Stories Archive - Page 105 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Henry John Tuffin

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Tuffin

Other names: Henry John

Locations in this story:
The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sturminster Newton, Dorset

Story:
Henry John Tuffin was born in Sutton Waldron on 23rd January 1877 and baptised there on 1st April 1877, the son of Frederick James Tuffin and Sarah Anne Tuffin (née Mullins). He spent all his civilian life in Sutton Waldron. His father died in 1912. He enlisted on 18th November 1915 and was mobilized on 24th March 1916, joining the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 24987). Almost immediately he was transferred with the same Service No. to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry with whom he served in France & Flanders. He was again transferred and attached to the 1039th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps on 6th May 1917 (Service No. 93437). He was discharged on 15th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was living at his old family home at 17 The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset, working as an Agricultural Labourer. He remained single throughout his life and died in 1967. His death was registered at the Sturminster Newton District Registry, Dorset, and he was buried at Sutton Waldron on 30th November 1967.

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Ernest Edwin Merrifield

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Cheshire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Merrifield

Other names: Ernest Edwin

Locations in this story:
Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Christchurch, Hampshire
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Ham Hill, Sutton Waldron
Farnborough, Kent

Story:
Ernest Edwin Merrifield was born at Sutton Waldron, Dorset on 26th August 1874 and baptised at Fontmell Magna, Dorset, on 25th October 1874, the son of Samuel Merrifield and Mary Ann Merrifield (née Polden). He spent his childhood at Ham Hill, Sutton Waldron, Dorset, with his parents. By 1891, he had moved to Christchurch, Hampshire, and later to Bournemouth, Hampshire, where he was a Motor Man for the Co-operative Society. He enlisted on 22nd February 1915 and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No 55951). He later transferred to the Cheshire Regiment (Service No. 3/28219). He served only in the UK and was discharged on 18th November 1919 as being medically unfit for which he received a small pension. He was awarded the British War Medal. The 1921 Census shows him as a patient in a hospital near Farnborough, Kent, described as a Tram Driver for Bournemouth Corporation Transport but currently out of work. By the 1939 Register he was living at 3 Roberts Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, and was working as a Gardener. He remained single throughout his life and died in Bournemouth in 1942.

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Arthur John Wills

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

Surname: Wills

Other names: Arthur John

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Tarrant Gunville, Dorset
Tarrant Launceston, Blandford, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Blandford St. Mary, Dorset

Story:
Arthur John Wills was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 16 Aug 1890 the son of John Wills and Louisa Wills (nee Kingsbury). He lived most of his early life in and around Iwerne Minster. He married Josephine Ellen Butcher at Tarrant Gunville, Dorset, on 25 Dec 1915 and they went on to have three children. He enlisted on 6 Jun 1917 and was mobilized on 9 Sep 1917 joining the 30th Recruit Distribution Battalion of the Training Reserve as a Private (Service No. TR/8/27301). He served in the UK only and on 25 Jul 1918 was transferred to the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 44917) and attached in turn to the 407th and 609th Agricultural Company's of the Labour Corps. He was discharged on 22 Oct 1919. There are no medal records available. The 1921 Census shows him living at Upton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, working as an Agricultural Engine Driver and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Tarrant Launceston, Blandford, Dorset, working as a Dairyman on a farm. His death on 6 Jan 1969 was recorded at the Poole District Registry, Dorset, and he was later buried at Blandford St. Mary, Dorset.

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Harry James Wareham

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wareham

Other names: Harry James

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Iwerne Steepleton, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Alexandria, Egypt
Sturminster, Dorset
Brook Cottage, Iwerne Minster
Vale Cottages, Shillingstone, Dorset

Story:
Harry James Wareham was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 19th September 1893, the son of William Wareham and Anna Maria Wareham (née Coombes). He spent most of his civilian life in and around Iwerne Minster. He enlisted on 1st June 1915 and joined the Royal Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T4/109675). He served in Salonika from 25 Nov 1915 and Alexandria, Egypt, from 30 Aug 1918 during which time he had many bouts of malaria. He was eventually discharged on 2nd April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Mary Amelia Gillingham on 21st April 1919 at Iwerne Steepleton, Dorset, and they went on to have one daughter. Currently no 1921 Census record can be found. By the 1939 Register he was living at Brook Cottage, Iwerne Minster, working as a Coal Merchant and Haulage Contractor. At the time of his death on 8th April 1973 he had moved to 16 Vale Cottages, Shillingstone, Dorset, (registered at the Sturminster District Registry, Dorset).

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Charles Kingsbury

18th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Kingsbury

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Lindfield, Sussex
Haywards Heath, Sussex
Cuckfield, Sussex
Lewes, Sussex

Story:
Charles Kingsbury was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 19th May 1875 and baptised there on 1st August 1875, the son of George Kingsbury and Melina Kingsbury (née Northover). He lived his early life in Iwerne Minster but by 1891 had moved to Cuckfield, Sussex. He married Eliza Reeves on 8th June 1901 at Lindfield Parish Church, Sussex and they went on to have five children. By 1911 he had moved to Haywards Heath, Sussex, and was working as a Commercial Traveller. He enlisted on 8th December 1915 but his mobilization was delayed until 21st June 1918 when he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as Private (Service No. 154264). He served in the UK only at the 'C' Company Depot and was discharged on 31st January 1919. There are no medal records. Whilst no 1921 Census records can be found the 1921 Electoral Register shows him living at 31 Queens Road, Cuckfield, Sussex, which address carried over to the 1939 Register working as a Grocer's Assistant. His death is recorded in the Lewes, Sussex, Registry in 1957.

