Stories Archive - Page 150 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Robert Eric Griffiths

Surname: Griffiths

Other names: Robert Eric

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery, London
Knoyle Street, East Knoyle
Chobham Road, Stratford, London
London
South Drive, Wokingham, Berkshire

Story:
Robert Eric Griffiths was born in 1896 in East Knoyle and baptised there on 26th January, 1896. He was the son of John Griffiths, a labourer, and Augusta Mary Griffiths (née Brockway). Robert lived most of his childhood with his grandmother, Sarah Brockway, a widow, at 15 Knoyle Street, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. His mother was employed as a parlour maid and living away from home. There is no record of the whereabouts of his father at this time. By the 1911 Census, Robert had moved away from East Knoyle and was living with his uncle, Joseph Fountain, at 61 Chobham Road, Stratford, London, where he was an apprentice tailor. He enlisted in London as a Private in the 10th Battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Surrey) Regiment (Service No. G/10059) and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died of an unknown cause in the UK on 13th April 1916 and was buried at Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery, London (grave id. Screen Wall G.B.18.136). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. (NB His parents were shown on the WGC Memoriam as living at St. Mary's Cottage, South Drive, Wokingham, Berkshire.)

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Albert John Harris

Surname: Harris

Other names: Albert John

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France
Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Salisbury

Story:
Albert John Harris was born in 1892 in Semley, Wiltshire. He was the son of Frederick George Frampton Harris, a Garden Labourer, and Emily Harris (née Burt). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Labourer and living at 2 Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Salisbury as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards (Service No. 10884). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals and clasp. He was killed in action on 16th September 1916 and was buried at Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France (grave id. XIII.L.2). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Herbert Joseph Wellstead

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Wellstead

Other names: Herbert Joseph

Locations in this story:
Fulham, Middlesex
Western Europe
Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, Pas de Calais, France
Brook Hill, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Galloway Road, Shepherds Bush, London.
Donhead St. Andrew
Merton, Surrey

Story:
Herbert Joseph Wellstead was born in 1896 in Fulham, Middlesex. He was the son of Fred Wellstead, a Stone Quarryman, and Ellen Mary Wellstead (nee Reeks). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Brook Hill, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire. In 1915 he married Jane Haines and they had a daughter called Joan Elsie. He enlisted in London as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. L/46669). He served in Western Europe and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. At the time of his death on 20th October 1918 he was serving with the 33rd Div. Ammunition Company and was buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. LXVII. K. 7). At the time of his death his wife was living at 42 Galloway Road, Shepherds Bush, London. He is remembered on the Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial. His father died in 1919. His wife did not re-marry and by 1939 was living in Merton, Surrey.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

John Dennis Riggs

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Riggs

Other names: John Dennis

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Hillside, Manswood, Wimborne
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Melbury Abbas, Dorset
Church of St. Peter and Vincula, Tollard Royal
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
John Dennis Riggs was born in 1888 in Farnham, Dorset, and baptised at Tollard Royal on 20th January, 1889. He was the son of John Dennis Riggs, a Gardener, and Fannie Riggs (née Raymond). His siblings included Cecil Herbert, born in 1893, who also died in the war. The 1911 Census shows that John was working as a Farm Labourer and living at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. John married Alice Rachel Andrews at Witchampton, Dorset, on 26th December, 1911. He enlisted at Shaftesbury as a Private in the Dorset Yeomanry (The Queen's Own) (Service No. 1180). He served at Gallipoli and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 21st August 1915 and his name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 17 and 18). John's widow Alice was at this time living with their two daughters at Hillside, Manswood, Wimborne. He is remembered on the Melbury Abbas War Memorial and on the memorial plaque inside the church at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire.

He is also remembered in Tollard Royal, on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Cecil Herbert Riggs

Cecil Herbert Riggs

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Ann Symons

Surname: Riggs

Other names: Cecil Herbert

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Battle of Jutland
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Tinkley Cottages, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Church of St. Peter and Vincula , Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire

Story:
Cecil Herbert Riggs was born on 29th September 1893 in Farnham, Dorset. (NB Second name shown as 'Herb' on GRO Index but 'Herbert' used generally afterwards.) He was the son of John Riggs, a Gardener, and Fanny Riggs (née Raymond). His siblings included John Dennis, born in 1888, who also died in the war. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living with his brother, John Dennis Riggs, in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. His parents lived at 25 Tinkley Cottages, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. In 1913 he enlisted on 8th October, 1913, and joined the Royal Navy (Service No. K.20795 (PO)). He commenced his service at HMS Victory Training Unit and later was posted to HMS Albermarle where he qualified as a Stoker 1st Class. He returned to HMS Victory for a period before joining the crew of HMS Queen Mary. He died when the ship was sunk at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916. His name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 19) and the memorial plaque inside the church at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals.

He is also remembered in Tollard Royal, on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village.

Source: Photographs of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial taken by Richard Lunn.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
John Dennis Riggs

Victor James Stacey

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Stacey

Other names: Victor James

Locations in this story:
Alderholt, Dorset
France & Flanders
Mondicourt Communal Cemetery, Near Arras, Pas de Calais, France
Hinton St. Mary, Dorset
Baydon Hill, Baydon Street, Aldbourne, Wiltshire
Delden, Gelderland, Netherlands
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Hursley, Hampshire
Warlincourt, France

Story:
Victor James Stacey was born on 13th January, 1888, in Delden, Gelderland, Netherlands and baptised in Alderholt, Wiltshire, on 6th May, 1888. He was the son of Thomas (Tom) Stacey, a Game Keeper, and Sarah Ann Stacey (nee Foster). (NB The records show Victor variously as 'James'; 'Victor James' and 'James Victor'. The Military records give his name as 'Victor James' as he was baptised.) At the time of the 1911 Census his family were living in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. Victor was boarding with his brother at Baydon Hill, Baydon Street, Aldbourne, Wiltshire, where he worked as a Builder's Labourer. Shortly after the Census his father died in that year. On 2nd April, 1916 he married Ethel Mona King and they lived in Hinton St. Mary, Dorset. He enlisted at Hursley, Hampshire, as a Private in the 146th Company of the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. T4/124982), later he joined the 17th Divisional Company. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died at Warlincourt, France, on 21st August 1916 and was buried near the north-west corner of Mondicourt Communal Cemetery, Near Arras, Pas de Calais, France. He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial. His brother, George Francis Arthur Stacey, also served but survived.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John 01

Frederick William Stretch

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Stretch

Other names: Frederick William

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium
Bridmore Gate Cottages, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Hooks Hill, Berwick St. John
Winton, Hampshire
Devizes, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick William Stretch was born on 16th October, 1894 in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He was the son of Mary Stretch, a domestic servant. No father is recorded on the birth certificate. He lived with his mother at the home of her parents, John Stretch and Anne Stretch at Hooks Hill, Berwick St. John. Eventually his mother married Harry Smith about 1897/1899 (no marriage record has been found) but Frederick stayed with his grandparents. His mother, Mary, lived in Winton, Hampshire. At the time of the 1911 Census Frederick was single, working as a Farm Carter and living at Bridmore Gate Cottages, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He enlisted at Devizes, Wiltshire, as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 18741). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 27th August 1915 and his name appears on Memorial 18, Union Street Graveyard 1 at Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium. He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Frederick Sweeting

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Sweeting

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
High Easter, Essex
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial, Flanders
Chalk Cottage, High Easter, Essex
Rushmore Park, Wiltshire
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Church of St. Peter and Vincula, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Vine Cottage, London Road, Bolney, Cuckfield, Sussex

Story:
Frederick Sweeting was born in 1880 in High Easter, Essex. He was the son of William Sweeting, an Agricultural Labourer, and Sophia Sweeting (nee Mead). The 1901 Census shows him boarding at Vine Cottage, London Road, Bolney, Cuckfield, Sussex, where he was employed as an Under Gamekeeper. On 4th February, 1905, he married Florence Maria Fairs and lived with his parents at High Easter, Essex. They had three children: two sons and a daughter. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a gamekeeper and living at Chalk Cottage, High Easter, Essex. On 11th December, 1915, he enlisted in Blandford, Dorset, as a Gunner in the 275th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 91617). His enlistment papers recorded his address as Rushmore Park, Wiltshire, and his occupation as gamekeeper. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 29th September 1917 and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 6 to 7 and 162). Following his death his widow Florence married a Mr. Lattamore and continued to live at Rushmore Park. Frederick is remembered on the memorial inside the church at Berwick St. John.

He is also remembered in Tollard Royal, on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour to the "men of Tollard Royal and Rushmore" inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

William Herbert Waterman

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Waterman

Other names: William Herbert

Locations in this story:
Romsey, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Loker Churchyard, Nr. Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium
Stratford Sub Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Salisbury

Story:
William Herbert Waterman was born in 1892 in Romsey, Hampshire. He was the son of Henry (Harry) Waterman, a Farm Labourer, and Annie Jane Waterman (nee Phillips). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Shepherd and living at Stratford Sub Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Salisbury as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 11077). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. When he died on 27th February 1915, he had been attached to 'A# Company and treated at the No. 7 Field Ambulance, Loker. He was buried at Loker Churchyard, Nr. Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. II.F.9). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Harry Charles Weeks

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Weeks

Other names: Harry Charles

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John
France & Flanders
Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extn.
Luke Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Devizes, Wiltshire

Story:
Harry Charles Weeks was born in 1888 in Berwick St. John. He was the son of Mary Emma Weeks, a laundress - there is no father on the baptismal record. His mother married Frank Jacob in 1907 - they had one child, a half brother to Harry. At the time of the 1911 Census Harry was single, working as a Shepherd and living with his uncle in Luke Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Devizes, Wiltshire, as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 18740) and he served in France & Flanders. He was awarded the British War, Victory and 15 Star medals. He died on 24th August 1916 and was buried at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension (grave id. VII.D.53). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives