Cecil James Lodge

Story:
Cecil James Lodge was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th February 1888 and baptised there at St. Rumbold's Church on 13th May 1888, the son of James Lodge and Emily Elizabeth Lodge (née Brickell).  He lived his early life in Cann until, by 1911, he had moved with his family to Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset.   He enlisted and joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. 240) and served in France and Flanders.  He later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as a Sergeant (Service No. 13393).  On his discharge 12 Mar 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  He had married Barbara Emily Longman Hodgson at St. Alban the Martyr Church, Westcliff on Sea, Essex, on 4th September 1915 and they had three children.  By the 1921 Census he was living at 17 East Melbury, Shaftesbury, working as a Farm Carter. Regrettably Cecil's wife died in 1934.   He subsequently married Edith Mary Rumary at All Saints Church, Glenside, Hailsham, Sussex, in 1937 and they had one daughter.  By the 1939 Register he was living at Dumbreck, Hailsham, Sussex, working as a Cowman.  He died at Hailsham on 28th October 1962 and was buried at Waldron with Heathfield, Hailsham, Sussex, on 31 Oct 1962.   His brother, Gilbert Frank Lodge (b.1893) also served in the conflict.