Stories Archive - Page 125 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Herbert Henry Light

Surname: Light

Other names: Herbert Henry

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Freshford, Somerset
France
Alwold Crescent, Woolwich, London
Tanyard Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Herbert Henry Light was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd December 1877 and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 20 Mar 1878 the son of George Frederick Light and Bethsheba Light (née Stevens). The family lived in Tanyard Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury. Herbert married Emily Dicks in Freshford, Somerset, on 21st September 1901 and they went on to have two children. He served for 6 years with the Dorset Volunteers and re-enlisted as a Driver Saddler with the Army Service Corps on 7th October 1914 (Service No. TS/3096). He served in France from 29th October 1914 to 29th September 1916 and latterly in the UK. He was demobilized on 25th May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. At the time he was reported to be suffering from heart trouble, dysentery and varicose veins and applied for a pension which was ultimately refused. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register shows him living at 61 Alwold Crescent, Woolwich, London, and described as a Harness Maker (Retired). He died in Woolwich on 4 Jul 1951 and was buried nearby on 9 Jul 1951. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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William Charles Lane

Surname: Lane

Other names: William Charles

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Farrington Gurney, Somerset
Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset

Story:
William Charles Lane was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th August 1884 and baptised at St. John's Church on 5 Oct 1884 the son of Charles Lane and Mary Lane (nee Butt). In 1901 the family were living at the Brickyard, Hawkers Hill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. By 1911 William had moved from home to Farrington Gurney, Somerset, where he worked as a Gardener. He enlisted as a Private with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 25th June 1913 (Service No. 1950). He served in the UK only and was discharged on 12th August 1914 (only seven days into the War) due to being physically unfit. He married Florence Beatrice Stanier on 14 Feb 1920 at St. James Church, Shaftesbury and they went on to have one child. The 1921 Census shows him living back at the Brickyard in Hawkers Hill working as a Brickmaker. By the 1939 Register William had moved to Brickworks Cottage, Shillingstone Road, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, and employed as a Brickyard Foreman. His death was registered in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, during 1966 and he was buried at Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset, on 22 Feb 1966.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter

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Norman Henry King

23rd July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: King

Other names: Norman Henry

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Porton Down, Wiltshire
Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Norman Henry King was born at Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, on 8th February 1893, the son of Henry and Sarah King. He enlisted on 3rd September 1914 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 44725). He was discharged on 14th September 1914 (after only 11 days service) due to 'being unlikely to be an efficient soldier' as he only had one eye. He resumed his occupation of Farm Labourer and went on to marry Nellie Mary Dunn in 1922. They had four children. His last known address was 6 Council Houses, Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire, per the 1939 Register, which shows him working as a Civil Defence Messenger at Porton Down Camp, Salisbury. He died in 1977.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter

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John Kimber

23rd July 2019/in 1914-1918 Monmouthshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Kimber

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Newport Road, Cwmcarn, Monmouthshire
Newport, Monmouthshire
Layton Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
John Kimber was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1861 the son of Andrew Kimber and Emma (or Emily) Kimber (née Allen). Officially he was named Henry John but after baptism only 'John' was used. The family lived in Layton Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury. John worked as a decorator. He moved to the Newport, Monmouthshire area and married Margaret Bufton on 4th Aug 1884. There are no recorded children of the marriage. He enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment on 1st November 1903 through to his discharge to the Reserves in 1909 (Service No. 301). He held the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant. He had moved to 63 Newport Road, Cwmcarn, Monmouthshire by 1911 (his last known address) and from there he was re-embodied into his old Regiment on 5th August 1914. He was discharged on 29th July 1915 as being medically unfit for further service due to his age, sight problems and varicose veins and awarded the Silver War badge No. 192240. The 1921 Census shows him still living at 63 Newport Road, Cwmcarn, working as a Painter and Decorator on his own account. He death was recorded in Newport, Monmouthshire, during 1929.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter

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Harry Jolliffe

23rd July 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jolliffe

Other names: Harry

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Pills Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Orchard Street, Rainham, Kent
Gillingham, Kent
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Chatham, Kent

