Stories Archive - Page 154 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Reginald John Leah

Surname: Leah

Other names: Reginald John

Locations in this story:
Mottisfont, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Wailly Orchard Cemetery, Wailly, Pas de Calais, France
Hewelsfield Street, Briavels, Gloucester
Chettle, Dorset
Woodlands, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Hewelsfield, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

Story:
Reginald John Leah was born in 1894 in Mottisfont, Hampshire. He was the son of Humphrey Leah, a Game Keeper, and Selina Leah (née Smith). At the time of the 1911 Census they were living in Chettle, Dorset. Reginald was single, working as a Game Keeper and was a boarder at Woodlands, Berwick St. John. He enlisted on 26th August 1914 at Shaftesbury as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10101). At the time of enlistment he had been living at Hewelsfield, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He was killed in action on 20th July 1916 and was buried at Wailly Orchard Cemetery, Wailly, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. I.F.1). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial. His father died in 1918.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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William Henry Marchant

Surname: Marchant

Other names: William Henry

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Mesopotamia
Deolali Government Cemetery, India
Water Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Basingstoke, Hampshire
India

Story:
William Henry Marchant was born in 1885 in Berwick St. John, and baptised there on 24th July, 1885. He was the son of William and Hannah Marchant (née Blandford). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as an Estate Carpenter and living at Water Street, Berwick St. John, Wilts. He enlisted in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and joined the 5th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 22437). He served in Mesopotamia and India. At the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. His death on 2nd November 1917 is recorded in the Mesopotamia area but he is buried at Deolali Government Cemetery in India (grave id. Plot CE. Row K. Grave 27). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Alfred Edwin Messer

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Rifle Brigade /by Ann Symons

Surname: Messer

Other names: Alfred Edwin

Locations in this story:
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France
Arundell Cottages, Rushmore, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Church of St. Peter and Vincula, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Nottingham

Story:
Alfred Edwin Messer was born in 1893 in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He was the son of Robert Messer, a Road Man, and Jemima Jane Messer (née Ferrett). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Gardener and living at 12 Arundell Cottages, Rushmore, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Nottingham as a Rifleman in the 10th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) (Service No. S/3260). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 21st November 1917 and his name appears on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France (Panel 10 and 11). He is remembered on the memorial plaque inside the church at Berwick St. John.

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:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Henry Walter Hardy

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 North Staffordshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hardy

Other names: Henry Walter

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Halliwell, Bolton, Lancashire
Bell Street, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Henry Walter Hardy was born in 1888 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 2nd September, 1888. He was the son of Walter Hardy, a plasterer, and Elizabeth Hardy (née Strange). At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as an iron molder and living at 28 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. He married Annie Alma Mary Wright at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 8th April, 1912. He moved to Bolton and his daughter, Alma, was born there in 1912.

Henry enlisted with the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment (Service No. 8867) later transferring to the North Staffordshire Regiment (Service No. 23444). He survived the war but was discharged on 11th August, 1919 as unfit for further military duty. At the time of his discharge he held the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals. His son, Walter, was born in 1921.

Henry died at 290 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, Lancashire, on 31st March, 1922, of 'Acute Bright's Disease, Heart Disease and Bronchitis'. A family member recorded that he was gassed in the war and that this had a serious effect on his health. He was buried at St. Peter's Church, Churchgate, Halliwell, Bolton, Lancashire, on 4th April, 1922. He is remembered on the Holy Trinity War Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Ultimately his wife moved back to Shaftesbury and by the 1939 Register was living at 14 St. James, Shaftesbury.

Henry's brother Arthur Thomas (b.1898) also served in the war, with the North Lancashire Regiment and the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Images:

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Arthur Thomas Hardy

Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 2

Bertie Howard Imber

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Imber

Other names: Bertie Howard

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Basingstoke, Hampshire
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury
St. James Church, Shaftesbury
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Bertie Howard Imber was born in 1895 in Shaftesbury and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 26th February, 1895. He was the son of John Imber, a Rural Postman, and Elizabeth Ann Imber (née Lodder). The family lived at 2 Layton Lane in Shaftesbury. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Butcher's Assistant and living at 2 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 15051). He survived the war and was discharged to 'Z' Reserve on 22nd February, 1919. He died in August 1928 at Basingstoke, Hampshire. The reason for his death is not known. He is remembered on the Holy Trinity War Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Bertie's brother, Leonard Charles Imber, also served in the conflict and was awarded the Military Medal also his brother, Sidney William Imber, served and both survived

Images:

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Leonard Charles Imber

Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 1

Mark Imber

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Reserve Cavalry Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Imber

Other names: Mark

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
North Dublin, Ireland
Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Cabra, Dublin
Dublin Hospital
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury
Portsworth Road, Surbiton, Surrey
Hallowell Road, Northwood, Middlesex
Northwood

