Stories Archive - Page 126 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Herbert Hopkins

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.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
George Hopkins
Edgar Hopkins

Charles Randolph Hiscock

Surname: Hiscock

Other names: Charles Randolph

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shillingstone, Dorset
Cherry Orchard, Anvil Cross, Dunmow, Essex
Weymouth, Dorset
Manor Farm, Turnpike, Motcombe Road, Shaftesbury
Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Charles Randolph Hiscock was born in Motcombe, Dorset on 15th July 1888, the son of Arthur Hiscock and Mary Sophia Hiscock (née Williams). The family lived at Manor Farm, Turnpike, Motcombe Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset where Charles assisted his father on the farm. He enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry on 15th April 1908 attending annual training camps. After mobilization at the commencement of WW1 he served all his time in the UK and achieved the rank of Corporal (Service Nos. 896 & 219). Towards the end of his service he had two periods of temporary demobilization due to the need for work on the family farm. After completing 8 years service he was fully discharged on 14th April 1916 in order for him to return to his full time occupation as a Farmer. There are no medal records. The 1921 Census shows him living at Senior's Farm, Semley, Wiltshire, described as a Farmer. He married Mary Eileen Jesty at Shillingstone, Dorset, on 20th April 1927 and they went on to have one child. His last know address was Cherry Orchard, Anvil Cross, Dunmow, Essex, per the 1939 Register, where he was now working as a Farm Manager. He had later moved to 28 Links Road, Weymouth, Dorset where he died on 26th January 1968.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Charles John Hiscock

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

Surname: Hiscock

Other names: Charles John

Locations in this story:
Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Jordan Cottages, Preston, Weymouth, Dorset
France & Flanders
Litton-Cheney, Weymouth, Dorset

Story:
Charles John Hiscock was born at Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, on 14th April 1895, the son of Charles John Hiscock and Sarah Jane Hiscock (née Plummer). By the 1911 Census the family had moved to Preston, Weymouth, Dorset. Charles enlisted on 1st September 1914 and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Driver) and served most of his time in France and Flanders from 27 Nov 1915 with the 4th Divisional Ammunition Company (Service No. 10748). He was demobilized on 31st March 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. By the 1921 Census he was living with his parents at Jordan Cottages, Preston, Weymouth, Dorset, working as a Cowman. He married Alice Maud Webber in Litton-Cheney, Weymouth on 29th October 1927 and they went on to have one child. He was still living at Jordan Cottages per the 1939 Register. At this time Charles also volunteered as an ARP Warden. He died in Weymouth in 1979. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Percy Charles Hayter

16th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Somerset Light Infantry, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hayter

Other names: Percy Charles

Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cats Ash, Shepton Mallet, Somerset

Story:
Percy Charles Hayter was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset in December 1881, and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 1 Jan 1882 the son of Charles Hayter and Susan Jane Edwards Hayter (née Upjohn). He married Harriett Minden Bendell on 20th July 1903 at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset and set up home at 7 St. James, Shaftesbury. There were at least four children of the marriage. By the 1911 Census he had moved to Shepton Mallet, Somerset for work as a Gardener. From here, having had previous military experience with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment, he re-enlisted on 15th March 1913 as a Private in the Territorial Unit of the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 69115). He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and served throughout the war in the United Kingdom. He was transferred to the Labour Corps in 1918 (Service No. 200248) and then to the 16th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment with the rank of Corporal (Service No. 204670). He was discharged on 23rd April 1919 having contracted a lung disease for which he received a War Pension plus the Silver War Badge. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 4 Cats Ash, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, working as a Jobbing Gardener. Unfortunately he died in July 1926 at Shepton Mallett. His brothers, Ernest George Hayter and Harry John Hayter, also served in the conflict. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

William Green

15th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Horse Artillery, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment) /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Green

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Marylebone, London
Denman Street, Radford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Egypt
Palestine

Story:
William Green was born in Alvediston, Wiltshire during 1879 the son of Augustus Philip Green and Jane Green (née Courtney). By the 1881 Census the family had moved to 81 York Street, Marylebone, London. William married Bertha Maud Osborne in Nottingham during 1906. There were four children of the marriage. He had enlisted in the Notts & Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment on 12th June 1910 (Service No. 612062) and served in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War. He was promoted in due time to Wheeler Sergeant. He was later attached to the Royal Horse Artillery (283rd Notts. Battery) on 20th December 1918. Discharge came on the 29th January 1920 when he received a 30% Disability Pension for 'general debility' caused by his service. He was awarded the Victory, British War and Territorial Force Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. His last known address was 268 Denman Street, Radford, Nottingham, where he died in 1937.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Percy Gray

15th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Hampshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Percy

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Portland, Dorset
Brambridge, Hampshire
France
Winchester, Hampshire
Southampton, Hampshire
Malta
Bermuda
South Africa