Story:
Harry Jolliffe was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, on 8th May 1873 and baptised there on 1st June 1873, the son of John Jolliffe and Eliza Jolliffe (nee Smith). By 1891 he was living with his parents in Pills Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He married Eliza Parham at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire on 8th April 1895 and they went on to have at least one child. Harry enlisted with the 3rd Dorsetshire Regiment on the 1st January 1898. He served until 1904, having completed six years service, after which he became a reservist (Service No. 2099). He had moved to 39 Orchard Street, Rainham, Kent by the outbreak of war and was working as a Baker for Glass & Son, Bakers of Rainham. He re-enlisted as a Private on the 28th September 1914 and was posted to the Army Service Corps as a baker in the field - mainly in France from 29 Oct 1914 (Service No. 1029). He was discharged on 28th July 1916 having become physically unfit to continue in service. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1914/15 Star plus the Silver War Badge No. 54446. The 1921 Census shows him living in Gillingham, Kent, working as a Fitter's Labourer in the Chatham, Kent, Dockyard. His last known address was 39 The Bungalow, Gillingham, Kent, (1939 Register), where he was described as a Retired Fitter's Labourer and a widower. He died on 11 Nov 1952.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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George Jesse

22nd July 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jesse

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Blackven Farm, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Manor Dairy, Blandford, Dorset
Worthing, Sussex
France
Buckland Newton, Dorset
Lushes Farm, Manston, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
George Jesse was born in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 9th September 1889 and baptised there on 27 Oct 1889 the son of Richard John Jesse and Mary Ann Jesse (nee Frampton). His early life was spent in the Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, area. He had enlisted on 8th June 1908 as a Territorial and joined the 2/1st Battalion of the Dorset (Queens Own) Yeomanry (Service Nos. 294 &1208) with attendance at annual camps. He had been promoted to Corporal until the outbreak of WW1 when he reverted to Private. Throughout this time he was farming at Blackven Farm, Fontmell Magna. He was mobilized on 4 Aug 1914 and on 21st May 1915 transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 19532). He served in France from 21 May 1915 where he was severely gassed on 10 May 1917 and was repatriated to the UK. On recovery he transferred on 9 Feb 1918 to the 609th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 528403). He was demobilized on 5th March 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was also awarded a small pension due to the earlier gassing. He had married Ida Mary Dibben at Buckland Newton, Dorset, on 26th April 1915 and they went on to have three children. The 1921 Census Shows him living at Lushes Farm, Manston, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, working as a Farmer. His last known address was 2 Manor Dairy, Blandford, Dorset, where he was now employed as a Dairy Manager. He died in 1972 (Registered at Worthing, Sussex). Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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George Jenkins

22nd July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jenkins

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Alton, Hampshire
Sierra Leone
Richmond Gardens, Hammersmith, London
Uxbridge, Middlesex
France
Southfield, Wandsworth, London

Story:
George Jenkins was born on 2nd April 1874 at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, the son of Eli Jenkins and Sarah Ann Jenkins (nee Witt). He had enlisted on 10th March 1896 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 14475). He served in many parts of the then Empire, including Sierra Leone, where he was at the time the War broke out. He was posted to France on 3 Oct 1915 for a period and then back to the UK. His career in the Army was very distinguished and after the full 21 years he was duly discharged on 10th March 1918 with the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. Apart for the Victory and British War medals and 1915 Star he was also the holder of the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. He married Lavinia Violet Jane Smith on 4th June 1918 in Alton, Hampshire, from which marriage there were no children. The 1921 Census shows him living at 51 Clonmore Street, Southfield, Wandsworth, London, working as a Clerk at the War Office. The last known address was 7 Richmond Gardens, Hammersmith, London, per the 1939 Register. George died in 1957 in the Uxbridge, Middlesex, Registration District.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Henry Jeffery

17th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Machine Gun Corps, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jeffery