Story:
Mark Imber was born in 1879 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 29th August, 1879. He was the son of Frank Imber, a Butcher, and Mary Anna Imber (née Hunt). His siblings included James Hunt Imber (b.1886) who also served in the Household Cavalry during the war. The family lived at 2 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury. Mark's father died in 1900. Mark had left home by 1901 and was boarding at Cambridge Cottages, 1 Portsworth Road, Surbiton, Surrey, and working as a boat builder. He had moved by the time of the 1911 Census was single and living at 2 Marion Cottages, Hallowell Road, Northwood, Middlesex and working as a House Decorator. He enlisted in Northwood as a Private with the 6th Battalion of the Reserve Cavalry Regiment (5th & 12th Lancers) attached to the Household Cavalry of the Line (Service No. GS/10814) and served in North Dublin, Ireland. He died in Dublin Hospital of an unknown cause on 11th June 1915 and was buried at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Cabra, Dublin (grave id. CE.800). He is remembered on the Holy Trinity War Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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James Hunt Imber

Cossley John Berkeley Hunt

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hunt

Other names: Cossley John Berkeley

Locations in this story:
Western European Theatre
Bedford House Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Cann , Shaftesbury
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Cossley John Berkeley Hunt was born in 1898 in Cann. He was the son of John Thomas Hunt, a farm labourer, and Wilhelmina Augusta Martha Hunt (née Knight). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was a student and living at Cann, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Dorchester as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 29223). He served in the Western European Theatre and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in on 4th October 1917 and was buried at Bedford House Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Enclosure No. 4, VIII.C.7). His grave is situated in Enclosure No. 4 which is described as 'the largest (site) which was used from June 1916 to February 1918 largely by the 47th (London) Division and after the Armistice it was enlarged when 3,324 graves were brought in from other burial grounds and from the battle fields of the Ypres Salient. Almost two-thirds of the graves are unidentified'. Cossley is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His brother, Arthur Reginald George Hunt, served in the Royal Marines Light Infantry during the conflict and went on to transfer to the Royal Navy in 1929 until mid-way through WW2.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Charles King

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: King

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Lacock, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
St. Souplet British Cemetery complex, Nord, France
Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Charles King was born in 1888 in Lacock, Wiltshire. He was the son of Jesse King, a gamekeeper, and Harriet King (née Holley). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was working as a cabinet maker and living at Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Salisbury as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 23746). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 1st April 1918 and his name appears on the St. Quentin German Cemetery Memorial 10, which is part of the wider St. Souplet British Cemetery complex at St. Souplet, Nord, France. He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury and the memorial at Ludwell in Wiltshire.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

William Charles Mason

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve /by Ann Symons

Surname: Mason

Other names: William Charles

Locations in this story:
Surbiton, Surrey
Namiwawa, Nyasaland
St. Denis, Cann, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Haileybury College, Great Amwell, Hertfordshire
South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye, Kent
U.S.A.
Pusa, India

Story:
William Charles Mason was born on 13th May, 1884 in Surbiton, Surrey, and baptised at St. Andrew's Church, Subiton on 8th June 1884, the son of William Joshua Mason, a manufacturing engineer, and Eliza Emily Mason (née Walters). William Charles appears in the 1901 Census as a boarder at Haileybury College, Great Amwell, Hertfordshire. In 1906 he travelled to Pusa in India to work as an entomologist. He returned to England in 1910 and attended the South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye in Kent. By 1911 William Charles' parents had moved to St. Denis, Cann, Shaftesbury, and he is included on the Census as an Economic Entomologist. He continued his studies in that field as a Carnegie Student in the U.S.A.

He went out to Nyasaland to work as the Government Entomologist and while there he enlisted in the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve. He died of blackwater fever at the Government Farm in Namiwawa, Nyasaland on 28th November 1917. He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. He is also commemorated on one of the Stations of the Cross plaques in St. James’ Church and is included on the Haileybury College War Memorial.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Trevor Sharpe

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Corps of Hussars, Dorset Yeomanry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Sharpe

Other names: Trevor

Locations in this story:
Marnull
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt
Pigeon House Farm, Marnhull, Dorset
Butts Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Mary's Church, Sherborne, Dorset

Story:
Trevor Sharpe was born in 1885 in Marnhull and baptised there on 12th April 1885. He was the son of Walter Sharpe, a farmer, and Julia Elizabeth Sharpe (née Rowland). On 6th February, 1906 he married Laura Blanche Foot. They had three children: Hilda May (b.1907), Walter (b. 1912) and Mildred B. (b. 1917). At the time of the 1911 Census he was working as a gardener and living at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. Later Electoral Rolls show the family had moved to Butts Knapp, Shaftesbury, by 1918. Trevor enlisted in Shaftesbury in the Dorset (Queen's own) Yeomanry (Service No. 1543) but later transferred to the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230785) and at the time of his death held the rank of Corporal. He served in Egypt and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. On 13th October 1918 he died of pneumonia on board the hospital ship HMHS Assaye and was buried at sea. His name appears on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria and on the memorial to the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry in St. Mary's Church, Sherborne. He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury on which the spelling of his surname is "Sharp", although the correct name is "Sharpe" but this is carried through in many records throughout the family. His brothers, Montague Harry Sharpe, Denzil Walter Claude Sharpe, Kenneth Cyril Sharpe and Leo Vernon Sharpe, all served and all survived the conflict.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives