Stories Archive - Page 118 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Frank Hillier

Surname: Hillier

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cardiff
Gallipoli, Turkey
India
Mesopotamia
Iraq
Abernant Road, Markham Villages, Nr. Holly Bush, Monmouthshire
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Tanyard Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury
East Glamorgan, Wales

Story:
Frank Hillier was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1893 and baptised at St. James' Church on 16th April 1893, the son of Thomas Hillier and Catherine Hillier (née Hopkins). Frank lived with his family at 5 Tanyard Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Cardiff on 12th August 1914 and joined the Welch Regiment as a Private (Service No. 11311). He served with the Middle East Expeditionary Force and took part in the Gallipoli campaign where he received gun shot wounds to his side and leg on 12th April 1915. Following treatment he was sent to India for recuperation. He eventually returned to Mesopotamia and on 18th February 1918 was attached to the Royal Engineers (Railway Division) as a platelayer in Iraq where, on 23rd November 1918, he was hospitalized with malaria. After further convalescence he returned to England and was discharged on 1st April 1919, giving 5 Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury, as his forwarding address which was also recorded in the 1921 Census describing him as a Labourer. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1914/15 Star. His Star Medal was sent to an address in 1920 at 26 Abernant Road, Markham Villages, Nr. Holly Bush, Monmouthshire. This is the last record that can be found for him. He cannot be found on the 1939 Register or in any death record.

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Frank Percy Hayter

26th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hayter

Other names: Frank Percy

Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mesopotamia
India
Overton Terrace, Wincanton, Somerset
Yeovil, Somerset
Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Frank Percy Hayter was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th August 1895 and baptised at St. James' Church on 8th September 1895, the son of William Hayter and Elizabeth Hayter (née Padfield). Frank spent his early life with his family at 30 St. James, Shaftesbury. His mother passed away during 1912. He enlisted as a Private with the 7th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 13th November 1915 (Service No. 15793). He also served with the 2nd and 9th Battalions and had postings to Mesopotamia from 14 June 1916 and later in India. He was discharged on 4th August 1919 being physically unfit due to malaria. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Edith Frances Parker in Shaftesbury on 3rd May 1922 and they went on to have three children. The 1921 Census shows him boarding at 5 South View Terrace, Bournemouth, Hampshire, as a Painter (unemployed). By the 1939 Register he had moved to 6 Overton Terrace, Wincanton, Somerset, working as a Road Sign and Highway Painter. He passed away in 1991 in the Yeovil Registration District aged 96 years.

Frank's brother Robert John (b.1887) also served in the war, with the Devonshire Light Infantry and the Labour Corps.

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Robert John Hayter

Sidney Hawkins

26th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Northumberland Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hawkins

Other names: Sidney

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury,Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Sidney Hawkins was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd February 1887 and baptised there on 18th February 1887, the son of William Edward and Georgina Hawkins. Sidney enlisted in the Territorial Volunteer Reserve of the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 1st April 1908 (Service No. 5236) and attended annual training camps. He married Mabel Rose Gray at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 26th June 1913. They went on to have two children. Sidney was called from the reserve and embodied on 4th August 1914 as a Private. He served in the UK until he was discharged on 31st March 1916 having completed the terms of his engagement. It is evident that he re-joined at some later time as there are records showing him with the 2nd Garrison Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Service No. 53455) and being discharged on 18th November 1919 due to being unfit by virtue of suffering from malaria. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at 35 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working as a Carpenter. He died in the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 8 Jul 1959 and was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 11 Jul 1969.

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Cyril Bernard Hardy

26th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardy

Other names: Cyril Bernard

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Ypres, Belgium
Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham, Kent
Rust Hall Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Story:
Cyril Bernard Hardy (sometimes using the names in reverse and known in the family as 'Bernard') was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20th May 1894 and baptised there on 15th Juy 1894, the son of Leonard Randolph Hardy and Evangeline Hardy (née Knapton). His father was a baker and Cyril followed in that trade. He enlisted on 7th February 1916 and was mobilized on 5th April 1916 by joining the 7th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. TR/8/8191). He later transferred to the 35th Training Battalion on 1st Sep 1916. He served in France and Flanders with the Dorsetshire Regiment and, from 16th December 1916, the 1st Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 49017). He received gunshot wounds in the leg, arm and left hand on 4th October 1917 whilst in the field near Ypres, Belgium. He was treated initially at the 41st Casualty Clearing Station until 16th October 1916 when he was repatriated back to England and admitted to the Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham, Kent. He was later sent to Rust Hall Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, for rehabilitation at which time he was fitted with a surgical boot due to a pronounced limp. He was eventually discharged due to his disability on a permanent pension on 20th March 1918. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Silver War Badge No.369095 in addition he had a life pension. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at 34 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. He married Beatrice E. Toogood in Shaftesbury during 1925. There are no known children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register he was still living at 34 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, and working as a confectioner and cake salesman - he was also a Special Constable. He died locally on 30 Oct 1986 aged 92 years.

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Harold George Harding

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Harding

Other names: Harold George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Harold George Harding was born on 12th December 1878 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised was at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 17th January 1879. He was the son of Rudolph James Harding and Mary Harding (nee Down). The family lived in Bleke Street, Shaftesbury. Harold married Edith Mary Watts on 7th February 1909 and they set up home at 35 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, where, by 1911, Harold was working as a plumber. There were five children of the marriage. He had previously joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 3rd April 1908 and, as a reservist, had attended many annual training camps (Service No. 296). He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and held the rank of Colour Sergeant. He was temporarily demobilized on 19th July 1915 until his formal discharge on 2nd April 1916 - his term of engagement having been completed. He had served in the UK only and there are no records of any medals being awarded. The 1921 census shows him living at 35 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Plumber and Decorator (Manager). He died in Shaftesbury in 1928 and was buried at the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 7 Nov 1928.

