Stories Archive - Page 111 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

George Hull

Surname: Hull

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Mesopotamia
India
High Street, Gillingham, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
George Hull was born in 1893 at East Knoyle, Wiltshire, the son of Edwin George Hull and Anna Hull (née Merryweather). He lived his early life at Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He became a Policeman but nevertheless enlisted in June 1917 and joined The Buffs (Royal West Kent) Regiment (Service No. G/21421. He later transferred to the Military Foot Police (Service No. 14154) and served in Mesopotamia and India as an Acting Lance Corporal. He was discharged on 31st March 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at Park Farm, Milton, East Knoyle, where he helped his father on the farm but, by the Electoral Register of 1927, he had moved to High Street, Gillingham, Dorset along with Ada Hull. There are no records of a marriage or any entry in the 1939 Register. He died in the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20 Nov 1949.

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Harry Percival Holly

21st November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Holly

Other names: Harry Percival

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Pembridge, Weobley, Herefordshire
Monkland, Herefordshire

Story:
Harry Percival Holly was born on 1st September 1891 in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset and baptised there on 13th December 1891, the son of Mark Holly and Harriett Holly (née Smith). He lived his early life in and around Melbury Abbas. He enlisted on 30th October 1915 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 57735). He served for some of the time in France with the 25th Fire Command and whilst there sustained a service injury to his right hand which eventually led to the amputation of his index finger. This event led to him being in hospital for nearly three months. He married Clara Beedles on 26th June 1917 in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and they went on to have two children. He was eventually demobilized on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Wallend Cottage, Monkland, Herefordshire, working as a Cowman but by the 1939 Register he had moved to Stockmoor, Pembridge, Weobley, Herefordshire, and now described as a Munitions Worker. He died on 3rd April 1983 in the Hereford Registration District.

Harry's brothers also served in the war: Herbert John (b.1892) with the Dorsetshire Regiment, the Devonshire Regiment and the Hampshire Regiment; Ernest Walter (b.1895) died on 27th December 1918 while serving with the Royal Army Service Corps in Greece.

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Ernest Walter Holly
Herbert John Holly

Bartley Hiscock

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hiscock

Other names: Bartley

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lambeth, Surrey
Union Street, Aldershot, Hampshire
India
Mesopotamia
Manor Farm, East Stour, Dorset

Story:
Bartley Hiscock was born at East Knoyle, Wiltshire, on 3rd July 1881 and baptised at the Methodist Chapel, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st August 1881, the son of Albert Hiscock and Sarah Hiscock (née Bartley). During his early life he lived with his family at Manor Farm, East Stour, Dorset. He moved from place to place from the age of 20, learning his trade as a Butcher. He married Mary Margaret Stevenson at Lambeth, Surrey, Registry Office on 9th August 1911 and they went on to have four children, two of whom died shortly after birth. Bartley enlisted on 9th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 18th May 1917 as Private with the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) 970th Company (Service No. M322460). He served in Mesopotamia and India from 31 Aug 1917, being eventually demobilized on 13th August 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 5 Union Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, working as a Butcher on his own account and by the 1939 Register at 9-11 Union Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, now described as a Registered Butcher's Shop Keeper. He died in the Aldershot on 25 Mar 1968.

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Percy Leonard Hare

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Leinster Regiment, Machine Gun Corps, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hare

Other names: Percy Leonard

Locations in this story:
Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
Gallipoli, Turkey
Salonika, Greece
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire

