22 Jul 1909 but had bought himself out of the service on 12 Oct 1910. He re-enlisted on 5th September 1914 and was posted to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 12181). Almost immediately on 18 Sep 1914 he was transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 7/14949) and served mainly in Salonika and France & Flanders, eventually becoming an Acting Lance Corporal. Whilst serving he had contracted malaria for which he was treated in Egypt. He was discharged on 20th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He married Sarah Elizabeth Cruse on 31 Jul 1920 in Tilshead, Wiltshire, and they had one child. The 1921 Census shows him boarding with his parents at Stotford Hill, South Newton, Wiltshire, working as a Ploughman. Regrettably he died during 1934 (registered at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry) and was buried at St. Andrews Church, South Newton, Wiltshire.

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The National Archives

Thomas James Lucas

13th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Leinster Regiment, Machine Gun Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lucas

Other names: Thomas James

Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Middle East
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Gallipoli, Turkey

Story:
Thomas James Lucas was born on 18th April 1898 in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 22nd May 1898 (along with his twin brother Alfred John Lucas) the son of Alfred Lucas and Julia Anne Cox Lucas (née Reed). He lived all his early life in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary. He enlisted on 5th September 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12873). Very quickly thereafter he was transferred to the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Leinster Regiment (Service No. 6/1260) and posted to the Middle East on 5 Aug 1915. He served at Gallipoli, Turkey, and was wounded. He also suffered from enteritis plus being wounded a second time following which he lost a finger on his left hand. His disability did not stop him being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 73994) and thereafter attached to the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) until his discharge on 9th March 1919. He had been awarded a gratuity as a result of the lost finger but no pension. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Beckingshill, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, working as a Painter and Decorator. He married Emma Margaret Alice Johnson in Bournemouth, Hampshire, during 1929 and they went on to have at least one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 94 Castlemain Avenue, Bournemouth, Hampshire, working as an Engineer's Labourer. He died in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District during 1982. His twin brother, Alfred John Lucas, also served in the conflict.

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The National Archives

Walter Hardiman

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Walter

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
France & Flanders
East Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Walter Hardiman was born on 16th February 1897 in Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 16th March 1897, the son of Charles Hardiman and Louisa Hardiman (née Burton). He spent most of his early life, apart from Military Service, in the Ebbesbourne Wake area. He enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 6th September 1914 (Service No. 12159) but was almost immediately on 18 Sep 1914 transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 15221). He served with the 7th and then the 1st Battalions in Salonika and Egypt from 10 Jul 1915 and France & Flanders from 11 Jun 1918. During his service he suffered various bouts of malaria but not sufficient to qualify for a pension. He was discharged on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. On discharge he went to live at East Winterslow, Nr. Salisbury, Wiltshire, with his brother working as a Dairyman as recorded in the 1921 Census. Records beyond this point have not been found.

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The National Archives

John Thomas Compton

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Compton

Other names: John Thomas

Locations in this story:
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Warminster, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
France & Flanders
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Wokingham, Berkshire
Chichester, Sussex

Story:
John Thomas Compton was born in Alvediston, Wiltshire, on 30th May 1895 and baptised at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 7th July 1895, the son of George Digby Compton and Jane Elizabeth Compton (née Isgar). He lived most of his life in and around Alvediston where his father was licensee of The Crown Inn. He enlisted on 1st October 1915 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 32075) and later transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (Service No. 2090). He served in both Salonika from Sep 1916 and France & Flanders from 11 Aug 1917. He was wounded on at least three occasions and spent much time in various hospitals. The last wound was a gunshot wound in the neck for which he was transferred to the Graylingwell Military Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, and later to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Wokingham, Berkshire, until 31st December 1918. On discharge from hospital he was transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers (Service No. 33428). He was demobilized shortly after on 26th February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Mary Elizabeth West at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 18 May 1921 and the 1921 Census shows they set up home in Elcombe Lane, Alvediston. John was then described as a Smallholder. Mary and he went on to have at least five children. By the 1939 Register he was living adjacent to Billingham House, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer and Rabbit Catcher. His death at the age of 90 years was registered in the Warminster, Wiltshire, district in 1986.

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Percy Leonard Hare

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Leinster Regiment, Machine Gun Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hare

Other names: Percy Leonard

Locations in this story:
Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
Gallipoli, Turkey
Salonika, Greece
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire

Story:
Percy Leonard Hare (aka Leonard Hare) was born at Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 5th September 1893 and baptised there on 31st December 1893, the son of John Hare and Elizabeth Hare (née Trowbridge). The family lived at Birdbush, Ludwell. Leonard enlisted on 5th September 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12788). He was swiftly transferred to the 6th (Reserve) Battalion of the Leinster Regiment (Service No. 6/1252). He served in Salonika and Gallipoli from 5 Aug 1915 where, 16 Nov 1916 he was wounded and hospitalized. After convalescence he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 48519) and joined the 67th Company. He was finally demobilized on 2nd April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. His marriage Rose King was registered in Tisbury, Wiltshire, during 1920 and they had one child. The 1921 Census shows him living at Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, employed as a Painter and Paper Hanger. The 1939 Register Leonard gives his address as Leigh Court, Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, now described as a Painter (Buildings) as well as acting as an ARP Warden. His death was registered in Mere, Wiltshire, on 1 May 1946 and he was later buried in the village cemetery at Donhead St. Andrew. His brother, Edgar Hare, also served in the conflict.

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The National Archives