Stories Archive - Page 127 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Herbert Alexander Dudman

Surname: Dudman

Other names: Herbert Alexander

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire
France
Bodenham, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Harmsworth Hospital, Harmsworth, Middlesex

Story:
Herbert Alexander Dudman was born at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire in 1895, the son of Thomas Dudman and Emily Dudman (née Pike). His early life was spent at 16 Silver Street, Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 5th September 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12186). He later transferred to the 7th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 14950) and was promoted to Lance Corporal. He initially served in the Balkans from 9 Aug 1915 and later in France during the latter part of 1918. During his time in France he received gunshot wounds in his back which ultimately caused tuberculosis and was the main cause for his discharge on 4th November 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1914/15 Star. He was also issued with the Silver War Badge (No. B331563), The King's Certificate of Service and a war pension. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Bodenham, Salisbury, Wiltshire, assisting his father in his baking business. He regrettably died, still single, of his disease on 31st July 1923, in the Harmsworth Hospital, Harmsworth, Middlesex.

Source: Earlier research by Ken Baxter.

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Edgar John Dibben

14th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dibben

Other names: Edgar John

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
France
Greensward, Wokingham, Berkshire
Bradford Street, Bolton, Lancashire
Shillingstone Lodge, The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, Dorset.
Deptford, London
Shenfield on Loddon, Hampshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Edgar John Dibben was born at Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 27th March 1883, and baptised there on 10 Jun 1883 the son of Police Constable Edwin John Dibben and Ellen Dibben (née Pike). He spent his early childhood at Shillingstone Lodge, The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, Dorset. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery on 31st August 1914 and achieved the rank of Lance Bombardier (Service No. 98037). He served in France from 21 May 1915 on attachment to the 60th (Reserve) Battery though, on his return to the UK prior to discharge, he was serving as a Gymnastic Instructor. He married Elizabeth Ellen Harris on 5th March 1918 at St. John's Church, Deptford, London. He was demobilized on 17th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1915 Star. The Electoral Register of 1921 shows him living at Church End, Sherfield on Loddon, Hampshure. By the 1939 Register he had moved to The Cottage, Greensward, Wokingham, Berkshire, working as a Private Gardener. His wife, Elizabeth died in 1942 and he remarried Beatrice May Hilton in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, area during 1943. There were no children of either marriage. Edgar died on 9th February 1955 at his then home, 145 Bradford Street, Bolton, Lancashire. His brothers, Frederick Charles and Edwin George, also served in the conflict and all their names appear on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Frederick George Dewey

13th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dewey

Other names: Frederick George

Locations in this story:
Mansfield Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
France
Tisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick (Fred) George Dewey was born at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire in the 1st Quarter of 1887, the son of Michael Thomas Dewey and Louisa Dewey (née Scammell). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Donhead St. Andrew area. He had served in the military from 13th August 1909 with the Army Service Corps (Service Nos. T118 and T4247356). He eventually held the rank of Farrier Staff Sergeant. He served mainly in the UK and France. He was demobilized on 25th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Mabel Nellie Pickford in 1920 (Registered at Tisbury, Wiltshire) and they had one child. His address was Mansfield Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, per the 1911 Census which shows him working as a blacksmith and by the 1921 Census it was now New Road, Donhead St. Andrew. He died in 1926 (Registered at Tisbury).

Source: Based on original research by Ken Baxter.

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John Richard Davis

13th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Davis

Other names: John Richard

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

Story:
John Richard Davis was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th November 1893, the son of James John Davis and Maria Davis (née Russell). He spent all his life in the area. He enlisted on 13th November 1914 but was not embodied until 2nd June 1915, when he joined the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. S4/111324). He was attached to the 18th and 14th Field Bakery in France from 24 Jul 1915. During this time his mother died in 1916. He was demobilized on 26th May 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widower father in Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Baker. He married Ethel Gertrude Mitchell in 1926 but there were no children of the marriage. His address was 4 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset (per the 1939 Register) which describes him as a Master Baker. he later moved to Dinah's Crest, Cann, Shaftesbury from where his death, in the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on the 3 Jul 1955, was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry. He was later buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 6 Jul 1955. John's brother, Ernest George, is mentioned as having served according to the St. James Church Roll of Honour published in Nov 1918. His other brother, Percival James Davis, also served and survived the conflict. Source: Based on original research by Ken Baxter.

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George Cole

13th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Cole

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Quarry Street, Keighley, Yorkshire

Story:
George Cole was born at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire in 1869 and baptised there on 7 Mar 1869 the son of Frederick Cole and Mary Cole (née Triggle). He lived in Tollard Royal until at least 1881. He married Elizabeth Bingham in Keighley, Yorkshire, on 25th May 1889. There were 5 children of the marriage. George had previous military service from 1 Feb 1888 to 31 May 1909 with the Imperial Yeomanry (Volunteer Force) (Service No. 314). He had been awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal during this time. He re-enlisted with the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment as a Private on 6th November 1914 (Service No. 12310). For some of the time he was attached to the Labour Corps (Home Service Employment Company). He served in the UK only and was finally demobilized on 19th March 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Unfortunately at the time of his discharge he was suffering from cancer and died at his home at 29 Quarry Street, Keighley, Yorkshire, in 1920.

