Stories Archive - Page 108 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Walter Hardiman

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Walter

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
France & Flanders
East Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Walter Hardiman was born on 16th February 1897 in Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 16th March 1897, the son of Charles Hardiman and Louisa Hardiman (née Burton). He spent most of his early life, apart from Military Service, in the Ebbesbourne Wake area. He enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 6th September 1914 (Service No. 12159) but was almost immediately on 18 Sep 1914 transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 15221). He served with the 7th and then the 1st Battalions in Salonika and Egypt from 10 Jul 1915 and France & Flanders from 11 Jun 1918. During his service he suffered various bouts of malaria but not sufficient to qualify for a pension. He was discharged on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. On discharge he went to live at East Winterslow, Nr. Salisbury, Wiltshire, with his brother working as a Dairyman as recorded in the 1921 Census. Records beyond this point have not been found.

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The National Archives

Those Who Served on Ebbesbourne Wake Memorial

Fred Hardiman

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Fred

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Long Stratford, Salisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Chilhampton, Salisbury, Wiltshire
South Newton, Wiltshire
Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Fred Hardiman was born on 24th January 1879 at Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, the son of William Hardiman and Sarah Jane Hardiman (née Moxham). He lived most of his early life in and around Pound Street, Ebbesbourne Wake. He married Priscilla Mary Williams Everett on 11th December 1915 at Long Stratford, Salisbury, Wiltshire, and they went on to have one child. Fred enlisted on 25th March 1916 and joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 25191) with whom he saw service in France & Flanders from 7 May 1916. He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 9 May 1917 (Service No. 93810) and served with various units with the (Home Service) Employment Company eventually being promoted to Lance Corporal on 17 Oct 1918. He was demobilized on 26th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Chilhampton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, still working as a Labourer. He died on 3rd May 1956 and was buried at St. Andrew's Church, South Newton, Wiltshire.

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The National Archives

John Thomas Compton

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Compton

Other names: John Thomas

Locations in this story:
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Warminster, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
France & Flanders
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Wokingham, Berkshire
Chichester, Sussex

Story:
John Thomas Compton was born in Alvediston, Wiltshire, on 30th May 1895 and baptised at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 7th July 1895, the son of George Digby Compton and Jane Elizabeth Compton (née Isgar). He lived most of his life in and around Alvediston where his father was licensee of The Crown Inn. He enlisted on 1st October 1915 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 32075) and later transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (Service No. 2090). He served in both Salonika from Sep 1916 and France & Flanders from 11 Aug 1917. He was wounded on at least three occasions and spent much time in various hospitals. The last wound was a gunshot wound in the neck for which he was transferred to the Graylingwell Military Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, and later to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Wokingham, Berkshire, until 31st December 1918. On discharge from hospital he was transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers (Service No. 33428). He was demobilized shortly after on 26th February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Mary Elizabeth West at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 18 May 1921 and the 1921 Census shows they set up home in Elcombe Lane, Alvediston. John was then described as a Smallholder. Mary and he went on to have at least five children. By the 1939 Register he was living adjacent to Billingham House, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer and Rabbit Catcher. His death at the age of 90 years was registered in the Warminster, Wiltshire, district in 1986.

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Leonard Coombs

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Hussars, Royal Tank Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coombs

Other names: Leonard

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Leonard Coombs was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 15th August 1899, the son of John Langhorn Coombs and Amelia Coombs. He lived most of his life, apart from Military Service, in Tollard Royal. He did not enlist due to his age until 22nd May 1918 and joined the Hussars of the Line (Service No. H/69428). He was with the 5th Reserve Cavalry Regiment. On 1st September 1918 he transferred to the Tank Corps (Service No. 311925). Initially he was at the School of Gunnery but was sent to France on 28th October 1918 within days of the Armistice. He was discharged on 19th February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living in Tollard Royal working on his own account as a Mail Contractor. He married Louise Taylor on 18th April 1927 in Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset. There are no records of children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register he was living at 28 Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, working as a Corn, Dairy and Poultry Farmer as well volunteering as an ARP Warden. He died at the early age of 43 years on 10th October 1942 in Tollard Royal.

Two of Leonard's brothers also served in the war: John Langhorn (b.1894) who was awarded the Military Medal while serving with the Middlesex Regiment and Reginald James (b.1895) who served with the Royal Field Artillery.

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Reginald James Coombs
John Langhorn Coombs

Jubel Frederick Bridle

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Berkshire Regiment, Royal West Kent Regiment, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bridle

Other names: Jubel Frederick

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Wells, Somerset
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Jubel Frederick Bridle was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 8th May 1894, the son of Frederick Eli Bridle and Maria Bridle (nee Norris). He lived much of his life in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 11th December 1915 in Shaftesbury and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 20988). On the 4th May 1916 he was transferred to the 2/5th Battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment (Service no. 241262) during which time he was also attached for a period to the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He served all his time in the United Kingdom. He was discharged on 26th June 1917 being no longer physically fit for military service due to heart problems. He received the Silver War Badge No. B131877. He married Christina Mary Reakes in Wells, Somerset, in 1917. There is no information about children of the marriage. The 1921 Census shows him living at Church Cottage, Church Hill, Donhead St. Mary, working as a Mason's Labourer. he was at the same address by the 1939 Register now working as a Chimney Sweep. He died in the Mere, Wiltshire, Registration District in 1953.