Story:
Percy Leonard Hare (aka Leonard Hare) was born at Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 5th September 1893 and baptised there on 31st December 1893, the son of John Hare and Elizabeth Hare (née Trowbridge). The family lived at Birdbush, Ludwell. Leonard enlisted on 5th September 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12788). He was swiftly transferred to the 6th (Reserve) Battalion of the Leinster Regiment (Service No. 6/1252). He served in Salonika and Gallipoli from 5 Aug 1915 where, 16 Nov 1916 he was wounded and hospitalized. After convalescence he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 48519) and joined the 67th Company. He was finally demobilized on 2nd April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. His marriage Rose King was registered in Tisbury, Wiltshire, during 1920 and they had one child. The 1921 Census shows him living at Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, employed as a Painter and Paper Hanger. The 1939 Register Leonard gives his address as Leigh Court, Sands Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, now described as a Painter (Buildings) as well as acting as an ARP Warden. His death was registered in Mere, Wiltshire, on 1 May 1946 and he was later buried in the village cemetery at Donhead St. Andrew. His brother, Edgar Hare, also served in the conflict.

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Frederick James Gray

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Buscot House, Farringdon, Berkshire
Mitford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire
The Rhine, Germany
France
St. Osmond's Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire
The Borough, Downton, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick James Gray was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 19th July 1888 and baptised there on 16th September 1888, the son of William Gray and Mary Jane Gray (nee Rogers). His early life is recorded in the Semley Workhouse (by then living accommodation) until the 1911 Census when he is shown as working as a Gardener at Buscot House, Farringdon, Berkshire. By 1913 he had moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire, and married Elizabeth Anne Haskell on 29th July 1913 at St. Osmond's Church, Salisbury. They appear to have had only one child. Frederick enlisted on 6th December 1915 but was not embodied until 29th May 1916 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 91304). He served with various units in France from 5 Sep 1917 including the 185th Siege Battery and ended his service at the Rhine Army Control Camp, Germany. He was finally demobilized on 4th October 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him working as a Licensed Publican at the Three Horse Shoes Inn, The Borough, Downton, Wiltshire, a tied house owned by Asher Wiltshire Brewery. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 26 Mitford Street, Salisbury, described as a Restaurant Proprietor. He later moved to 73 Downton Road, Salisbury where he died on 6 Oct 1944.

Frederick's brother, Ernest William, also served in the war but was sadly killed in 1917 while serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment in France.

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Ernest William Gray

Edmund Baden Powell Gray

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Edmund Baden Powell

Locations in this story:
Railway Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire
Bridport, Dorset

Story:
Edmund Baden Powell Gray was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 18th September 1900 and baptised there on 25th November 1900, the son of James Thomas Gray and Harriett Elizabeth Gray (née Powell). He lived his early life at 1 Railway Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 30th October 1918 and joined the 53rd Training Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 28512). He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 10th February 1919. There are no medal records in this case. He married Evelyn Rees in Bridport, Dorset, in 1927 and they went on to have three children. The 1939 Register shows him living at the Police Station, Bridport, Dorset, described as a Police Constable. He died in Bridport in 1977.

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James John Garrett

20th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Garrett

Other names: James John

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cherry Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
James John Garrett was born on 19th December 1886 in the Parish of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of George William Garrett and Emily Garrett (née Jeans). Apart from his army service James spent all of his life in and around Shaftesbury, Dorset. He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, leaving in the summer of 1899.

James enlisted on the 20th December 1905 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Reserves until the 22nd April 1908 when he enlisted further with the Territorial Battalion of the same regiment (Service No. 214), attending annual training camps. He married Daisy Brine on 21st October 1913 at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and they went on to have at least five children. James was embodied at the outbreak of war on 5th Aug 1914 (Service No. 927) and served throughout his time in the UK. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal and then to Acting Sergeant but had to be released on a number of occasions during 1915 to assist on the farm, Grants Farm, Cherry Orchard, Cann. He eventually opted to take a release from the Army as he had already completed the terms of his engagement and was discharged on 22nd April 1916. There are no medal records in this case. He returned to Grants Farm but by the 1921 Census had moved to Whitings Farm, Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset, as a Dairy Farmer. The 1939 Register shows him still living at Whitings Farm. He died in The Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 13th May 1964 and was buried at St. James Church on 20 May 1964.

The "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which James served and the date and term in which he left school. His name is also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Source: Photograph of Sergeant John James Garrett in the Dorset Yeomanry supplied by Nigel Garrett.

