Stories Archive - Page 117 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Walter John Lane

Surname: Lane

Other names: Walter John

Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset.
France & Flanders
St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
Liverpool
Toronto, Canada

Story:
Walter John Lane was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th January 1892, the son of John Lane and Maria Lane (née Alner). His siblings included Charles (b.1878) and James (b.1883), both of whom served in the Royal Engineers during the conflict). The family lived in Brickhill (now Church Hill), Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. Walter married Mary Ann Furnell on 1st March 1913 in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. It is not known if there were any children of the marriage.

Walter enlisted on 7th June 1916 as a reservist with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 4928). He was mobilized on 21st November 1916 and joined the Royal Engineers (Railway Troops), (Service No. 221243), but one day later transferred again to the RE (Road Construction Unit) with revised Service No. WR/25388. He served in France and Flanders and was finally demobilized on 4th October 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By this time he was living at 6 Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. He and his wife sailed from Liverpool on 8th March 1920 on the SS Melita and travelled to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, with the intention of permanently settling there. No more information is available except there was at some time a memorial plate in St. John's Church, Enmore Green, stating he died on 21st February 1967 in Toronto, Canada.

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Charles Lane
James Lane

James Lane

2nd October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers, Training Battalion /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lane

Other names: James

Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Mere, Wiltshire
Chapel Cottages, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury

Story:
James Lane was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 15th November 1883 and baptised there on 10th February 1884. He was the son of John Lane and Maria Lane (née Alner). His siblings included Charles (b.1878) and Walter John (b.1892), both of whom served with the Royal Engineers during the conflict. The family lived at Brickhill (now Church Hill), Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset. James married Florence Ellen Scammell in Shaftesbury, on 9th April 1910. They had one child. James enlisted on 12th May 1916 but was not mobilized until 4th December 1916 when he joined the 36th Training Battalion as a Private (Service No. TR/8/12450). He was transferred to the Royal Engineers (Road Construction Company) as a Sapper (Service No. 221332). He served in France and Flanders, during which time he had a fracture of his foot which left him with a limp. He was transferred again to the Royal Engineers (Transportation Branch) (Service No. 40132) but was soon discharged on 1st August 1918 being physically unfit for further duty and was issued with the Silver War Badge No. 381556. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1939 Register he was living at 2 Chapel Cottages, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, and working as a Roadman. He died in 1947 in the Mere, Wiltshire, Registration District.

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Walter John Lane
Charles Lane

William Frederick Imber

28th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Imber

Other names: William Frederick

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bourton, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
William Frederick Imber was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 6th February 1871 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 1st March 1871, the son of Samuel Imber and Sarah Ann Imber (née Elkins). He lived his early life at home with his family in Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury. He married Julia Elizabeth Forsey at Bourton, Dorset, on 16th February 1897 and they went on to have four children. Some time prior to the First World War William had joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a reservist (attending regular training camps). He had achieved the rank of Sergeant (Service No. 1875). At the outbreak of war he was embodied on 7th August 1914 but found to be medically unfit for duty and was thereby discharged on 12th September 1914. He was then living at 8 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury and working as a Postman. He died on 24th June 1920.

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Tom Imber

28th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Household Cavalry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Imber

Other names: Tom

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Aisne, France
Portishead, Somerset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Ship Inn, Bleke Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
Tom Imber was born on 17 September 1871 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 11th October 1871, the son of Harry Imber and Diana Imber (née Dunn). His father was a butcher in the town and they lived locally throughout his childhood. He enlisted on 10th March 1894 and joined the Household Cavalry eventually serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Life Guards where he achieved the rank of Corporal Major (Warrant Officer Class 2) (Service No. 1934). He married Mabel Ashford at Portishead Parish Church, Somerset, on 14th July 1906 and they went on to have three children. At the outbreak of WW1 he served in France and Flanders from 16 August 1914 where on 27th September 1914 he was wounded in the right thigh by a shell at Aisne, France. He returned to duty after 2 months treatment and recuperation. He was discharged on 30th June 1919 having completed the period of his engagement and was awarded the Silver Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct as well as the Victory and British War medals along with the 1914/15 Star and a life pension. The 1921 Census shows he had become the Licensee of the Ship Inn, Bleke Street, Shaftesbury and was still there by the time of the 1939 Register. He died early in 1947 at the age of 75 years and was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 15 January 1947.