Source: Based on original research by Ken Baxter

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William Charles Abraham Burridge

11th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burridge

Other names: William Charles Abraham

Locations in this story:
Stoney Path, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William Charles Abraham Burridge (also known as 'Willie') was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st June 1897 the son of Charles Burridge and Alice Bessie Burridge (née Wilmott). He lived his whole life, apart from Military Service, in the locality. He enlisted on 21st October 1916 as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery attached to the R.A.E. Tank Corps serving in France from 14 Apr 1917 (Service No. 125985). He was demobilized on 14th October 1919 with a War Pension due to the effects of his service. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He re-enlisted for a period of one year in 1920 as a Territorial with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 5720627). He was finally demobilized on 18 Mar 1921 and by the 1921 Census was shown living with his parents at 3 Stoney Path, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Gardener. He remained single throughout his life at the same address as recorded in the 1939 Register. He was always employed as a Gardener. William died in 1949 and was buried at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 16th September 1949. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Bertie James Brown

11th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brown

Other names: Bertie James

Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Marylebone, London
Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Story:
Bertie James Brown was born in Iwerne Minster, Dorset on 13 Apr 1891 and baptised there on 7 Jun 1891 the son of Frederick Brown and Emily Maria Brown (née Mullens). He lived all his early life in Iwerne Minster. He had previously served with the Territorial before he was embodied on 7th October 1914 to the Army Service Corps, eventually becoming a Saddler Staff Sergeant (Service No. TS/3080). He served in France from 8 Oct 1914 and was eventually demobilized, with a pension due to contracting cystitis during his service, on 6th April 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1914/15 Star. During the war he had married Ada Blanche Weston in Marylebone, London, on 11th April 1917. There were two children of the marriage. The 1921 Census shows he was then living with his widower father in The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, Dorset, working as a Farm Labourer. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Stevenage Road, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, where Bertie was working as a civilian cook for the RAF as well as being an ARP Warden. Bertie died in 1970 in the Hitchin area. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Percy Brockway

11th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brockway

Other names: Percy

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Poole, Dorset

Story:
Percy Brockway was born at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 23 Sep 1896, the son of Walter George Brockway and Martha Brockway (née Barter). He lived all of his life in the area apart from when on Military Service. He enlisted on 22nd November 1914 and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service Nos. 2237 and 461450). He served in France from 13 Feb 1917 with the 2nd/3rd Wessex Field Ambulance as a Stretcher Bearer and Water Carrier and as a result he suffered from a severe hernia due to heavy lifting and he was also wounded in action on 26 Oct 1918. He was demobilized on 15th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He had also applied for a pension but received a one off gratuity of only £35. The 1921 Census shows he was living as a Boarder in Cann Common, Shaftesbury, where his mother was working as a housekeeper. He was working as a Dairyman at the time. His marriage to Nellie Charlotte Mabel Farnfield was registered in Poole, Dorset, during 1927 and there was one child of the marriage. By the 1939 Register he was living at 1 Hillside Cottages, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, employed as a Cowman. He died on 27th January 1964 and was buried in the New Yard Cemetery, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 31st January 1964. Source: Based on original research by Ken Baxter.

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Samuel Shell Bristol

11th July 2019/in 1914-1918 King's Own Hussars /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bristol

Other names: Samuel Shell

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Reigate, Surrey
Shipleybridge Lane, Godstone, Surrey
Horsham, Sussex

Story:
Samuel Shell Bristol was born on 29th December 1878 at Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Edwin Bristol and Ellen Bristol (née Combes). He had served in various Army units prior to 1914 over a period of 18 years with periods of non-military service between. He re-enlisted on 30th December 1914, becoming a Sergeant with the King's Own Hussars (Service No. 101651). He was demobilized on 24th February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 Census shows him boarding at 56 North Street, Horsham, Sussex, described as 'Farming on own account'. He married Dorothy K. Standage in Reigate, Surrey, in 1933. There were no known children of the marriage. His last known address was in the 1939 Register at Shipleybridge Lane, Godstone, Surrey, described as a Retired Farmer. He died in Godstone in 1971.

Source: Based on original research by Ken Baxter.

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Alfred George Bristol

11th July 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bristol

Other names: Alfred George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Motcombe, Dorset
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Alfred George Bristol was born on 1st September 1893 at Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of William Alford Bristol, a farmer, and Rosa Mary Bristol (née Bartley). He enlisted on 25th January 1912 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry, attending annual training camps until embodied on 5 Aug 1914 eventually becoming a Lance Corporal (Service No. 556). During his service in the UK only he was temporarily demobilized three times in order to run the family farm following the death, in 1909, of his father. Finally he was discharged for time expired on his service agreement and due to the needs of farming on 27th February 1916. He married Ethel Mary Perrett on 6 Apr 1921 at Mere Parish Church, Mere, Wiltshire, and they went on to have three children. The family set up home, per the 1921 Census, at the family farm North End Farm, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset. The details remained the same on the 1939 Regsiter. Alfred died in 1974 and was buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe.

Source: Based on original research by Ken Baxter

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