Stories Archive - Page 159 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Leslie Robert Gutsell

Surname: Gutsell

Other names: Leslie Robert

Locations in this story:
Dorchester
France & Flanders
Theipval Memorial, Somme
Greenslede, Basingstoke
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
High Street, Shaftesbury
Coventry
Gueudecourt

Story:
Leslie Robert Gutsell was born in 1896 in Dorchester. He was the son of Robert Gutsell, a draper, and Mary Ann Gutsell (nee Godly). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and living at Greenslede, Basingstoke. Between the Census and the outbreak of war he had moved to Shaftesbury and become a Teacher (as well as a Scoutmaster). (His mother was living at 34 High Street, Shaftesbury by 1918.)

Leslie enlisted in Coventry as a Gunner in the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 2518) and later transferred to the Motor Machine Gun Service Royal Artillery in 'D' Company, No. 1 Section. He served in France and Flanders and was assigned to some of the very earliest tanks used in the war and became a gunner in Tank D5 (Dolphin). He was one of the first casualties of tank warfare, being killed in action in his vehicle at approximately 10 a.m. on 15th September, 1916, during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette near the village of Gueudecourt. His body was recovered by his comrades on 30th September and buried in the vicinity but, due to further hostile activity, the site was lost and his remains were not recovered for proper burial. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and his name appears on the Theipval Memorial (Pier/Face 5C & 12C). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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

Decimus Charles Hardiman

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Decimus Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Guard's Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Decimus Charles Hardiman was born in 1896 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church on 11 Dec 1896. He was the son of Charles Hardiman and Martha Ann Hardiman (née Brockway). (His father had been arrested a number of time accused of desertion and vagrancy and had spent time in prison. He also had denied paternity of the children of the marriage. His name does not appear further in the family records.) At the time of the 1911 Census Decimus was single, working as an under gardener and living at 37 St James, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Dorchester as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards (Service No. 17289). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 26th September 1916 and was buried at Guard's Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France (grave id. VI.V.10). He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ war memorials. His name also appears on the Roll of Honour inside St. James’ Church and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother lived at 37 St. James, Shaftesbury and died in 1937 aged 73 years. His brother, Ernest George Hardiman, also served in the conflict but survived. As a result of Decimus's death, his mother was awarded a pension of 3 shillings (15p.) per week on 8 May 1917 which increased to 5 shillings (25p.) per week from 6 Nov 1918 until her death in 1937.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Ernest George Hardiman

Henry Meatyard Hatcher

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Corps of Hussars /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hatcher

Other names: Henry Meatyard

Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas
Egypt
Deir El Belah War Cemetery, Palestine
Green Farm, Cherry Orchard, Cann, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
New York, USA
Southampton
Kortright, Delaware, USA
Sherborne, Dorset

Story:
Henry Meatyard Hatcher was born in 1892 in Compton Abbas. He was the son of Albert Hatcher, a farm foreman, and Selina Elizabeth Hatcher (née Jenkins). In 1910 Henry traveled via Southampton to New York on the SS Adriatic. He appeared on the United States Census of 1910 living at Kortright, Delaware, USA, working as a hired man. At the time of the 1911 Census, his parents were living at Green Farm, Cherry Orchard, Cann, Shaftesbury. He must have returned to the UK at some time after 1911 in order to enlist in Sherborne, Dorset and join the 1st/1st Battalion of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry (Service No. 866) later transferring to the Corps of Hussars (New Service No. 230239). At the time of his death he held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died of wounds on the Egyptian border of Palestine (near Gaza) on 25th November 1917 and was buried at Deir El Belah War Cemetery, Palestine (grave id. B.160). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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

John Thomas Highman

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Highman

Other names: John Thomas

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Theipval Memorial, Somme
Laundry Lane, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Camberwell, London, S.E.
Poland Street, Oxford Stree, London, W.