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The National Archives

Nathaniel Sidney Stacey

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Middlesex Regiment, Royal Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stacey

Other names: Nathaniel Sidney

Locations in this story:
Shorts Green, Motcombe, Dorset
Ilfracombe, Devon
Germany

Story:
Nathaniel Sidney Stacey was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 27th May 1887, the son of Samuel and Caroline Stacey. He lived his early life in Shorts Green, Motcombe, Dorset. He enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 18th May 1916, joining the 35th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (Service No. 151426) but shortly after was transferred on 1st July 1916 to 29th TW Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment (Service No. 31881). He was transferred yet again to the Labour Corps ('F' Company) and became part of the army of occupation in Germany at the end of the war. He had been promoted to Corporal and was eventually discharged on 22nd September 1920. There is no information about any medals being awarded. He had married Margery Coleman in Ilfracombe, Devon, on 1st February 1916 and they went on to have one child. The 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show him living at 2 Merridan Terrace, Ilfracombe, Devon, working as a Jobbing Gardener. He died in 1971 and was buried in the Marlborough Road Cemetery, Ilfracombe, on 14 Jun 1971.

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The National Archives

Walter James Broomfield

19th January 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Broomfield

Other names: Walter James

Locations in this story:
Kirkby, Lincolnshire
Ringwood, Hampshire
Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St, Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Higher Dean Prior, Totnes, Devon
Kingsteignton, Devon

Story:
Walter James Broomfield was born at Kirkby, Lincolnshire, on 1st September 1879, the son of Harry Jesse Broomfield and Fanny Matilda Broomfield (née Cooke). Walter's father had become the licensee of the Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire by 1911. Walter married Edith Eliza Emily Andrews at Ringwood, Hampshire, in 1908 and they went on to have four children. Walter had moved to Devon and was working there as a gamekeeper when he enlisted as a Private with the 15th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 15146) on 1st January 1915. He served in France and Flanders where he was wounded on at least two occasions for which he eventually received a small pension. He was finally discharged on 21st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Higher Dean Prior, Totnes, Devon, and working as a Head Gamekeeper as well as being a volunteer ARP Warden. He died in Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot, Devon, on 8th July 1964.

His brothers, Frederick John Robert and Edward William also served but sadly died in the war. The remaining brothers, Walter James, Harry, Ernest and Arthur, all served and survived. His sister, Eva Theresa Rose, was married to Percy William Norman who also served and survived.

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Harry Broomfield

17th January 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Broomfield

Other names: Harry

Locations in this story:
Ringwood, Hampshire
Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Little Bytham, Lincolnshire
Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
Harry Broomfield was born in Ringwood, Hampshire, on 24th November 1891 the son of Harry Jesse Broomfield and Fanny Broomfield (nee Cook). At the time of the outbreak of war he was living with his parents at The Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, where his father was the licensee. He enlisted in the 19th Squadron of the 2nd/1st Battalion of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry on 21st September 1914 (Service No 1157). He served in France and Flanders and was discharged within a day or so of 1st January 1916. He re-enlisted with the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport Section) on 6th January 1916 (Service No. M2/152395). He was demobilized on 26th May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He had married Edith Cox on 3rd August 1915 at Little Bytham, Lincolnshire, and they went on to have one child. The 1939 Register shows him living at 25 Cannon Street, Southampton, Hampshire, working as a Corporation Carter. He died in the Southampton area in 1976.

His brothers Frederick John Robert and Edward William served and were both killed in action whilst Ernest, Arthur, and Walter James who also served, survived. His brother-in-law, Percy William Norman, (married to sister Eva Theresa Rose) also served and survived.

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Ernest Broomfield

17th January 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Broomfield

Other names: Ernest

Locations in this story:
Ringwood, Hampshire
Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St Mary, Wiltshire
Ousby, Penrith, Cumberland
Lancaster, Lancashire

Story:
Ernest Broomfield was born on 8th April 1893 in Ringwood, Hampshire, the son of Harry Jesse Broomfield and Fanny Broomfield (née Cook). At the time of the outbreak of war he was living with his parents at the Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, where his father was the licensee.

Ernest enlisted in the Royal Navy (Service No. SS115989) on 10th July 1914 as a Stoker Class II. From the 10th December 1914 he served as a member of the armaments crew on various ships (Service No. M11941). He was finally discharged on 28th January 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1939 Register shows him living at The Fox Inn, Ousby, Penrith, Cumberland, working as a Gamekeeper. He died in 1960 in the Lancaster District Registry area. The 1939 Register also indicates he was married but no record can be found of a marriage.

His brothers also served: Frederick John Robert and Edward William Broomfield were both killed in action whilst Harry, Arthur and Walter James survived. Also serving and surviving was William Percy Norman the husband of Ernest's sister, Eva Theresa Rose.

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William Percy Norman

15th January 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Norman

Other names: William Percy

Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Salonica, Greece
Epsom, Surrey
Christchurch, Hampshire

Story:
William Percy Norman was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 16th February 1889, and baptised there at St. John the Baptist Church on 24th February 1889. He was the son of William Norman and Louisa Elizabeth Norman (nee Trowbridge). He spent all his early life in and around Donhead St. Mary. He enlisted on 5th August 1915 and joined the Royal Army Service Corps (Service Nos. DM2/112692 and S4/143706). He served in Salonica and the Mediterranean Theatre of War where, in due time, he rose to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 and held the position of Acting Staff Sergeant Major. He was discharged on 28th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals.

He had married Eva Theresa Rose Broomfield at Ludwell on 22nd November 1915 and they went on to have at least one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 13 Lower Hill Road, Epsom, Surrey, and described as a Head Teacher. His death was registered at the Christchurch, Hampshire, District Registry in 1964.

Eva's brothers, Frederick John Robert Broomfield and Edward William Broomfield were both killed in the conflict whilst four other brothers served and survived: Arthur, Ernest, Harry and Walter James Broomfield.

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