Stories Archive - Page 104 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Louise Beatrix Gordon

Surname: Gordon

Other names: Louise Beatrix

Locations in this story:
Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Wadhurst, Sussex
Wandsworth, London
Folkestone Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. Mary's Church, Donhead St. Mary
Wadhurst Auxiliary Hospital, Wadhurst, Sussex
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Louise Beatrix Gordon was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 26th December 1883 and baptised at St. Mary's Church, Donhead St. Mary, on 27th January 1884, the daughter of Rev. Alexander Gordon (Rector of St. Mary's Church) and Juliette Blanche Gabrielle Gordon (née Graham). She lived in various places depending on where he father held a living but they finally ended up prior to the War in Wadhurst, Sussex. Her mother died in 1913. Louise joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) on 15th August 1915 and served at Wadhurst Auxiliary Hospital, Sussex, until 7th July 1916 when she moved to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London, a major military facility. She was still serving there by 8th July 1919. The 1921 Census shows her now living at Burton Grange, Mere, Wiltshire, with her widowed father and sister and by the time of the 1939 Register had moved, with her sister, Agatha Marguerite Gordon (who also served with the V.A.D.), to 12 Folkstone Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire. She remained single all her life and died on 5th December 1940 in Salisbury at the age of 56 years.

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Agatha Marguerite Gordon
The National Archives

Agatha Marguerite Gordon

Surname: Gordon

Other names: Agatha Marguerite

Locations in this story:
Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Wadhurst, Sussex
Wandsworth, London
Folkestone Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. Mary's Church, Donhead St. Mary
Tappington Grange Military Hospital, Wadhurst, Sussex
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Agatha Marguerite Gordon was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and baptised at St. Mary's Church, Donhead St. Mary, on 17th August 1886, the daughter of Rev. Alexander Gordon (Rector of St. Mary's Church) and Juliette Blanche Gabrielle Gordon (née Graham). The family moved frequently as her father served in many parishes and by 1911 she was living at Wadhurst, Sussex. Her mother died in 1913. She joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) in October 1914. She trained and served at Tappington Grange Military Hospital, Wadhurst, Sussex until March 1915. She was re-engaged on 16th Aug 1916 and was still serving by 8th July 1919 at the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London, a major medical facility. The 1921 Census shows her living at Burton Grange, Mere, Wiltshire, with her widowed father and sister and by the time of the 1939 Register had moved with her sister, Louise Beatrix Gordon (who had also served as a V.A.D. at Wandsworth) to 12 Folkestone Road, Salisbury, Wilts. She was also a Volunteer ARP First Aider. She remained single all he life and died in Salisbury on 16th February 1941 at the early age of 54.

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Louise Beatrix Gordon

Selina Elizabeth Doggrell

20th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Doggrell

Other names: Selina Elizabeth

Locations in this story:
Henstridge, Somerset
Semley Wiltshire
Tisbury War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Wallmead Farm, Wardour, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire

Story:
Selina Elizabeth Doggrell was born at Henstridge, Somerset, on 6th March 1894 and baptised there on 8th April 1894, the daughter of Thomas Doggrell and Sarah Ann Doggrell (née Burt). In time the family moved to East End Farm, Semley, Wiltshire. Selina joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) in February 1915 and worked as a V.A.D. Nurse at Tisbury (Auxiliary A) Hospital, Wiltshire, throughout the war. She received an official mention in 1918 for her work. The 1921 Census shows her living with her parents at Chaldicott's Farm, Semley, and by the 1939 Register she had moved with her widowed father to Wallmead Farm, Wardour, Tisbury, Wiltshire, described as a Poultry Farmer and Housekeeper. She remained single all her life and died at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, on 18th March 1982.

Selina's brother Thomas (b.1897) served in the war with the Dorset Yeomanry and sadly died in Palestine in 1918.

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Thomas Doggrell
The National Archives

Emily Louisa Snook

19th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Snook

Other names: Emily Louisa

Locations in this story:
Lower Farm, Stowell, Somerset
Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Woolwich London
Gosport, Hampshire
Tisbury War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Catisfield, fareham, Hampshire

Story:
Emily Louisa Snook was born on 9th August 1883 at Stowell, Somerset, the daughter of Alfred M. Snook and Frances (Fanny) Snook (née Paull). By 1901 the family had moved to Sedgehill, Wiltshire. At the outbreak of the First World War she was living at Lower Farm, Sedgehill when she joined the Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment). From February 1915 until February, 1916 she worked as a Cook at the Tisbury (Auxiliary A) War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire. She married Francis Padwick Snook (same surname) on 28th December 1916 at Sedgehill, Wiltshire. There appeared to be no children of the marriage. The 1921 Census shows her living at 107 Herbert Road, Woolwich, London, and by the 1939 Register, at the renumbered 97 Herbert Road, Woolwich, London, where her husband was a Customs Officer. Her death was registered in Gosport, Hampshire, on 17 Jul 1969 and she was buried at Catisfield, Fareham, Hampshire.

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The National Archives

Gertrude May Roper

19th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Roper

Other names: Gertrude May

Locations in this story:
Milton Abbas, Dorset
Street Lane Cottages, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Tisbury War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Totland, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, Hampshire

Story:
Gertrude May Roper was born on 30 Jun 1892 at Milton Abbas, Dorset, and baptised there on 11 Aug 1892 the daughter of William Frank Roper and Jane Roper (nee Dorey). By 1911 she was living at 2 Street Lane Cottages, Sedgehill, Wiltshire. She joined the Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) in May 1915 and worked throughout the war as a cook and ward orderly at the Tisbury (Auxiliary A) War Hospital, Wiltshire. She married Frederick Stewart Starke at Sedgehill, Wiltshire, on 9 Apr 1921, and they set up home, per the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register, at Stoats Farm, Totland, Freshwater, Isle 0f Wight, Hampshire. She died in the Isle of Wight on 6 Dec 1961.