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James Hunt Imber

28th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Hampshire Regiment, Hampshire Yeomanry, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Imber

Other names: James Hunt

Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Southampton Lodge, Paulton Ower, Nr. Romsey, Hampshire
Ford New Road, Esher, Surrey
France & Flanders
Calvin Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire
Totton, Hampshire
Moorside, Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
James Hunt Imber was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th March 1886 and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 19 April 1886 the son of Frank Imber and Mary Anna Imber (née Hunt) and brother to Mark Imber (b.1879) who died in 1915 while serving with the Household Cavalry in Ireland. They lived at 14 St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. James enlisted on 10th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 12th May 1916 when he joined the Hampshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 2220). On 21st December 1916 he transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 33442) and served in France. On 23rd August 1917 he was transferred to the 84th Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 629623). He was found to have heart and chest problems occasioned by his service in the field which led to him to receiving a 30% Pension. He was finally discharged on 10th February 1919 being physically unfit for further duty. He gave his address at that time as Southampton Lodge, Paulton Ower, Nr, Romsey, Hampshire - this was a Military Convalescence Hospital. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

He had married Maria Louise Kitcherside in Hampshire on 8th Oct 1918 and they went on to have one child who did not survive her first birthday. The 1921 Census shows him living at 1 Devonia, Totton, Hampshire, working as a Chauffeur and by the 1939 Register had moved to 91 Ford New Road, Esher Surrey, working as a living-in chauffeur. He died on 30th May 1959 at his then home at 20 Calvin Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire, and buried at St. John's Church, Moordown, Bournemouth.

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Mark Imber

Frank Hunt

28th September 2019/in 1914-1918 East Kent Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hunt

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Willoughby Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey
Fulham, London
Quill Lane, Putney, London
France & Flanders
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Arras Memorial, France

Story:
Frank Hunt was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th October 1874, the son of James Martin Hunt and Elizabeth Hunt (née March). The family lived in Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury where Frank's father was a grocer. His father died in 1886 and his mother continued with the business until her retirement just prior to 1911 when she moved to Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset. By 1901 Frank had moved to 48 Willoughby Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, where he was boarding out and working as a Plasterer's Improver. He married Annie Agnes Dunkley at Fulham Registry Office on 7th October 1903 and they went on to have six children. By 1915 he had moved with his family to 19 Quill Lane, Putney, London.

He enlisted on 11th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 18th August 1916 when he joined the 3rd Battalion of The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment as a Private (Service No. G/12104). He served in France and Flanders from 8 December 1916 with the 1st Battalion. Whilst there he received gunshot wounds on 28th February 1918 and admitted to the 16th Field Ambulance, following which he was returned to duty on 10th March 1918. He went missing, presumed dead, on 21st March 1918. His wife wrote to his unit (the letter was received on 2nd April 1918) asking for news of her husband as she was concerned. There is no copy of any reply which would have certainly confirmed his loss in the field. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and, in due time, his wife received a Memorial Bronze Plaque on 19th March 1920. His wife and family were awarded a pension of £2. 2s. 1d. (£2.10) per week. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial at Faubourg-D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France, (Bay 2).

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

James Hopkins

27th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Horse Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hopkins

Other names: James

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mount Atlas, Manchester, Jamaica
Mesopotamia
Pewsey, Wiltshire
Abbots Ann, Andover, Hampshire
France & Flanders
India

Story:
James Hopkins was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13th March 1886 and baptised there at Holy Trinity Church on 4th April 1886, the son of Edwin Hopkins and Charlotte Ann Hopkins (née Sanger). He lived his early life with his parents at 59 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. He had previously joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Reserves). He formally enlisted on 20th February 1904 and joined the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 33311). He was quickly transferred to the Army Service Corps on 22nd August 1904 as a Private (Service No. S22334). He served in Jamaica during which time began his rise through the ranks to finally become a Staff Sergeant. Whilst in Jamaica he met and married Emily Louise Reynolds at St. Andrews Church, Mount Atlas, Manchester, Jamaica, on 2nd April 1911. They went on to have four children. He returned to the UK giving 71 St. James Street, Shaftesbury as his wife's address. At the outbreak of war he was posted to France followed by more postings to Mesopotamia and India. He was finally discharged on 14th December 1918 being no longer physically fit for duty and awarded a pension and the Silver War Badge No. B59520, having reverted to the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914 Star. By the 1939 Register he was living at598 Zouch Cottages, Pewsey, Wiltshire, and working as an Ordnance Clerk for the War Department. He died in Abbots Ann, Andover, Hampshire, on 6th August 1967 aged 81 years.

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George Hopkins

27th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hopkins

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Fountain Bank, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Alverstoke, Hampshire
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Hopkins was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1890 the son of Frank Hopkins and Caroline Eliza Hopkins (née Extance). His siblings included Herbert (b.1874) who served in the Royal Engineers and Edgar (b.1894) who served in the Royal Army Service Corps during the war. His early life was spent with his parents at Fountain Bank (near The Fountain Inn), Enmore Green. By 1911 he was boarding with his brother-in-law in Alverstoke, Hampshire and working as a Motor Cycle Mechanic. He enlisted on 5th September 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers, eventually becoming a Corporal (Service No. 73215). He served in France and Flanders with the 8th Divisional Signal Company as a Despatch Rider. He was demobilized on 13th April 1919, giving 71 St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset as his contact address. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

He had married Louisa Anne Rose Dyke at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 1st August 1917 and they went on to have three children. The 1921 Census shows him living at Butt's Knap, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Motor Cycle Mechanic. He died in the Grove House Nursing Home, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1939 and was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 17th April 1939.

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Edgar Hopkins
The National Archives
Herbert Hopkins

Edgar Hopkins

27th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hopkins

Other names: Edgar

Locations in this story:
Fountain Bank, Enmore Green, Motcombe, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Amesbury, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury
Breach Lane, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury

Story:
Edgar Hopkins was born in Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 20th June 1894, the son of Frank Hopkins and Caroline Eliza Hopkins (née Extance). His brothers Herbert (b.1876) and George (b.1890) both served with the Royal Engineers during the war. His early life was spent at Fountain Bank (near the Fountain Inn), Enmore Green. He was working as a Baker at the time of the 1911 Census. Edgar enlisted on 24th October 1915 and joined the 47th Field Bakery of the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. S4/143874). He later transferred to the 67th Field Bakery and, just prior to his demobilization, to the 'L' Supply Company. His service was entirely in the UK. He left the service on 19th August 1919 giving 71 St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset as his contact address. There are no records of any awards.

Edgar had married Mary Green on 18th March 1918 at the Amesbury Registry Office, Wiltshire and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register Edgar was living at 74 St. James, Shaftesbury, working as a Cabinet Maker and at the time of his death, on 20th January 1974, was residing at 18 Breach Lane, Shaftesbury.

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Herbert Hopkins
George Hopkins

Frederick Charles Hillier

27th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hillier

Other names: Frederick Charles

Locations in this story:
Corner Lane, Motcombe, Dorset
North End, Motcombe, Dorset
St. Mary's Church, Motcombe
Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
Frederick Charles Hillier was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 30th August 1886, the son of William Thomas Hillier and Mary Hillier (née Sharp). The family lived in Corner Lane, Motcombe, Dorset. Frederick, a baker, married Bessie Rachel Fletcher in Motcombe on 20th June 1915 at Gillingham Parish Church, Gillingham, Dorset. They went on to have four children. He enlisted on 24th June 1916 but was not mobilized until 2nd May 1918 when he joined the 'Y' Battery of the 2nd Reserves of the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No 213365). He served in the UK only until his demobilization on 28th February 1919. No medal record can be found. The 1921 Census shows him living at 83 Corner lane, Motcombe, working as a Baker's Assistant. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 76 North End, Motcombe, Dorset, (adjacent to North End Farm) now working as a Cowman. He died on 8 Apr 1975 and was interred in St. Mary's Churchyard, Motcombe.

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