Stories Archive - Page 106 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

William James Brooks

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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Charles Whitmarsh

17th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Machine Gun Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Whitmarsh

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bath, Somerset
Watchet, Somerset

Story:
Charles Whitmarsh was born in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th April 1877, the son of Ambrose John Whitmarsh and Maria Whitmarsh (née Lane). He lived his early life in Melbury Abbas. He had served in the Army from 1896 until his discharge on 13th March 1906. During this first period of Military Service he had been in India and had been awarded the India Frontier Medal with two clasps. He married Huldah Amelia Hacker at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd October 1906 and moved to Watchet, Somerset. They went on to have four children. Charles re-enlisted on 21st December 1914 as a Private with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service Nos. 4320 & 8790). While serving in France & Flanders from 13 May 1915 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 3/16372) on 23 Dec 1915; soon after he received a gunshot wound which left him physically unfit for further duty. He was discharged on 2nd April 1918 and eventually awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star together with the Silver War Badge No. 361693. He died in Bath, Somerset, on 29th September 1920. His brother, Sidney Whitmarsh, also served in the conflict and survived, eventually dying in 1936.

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Sidney Whitmarsh
The National Archives

William Alfred Snook

17th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Snook

Other names: William Alfred

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Hampshire
Collingwood, Isle of Wight, Hampshire
Portsmouth, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Italy
Water Lane, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire

Story:
William Alfred Snook was born in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th February 1882 and baptised there on 9th April 1882, the son of John Edward Snook and Anna Mary Snook (née Scammell). He lived his early life in Melbury Abbas and later in Water Lane, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He married Florence Ida Greenan in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, on 17th June 1907 and they went on to have four children. William had already enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery on 6th February 1899 (Service No. 33500), serving in the UK and various places abroad until placed on reserve on 5th February 1907 and finally discharged on 5th February 1911. He re-enlisted on 7th September 1914 with the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service Nos.2572 & 277572) and served in France & Flanders from 15 Jul 1915 and later in Italy. He rose to the rank of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (WOII) which rank he held when discharged on 25th March 1919. He received a pension with regard to his length of service and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living in Mill Terrace, Yarmouth, IOW, described as a Skilled Labourer (Out of work)and by the 1939 Register had moved to 'Collingwood', Ommanney Road, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, working as a Scavaging Contractor as well as an ARP Warden (from family information he later went on to join the Yarmouth Home Guard as a Sergeant). His wife died in 1946 and it appears he re-married a May Tabb in Portsmouth, Hampshire, during 1947. He died in St. Mary's Hospital, Kingston, Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 9th June 1950.

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Alfred John Toogood

17th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Army Service Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Toogood

Other names: Alfred John

Locations in this story:
Gutch Common, Semley, Wiltshire
Reading, Berkshire
Caversham, Reading, Berkshire

Story:
Alfred John Toogood was born on 16th May 1884 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 13th July 1884, the son of George Levi Toogood and Mary Toogood (née Haines). He lived all his early life at Gutch Common, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 7th April 1916 and joined the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 21463) as a Private. On 30th March 1917 he transferred to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment, Agricultural Company, (Service No. 34284) and again on the 30th June 1917 to the 442nd Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 263189). He was transferred yet again to the Motor Transport Section of the Royal Army Service Corps on 1st December 1918 (Service No. M/410835). Throughout this period he served solely in the UK. He was discharged on 17th February 1919. There are no evident medal records though he qualified for at least the British War Medal. By the 1921 Census he was back living with his parents in Gutch Common, Semley, where he assisted his father on the farm. He married Harriet Sarah Kate Trowbridge in Semley in 1929 and they went on to have one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 16 Valentine Crescent, Reading, Berkshire, working as a Road Labourer. He died in Reading on 19th December 1964 and was buried in the Henley Road Cemetery, Caversham, Reading, on 23 Dec 1964.

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Jack Parsons

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Jack

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Wardour, Semley, Wiltshire
Duck Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
France & Flanders

Story:
Jack Parsons was born on 21st August 1896 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised on 20th September 1896, the son of Fred Parsons and Emma Maria Parsons (née Gray). He lived his early life in the Semley and Wardour, Wiltshire, area. He enlisted on 15th February 1916 as a Private with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 23671). He served with both the 3rd and 1st Battalions in France & Flanders from 25 Jun 1916. At a medical examination on 29th July 1917 he was found to have defective vision and was transferred to the 447th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 496005) on 9 Aug 1917. He was discharged on 26th April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Elizabeth Laura Parham at the Zion Hill Church, Tisbury, Wiltshire, during in Jan 1921 and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 125 Duck Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, and was working as a Roadman for the Wiltshire County Council. He had moved to 9 Doctor's Place, Tisbury, by the time of his death on 19th Oct 1959 which was registered at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry.

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Frederick John Marchant

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Marchant

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Wimborne, Dorset
Cranbourne, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Egypt
The Glebe, Semley

Story:
Frederick John Marchant was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 3rd November 1881 and baptised at St. Leonard's Church on 6th January 1882, the son of Henry Thomas Marchant and Elizabeth Marchant (née Burt). His early life was spent with his family at the The Glebe, Semley, Wiltshire. He married Edith King on 9th April 1913 in Holt, Wimborne, Dorset and they went on to have one child.

Frederick enlisted on 27th June 1916 as a Private with the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18657) and attached to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 28 Jun 1916. He reverted back to the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 27863) on 22 Aug 1916 and on 29 Jan 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders as a Lance Corporal. His moves continued with one to the 1st (Reserve Battalion) of the Worcestershire Regiment on 27 Jul 1917 (Service No. 48995) then to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 37618) on 17 Oct 1917 at which time he was posted to Egypt. He was assessed with poor eye sight and finally transferred, on 12th March 1918, to the 36th Battery Hospital of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Service No. 145481). He was discharged on 4th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at The Shop, Witchampton, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Draper and Grocer and by the 1939 Register at The Stores, Cranbourne, Dorset, now described as a Master Grocer as well as being an ARP Warden. He died in the Jan/Mar Quarter of 1961 in the Poole, Dorset, Registration District.

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William Stephen Maidment

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Maidment

Other names: William Stephen

Locations in this story:
The Green, Semley, Wiltshire
Hasting, Sussex
Chesswood Road, Worthing, Sussex
Shoreham-on-Sea, Sussex

Story:
William Stephen Maidment was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 20th May 1886, the son of Stephen Maidment and Prudence Maidment (née Miles). He lived his early life with the family at The Green, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 24th June 1916 but was not mobilized until 24th February 1917 when he joined the Records Section of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 144518) firstly with the 46th Company and later with the No. 1 Depot (Clerks Section). His entire service was in the UK being promoted to Lance Bombadier. He married Beatrice Bessie Hills at St. Mary in the Castle, Hastings, Sussex, on 23rd June 1917. There were three children of the marriage. William was discharged from the Army on 18th February 1919. There are no medal records in this case. The 1921 Census shows him living at 87 New Road, Shoreham-on-Sea, Sussex, described as a Commercial Traveller in Baker and Confectioner Sundries. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 1 Chesswood Road, Worthing, Sussex, now described as a Wholesale Grocer and Baker's Sundries. He died in Worthing in 1971.

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Arthur Haime Bugden

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Horse Artillery, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bugden

Other names: Arthur Haime

Locations in this story:
Hook Lane, Semley, Wiltshire
Herriard, Basingstoke, Hampshire
Winchester, Hampshire
France & Flanders
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Arthur Haime Bugden was born in Semley, Wiltshire on 3rd Aug 1887 and baptised at St. Leonard's Church on 6th August 1887, the son of Francis Henry Haime Bugden and Eliza Bugden (née Fisher). He spent his early life at Hook Lane, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 19th February 1909 as a Territorial (Service No. 855) and was discharged on 18th February 1913. He re-enlisted on 27th May 1917 but was not mobilized until 14th March 1918 as a Private (later Gunner) with the 6th Reserve Brigade of the Royal Horse & Field Artillery (Service No. 253850). He served in France & Flanders from 29 May 1918. He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 1 Jan 1919 (Service No. 448585) and was eventually discharged on 21st June 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Manor Farm Cottage, Herriard< Basingstoke, Hampshire, employed in General Farm Work. He married Dorothy Alice Hurst in the Basingstoke District in 1923. There are no records of children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register Arthur had moved to Hinton, Winchester, Hampshire, and was working as a tractor driver. He died in 1963 in the Winchester area.

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Frederick James Read

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Read

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset
Meharicourt, France
India

Story:
Frederick James Read was born on 16th January 1871 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, the son of William Read and Selina Read (née Fletcher). He lived in and around East Knoyle for all of his early life including 2 Church Hill. He had enlisted as a Private with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 21st January 1892 (Service No. 3379). He served in India from 13 Sep 1893 until 15 Dec 1905 until discharged on 5th January 1906. He re-enlisted on 27th April 1915 with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14337) as a Private and was immediately attached to the Royal Engineers 14th Labour Battalion. He was transferred on 14th December 1916 to the 11th Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No. 38395) and served with them in France & Flanders from 9 Feb 1917. During this period he received bomb wounds at Meharicourt, France. Following his recovery he was attached to the Devonshire Regiment (Labour Company) and then to the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 52622). On the 21st November 1917 he returned to the UK and transferred to the Labour Corps (166th Labour Company) followed by the 651 Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 99317). He was discharged on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his brother at The Green, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, described as a General Labourer (out of work). He married Minnie Ayres in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1924 but she regrettably died in 1927. There appear to be no children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register Frederick was living at 17d Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a casual labourer. He died in 1952 in the Blandford, Dorset, Registration District and was buried at the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 29 Feb 1952. (NB. He was registered at birth as Frederick but all later records give his name as Frederick James (the second name could have been added at baptism but no record can be found)).

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William Alfred Street

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

Surname: Street

Other names: William Alfred

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Hampreston, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Copythorne, Hampshire
Minstead, Hampshire

Story:
William Alfred Street was born on 6th May 1876 at East Knoyle, Wiltshire, the son of Alfred Street and Julia Street (née Love). He lived much of his early life in and around East Knoyle. He married Annie Beale on 7th August 1899 at Hampreston, Dorset. There is no evidence of children. He had previous military experience by being with the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment as a Reservist. He re-enlisted on 12th January 1915 with the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. RTS/5209) and served in Salonika from 24 Feb 1915 and Egypt from 5 Jul 1917, being promoted in due course to Corporal Farrier. He was discharged on 18th April 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Sylvia Cottage, Cadnam, Minstead, Hampshire, working as a Road Labourer for the New Forest Rural District Council but by the 1939 Register he had moved to Heatherlea, Copythorne, Hampshire, described as a Blacksmith. He died in 1960 in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District.

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