Story:
Harry John Alner was born in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 18 Sep 1896 the son of William Alner and Maria Alner (nee Whitmarsh). He lived most his early life in the Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, area until by 1911 the family had moved to Long Critchel, Wimborne, Dorset. He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 6625). At sometime he was transferred to the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T/37409) and served in India where he was in time awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Indian General Service Medal with 3 clasps. He made the Army his career and by the time of WW2 had reverted back to the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5719286). His death was recorded in Honiton, Devon, during 1972. His brothers, George William Alner, Arthur Bertie Alner and Douglas Walter Alner, had all served in the conflict.

Story:
George William Alner was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 13 Apr 1887 the son of William Alner and Maria Alner (nee Whitmarsh). He lived all his early life in the Tollard Royal area until he married Beatrice Lily Soper in the Axminster, Devon, Registry area in 1910 (Jan - Mar Quarter) and set up home in Hay Cottage, Musbury, Axminster, Devon. He had apparently enlisted with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 34984). He served in France and Flanders and, whilst there, was gassed and returned to the UK to recuperate on 18 Sep 1917. On his recovery he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 61203). He was finally discharged on 14 Sep 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He returned to Musbury, Axminster, and by the time of the 1939 Register, was living at Mount Cottage, Lyme Road, Axminster, Devon, working as a Roadman. He had moved again later to The Lodge, Sheen Court, Richmond upon Thames, London, where he died on 11 Oct 1971. His brothers, Arthur Bertie Alner, Harry John Alner and Douglas Walter Alner, had all served during the conflict.

Story:
Fred Adlam (aka Fred Adlem) was born in Tollard Green, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 22 Mar 1882 the son of Cyril George Adlam and Mary Ann Adlam (nee Sharp).  He spent his early life in the Tollard Royal area until he married Amelia Beatrice King (nee Cosier), the widow of Herbert King who had died in 1905, on 17 Oct 1907 in Romsey, Hampshire.  By 1911 Fred was living in Charlton All Saints, Salisbury, Wiltshire.  He had been enlisted into the Royal Engineers as a Driver on 15 Jun 1917 (Service No. 437120).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was transferred to the 441st Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (R. E.) on 25 Sep 1917 and finally discharged on the 20 Jun 1919 with a pension due to rheumatism attributed to his service.  No medal records have been found in this case. He went to live at Yew Tree Cottage, Wolverton, Basingstoke, Hampshire.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at West End Hill, Sherborne St. John, Basingstoke, Hampshire, working as a Gamekeeper.   He died in the Park Prewett Hospital, Basingstoke, on 12 Nov 1966.

Story:
William Wilkins was born in Minchington, Dorset, on 30 Aug 1894 and baptised at Farnham, Dorset, on 9 Oct 1894 the son of William John Wilkins and Annie Emma Wilkins (nee Bennett).  He lived his early life in the area including Newtown, Farnham, Dorset.    His father died in 1912.   He had enlisted with the Dorset (Queens Own) Yeomanry Territorials as a Private (Service No. 1124).  It appears he was not embodied into the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 334556) until 1 Mar 1916 and sent to Broadstairs, Kent, but was temporarily discharged on 26 May 1916.  Following the introduction of the Class W reserves in June 1916, which protected those soldiers whose services are deemed to be more valuable to the country rather than military employment, William was transferred to that catagory on 29 Aug 1916 and remained on reserve thereafter until formally discharged on 14 Dec 1918.  There are no medal records. He married Maud Elizabeth Coward at St. Lawrence Church, Farnham, Dorset, on 10 May 1920.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Lodge Farm Cottages, Nr. Kingston Lacey, Dorset, working as a Rabbit Trapper.  His death was recorded in Chippenham, Wiltshire, during 1983.  His brother, Percival Wilkins, also served and survived the conflict.

Story:
Douglas Harry Steele was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 12 Jun 1896 the son of Samuel Charles Steele and Fanny Steele (nee Bennett).  He lived his early life in Tollard Royal until by 1911 his family had moved to Lower Almer, Spettisbury, Dorset.   He had enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver (Service No. 212345).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  His marriage to Daisy Edith Lampard was recorded at the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registry during 1920.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 'LittleDown', Barton Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Dairyman.  His death was recorded in the Bournemouth, Hampshire, Registry during 1972.  His brothers, Herbert Alfred Steele and Edward James Steele, both served and survived the conflict.