George Lewis Henry Lathey

Story:
George Lewis Henry Lathey was born in Loders, Bridport, Dorset, on 8 Dec 1871 the son of William Lathey and Harriet Lathey (nee Burbidge).   He lived his early life in Loders, Bridport.  He enlisted with the 9th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on the 1 Oct 1889 as a Private (Service No. 2938).  He served in India and Egypt until he was transferred to the 85th Training Reserve (Service No. TR/8/8071).  He was discharged on 31 Mar 1902 being unfit for further service and awarded a pension for life after twelve and a half years in the army.   He married Ethel Mary Durrant at Halstock, Dorset, on 28 Dec 1908.  By 1911 he was living at 43 Smith's Hole, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as an Estate Labourer.  At the outbreak of WW1 he re-enlisted and rejoined the Dorsetshire Regiment and served in the UK only rising to the rank of Acting Sergeant (Service No. 12441).  He was again found unfit to continue in service and was discharged on 26 Oct 1917 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 253060.  There are no other medal records.  The 1921 Census shows him living still in Fontmell Magna working as an Agricultural Labourer. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 30 Hill View, Mudford, Yeovil, Somerset, working as a Labourer.  He died in Yeovil on 23 Nov 1955.