Harold's brother Percival James (b.1890) also served in the war, with the Dorset Yeomanry.

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Percival James Harding

Alfred Joseph Gurd

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Bedfordshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gurd

Other names: Alfred Joseph

Locations in this story:
Stoke Devonport, Plymouth, Devon
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Andover, Hampshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury
France

Story:
Alfred Joseph Gurd was born in Stoke Devonport, Plymouth, on 26th July 1891 but his birth was not registered until his family arrived in Shaftesbury, Dorset, where he was baptised on 27th September 1891 at St. James' Church. He was the son of Henry Gurd (described as a 'Ship's Corporal') and Mary Ann Gurd (née Davis). The family resided at 10 St. James, Shaftesbury. Alfred enlisted as a Private with the 8th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment on 1st February 1915 (Service No. 19665). He served in France but only until 6th June 1917 when he was discharged as unfit for further duty due to stomach abscesses. He was awarded the Silver Badge No. 431480 along with the Victory and British medals and the 1915 Star. He married Elizabeth M. Sennett in 1924 and by the 1939 Register they were living at 2 Norman Court Cottages, Andover, Hampshire, and Alfred was working as a Dairyman. His wife passed away in 1959 and he remarried Hilda E. Ewins in Salisbury, Wiltshire, during 1960. There were no children by either marriage. He died in Salisbury in 1969.

Alfred's brother Percy Arthur (b.1894) also served in the war, with the Royal Engineers.

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Percy Arthur Gurd

Robert Roy Gray

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Somerset Light Infantry, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Robert Roy

Locations in this story:
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ireland
Gallipoli, Turkey
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Robert Roy Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1868 and baptised at St. James' Church on 26th July 1868, the son of George Gray and Hannah Elizabeth Gray (née Wright). (A previous child called Robert had been born in January 1867 but had not survived.) Robert married Alice Louisa Brickell at St. James' Church on 14th July 1888 and they went on to have eleven children, one of whom, Frederick Percival Gray (b. 1896), was killed at Gallipoli on 21st August 1915. Robert had had previous experience with the Dorset Yeomanry. He enlisted on 18th April 1918 but was not mobilized until 6th September 1918 when he joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 54998). He was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment from 5th December 1918 until his discharge on 24th January 1919 (Service No. 69393). He had served in Ireland and there are no records of any medals being awarded. By the time of the 1939 Register, Robert was living as a widower at 5 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Retired Builder's Labourer. He died locally in 1946.

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Frederick Percival Gray

Maurice Gray

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Lancaster (Kings Own), Training Infantry Battalion Reserve /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Maurice

Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Poole, Dorset
Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Story:
Maurice Gray was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 12th June 1898, the son of Thomas 'Tom' Gray and Sarah Jane Gray (née Adams). They lived at Brickhill (now called Church Hill), Enmore Green, during his early years. Maurice enlisted on 10th July 1917 and was placed on reserve until mobilized on 19th February 1917 when he joined the 35th, followed by the 210th, Training Infantry Battalion Reserve as a Private. (Service No. 8/9464). He was transferred to the 7th Battalion of the King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment on 15th August 1917 and then the 1st/5th Battalion from 8th February 1918 and served in France from 25 July 1917 (Service No. 28197). He was demobilized on 14th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. At that time he gave his address as Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. By the time of his marriage to Dorothy Bessie Peddle in 1922 in Shaftesbury he had moved to 91 St. James Street. There was one child of the marriage. By the 1939 Register the family were living at 20 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, and Maurice was working as a Grocer's Shop Assistant. He died in the Poole Registration District in 1977 and was later buried at the United Reform Church, Shaftesbury.

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Jasper James Gray

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Jasper James

Locations in this story:
Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Jasper James Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17th December 1871, the son of Alfred Gray and Elizabeth Jane Gray (née Toomer). He married Emily Elizabeth Petty in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 24th December 1899. They had one child in 1901 before Emily died in 1912. Jasper remarried on 1st January 1913 to Martha Ann Weldon, herself a widow of a Mr. Wilmot, at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury. There were no recorded children of the marriage.

Jasper enlisted on 1st November 1918 as a Private with the 3rd Battalion, 73rd Squadron, of the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. R/444948). He served in the UK only and was discharged on 21st June 1919. There were no medal records found. His brother Frederick John also served in the war, with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

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Frederick John Gray

Henry Isaac Gray

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Henry Isaac

Locations in this story:
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset
The Cross Keys Inn, Devizes, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
Coombe Lodge, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. Martin's Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Queen's Head, The Embankment, Twickenham, Middlesex

Story:
Henry Isaac Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 19th November 1886 and baptised at St. James' Church on 12th December 1886, the son of Samuel Gray and Sarah Ann Gray (née Oxford). He lived with his family on Gold Hill, Shaftesbury for most of his early life until his marriage to Elizabeth Cotton at St. Martin's Church, Salisbury, on 23rd October 1907. They went on to have four children. By 1911 Henry was living at the Cross Keys Inn, Devizes, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 19th November 1915 and was immediately placed on reserve and not mobilized until 27th April 1917 when he joined the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. M/316796). He served in Salonika as a lorry driver from 15 July 1917. He was discharged on 27th March 1919 being 'no longer physically fit for service' due to malaria. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at the Queen's Head, The Embankment, Twickenham, Middlesex, as a the Licensee. By the 1939 Register he had moved to Coombe Lodge, Salisbury Road, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He died in Wilton, Wiltshire on 25th May 1982 and was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Shaftesbury, aged 95 years.

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