Stories Archive - Page 122 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Philip Ernest Silcox

Surname: Silcox

Other names: Philip Ernest

Locations in this story:
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Motcombe, Dorset
Kensington Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire

Story:
Philip Ernest Silcox was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15th December 1897 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 13th January 1898, the son of Edwin James Silcox and Emma Jane Silcox (née Weldon). They lived in Bleke Street, Shaftesbury. The father, Edwin, died in 1900 and his wife went on to re-marry Albert Coward pre-1908. The family went to live at Barton Cottage, Enmore Green, Motcombe. Philip became a Postman in March 1914 in Shaftesbury just prior to the outbreak of war. He enlisted on 15th May 1916 and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service Nos. 153169 and TF725954). He was discharged at some time around March 1917 for an unknown reason but was appointed as a Postman at Portsmouth at that time. He had been awarded the Victory and British medals. He married Gladys Violet Louisa Dean in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 1922 but she regrettably died in 1926. Philip went on to re-marry Nora Fanny Wetherall in July 1928 in Portsmouth, Hants. They went on to have two children. Philip and family were living at 160 Kensington Road, Portsmouth at the time of the 1939 Register and Philip was working as an Assistant Postal Inspector as well as being an Air Raid Warden. He had moved to 58 London Road, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, by the time he died in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Bucks, on 9th March 1954. His brothers, Harry Silcox and Philip Ernest Silcox, also served in the conflict.

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The National Archives

Howard William Highman

2nd September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Irish Rifles /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Highman

Other names: Howard William

Locations in this story:
Fieldings, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Stour Provost, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Howard William Highman was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th January 1897, the son of George Highman and Elizabeth Highman (nee Roberts). He lived at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, up until he volunteered for war service during which time his father had died on 13 Sep 1901. He enlisted on 8th December 1915 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment (7th Reserve Battalion) as a Private (Service No. 17605). He transferred shortly after to the Royal Irish Rifles (Service No. 10074). Having served in Salonika from 5 Jan 1917. He returned to England and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 2nd January 1918 (later the Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) (Service No. 138549) and served in Egypt from2 Jan 1918. He achieved the rank of AC1 and remained until demobilized on 21st May 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother still at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working a a Motor Mechanic. He re-enlisted in the RAF (Service No. 138519) on 18th April 1931 and served through until placed on Reserve on 18th April 1939. He had married Florence Amelia Alice Hyde in 1928 (Bournemouth District Register). There were possibly two children of the marriage. The family lived at 12 Fieldings, Shaftesbury at the time of the 1939 Register and, once no longer serving with the RAF, Howard became an Automobile Association Road Patrolman. He died in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th December 1976.

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St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Reginald John Baker

20th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Baker

Other names: Reginald John

Locations in this story:
Tan Yard, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
China
Jutland
Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Lydlinch, Dorset
Compton Dundon, Somerset
Llangafelach, Swansea, Glamorganshire
Southsea, Hampshire

Story:
Reginald John Baker was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st December 1879, the son of Samuel Baker and Sarah Jane Baker (née Edgar). His early life was spent with his parents at Tan Yard, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was living with his grandparents in Compton Dundon, Somerset, at the time of the 1891 Census and by 1901 was boarding in Llangafelach, Swansea, Glamorganshire and working as a Fitter.

He joined the Royal Navy on 16 May 1901 (Service No. 270449). He served on many ships in time throughout the world and by 1911 was stationed on board HMS Inconstant in the China Area. He served at the Battle of Jutland in WW1 and was finally discharged on 19th October 1918. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. His final rank was Acting Artificer (Engineering). The 1921 Census shows him living at 36 Bradford Road, Southsea, Hampshire, described as an Artificer Engineer (RN) Retired. He is known to have lived at 18 St John's Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire, where he died on 2nd March 1937, He was interred at Lydlinch, Dorset (his parents' birth place) on 7th March 1937. Probate was granted later to his widow, Martha Baker, though no record of the marriage can be found.