Story:
John Thomas Highman was born in 1892 in Shaftesbury. He was the son of William Charles Highman, a carman, and Emily Mary Highman (née Rideout). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a porter and boarding out at Little Poland Street, Oxford Street, London, W. He was working for Peter Robinson Ltd. Drapers, of Oxford Street; 35 and 26 Poland Street was the staff accommodation for the firm. His parents were living at 8 Laundry Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Camberwell, London, S.E. as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. L/15240). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died whilst attached to 'B' Company, 157th Brigade, RFA, on 21st July 1916 and his name appears on the Theipval Memorial, Somme (Pier/Face 1A & 8A). He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James' war memorials, Shaftesbury. His name also appears on the memorial scroll inside St. James' Church and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Walter William Henry Cubbit Hodder

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hodder

Other names: Walter William Henry Cubbit

Locations in this story:
Thorncombe, Dorset
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial
Brandon House, Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Ypres, Belgium

Story:
Walter William Henry Cubbit Hodder was born in 1887 in Thorncombe, Dorset, (Near Axminster, Devon) and baptised at St. Marys Church, Thorncombe, on 7 Aug 1887. He was the son of William Henry Hodder, a builder, and Elizabeth Hodder (née Fall). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a law clerk and living at 3 Brandon House, Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury. His father died in 1912 and was buried at Holy Trinity Church on 16th May, 1912. His mother also died in 1915 and was buried alongside her husband. Walter enlisted with the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 22185) as a Private and later transferred to the 6th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (New Service No. 27746). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action at Ypres in Belgium on 23rd August 1917 and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 80 to 82 and 163A). His next of kin following his death was his sister, Mary Alice Hodder, to whom probate was eventually granted. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. He is also remembered on the headstone (grave no. 60) of his parents WILLIAM HENRY HODDER AND ELIZABETH HIS WIFE in the Holy Trinity churchyard. The inscription reads: ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF WALTER WILLIAM HENRY THE ONLY SON OF THE ABOVE WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT YPRES AUGUST 23RD 1917, AGED 30 YEARS.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Percy Hussey

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Rifle Brigade /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hussey

Other names: Percy

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
High Street, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
London
Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury

Story:
Percy Hussey was born in 1894 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was the son of George Hussey, a bus driver, and Annie Hussey (née White). His father died in 1910. At the time of the 1911 Census he was working as a Domestic Stable Boy and living with his mother and two siblings at 9 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury. He moved to London obtaining work as a Hotel Employee and enlisted there on 2nd September 1914, joining the 9th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) (Service No. B/2809). His mother had by then moved to 57 High Street, Shaftesbury. Percy was posted for home duty on 4th September 1914 and on 21st May 1915 he joined the British Expeditionary Force, serving in France and Flanders. Here he was presumed killed in action on 25th September 1915. On 16th October, 21 days later his sister, Edith Mary Hussey, wrote to his unit: "I am writing for my mother to know if you can give me any news of my brother Percy Hussey 2809, 9th Rifle Brigade 42 Light Infantry Brigade 14th Light Division France as we have had a letter from his chum saying he is wounded. We enquired at the War Office and Red Cross and they referred us to you. We should be most grateful if you would let us know any news of him." There is no copy of the Military reply remaining. Percy was awarded the British War and Victory Medals as well as the 1915 Star. His name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium (Panel 46-48 & 50). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Following Percy's death his mother was awarded a pension of 4s. 6d (22 1/2p.) per week. By 1921 she was still at 57 High Street, Shaftesbury, working on her own account as a Dressmaker. Living with her were her daughter and son, Robert, who was incapacitated. His mother died in 1936.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Bertram Keast

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Keast

Other names: Bertram

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
Bell Street, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Essen, Germany
London
Dorchester
Paschendaele, Flanders

Story:
Bertram Keast was born on 10th October, 1889 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 17th November, 1889. He was the son of Samuel John Keast, a law clerk, and Emily Keast (née Taylor). He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1899 to July 1906. After leaving school he became a schoolmaster and then entered a solicitor's office, first in London and later in Dorchester. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was single and living in the family home at 7 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. On 28th December, 1914 he married Kate Taylor and they had one child, a son. On his marriage certificate he gives his occupation as Solicitor's Clerk. He enlisted in Dorchester and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18584) as a Private. He later transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (New Service No. 31066) and went on to serve in France and Flanders being promoted to Lance Corporal. Bertram and Kate's son Maurice was born on 16th February 1917. Official records show that Bertram died on October 26th 1917 although this may be the day on which he was reported missing. The Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine gives some details: "Bertram Keast was shot in the left arm on the Paschendale front, on October 26th, 1917, and taken prisoner." According to this account he was transported to Germany and died there on November 5th. He was buried in the civilian churchyard at Essen. Bertram was awarded the Victory and British War medals and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 38 to 40). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial, on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church and on the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury School. His widow received a pension of £1. 0s. 5d. (£1.02p) which expired in 1933 by then she had remarried Ernest Ridgeway in 1926. The June 1917 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine mentions a donation by Bertram's father: "A framed list of the names of over 160 boys on active service, now adorns our Schoolroom wall. It was written by Mr. S.J. Keast, and presented by him to the School. We offer him our grateful thanks for his most artistic production, which is one more proof of the great interest he always takes in all that concerns the School." In Gold Hill Museum there is a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys who served in the forces, updated throughout the war, but it is not known if this is the work of Mr. Keast. Bertram's name was included and an asterix can be seen next to his name, indicating that he had died. Printed Source: Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1919 Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1917

