Arthur Edward Sidney Coaker

Story:
Arthur Edward Sidney Coaker was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5th December 1897 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 9th January 1898, the son of Charles Coaker and Mary Ann Coaker (née Weatherdon).  His early life was spent at home either at 11 Victoria Street or, from 1911, 8 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury.   He enlisted and joined the Royal Flying Corps (Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) on 29th March 1917 becoming an Aircraftsman 1 (AC1) (Service No 69036).  It is not known where he served during the war period but he was posted after the Armistice to Malta for a short time in 1919.  He had married a Lottie Longley in Canterbury, Kent, on 23rd April 1919 and gave 14 Palace Street, Canterbury, Kent, as his address.  There were possibly two children of the marriage.  Arthur was discharged from the RAF on 10th February 1920 and would have qualified for the Victory and British War medals though there are no obvious medal records in this case. The 1921 Census shows him working in a civilian capacity as a Motor Fitter & Turner for the 348th Company of the Royal Army Service Corps at Larkhill, Wiltshire, and living at 2 Carn Brea Cottages, Figheldean, Durrington, Wiltshire.   By the 1939 Register he had moved to Berkley, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Motor Transport Driver.  His death was recorded at the Weymouth, Dorset, Registry in 1959.