Story:
Percy Gray was born on 5th May 1884 at Motcombe, Dorset, and baptised there on 15th June 1884, the son of Benjamin Gray and Susan Pearce Gray (née Smith). The 1901 Census shows him living with the family at 53 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, but by 1911 he had moved to 11 Moorfield Road, Portland, Dorset. During those intervening years he had served the Territorial Unit of the Hampshire Regiment from 3rd January 1903 until 2 Jan 1911 when he had been transferred to the Reserves. During this early phase he had served in Malta, Bermuda and South Africa gaining at least four good conduct badges. On the outbreak of WW1 he was embodied on 5th August 1914 and joined the 1st Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment as an Acting Corporal (Service No. 6722). He was posted to France on 27 Aug 1914 where he received gunshot wounds to the chest and he was discharged on 2nd January 1916, having been deemed unfit for further service. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. During 1916 he married Hughina Livingstone Asher in the Southampton, Hampshire, Registration District. There were two children of the marriage. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Woodcroft Cottages, Brambridge, Winchester, Hampshire, and was working as a Private Chauffeur. His death was registered in the Winchester, Hampshire, Registry in 1949. His brother, Victor Pearce Gray, also served and survived the conflict. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

George Henry Grass

14th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Grass

Other names: George Henry

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
India & North West Frontier
Mandalay, Burma
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
George Henry Grass was born at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire in 1866 and baptised there on 8 May 1866, the son of Robert Grass and Naomi Grass (nee Reynolds). His mother had died in 1875. He had served with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 1740) between 2 Feb 1887 and his discharge after 12 years service on 1 Feb 1899, having served in the North West Frontier of India and Mandalay, Burma. His father died in 1908. George re-enlisted on 2nd July 1915 serving with the 1st Battalion, then the 4th Battalion and finally the 85th Provisional Battalion (Territorial Force) of the Wiltshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3653). He served in the UK only and was discharged on 10th March 1916, being 'no longer physically fit'. There are no medal records. His sister, Elizabeth Selina Grass, had become his next-of-kin for military purposes - she lived at 19 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. William died during 1925 in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Reginald Taylor Gifford

14th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gifford

Other names: Reginald Taylor

Locations in this story:
Green Lane, Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Norwich, Norfolk

Story:
Reginald Taylor Gifford was born at Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 16th May 1888, the son of William Gifford and Sarah Ann Gifford (née Taylor). He was a Baker by trade and his mother ran the local grocery shop. He enlisted on 3rd March 1916 but was not embodied until 26th February 1917 and joined as a Private with the 57th Field Bakery, Army Service Corps, near Norwich. (Service No. S/306788) He served in the UK only due to deafness problem and was finally demobilized on 17th December 1919. There are no medal records though he qualified for the British War Medal. He was living with the Taylor family at Green Lane, Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset at the time of the both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register. He was occupied in Wood Hauling and remained single. He died in Ashmore on 26th April 1977 and was buried at St. Nicholas Church, Ashmore, on 29th April 1977.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

George Garrett

14th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Garrett

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Summerleaze Farm, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Egypt
Newton Abbott, Devon
The Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon

Story:
George Garrett was born at East Knoyle, Wiltshire in 1870, the son of John Garrett and Mary Ann Garrett (née Maidment). The family lived at Summerleaze Farm, East Knoyle, Wiltshire until George's father died in 1890. Following this, his mother moved to The Hollow Way, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, where she is recorded still living in the 1911 Census. George married Ann Venning on 14th September 1889 and there were 2 children of the marriage. George had previously served for a period in the Royal Garrison Artillery and had spent some time in Egypt. He re-enlisted on 2nd September 1914 and joined the 1st Service Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (Special Reservists) where he eventually became a Lance Sergeant (Service No. 7223). He was at the time living in the Newton Abbott, Devonshire, area and working as a Groom. He served in Egypt from 27 Sep 1915 and was subsequently demobilized on 19th April 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at 77 East Street, Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon, working as a Chimney Sweep and Carpet Beater on his own account. He died in 1956 in the Newton Abbot, Devon, Registration District.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Humphrey Silvester Evans

14th July 2019/in 1914-1918 City of London Rifles /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Evans

Other names: Humphrey Silvester

Locations in this story:
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Carminia Road, Streatham, Wandsworth, London
Suva, Fiji, South Pacific.
Egypt
France & Flanders
Castle Hill House, Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Humphrey Silvester Evans was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1890 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 2nd November 1890. He was the son of Dr. Charles Silvester Evans and Lilian Mary Evans (née Barton). They were living at Castle Hill House, Bimport, Shaftesbury at the time of the 1891 Census. Following the death of Humphrey's father in 1896, the family moved to 59 Carminia Road, Streatham, Wandsworth, London. Before the outbreak of war Humphrey had started to study medicine but had enlisted on 18th February 1914 as a Private with the City of London Rifles (The Rough Riders) (Service No 2156). He served in Egypt from 7 May 1915 and later in France & Flanders. He was, however, discharged on 15th October 1915 in order that he could 'resume studies as a medical student'. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1915 Star. He married Phyllis Wheeler in 1916 and there were three children of the marriage. He went on to qualify as a Doctor and joined the Colonial Service. He held various Medical Officer posts throughout the world but mainly in Fiji where he died on Suva on 6th March 1965.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives