John Stephen Lodge

Story:
John Stephen Lodge was born at Hartgrove, East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st April 1877 and baptised at East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27 May, 1877 the son of Edward George Lodge and Amelia Jane Lodge (née Bown).  He married Emily Jane Curtis at Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20th May 1903 and by 1911 they were living at 85 Woodbridge Lane, Bedchester, Shaftesbury, Dorset.   John enlisted and joined the 6th Battalion of the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12702).  He served in France and Flanders from 13 Jul 1915 and later transferred to the 449th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 432008).  On his discharge on 4th March 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.  By the 1921 Census he was living in Turnpike Terrace, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a General Labourer in a brickyard and by the the 1939 Register had moved to Gear's Mill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Farmer.  His wife, Emily, died in 1947 and John re-married Margaret Emma Mary Joyce in the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry area in 1949.   John's death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry on 18th May 1958 and he was buried at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, on 21st May 1958.