Story:
Harry Davis was born in 1880 in Motcombe, Shaftesbury. He was the son of Frederick Davis, an agricultural labourer, and Emily Davis (née Jenkins). His siblings included Charles, (b.1888) who also died in the war. Brothers Frank (b.1882) served in the Coldstream Guards, Edward Frederick (b. 1898) with the Inniskilling Fusiliers and William Robert (b.1886) served with the Dorsetshire Regiment. Before the war the family lived at a number of addresses in the area: Long Cross, Church Hill, Enmore Green, Nr Cherry Orchard Farm and in 1911 Foul Hill.

On 12th August 1898 Harry enlisted as a Private in the 39th & 54th Foot Battalions of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 3838 changed later to 5766). He was posted to India on 22nd December 1900 and received the Good Conduct badge on 3rd December 1907. On 29th October 1910 he was discharged from the army and by the 1911 Census was back in Shaftesbury working as a labourer and living with his parents. On 6th January 1914 Harry again enlisted, this time with the Territorial (4th) Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 2060). When the First World War broke out in August 1914 Harry was mobilized at once and sailed with the 1/4th Battalion for India. He was later posted to Mesopotamia, landing at Basra on 23rd February 1916. By the time of his death he held the rank of Sergeant. On 11th September 1916 he died of wounds received in action. He was buried at Basra War Cemetery, Iraq (grave id. VI.F.22), the same cemetery as his brother Charles. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial, and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His name was also included on the memorial in St. James' churchyard and on the roll of honour inside the church.  

Story:
Frank Dibben was born in 1891 at Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury. He was the son of Alfred Dibben, a farm labourer, and Sarah Ann Dibben (nee Rideout). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was working as a farm labourer and living at 45 Twyford, Compton Abbas. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 11282). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 16th February 1916 and his name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres (Panel 37). He is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury and on the memorial window in St. Thomas's Church, East Orchard.  His brothers, Claude Dibben and Charlie Dibben, also served in the conflict but survived.

Story:
Ernest Rideout was born in 1895 in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury. He was the son of Mark Rideout, a carter, and Ellen Rideout (née Adlem). At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a farm labourer and living at 3 Compton Abbas. He enlisted in Shaftesbury on 30th December, 1914, as a Private and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 12703). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and the 1914/1915 Star medals. He died on 12th April 1917 and his name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France (Bay 6). He is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury.