Jack Wallis Gauntlett
Surname: Gauntlett
Other names: Jack Wallis
Locations in this story: South Grove Farm, Burbage, Pewsey, WiltshireStapleford, Pewsey, WiltshireMiddleton Farm, Norton Bavant, Bishopstrow, WiltshireShaftesbury, DorsetMilitary Hospital, Warminster, WiltshireAll Saints Churchyard, Norton Bavant, WiltshireShaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Story: Jack Wallis Gauntlett was born in 1898 in Stapleford, Pewsey, Wiltshire and was baptised on 11th April at Stapleford St. Mary. He was the son of George Farmer Gauntlett, a farmer, and Florence Mary Gauntlett. In 1901 the family were living at South Grove Farm, Burbage, Pewsey. By the time of the 1911 Census they had moved to Middleton Farm, Norton Bavant, Bishopstrow, Wiltshire. Jack attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1913 to April 1915 and was a member of the 1914 football team. On leaving school became a farmer.
He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps (Service No. 52597) becoming an Air Mechanic 2nd Class. In 1917 he went home on leave and directly after returning to camp developed measles, followed by acute broncho-pneumonia. He died at the Military Hospital, Warminster, Wiltshire on 11th May 1917. Sadly, when Jack was at home on leave he passed the measles infection on to his brother Robert, who also died, aged 2 years.
Jack was buried with full military honours in All Saints Churchyard, Norton Bavant, Wiltshire. He is remembered on the Norton Bavant War Memorial and on the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury School. Throughout the war a hand-written list was compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. An asterix can be seen next to Jack’s name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.
Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1917
He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps (Service No. 52597) becoming an Air Mechanic 2nd Class. In 1917 he went home on leave and directly after returning to camp developed measles, followed by acute broncho-pneumonia. He died at the Military Hospital, Warminster, Wiltshire on 11th May 1917. Sadly, when Jack was at home on leave he passed the measles infection on to his brother Robert, who also died, aged 2 years.
Jack was buried with full military honours in All Saints Churchyard, Norton Bavant, Wiltshire. He is remembered on the Norton Bavant War Memorial and on the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury School. Throughout the war a hand-written list was compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. An asterix can be seen next to Jack’s name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.
Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1917
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Links to related web content / sources: Commonwealth War Graves CommissionThe National ArchivesShastonian