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Charles Green

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

Surname: Green

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Newington, Kent
France & Flanders
Riseden Farm, Hawkhurst, Kent

Story:
Charles Green was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 22nd May 1881 and baptised there on 3rd June 1881, the son of John Green and Maria Green (née Lever). He lived his early life in and around Iwerne Minster until, by 1901, he had moved to Newington, Kent. He enlisted on 13th November 1915 and was mobilized on 28th March 1916 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 71006). He served in France & Flanders from 31 Aug 1916 and received gun shot wounds on two occasions and an accidental injury on 21 Dec 1918 - on one occasion needing treatment back in the UK. He finally ended up with the 332nd Siege Battery from where he was discharged on 19th July 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Riseden Farm, Hawkhurst, Kent, working as a Farm Labourer and by the 1939 Register at the same address but now a Farm Foreman. He remained single all his life and died in the Cottage Hospital, Hawkhurst, Kent, on 12th June 1964.

Charles' brother William (b.1874) also served in the war, with the Royal Marine Artillery.

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William Green

Alfred Domoney

16th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Welsh Guards /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Domoney

Other names: Alfred

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sturminster, Dorset
Sutton Waldron, Dorset

Story:
Alfred Domoney was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 22nd April 1887, the son of Michael Domoney and Louisa Domoney (née Hatcher). He lived most of his early civilian life in Iwerne Minster and Sutton Waldron, Dorset. He married Alice Kate Francis on 14th November 1912 and they went on to have six children. Alfred enlisted on 7th June 1916 and was mobilized on 6th October 1916 with the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Guards as a Guardsman (Service No. 3251). He served in France and Flanders from 16 Feb 1918 and received gun shot wounds on two occasions the last being on 24 Aug 1918. He was discharged on 16th Oct 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he had returned to his home at 12 The Street, Sutton Waldron, working as a Shepherd and Farm Labourer His wife sadly died on 14 Apr 1925 at the early age of 42 years. By the 1939 Register he had moved to Church Road, Sutton Waldron, Dorset, working as a Farm Carter. His death is registered at Sturminster Registry, Dorset, in 1961 and was buried at St. Bartholomew's Church, Sutton Waldron, on 22 Jun 1961.

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Edward Charles Domoney

16th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Domoney

Other names: Edward Charles

Locations in this story:
Shute Lane, Iwerne Minster, Dorset
France & Flanders
Gosport, Hampshire

Story:
Edward Charles Domoney was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 2nd July 1890, the son of John Domoney and Emily Esther Domoney (née Poore). He lived all of his civilian life in Iwerne Minster. He married Rosa Coward on 28th June 1910 and they went on have two daughters. Edward enlisted with the Royal Army Service Corps on 22nd November 1915 and was ranked as a Shoeing Smith (Service No. TS/9937). He served in France & Flanders from 25 Jun 1917 as a Shoeing Smith with the 372nd Company and eventually discharged on 19th January 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows he was living at Rosa Cottage, Shute Lane, Iwerne Minster, working as a Shoeing and General Smith. He was at the same address on the 1939 Register now described as a Labourer. His death was recorded in the Gosport, Hampshire, Registry on 18 Oct 1969 and he was buried at St. Mary's Church, Iwerne Minster.

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Henry Coombes

16th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coombes

Other names: Henry

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Alma Barracks, Blackdown, Farnborough, Hampshire
India
Gallipoli, Turkey
Baghdad War Cemetery, Iraq
Baghtche PoW Camp, Turkey

Story:
Henry Coombes was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, in 1891, the son of Alfred Coombes and Mary Elizabeth Coombes (née Kingsbury). He lived most of his early life at the family home in The Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset. His father died in 1901. He enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 4th April 1910 as a Private (Service No. 8914). He served first at Alma Barracks, Blackdown, Farnborough, Hampshire, and then in India. The 2nd Battalion was later transferred to the Middle East where he took part in the Gallipoli campaign and was captured, becoming a prisoner of war on 29th April 1916. The Ottoman Red Crescent advised the allies that he had died in captivity at the PoW Camp, Baghtche, Turkey, on 17th August 1916. His body was later recovered and he was buried at the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq, (Grave ref. XXI.B.38). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. No UK memorial record has been found.

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William James Brooks

15th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brooks

Other names: William James

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Fulham, London, SW
France & Flanders
Poole, Dorset

Story:
William James Brooks was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 30 May 1882 and baptised there on 6th August 1882, the son of Thomas Brooks and Elizabeth Brooks (nee Wareham). He lived most of his life in Iwerne Minster. He married Elizabeth Mary Newcombe on 10th Dec 1904 at Fulham Registry Office, Fulham, London, SW, and they went on to have two children. William enlisted on 6th December 1915 and was mobilized on 1st June 1916 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 91270). He was posted to France on 16 Nov 1916 and joined the 154th (Hampshire) Heavy Battery with a new Service No. 353926. He was demobilized on 8th September 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living in Tower Hill, Iwerne Minster, working as a Bricklayer's Labourer on the Ismay Estate. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Church Hill, Iwerne Minster, Dorset, with the same occupation. His death was noted in the Poole, Dorset, Registration District in 1963.

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