Robert Michael Conway

Surname: Conway
Other names: Robert Michael
Other people in this story:
Robert Conway
Eliza Ann Conway (nee Raymond)
Louisa Weeks
Edwin Charles Conway
Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Minchington, Farnham, Dorset
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Balkans
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Barford, Wiltshire
Poole, Dorset

Story:
Robert Michael Conway was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 12 May 1887 and baptised at nearby Farnham, Dorset, the son of Robert Conway and Eliza Ann Conway (nee Raymond).  He lived his early life in and around Minchington, Farnham, Dorset, until by 1911 the family had moved to Farnham Farm, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire.  He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 14844) and served in the Balkans from 31 Oct 1915 with the 1st and later the 5th Battalions.  He was discharged on 22 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  His marriage to Louisa Weeks at the Parish Church at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 25 Jun 1919  The 1921 Census shows him living in Tollard Green, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Poplar Farm, Barford, Wiltshire, working as a Shepherd.  His death was registered in Poole, Dorset, during 1976.  His brother, Edwin Charles Conway, had also enlisted but was quickly discharged on health grounds.

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Henry Conquest

Surname: Conquest
Other names: Henry
Other people in this story:
Lewis Conquest
Caroline Conquest (nee Patten)
Maud Wrixon
Alice E. Champion
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Bournemouth, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Alton, Hampshire
Kensington, London
Fulham, London
Westbourne, Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Henry (aka Harry) Conquest was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3 Jan 1893 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, on 29 Jan 1893 the son of Lewis Conquest, a Police Constable, and Caroline Conquest (nee Patten).  His lived his early life in Bell Street, Shaftesbury, until by 1901 the family had moved to Tollard Royal, Wiltshire.  By 1911 he was working at the Elvaston Stables, West Hill Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, as a Coachman.   According to his military records he had served in a Territorial Unit prior to the outbreak of war. He was embodied on 31 Aug 1911 with the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 66773).  He had married Maud Wrixon on 16 Feb 1914 in Alton, Hampshire.  He had apparently deserted on 6 Sep 1914 at the same time whilst being sued for marital desertion by his wife and on his rejoining the Artillery on 15 Jan 1915 had been punished accordingly losing all previous service time as a result.  He had then served in France & Flanders from 8 Jul 1915 with the 213 Siege Battery and had received gunshot wounds to his left shoulder causing a compound fracture on 18 Oct 1917.   He was transferred to the Reserve Battery and eventually discharged as being no longer physically fit on 25 Oct 1918. He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. B34995 as well as the Victory and British War Medals along with the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 Census shows his wife was living in Westbourne, Bournemouth, Hampshire, with two chidren from the marriage. It is presumed his first marriage was dissolved as he re-married Alice E. Champion in Kensington, London, during 1928.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 196 New Kings Road, Fulham, London, working as a Caterer.  His death was recorded in Fulham during 1959.

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Albert Victor Chown

Surname: Chown
Other names: Albert Victor
Other people in this story:
Thomas Chown
Mary Ann Chown (nee Billingham)
Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire

Story:
Albert Victor Chown was born in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 12 Jun 1888 and baptised there on 1 Jul 1888 the son of Thomas Chown and Mary Ann Chown (nee Billingham).  He lived all his life apart from Military Service in Berwick St. John.  He had enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 203620).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was with the 1st/4th Battalion and discharged on 2 Jan 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living with his widowed mother at Clarke's House, Berwick St. John, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died in Berwick St. John on 24 May 1963 and was buried at St. John's Church, Berwick St. John.  He had remained single all his life.

