George Rabbets

Story:
George Rabbets was born in Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9 Dec 1876 and baptised there on 21 Jan 1877 the son of Abel Rabbets and Emma Jane Rabbets (nee Tuffin).  He lived his early life in Iwerne Minster.  By 1901 he was working as an Servant Oddman with a family at Sandon Hall, Sandon, Staffordshire.   He had enlisted with the Royal Navy on 20 Jul 1903 (Service No. 361325) but he was discharged on 10 Jul 1904 being unfit for further service. He married Ellen Carol Card at St. Mark's Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 28 Oct 1907  and they were living at Hinson, Christchurch, Hampshire, by the 1911 Census.  He had re-enlisted with the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 15345) and served 2nd Battalion in the Balkans from 25 May 1915.  He later transferred to the 11th Company of the Tank Corps (Service No. 69454).  On his discharge on 17 Mar 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  The 1921 Census shows him living at Somerley, Harbridge, Hampshire, working as a General Labourer for Lord Normanton. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 14 Nea Cottages, Ringwood, Hampshire, working as a Roadman.  At the time of his death on 3 May 1956 his address was given as Hamlet Farm, Chetnole, Dorset, and he was buried at the Parish Church, Chetnole, on 22 May 1956.   His brother, Alfred James Rabbets, also served in the conflict and both their names appeared on a Roll of Honour privately published in Iwerne Minster.