Other names: Henry

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
France
Iraq
India
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Newport Street, Swindon, Wiltshire
Higher Berry Court Farm, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury Grammar School
Exeter, Devon

Story:
Henry Jeffery was born on 9th June 1896 at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, the son of George Jeffery and Ellen Jeffery (née Pardy). They lived at Higher Berry Court Farm, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. His father died in 1904. Henry was recorded as a Boarder at Shaftesbury Grammar School in the 1911 Census. He left school in the summer of 1911 and on enlistment his occupation was given as 'Ironmonger's Apprentice'. He enlisted with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 941) on 5th September 1914, later transferring to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry Section) (Service No. 52942). He was attached to the 15th Squadron of the Tank Corps and achieved the rank of Acting Sergeant, serving in France from 3 Dec 1915 and later in Iraq and India. He was demobilized on 3rd January 1920 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals, the 1915 Star and the India General Service Medal (Afghanistan & N.W. Frontier Clasps) 1919. His mother had died in 1916 and the 1921 Census shows him as a visitor at 19 Mont le Grand, Exeter, Devon, described as an Ironmonger's Assistant in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He married Dorothy Irene Glass at St. Thomas Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 1st September 1925 and they went on to have one child. His last known address was 3 Newport Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, (per the 1939 Register) where he had his own Ironmongery business. He died at Swindon in 1968. Henry's brother, George Arthur Jeffery, was regrettably killed during the conflict whilst serving with the Australian Imperial Force. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter. Printed Source: First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

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Frederick Frank Hunt

17th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hunt

Other names: Frederick Frank

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Mere, Wiltshire
Rushmore Park, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick Frank Hunt was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire on 29th August 1887 and baptised there on 16 Oct 1887 the son of William Thomas Hunt and Margaret Jane Hunt (née Hibbs). Frederick enlisted as a Private in the 5th Service Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 31st August 1914 (Service No. 10521). His period of service was short lived as he was diagnosed with Chronic Enteritis and discharged on 26th October 1914 as 'unlikely to become an efficient soldier'. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at East Lodge, Ruchmorew park, Wiltshire, working as an Engine Driver of the estate.He married Elsie Mary Newman (nee Card) at Sixpenny Handley, Wiltshire, on 1st October 1923 and they had three children. His wife was the widow of John H Newman who had been killed in action during the war on 2 Nov 1918. His last known address was 32 Tollard Royal, Wiltshire (per the 1939 Register) where he worked as an estate labourer. He died in 1960 (Mere, Wiltshire, Registration District). His brothers, Edwin John Hunt, Reuben Henry (aka Harry) Hunt and William Thomas Hunt, all served in the conflict and survived albeit Edwin died in 1926. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Herbert Hopkins

17th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hopkins

Other names: Herbert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
South Africa
Malta
Gillingham, Kent
Whitworth Road, Woolwich, London
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mottingham, Kent

Story:
Herbert Hopkins was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th May 1876, the son of Frank Hopkins and Caroline Eliza Hopkins (née Extance). The family lived for some time at Steven's Building, King's Lane, Motcombe. In due time he became a Cabinet Maker. He married Amy Gertrude Smith at Gillingham, Kent, on 20th January 1905 and they went on to have six children. Herbert had previously enlisted on 15th October 1896 with the Royal Engineers and served in South Africa and Malta (Service No. 472). Prior to the First World War he held the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, the 1899-1902 South Africa Medal with clasp 'Cape Colony', and the 1901-02 King's South Africa Medal with two clasps. He served from 1913 entirely in the UK. He had risen steadily in the non-commissioned ranks throughout his career, ending as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Royal Military Academy. He was described as an exemplary soldier on discharge on 15th June 1920 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Devonshire Villa, Mottingham, Kent, working as a Cabinet Make on his own account. His last known address was 82 Whitworth Road, Woolwich, London, per the 1939 Register, still described as a Cabinet Maker. He died in the Woolwich Registry district in 1960.

Source: Based on previous initial research by Ken Baxter.

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George Hopkins
Edgar Hopkins