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Howard James Case

Surname: Case
Other names: Howard James
Other people in this story:
Elias Case
Mary Case (nee Chant)
Doris Violet Prince
Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Hooke, Beaminster, Dorset
Warminster, Wiltshire
Codford, Warminster, Wiltshire

Story:
Howard James Case was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 9 Dec 1899 and baptised there at St. John the Baptist Church on 7 Jan 1900 the son of Elias Case, the foreman of the watercress beds at Ludwell Mill, and Mary Case (nee Chant).  He spent his early years in Ludwell until by 1911 the family had moved to Hooke, Beaminster, Dorset.  He had enlisted on 22 Jan 1918 with the Royal Naval Air Service (Service No. F47268) later transferring to the newly formed Royal Air Force from 1 Apr 1918 as a Private Class 1 (Service No. 247268).  He served in the UK only and on his discharge on 6 Mar 1919 was awarded the British War Medal only.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at 7 Sherrington, Codford, Warminster, Wiltshire, working as a Lorry Driver for the War Department. He married Doris Violet Prince in Warminster, Wiltshire, during 1926 and by the time of the 1939 Register was living at 5 Sherrington, Warminster, Wiltshire, working as a Watercress Grower.  His death was recorded in Warminster during 1967.

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Edwin Thomas Butcher

Surname: Butcher
Other names: Edwin Thomas
Other people in this story:
William Butcher
Adelaide Butcher (nee Fletcher)
Elizabeth Ann Haigh
Locations in this story:
Amesbury, Wiltshire
Porton, Wiltshire
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Rashcliffe, Yorkshire West Riding
France & Flanders
Ilkley, Yorkshire West Riding
Wharfedale, Yorkshire West Riding
Pimperne, Dorset

Story:
Edwin Thomas Butcher was born in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on 17 Jun 1891 and baptised at the Chapel at Porton, Wiltshire, on 25 Jul 1891 the son of William Butcher and Adelaide Butcher (nee Fletcher). He spent his early years in and around Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, until by 1911 the family had moved to Pimperne, Dorset.  Edwin had married Elizabeth Ann Haigh at Rashcliffe Parish Church, Rashcliffe, Yorkshire West Riding, on 31 Aug 1918.  The wedding record shows he was a soldier at the time.  The only likely military record is of an Edwin Butcher serving in the Grenadier Guards as a Guardsman (Service No. 14999) who served in France and Flanders from 6 Oct 1914 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 51 Vulcan Place, Vulcan Road, Dewsbury, West Riding, Yorkshire, working as a Traction Engine Driver. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to The Grange, Grange Road, Ilkley, Yorkshire West Riding, working as a Water Inspector for the Urban District Council as well as being a Volunteer Firewatcher.  His death was recorded at the Wharfedale, Yorkshire West Riding, Registry during 1961.

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Leonard George Bulpitt

Surname: Bulpitt
Other names: Leonard George
Other people in this story:
James Bulpitt
Elizabeth Mary Bulpitt (nee Harvey)
Gladys Millie Richards (nee Miles)
Herbert James Bulpitt
? Richards
Locations in this story:
Newtown, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Egypt
Priddy, Near Wells, Somerset
Plymouth
Cairo, Egypt

Story:
Leonard George Bulpitt was born in Newtown, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, during 1889 the son of James Bulpitt and Elizabeth Mary Bulpitt (nee Harvey).  He lived his early life in the Newtown area.  He had enlisted with the Hampshire Regiment (Service Nos. 3156 & 331339) and served in Egypt where he had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.  He had advanced through the ranks eventually becoming a Quartermaster Sergeant.  He served on attachment with various Units of the Army finally with the Welch Regiment (Service No. 74692).  He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He had married Gladys Millie Richards (nee Miles) in Cairo, Egypt, giving his address as Higher Pitts Farm, Priddy, near Wells, Somerset.  Nothing has been found beyond this point in time.   His brother, Herbert James Bulpitt, also served in the conflict with the Canadian Forces.