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Shastonian

Charlie Dibben

19th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Hussars, Royal Tank Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dibben

Other names: Charlie

Locations in this story:
Twyford, Compton Abbas, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Wokingham, Berkshire
Horders Farm, French Mill Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Charlie (sometimes known as Charles) Dibben was born in Twyford, Compton Abbas, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th January 1899, the son of Alfred Dibben and Sarah Ann Dibben (née Rideout). At the time of the 1911 Census the family was living at 45 Twyford, Compton Abbas. He enlisted on 6th January 1917 but was not embodied until 22nd May 1918 when he joined the 25th Cavalry Reserve Battalion of the Hussars (Service No. H/69362). On 22nd May 1918 he was transferred to the 7th Battalion of the Tank Corps as a Private (Service No. 311932). He served in France from 28 Oct 1918 and was eventually discharged on 24th February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents a Horders Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, where he was assisiting his father on the farm. He married Gladys J. Rideout in Wokingham, Berkshire in during 1928 and there was thought to have been one child of the marriage. The 1939 Register shows him still living at Horders Farm, French Mill Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died in the North Dorset Registration District on 20th July 1986 whilst living at 13 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Of his brothers, Frank Dibben was killed in action and Claude Dibben served but survived.

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Frank Dibben
Claude Dibben
The National Archives

John George Day

19th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Day

Other names: John George

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Woodyates, Pentridge, Dorset
France & Flanders
Penn Hill Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset
Branksome, Dorset
Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France
Appleby Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole, Dorset

Story:
John George Day was born at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, in 1874, the son of Charles Day and Jane Day (née Cookman). He lived most of his early life in and around Sixpenny Handley and nearby Woodyates, Pentridge, Dorset. He married Emily Agnes Martin on 6th October 1897 at Pentridge and they had one child, Stewart Arbuthnot Day (b. 1898 in Branksome, Dorset). Regrettably Emily died in 1909. John went on to re-marry Adelaide Ellen Rogers at Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, on 12th November 1910. There were no children of this marriage. John enlisted on 24th June 1916 but was not mobilized until 14th June 1918 when he joined the Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) as a Driver (Service No. T/422713). He served in France from 9 Aug 1918 and was demobilized on 4th March 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Tragically his son, Stewart, was killed on 3 Dec 1917 whilst serving with the Gloucestershire Regiment in France and whose name is recorded on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France. The 1921 Census shows John living at 'Neath', Appleby Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, working as a Bricklayer and later, at the time of his death on 25th June 1930, at Prestbury, Penn Hill Road, Parkstone, Dorset. He was buried in Branksome Cemetery.

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Leo Bennett Reeves

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Reeves

Other names: Leo Bennett

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Weymouth, Dorset
Pimperne, Dorset
University Road, Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
Leo Bennett Reeves was born on 15th August 1893 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 8th October 1893, the son of Walter William Reeves and Emily Reeves (née Bennett). He lived with his family during his early years in West Street, Fontmell Magna. By 1911 he had moved to Weymouth, Dorset, working as a baker. At the outbreak of war his firm were making bread for the military. He enlisted on 2 Nov 1915 and joined the 21st Field Bakery of the Army Service Corps (Service No. S4/145269). He served in Salonika from 24 Dec 1916 and was eventually demobilized on 19th August 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Frances Harris in Pimperne, Dorset, on 25th August 1920 and they set up home in Pimperne where, by the 1921 Census, he was working as a Baker's Saleman. No 1939 Register record can be found. In 1984 he was living at 141 University Road, Southampton, Hampshire, where he died on 14th Aug 1984 aged 91 years.

Leo's father and brother Maurice Vernon also served in the war and survived. Sadly brother Cecil John died in a military hospital in Suffolk on 9th May 1917, having also served as a baker with the Army Service Corps.

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Cecil John Reeves
Walter William Reeves
Maurice Vernon Reeves