Stories Archive - Page 166 of 167 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Percy John Brown

Surname: Brown

Other names: Percy John

Locations in this story:
Sturminster Newton, Dorset
St. Marys Church, Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lydlinch, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Aldershot, Hampshire
Prystock Far, Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Stock Gayland, Dorset

Story:
Percy John Brown was born on 25th April, 1897 in Lydlinch, Sturminster, Dorset, and baptised at Stock Gayland Church, Dorset, on 6th June 1897. He was the son of George Brown, a cowman, and Arabella Ann Brown (née Roberts). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Lydlinch, Sturminster Newton.

He enlisted On 11th December 1915 at Sturminster Newton but was not embodied until 22 Apr 1916 as a Private and joined 'B' Squadron of 19th Royal Hussars (Queen Alexandra's Own) (Service No. 29867). He was posted to France on 22nd October 1916, where he received gunshot wounds in the right shoulder on 8th August, 1918. He was eventually posted back to Aldershot, Hampshire, on 13th March, 1919 and was declared unfit for further military service and discharged on 28th March, 1919, suffering from tuberculosis. which had been affected by his military service. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals plus the Silver War Badge No. B241090. Whilst he was granted a pension for his service he died very shortly after at Prystock Farm, Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th July 1919 and was buried in St. Mary's Churchyard, Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st July, 1919. His grave is marked by an official War Graves Commission stone and he is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial Plaque in the Church.

Images:

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

Frank Dibben

Surname: Dibben

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
Twyford, Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury. Dorset
East Orchard, Dorset

Story:
Frank Dibben was born in 1891 at Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. 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, Dorset. He enlisted in Shaftesbury, Dorset, 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 was presumed killed in action on 16th February 1916 and his name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium (Panel 37). He is also remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury and on the memorial window in St. Thomas's Church, East Orchard, Dorset. HIs mother was in receipt of a dependent's pension. His brothers, Claude Dibben and Charlie Dibben, also served in the conflict but survived.

Images:

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

David Charles Fox

30th January 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Fox

Other names: David Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Wimborne, Dorset
Egypt

Story:
David Charles Fox was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th April, 1893. He was the son of John Fox, a shepherd, and Sarah Jane Fox (née Creed). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a shepherd and living at 8 Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Wimborne, Dorset, as a Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 9960) but transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps (Service No. 46817). He was initially posted to Egypt on 14 July 1915 but later served with the 58th Field Ambulance in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was presumed killed in action on 10th April 1918 and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Panel 160). He is also remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His mother was in receipt of a dependent's pension.

Images:

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

Ernest Rideout

30th January 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Rideout

Other names: Ernest

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
Ernest Rideout was born in 1895 in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. 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, Shaftesbury. 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 from 13 July 1915 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was presumed killed in action on 12th April 1917 and his name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France (Bay 6). He is also remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His mother was awarded a dependent's pension.

Images:

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

Victor Alfred Ryall

30th January 2017/in 1914-1918 London Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Ryall

Other names: Victor Alfred

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Victor Alfred Ryall was born on 14th February, 1896 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was baptised there on 26th April, 1896. He was the son of William Ryall, a bricklayer journeyman, and Eleanor Goodman Ryall (née Goodman). His brother Sydney John (b.1898) also served in the First World War with the Dorsetshire Regiment. At the time of the 1911 Census Victor was single, working as a farm labourer and living at 15 Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in Shaftesbury and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 11202). He later transferred to the 17th (County of London Battalion) (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) of the London Regiment (new Service No. 6085) and at the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. He served in France & Flanders from 13 July 1915 with both regiments (latterly with the 17th Battalion of the London Regiment) and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was killed in action on 15th September 1916 and was buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France (grave id. XII.B.24). He is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His mother was awarded a dependent's pension but regrettably died on 8 July 1918 when it reverted to Victor's father.

Images:

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

Ernest Walter Holly

8th November 2016/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Holly

Other names: Ernest Walter

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann Comon, Cann, Shaftesbury
Greece
Dedeagatch British Cemetery, Alexandroupolis, Greece

Story:
Ernest Walter Holly was born in 1895 in Melbury Abbas and baptised there on 8th December 1895. He was the son of Mark Holly, a farm labourer, and Harriett Holly (née Smith) and was one of a family of eleven children. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a farm labourer and living at Cann Common, Cann, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Driver in the Army Service Corps (Service No. T4/039638) and was a driver with the 798th Horse Transport Company. He served in Greece and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in Greece on 27th December 1918 of Bronchial Pneumonia and was buried at Dedeagatch British Cemetery, Alexandroupolis, Greece, (grave id. 69). The cemetery is associated with the No 31 Casualty Clearing Station. He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His mother was in receipt of a dependent's pension.

Ernest's brothers also served during the war: Harry Percival (b.1891) with the Royal Garrison Artillery and Herbert John (b.1892) with the Dorsetshire Regiment, the Devonshire Regiment and the Hampshire Regiment and both survived.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Harry Percival Holly
Herbert John Holly

William Alford

8th November 2016/in 1914-1918 Welsh Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Alford

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France
Cardiff, Wales

Story:
William Alford was born on 22 Mar 1890 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorzset, and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 20 Apr 1890. He was the son of James Alford, a farmer, and Hannah Alford (née Pyke). By 1911 the family wa living at Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury. At the time of the 1911 Census William was still single, working as an agricultural labourer and living at Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury. He married Kathleen Henry in Cardiff during 1913 and there were two children of the marriage, James William Llewelyn Alford (b. 1913) and Alice Mary Alford (b. 1915). He enlisted in Cardiff as a Private in the 16th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment (Service No. 24045). He served in France and Flanders from 4 Dec 1915 and was awarded the Victory, and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was killed in action on 31st March 1916 and eventually buried at the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France, (grave id. III.O.11). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His widow, who lived at 48 Havelock Street, Cardiff, Wales, eventually received a widow's pension for herself and children of 18s. 6d. (92 1/2p.) per week.

Two of William's brothers served with the Royal Garrison Artillery in the war: Ernest John (b.1882), who sadly died in France in 1918 and Percy (b.1887) who died in 1925 as a result of tuberculosis contracted while in the army.

Printed sources:
"The Alford Family of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset", Gold Hill Museum Archives.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Ernest John Alford
Percy Thomas Alford

Arthur Victor Robert Brickell

8th November 2016/in 1914-1918 Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Brickell

Other names: Arthur Victor Robert

Locations in this story:
Butt's Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme, France
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Arthur Victor Robert Brickell (always known as Victor) was born in 1896 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 28th June, 1896. He was the son of James Brickell, a gardener, and Lucy Elizabeth Brickell (née Andrews). Unfortunately his father died in 1901. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as an errand boy for Stratton, Sons & Mead (Grocers) of Shaftesbury, Dorset, and living at Butt's Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 7th Battalion and later the 10th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 28387). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He died on 27th March 1917 of bronco-pneumonia and dysentry and was buried at Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme, France (grave id. VI.E.46). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His name also appears on the Roll of Honour of his former employers, Stratton, Sons & Mead of Shaftesbury. His mother was awarded a dependent's pension shortly after though she herself died in 1931. Victor's brother Charles Henry also served in the war, with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Images:

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

Ernest John Alford

8th November 2016/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Alford

Other names: Ernest John

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Pozieres, Somme, France
Foxhill, Wanboro, Wiltshire
Plymouth, Devon
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann
Somme, France

Story:
Ernest John Alford was born on 9th December 1882 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 9th January 1883. He was the son of James Alford, a farmer, and Hannah Alford (née Pyke). In 1891 the family were living at 5 Butts Knapp, Cann. They were still living there in 1901 and Ernest was employed as a general labourer working on a farm. By 1911 the family had moved to Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, but Ernest had left the family home. When he enlisted at the Citadel, Plymouth as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 73193) he indicated his address as Foxhill, Wanboro, Wiltshire, employed as a Gardener and still single. He was posted to the 250th Siege Battery on 7th October 1916 transferring later to the 122nd Siege Battery on 30th July 1917. He served in France and family records show that he received unspecified wounds there on 14th June 1917 but recovered sufficiently to resume his duties. The official record states that he was missing in action and 'died on or since 21st March 1918' on the Somme, France. At the time of his death his parents were living at The Tollhouse, Cann, Shaftesbury. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and is commemorated on The Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France (Panel 10). He is also remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His mother was awarded a dependent's pension.

His siblings included William (b.1890) who sadly also died while serving in France in 1918 and Percy Thomas (b.1887) who died in 1925 as the result of contracting tuberculosis while in the army.

Printed sources:
"The Alford Family of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset", Gold Hill Museum Archives.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
William Alford
Percy Thomas Alford

Bertram George Brown

8th November 2016/in 1914-1918 Kings Royal Rifle Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Brown

Other names: Bertrand "Bertram" George

Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Hamburg Cemetery, Germany
Pamphill Dairy, Wimborne, Dorset
Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Bertram Brown was born in 1895 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and his name was registered as "Bertrand George Brown". He was the son of Samuel Brown, a miller's labourer, and Clara Brown (née Moore) the latter having died in 1899. The family lived at Cann Common, Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1911 Census he had left home and had become known as "Bertram". He was single, working as a dairyman on a farm, Pamphill Dairy, Wimborne, and was boarding at the home of the owner, Frederick Sheppard.

He enlisted in Dorchester as a Rifleman in the 1st Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles Corps (Service No. 11140). He served in France and Flanders from 13 Aug 1914 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914 Star. He died as a Prisoner of War on 4th April 1915 in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. In 1923 his body was transferred to Hamburg Cemetery (grave id. I.G.9). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His father, Samuel, sadly died in 1917 leaving Bertram's brother Frederick as his representative.

One of his brothers, Obery Archibald (b.1891) also died in the war on 19th March 1917 while serving with the East Kent Regiment in France. Three other brothers also served in the war: Harry (b.1885), William Thomas (b.1888) and Cyril (b.1894)

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Obery Archibald Brown
Cyril Brown
William Thomas Brown
Harry Brown