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Herbert James Bulpitt

Surname: Bulpitt
Other names: Herbert James
Other people in this story:
James Bulpitt
Elizabeth Mary Bulpitt (nee Harvey)
Leonard George Bulpitt
Locations in this story:
Newtown, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Liverpool
Ingersoll, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
France & Flanders
Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)

Story:
Herbert James Bulpitt was born at Newtown, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 18 Jul 1886 and baptised at Sixpenny Handley Parish Church on 26 Sep 1886 the son of James Bulpitt and Elizabeth Mary Bulpitt (nee Harvey).  He lived his early life in the Newtown area until after various voyages to and from Canada he finally left Liverpool on 11 Apr 1912 eventually arriving in Ingersoll, Oxford, Ontario, Canada, where he eventually enlisted on 12 Jan 1916 with the 168th Battalion of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force as a Private (Service No. 675156).  In time he arrived in France and Flanders and joined the 18th Battalion where he was gassed on three occasions between Dec 1917 and Aug 1918 and had also suffered from trench foot.  On his return to Canada he was discharged as being medically unfit on 14 Apr 1919.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He moved to the United States of America during late 1919 and lived and worked as a gardener in the Los Angeles area.  Little is know beyond this other than he was still in Los Angeles in 1944.  No death record has been found.  His brother, Leonard George Bulpitt, also served in the conflict and survived.

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Howard Biddiscombe

Surname: Biddiscombe
Other names: Howard
Other people in this story:
William Henry Biddiscombe
Louisa Biddiscombe (nee Bugg)
Henry Biddiscombe
Emma Biddiscombe
Una Kathleen Ralph
Locations in this story:
Marnull, Dorset
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Stour Provost, Dorset
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Howard Biddiscombe was born in Marnull, Dorset, on 26 Feb 1896 the son of William Henry Biddiscombe and Louisa Biddiscombe (nee Bugg).  Regrettably both his parents died in 1897 and he went to live his early life with his grandparents, Henry and Emma Biddiscombe, who lived in Salisbury Road, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire.  He apparently enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 16301).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   He married Una Kathleen Ralph in the Parish Church at Stour Provost, Dorset, on 29 Sep 1920.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Brooklands Farm, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, described as a Poultry and Sheep Farmer.   His death was registered in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 17 Nov 1977.

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Frank Bennett

Surname: Bennett
Other names: Frank
Other people in this story:
John Bennett
Mary Ann Bennett (nee Elliott)
Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
Frank Bennett was born at Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 11 Dec 1885 and baptised at Sixpenny Handley Church on 24 Jun 1886 the son of John Bennett and Mary Ann Bennett (nee Elliott).  He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Sixpenny Handley area.  He had enlisted with the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 7151).   He served in France and Flanders from 23 Aug 1914 where he had received gunshot wounds to the chest, head and buttocks for which he received a limited pension in due time.  He was eventually promoted to Corporal and discharged on 15 Feb 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War  Medals along with the 1914/15 Star.   The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Sixpenny Handley working as a 'Road Scavenger' for Dorset County Council. By the time of the 1939 Register he was still single and living in The Street, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, now working as a Dorset County Council Road Foreman.  His death was recorded at the North Dorset Registry in Apr 1979 when he was aged 93 years.

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Frank Bench

Surname: Bench
Other names: Frank
Other people in this story:
Henry Bench
Cariline Louisa Bench (nee Wilkins)
Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Grangegorman, Dublin, Ireland
Choldeton, Wiltshire

Story:
Frank Bench was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, in 1900 the son of Henry Bench and Caroline Louisa Bench (nee Wilkins).  He had lived all his early life in Tollard Royal near to the St. John Inn.   He had enlisted and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 37251).  He served with the 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion in Ireland where he contracted and died from german measles on 8 Jun 1918 aged just 18 years.  He was buried at the Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Grangegorman, Dublin, Ireland, (Grave Ref. CE.683).  His mother, who had by now moved to Cholderton, Wiltshire, received a dependant's pension.  There are no evident medal records.  He is also remembered on the Cholderton, Wiltshire, War Memorial.

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