Images:

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Shastonian

Charlie Stephen King

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: King

Other names: Charlie Stephen

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sunderland War Hospital, Northumberland
Holy Trinity Churchyard, Shaftesbury
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury
Bay, Gillingham
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders

Story:
Charlie Stephen King was born on 18th October 1888 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. (Note the family lived during his early life in Gillingham, Dorset.) He was the son of Stephen King, a painter, and Virtue King (née Hanks). His mother, Virtue, died in 1893 and was buried on 10th August, 1893. His father remarried on 28th August, 1897 to Emily Ann Chapple. On 17th October, 1909, Charlie married Bessie Imber and they had three children: two girls and a boy. Their first child, Dorothy Edith was born in 1910. At the time of the 1911 Census Charlie was working for a railway company as a house painter and the family were living in Bay, Gillingham, Dorset. Later in the year their son Charlie John was born and the family moved to 5 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Charlie enlisted on 11th December, 1915 but was not mobilized until 17th August 1916 as a Gunner in the 237th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 116267). He received gun shot wounds to his legs in Flanders on 17th August 1917. On 6th September he was transferred to the Sunderland War Hospital where he died of septicaemia and shell shock on 15th September 1917. He was buried south of the church in Holy Trinity Churchyard in Shaftesbury. (The name inscribed on the headstone was "C.R. KING" which differs from the name that appears on official documents. In 2018 this error was rectified with the erection of a new headstone, after a local resident contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.) He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. Charlie is also remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials and on the Roll of Honour in St. James’ Church. His name can be seen on the Holy Trinity memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. At the time of Charles' death his wife Bessie was living at 5 Layton Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury where a third child, Bessie Elizabeth, was born on 9th November 1917. Charles' widow was in receipt of a pension for herself and the three children of 26s. 3d. (£1.32p.) per week. His brother, Edmund Arnold King, served and survived but his half-brother, Arthur Stanley King, was also killed in action in Flanders. His mother continued to live in Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, certainly up until 1939 and did not remarry.

Images:

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

William Edwin Large

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Sussex Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Large

Other names: William Edwin

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Somme, France
Bell Street, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
William Edwin Large was born in 1883 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 20th May, 1883. (On all the Census records he is known in the family as Edwin, although the army records show his full name, William Edwin.) He was the son of Frederick William Large, a house painter, and Ellen Large (née Alner). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a house painter and living at 22 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment (Service No. G/11252). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 10th September 1916 whilst being treated at the 88th Casualty Clearing Station for wounds received in battle on the Somme and was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Somme, France (grave id. IV.C.4). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother received a pension as a result of his death paid until her death on 21 Dec 1925.

Images:

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

Sidney Rex Lawson

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Lawson

Other names: Sidney Rex

Locations in this story:
Morpeth, Northumberland
France & Flanders
Torreken Farm Cemetery No 1, Heuvelland, West Flandser
Cresswell Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Sidney Rex Lawson was born in December 1893 in Morpeth, Northumberland. He was the son of Thomas James Lawson, a house carpenter, and Mary Jane Lawson (née Kirkup). At the time of the 1911 Census, Sidney was working as a house carpenter and living at Cresswell Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland. He enlisted in Shaftesbury with the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 16466) and at the time of his death he held the rank of Sergeant. He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 18th June 1917 and was buried at Torreken Farm Cemetery No 1, Heuvelland, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. A.1). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial. He also appears as "E.Rex Lawson" and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother received his effects following his death as his sole legatee.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives