Stories Archive - Page 107 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Harold James Stone

Surname: Stone

Other names: Harold James

Locations in this story:
Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Tilshead, Devizes, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
France & Flanders
South Newton, Wiltshire
Egypt
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Harold James Stone was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1890 and baptised there on 13th August 1890, the son of James Stone and Ellen Stone (née Merryweather). He lived in Charlton until his family moved to Tilshead, Devizes, Wiltshire, just before 1911. He had previously enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Territorial on 22 Jul 1909 but had bought himself out of the service on 12 Oct 1910. He re-enlisted on 5th September 1914 and was posted to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 12181). Almost immediately on 18 Sep 1914 he was transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 7/14949) and served mainly in Salonika and France & Flanders, eventually becoming an Acting Lance Corporal. Whilst serving he had contracted malaria for which he was treated in Egypt. He was discharged on 20th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He married Sarah Elizabeth Cruse on 31 Jul 1920 in Tilshead, Wiltshire, and they had one child. The 1921 Census shows him boarding with his parents at Stotford Hill, South Newton, Wiltshire, working as a Ploughman. Regrettably he died during 1934 (registered at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry) and was buried at St. Andrews Church, South Newton, Wiltshire.

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The National Archives

Herbert Darrell King

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

Surname: King

Other names: Herbert Darrell

Locations in this story:
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
France & Flanders
Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
Herbert Darrell King was born on 23rd December 1896 at Alvediston, Wiltshire, the son of Mark King and Kate King (née Stanley). He lived most life, apart from Military Service, in Alvediston. He enlisted as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 44773) on 8th September 1914 and served with various units in Salonika from 19 Mar 1915 and France & Flanders from 15 Apr 1916. Whilst in France he suffered gas poisoning and later a severe gunshot wound which led to him being discharged as unfit for further duty on 29th March 1918. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was also issued with the Silver War Badge No. 372725. In time he was also granted a Pension. The 1921 Census shows him back living in Elcombe Lane, Alvediston, living with his parents and working as an Agricultural Labourer and the 1939 Register indicates he was at the same address now described as a Farm Tractor Driver. He remained single throughout his life and died in the Southampton, Hampshire, Registration District in 1948.

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The National Archives

Thomas Rose

16th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Sussex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Rose

Other names: Thomas

Locations in this story:
West Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Cambrin Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Warbleton, East Sussex

Story:
Thomas Rose was born in 1888 in West Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of John Rose and Teresa Emma Rose (née Clemas). His first few years of life were spent near Mansfield House, West Orchard, but his family moved later to Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 19th November 1906 and joined the Royal Sussex Regiment as a private (Service No L/8613). He saw a rapid rise in rank to the extent that he was finally promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant just days prior to his death from wounds. He was wounded in action in France & Flanders and died in the 33rd Field Ambulance on 15th May 1918. He was finally buried at the Cambrin Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, (Grave Ref. N.49). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star (with clasps). He is remembered on the War Memorial at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Warbleton, East Sussex, near where his parents had moved.

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The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Alfred John Webb

13th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Gloucestershire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Webb

Other names: Alfred John

Locations in this story:
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cardiff, Wales
France & Flanders
Slough, Buckinghamshire
Herne Bay, Kent
Hartgrove, Dorset

Story:
Alfred John Webb was born on 12th March 1895 at East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of George Webb (a Master at the National School, Hartgrove, Dorset) and Caroline Elizabeth Webb (née Chapman). He lived most of his early life at East Orchard. His mother had died in 1895 and his father had remarried Edith Tryphena Harding in 1896. Alfred had originally enlisted with the 5th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No. 1515) as a Territorial on 7th March 1913. He was mobilized for war on 5th August 1914 but discharged on 16th November 1914 being physically unfit for service. He re-enlisted on 25th January 1915 and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 11278). He served in France from 14 May 1915 but was again discharged on 11th June 1916 because he was no longer physically fit due to tuberculosis. He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 203307 and in due time the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Elizabeth Alexandra Turrington in Cardiff, South Wales, in 1931 and they went on to have three children. By the 1939 Register, Alfred was living at 17 Glasmor Road, Slough, Buckinghamshire, working as a Male Nurse in a Public Assistance Institution. He died in the Herne Bay, Kent, area in 1964.

Alfred's brother Charles Frederic Ratcliffe Webb (b.1890) also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment. His half brother Reginald Claude Eldon Webb (b.1898) was sadly killed in 1916 while attached to the Wiltshire Regiment in France.

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Reginald Claude Eldon Webb
The National Archives
Charles Frederic Ratcliffe Webb

George Henry Stokes

13th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Coldstream Guards /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stokes

Other names: George Henry

Locations in this story:
Back Lane, West Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Yeovil, Somerset
France & Flanders
Stoke-under-Hays, Yeovil
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
George Henry Stokes was born at East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th January 1889, the son of William Stokes and Emily Stokes (née Andrews). George spent all his early life in and around nearby Back Lane, West Orchard. He married Florence Dora Dimond in Yeovil, Somerset, on 11th July 1910. There appear to be no children of the marriage. George enlisted on 12th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 4th January 1917 when he joined the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards as a Guardsman (Service No. 21354). He served in France & Flanders from 30 Dec 1917 and, whilst there, was reported missing on 13th April 1918. It was not until 27th December 1918 that it was reported he had been captured and become a prisoner of war. He was discharged on 7th October 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 21 Glanville Road, Yeovil, working as a Leather Dresser for a local glove manufacturer but by the 1939 Register he was living at The Post Office, High Street, Stoke-under-Hays, Yeovil, Somerset and now employed as a Sub-Postmaster. He died in the Summerland Hospital, Yeovil, on 16th August 1962.

Images:

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The National Archives

Percy Sandle Sharp

13th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Sharp

Other names: Percy Sandle

Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Taunton, Somerset
Stoke St. Gregory, Taunton, Somerset
Chisledon, Swindon, Wiltshire

Story:
Percy Sandle Sharp was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 9th April 1883, the son of Annie Maria Sandle Sharp. (There is no record of his father). He lived his early life with his mother at his grandparents' home in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary. He enlisted on 6th December 1915 and joined the 531st Horse Transport Company of the Army Service Corps (Service No. TS/10133). In view of his occupation as a wheelwright he was ranked as a Wheeler Driver. He served in France & Flanders from 8 Feb 1917. Towards the end of the conflict he was invalided back to the UK with an injury to his knee joint. He was discharged on 5th April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his mother, described as a 'widow', at 6 Carisbrook Terrace, Chisledon, Swindon, Wiltshire, working as an Agricultural Wheelwright. He married Florence Augusta Peare in Taunton, Somerset, on 15th October 1924 and they went on to have at least one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at Dunfield House, Stoke St. Gregory, Taunton, Somerset, working as a Carpenter (Vehicle Builder). He died in Stoke St. Gregory, Taunton, Somerset, in 1968.

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The National Archives

Thomas James Lucas

13th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Leinster Regiment, Machine Gun Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lucas

Other names: Thomas James

Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Middle East
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Gallipoli, Turkey

Story:
Thomas James Lucas was born on 18th April 1898 in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 22nd May 1898 (along with his twin brother Alfred John Lucas) the son of Alfred Lucas and Julia Anne Cox Lucas (née Reed). He lived all his early life in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary. He enlisted on 5th September 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12873). Very quickly thereafter he was transferred to the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Leinster Regiment (Service No. 6/1260) and posted to the Middle East on 5 Aug 1915. He served at Gallipoli, Turkey, and was wounded. He also suffered from enteritis plus being wounded a second time following which he lost a finger on his left hand. His disability did not stop him being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 73994) and thereafter attached to the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) until his discharge on 9th March 1919. He had been awarded a gratuity as a result of the lost finger but no pension. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Beckingshill, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, working as a Painter and Decorator. He married Emma Margaret Alice Johnson in Bournemouth, Hampshire, during 1929 and they went on to have at least one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 94 Castlemain Avenue, Bournemouth, Hampshire, working as an Engineer's Labourer. He died in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District during 1982. His twin brother, Alfred John Lucas, also served in the conflict.

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The National Archives

Frederick Tom Sharp

13th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Royal Sussex Regiment, Territorial Force /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Sharp

Other names: Frederick Tom

Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Farnham, Dorset
Sussex
Lewes, Sussex
France & Flanders
Egypt
East Chiltington, Sussex

Story:
Frederick Tom Sharp was born at Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th May 1894, the son of Tom Sharp and Eliza Emmeline Sharp (née Hibbs). He lived most of his early life at Farnham, Dorset, until moving to Sussex with his family by 1911. His father died in 1914. He enlisted on 15th November 1915 and joined the 2nd/5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5/3492). He was posted to France on 22nd April 1916 and almost immediately caught rheumatic fever and had to be sent back to the UK on 24th June 1916 for treatment. Following his recovery he was attached to the 4th Battalion (T.F. Reserve) (Service No. 4/5281) and posted to Egypt on 1 Nov 1916. He was transferred to the 800th Agricultural Employment Company of the Labour Corps on 8th December 1917 (Service No. 361819). He was discharged with a small pension due to the earlier indisposition and also awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother at 'Rumara', Malling Street, Lewes, Sussex, working as an Agricultural Engineer. Frederick married Dorothy May Ware on 5 Feb 1924 at East Chiltington,Sussex, and they went on to have one known child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 26 St John Street, Lewes, Sussex, now described as a Fitter and Agricultural Engineer. He died in 1967.

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The National Archives

Fred Richard Godden

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Somerset Light Infantry, Training Reserve Battalion /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Godden

Other names: Fred Richard

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Bradford Peverell. Dorset
France & Flanders
Dorchester, Dorset
High Street, Yeovil, Somerset
Sutton, Surrey
Arras, France
Halifax, Yorkshire

Story:
Fred Richard Godden was born on 10th April 1899 at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, the son of William George Godden and Susanna Godden (née Whitmarsh). By 1901 he had moved with his parents to Bradford Peverell, Dorset, where he spent most of his early life. He enlisted on 6th February 1917 but was not mobilized until 7th May 1917 when he joined the 34th/35th Training Reserve Battalion as a Private (Service No. 8/55876). He was later attached to the Somerset Light Infantry (Training Reserve) (Service No. 40987). He was posted to France and Flanders on 3 Apr 1918 and transferred to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 9 Apr 1918 (Service No. 38951). He received shrapnel wounds in the hand and chest at Arras, France, on 23rd August 1918 and was hospitalized both in the field and at the Spring Hill Hospital and the St. Lukes War Hospital, both in Halifax, Yorkshire. He was awarded the Military Medal. Regrettably he was eventually discharged on 8th February 1919 being no longer physically fit for service and received a life pension as well as the Silver War Badge No. B.170848. In addition he also recived the Victory and British War Medals. His marriage to Florence Parsons was registered in Dorchester, Dorset, during 1922. There are no known children of the marriage. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 342 High Street, Yeovil, Somerset, working as a road rolling machine driver. He died on 6th October 1993 in Sutton, Surrey, at the age of 94 years.

Images:

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The National Archives

Wilfred Critchell Thick

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Lincolnshire Regiment, Royal North Devon Hussars /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Thick

Other names: Wilfred Critchell

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Holbury, Southampton, Hampshire
Chelmsford, Essex
Blackfields, Fawley, Hampshire

Story:
Wilfred Critchell Thick was born on 15th March 1899 at Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, the son of Edwin George Thick and Agnes Ellen Thick (née Critchell). He lived his early life in Ebbesbourne Wake where his father was proprietor of the Old Stores. He enlisted on 27th April 1917 and joined the Royal North Devon Hussars (Service No. 225795) but transferred on 19 Oct 1918 to the Lincolnshire Regiment as a Cyclist (Service No.52588) at which time he was posted to France & Flanders only to be transferred again on the 2 Nov 1918 to the 1st Reserve Battalion (Service No.56669) as an Acting Corporal. After the Armistice he had volunteered to remain on occupation duties but was eventually discharged on 18th May 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at Blackfield, Fawley, Hampshire, working as a Surveyor's Clerk. He married Agnes Harriet Cox in 1926 in the Southampton, Hampshire, Registry area and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 64 Longstamps Road, Chelmsford, Essex and was a Chartered Quantity Surveyor as well as an ARP Warden. It is to be noted that he also served as a Councillor on Chelmsford District Council for a time. He eventually moved to 72 Rolleston Road, Holbury, Southampton, Hampshire, where he died on 22nd December 1992 aged 93 years.

Images:

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The National Archives