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Mary Elizabeth Napier

19th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Napier

Other names: Mary Elizabeth

Locations in this story:
Marylebone, London
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Portsea Island, Hampshire
Tisbury War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Gunville House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire

Story:
Lady Mary Elizabeth Napier was born on 10th February 1871 in Marylebone, London, and baptised at Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, on 18th March 1871, the daughter on Admiral Sir Michael, 3rd Baronet Culme-Seymour and Mary Georgiana, Lady Culme-Seymour (née Watson). She married Vice-Admiral Treveylyan Dacres Willes Napier, RN, KCB, MVO, on 17th August 1899 at Portsea Island, Hampshire. Lady Mary lived in various places in the UK settling down at Gunville House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire, about the time of the outbreak of the First World War. She served with the Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) from October 1915 to April 1917 at the Tisbury (Auxiliary A) War Hospital, Wiltshire, giving aid to the sick and wounded. She was at some time made a Dame. She died in 1944 and was buried on the 16th October 1944 at the Parish Church, Sedgehill, Wiltshire.

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The National Archives

Andrew Harding

19th March 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Harding

Other names: Andrew

Locations in this story:
Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Burcombe, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
Warminster, Wiltshire
Egypt

Story:
Andrew Harding was born at Sedgehill, Wiltshire, on 10th March 1881 and baptised there on 8th May 1881, the son of George Harding and Dinah Harding (née Haynes). He lived his early life in and around Sedgehill. Andrew at some time had been in the Territorial Unit of the 4th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment. By 1911 he was boarding in Burcombe, Wiltshire where he met and married Augusta Strickland on 15th March 1911 and they went on to have one son. Andrew enlisted on 16th November 1915 and was mobilized on 3rd June 1916, joining the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 181430). He served in Salonika from 19 Sep 1916 before quickly transferring to the 273rd Railway Construction Company as a Platelayer based mainly in Egypt (Service No. WR/295382) on 9th October 1916. He was discharged on 5th May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was living at 10A Victoria Road, Warminster, Wiltshire, and was employed as a Farm Worker. He died in Warminster on 27 Aug 1946.

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Henry King

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: King

Other names: Henry

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Tarrant Hinton, Dorset
Deganwy, Conway, Wales

Story:
Henry King (sometimes referred to as 'Harry') was born on 15th December 1876 in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 28th January 1877, the son of Alfred King and Elizabeth King (née Lewis). By 1891 the family had moved to Tarrant Hinton, Dorset. Henry married Agnes Jane Dixon in Bournemouth, Hampshire, on 11th April 1896 and they went on to have three children. Henry (known as Harry on Military Records except for the Silver War Badge Record) enlisted and was deemed mobilized on 24th June 1916, joining the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 286481). He served in the UK only at Depot TC Deganwy. He was deemed physically unfit for further service and discharged on 11th January 1918. There are no medal records but he was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 453719. The 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was living at 14 Oakwood Road, Moordown, Bournemouth, Hampshire, described as Secretary of a Registered Friendly Society (The Independent Order of Rechabites - principally a temperance movement). He died in Bournemouth on 3rd June 1947.

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The National Archives

Benjamin Fanner

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Fanner

Other names: Benjamin

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset
Hillbourne, Poole, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Benjamin Fanner was born on 12th September 1877 at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, the son of William Fanner and Sophia Fanner (née Blandford). By 1901 he had moved to Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset. It was here that he married Mary Cox on 26 Oct 1906 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Bournemouth, Hampshire. There was one son of the marriage before Mary died in 1908. Edward remarried on 25th October 1913 at All Saints Church, Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset, to Laura Cox (no relation to his previous wife). Benjamin enlisted on 20th July 1916 and joined the 1/7th (Cyclist) Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2289). He was later attached to the 608th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 441327). He served in the UK only. He had medical problems and appeared before a medical board on 15th July 1918. It is possible he was discharged thereafter although no date can be ascertained from the records available. No medal or Silver War Badge records have been found. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Hillbrow, Hillbourne, Poole, Dorset, and was described as a smallholder. His death is recorded in Poole, Dorset, in 1962.

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The National Archives

Sidney Butt

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Hampshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Butt

Other names: Sidney

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Wandsworth, London, SW
Andover, Hampshire
Lychett Maltravers, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset
Arras, France
Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Sidney Butt was born in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 17th January 1886 and baptised there on 14th February 1886, the son of George Butt and Annie Butt (née Scott). He spent his early life in Donhead St. Andrew before moving to Semley, Wiltshire. He married Rosa May Hickman in Andover, Hampshire, on 10th September 1914 where they set up home. There is no record of any children of the marriage. Sidney enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 30th May 1916, joining the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 24809). He served in France & Flanders. In action near Arras, France, he received a serious gun shot wound to the head and neck on 17th June 1917. He was duly repatriated to the UK and by 25 Jun 1917 was a patient in the 3rd London Hospital, Wandsworth, London, SW. He was declared physically unfit for further duty and discharged on 19th December 1917. He was medically assessed and received a 100% war pension. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals plus the Silver War Badge No. 294620. The 1921 Census shows him living at 227 Stewart Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, undergoing training with the Ministry of Labour as a Watch and Clock Repairer. At the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Roseway, Begine Road, Lychett Maltravers, and was now working as a skilled general builders assistant. His death was recorded at the Blandford District Registry, Dorset, in 1946.

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