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Enmore Green. New Buildings in the foreground

Albert Charles Brickell

20th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Hampshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: Albert Charles

Locations in this story:
New Buildings, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Oakley Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Story:
Albert Charles Brickell was born on 27th September 1889 in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Albert Brickell and Emma Jane Brickell (née Adams). By the 1911 Census the family was living at 7 New Buildings, Enmore Green. Albert married Edith Elizabeth Day on 10th May 1915 at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset. They went on to have three children. Albert enlisted on 12th December 1915, and joined the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 35975). He served in France from 22 Oct 1916 and whilst there received two gunshot wounds - one to the left eyebrow and the other to the right thigh. These were sufficient for him to be eventually discharged and on the 20th June 1918 he received the King's Certificate No. 3500 and the Silver War Badge No. 414064 and a small pension. He also received the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows the family living at East Oakley Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, with Albert working as a House Painter. The 1939 Register shows the address as 'Mendip', Oakley Lane, Basingstoke. Albert was then described as a coach painter. He died during March 1980 in Basingstoke at the age of 80 years.

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Richard Charles Mullins

20th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mullins

Other names: Richard Charles

Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
Richard Charles Mullins was born on 1st May 1895 at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset and baptised there on 2nd June 1895, the son of Charles Mullins and Elizabeth Mullins (née Lucas). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Cann Common, Shaftesbury. He joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 560) but later transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) as a Gunner (Service No.334552). During his time in the services he had been in France & Flanders. Following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Elsie Greenwood at Ludwell, Wiltshire, on 3rd April 1920 and they went on to have two children. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died at Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th September 1973 and was later interred at Melbury Abbas alongside his wife who had predeceased him in 1966.

Images:

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George James Young

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Young

Other names: George James

Locations in this story:
Forest Farm, Motcombe, Dorset
Knoll View, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire
France
St. Mary's Church, Motcombe, Dorset

Story:
George James Young was born in Motcombe, Dorset on 25 Nov 1893 and baptised there on 23 Jan 1894 the son of James Young and Emma Jane Young (née Ricketts). His family lived at Forest Farm, Motcombe. His brother Ernest Frank (b.1896) also served during the war, with the Somerset Light Infantry and the Labour Corps.

George enlisted in the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry on 6th December 1912, becoming a Corporal in due course (Service No. 422). He served in France and due to conditions in the field became disabled with Rheumatism. On 1st April 1915 he was discharged due to Myocardial Debility caused by his condition. There is no record of any medals being issued but he was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 116332. The 1921 Census shows him back at Forest Farm, Motcombe, now the Farmer due to the passing of his father in 1912. By 1939 he was living at Knoll View, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire, where he was described as a farmer. He died on 13th June 1978 at Kilmington and was buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe, Dorset.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Ernest Frank Young
The National Archives

Harry (John) Woolfries

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Woolfries

Other names: Harry (John)

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France
Tarrant Hinton, Dorset
Netheravon, Wiltshire

Story:
Harry Woolfries, known in the military records and some electoral registers as John, was born in Farnham, Dorset, on 30th January 1891 and baptised there on 19th April 1891, the son of Francis and Elizabeth Anne Woolfries. Right up until the outbreak of war he lived with his parents in Farnham. He enlisted as a Driver and Shoeing Smith in the Royal Field Artillery on 29th March 1915 (Service No. 98228). He served from 1 May 1915 with both the 19th (Reserve) Battery and the 17th Battery in France. He was demobilized on 27th May 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Ellen Lydia Bailey during 1919 and had at least one child. They settled in Tarrant Hinton, where he worked as the village blacksmith and landlord of the public house. The featured photograph shows him standing in front of the pub in 1928, between his friends David Williams and Percy Bourton. The 1939 Register shows that he was still living at Tarrant Hinton, Dorset, and working as a Licencee. He died on 17th December 1957 and is buried at St. Lawrence Church, Farnham, Dorset. Harry had three brothers who served in the war: Arthur Eldred (b.1892) who served in a number of different regiments, Charles Woolfries who served with the Dorset (Queen;s Own) Yeomanry and Edwin who sadly died at Gallipoli while serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

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Arthur Eldred Woolfries
Edwin Woolfries

Sidney Whitmarsh

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Whitmarsh

Other names: Sidney

Locations in this story:
White Pit Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Frederick Street, Aldershot, Hampshire
Burton Street, Marnull, Dorset
Runfold, Farnham, Surrey

Story:
Sidney Whitmarsh was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1871, the son of Ambrose John Whitmarsh and Maria Whitmarsh (nee Lane). The family lived for a time at White Pit Lane, Melbury Abbas. He had enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1897. He married Kate Lane at Melbury Abbas on 11th July 1898. He had been discharged from the army and according to the 1911 Census, when they were living at Burton Street, Marnull, Dorset, there was at least one child of the marriage. He re-enlisted as a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment on 17th August 1914 (Service No. 7373). He was transferred as a Gunner to the Royal Garrison Artillery on 1st January 1915 (Service No. 6720) and served with them in France. On 5th May 1917, having returned to the UK, he was transferred to the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 435341) and joined the 644th Agricultural Company. He was demobilized on 31st March 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Tices Farm, Runfold, Farnham, Surrey, working as a Farm Carter. He was obviously in some financial difficulty in 1923, when by then living at 1 Frederick Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, as he was trying to obtain copies of his military record in order to prove his need to the authorities. He died in Aldershot in 1936. His brother, Charles Whitmarsh, also served but was discharged on 2 Apr 1918 being physically unfit due to gun shot wounds and died in 1920. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Charles Whitmarsh

Francis George Wareham

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Essex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wareham

Other names: Francis George

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
India
Mesopotamia
France
South Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wareham, Dorset

Story:
Francis George Wareham was born on 6th October 1889 at Iwerne Minster, Dorset, and baptised there on 2nd February 1890, the son of George and Emma Georgina Wareham. He enlisted on 7th Sep 1914 as a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No 1403). He later transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment (Service No. 33393). He served in France from 6 Feb 1915 and later in Mesopotamia from 23 Mar 1916 during which time he received gunshot wounds (25th March 1917). He was transferred to the Garrison Battalion on 28th March 1918 and posted to India. Whilst in India he suffered with influenza and was hospitalized for 20 days. He was eventually demobilized on 20th January 1920 with a 70% pension due to his previous wounds. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living in Watery Lane, Iwerne Minster, working as a Poultryman at Home Farm. He married Rosalie Theresa Legg in the Wareham, Dorset, Registry area during 1922. By the 1939 Register he was living at Fontmell Hill, Fontmell Magna, Dorset, now described as a Woodman. He died in 1961 where he was recorded as then living in South Street, Fontmell Magna, Dorset. Francis' brothers, Edward Wareham, MM, and Frederick Wareham, also served in the conflict. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

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The National Archives

George Tuffin

15th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Tuffin

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bath, Somerset
Thiepval, France
Rouen, France
Warrington, Lancashire
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Tuffin was born on 9th August 1893 at Sutton Waldron, Dorset, and baptised there on 1st October 1893, the son of Alfred and Laura Luena Tuffin. George enlisted as a Private with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 31st December 1912 (Service No. 9499). He was posted to France on 16 Aug 1914 during which time he was wounded and marked as missing on 26th August 1914 but later found unconscious in a shell hole. He remained in hospital until 13th September 1914. Again he received gunshot wounds to the scalp in a battle near Thiepval on 18th June 1916 which caused partial paralysis of his right arm. He was sent to a hospital in Rouen, France and later repatriated to a Military Hospital in Warrington, Lancashire. He was discharged as being physically unfit for further service due to the paralysis on 9th May 1917. He was awarded the Victory, British Medals and the 1914/15 Star as well as the Silver War Badge No. 172240.

Whilst recovering from his wounds he had married Emily Maggie Lauretta Gamlin at Sutton Waldron on 27th September 1916. Emily lived temporarily at 21 St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. They went on to have three children. The 1921 Census shows he was living at Vale Farm Cottages, Sutton Waldron, working as a Ploughman. By the 1939 Register, George had moved to 1 Lambridge Street, Bath, Somerset, working as a Farm Carter. He later moved to 8 Daffodil Buildings, larkhall, Bath where he died on 1st November 1989 at the age of 96 years.

George's brother Harry Frank died on 26th September 1918, while serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment in France.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

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Harry Frank Tuffin