Story:
Leonard Frank Bowles was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 10 Apr 1891 and baptised there on 31 May 1891 the son of Frank Bowles and Bessie Alice (aka Betsy) Bowles (nee Smith).  He lived his early life with his family at the Old Workhouse, Semley, Wiltshire.  Some time after 1911 he emigrated to New South Wales, Australia, and whilst there joined the Australian Imperial Force on 19 Jan 1916 as a Private (Service No. 25680).  He was posted to France and Flanders with the 55th Battalion arriving there on 14 Dec 1916.  He suffered from serious arthritis and was repatriated back to the UK and attended various hospitals until he was shipped back to Australia via Weymouth, Dorset.  He arrived back in Sydney, Australia, on 15 Apr 1918 and was subsequently discharged on 31 Jul 1918 being unfit for further service.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals plus a small pension.  He had returned to the UK shortly after and met and married Bessie Louisa Moulding (nee Searle) (the widow of Ernest James Moulding who had served and died on 6 Oct 1917 in the conflict) in Axminster, Devon, during 1919.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his brother, Harold, at 25 Wallington, Fareham, Southampton, Hampshire, working at the nearby Netley Military Hospital as a General Labourer. He apparently applied to join the Hampshire Regiment in 1924 but there is no other information available on this.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 4 Oak Tree Terrace, Andover, Hampshire, working as a Wood Sawyer as well as a volunteer ARP Warden.  His death was recorded in Andover during 1967.  Of his brothers, Bertram Percival Bowles and Alfred Radcliffe Bowles, served but died during the conflict whereas Harold Donald Victor Bowles served and survived.

Story:
William Hibberd was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 13 Jan 1897 and baptised there on 14 Feb 1897 the son of Frank Reuben Hibberd and Ellen Hibberd (nee Chubb).  He spent all his early life in the Semley area.  He had enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Dorsetshire Regiment in August 1914 as a Private (Service No. 1953).  He served in India with the 1st/4th Battalion until moving to the Mespotamia area with a new Service No. 200409.  He was discharged on 2 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal.  He apparently became a merchant seaman for a while working as a Trimmer.  He met and married Kate Poole in Southampton, Hampshire, on 17 Feb 1923.  He lived for a while in Southampton until he moved to live with a brother in Eastleigh, Hampshire, working as a Cable Machinist. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 8 Poppy Road, Swaything, Southampton, Hampshire, his job being Fining Copper Wire.  His death was recorded in Southampton, Hampshire, on 10 Dec 1971.  Of his brothers, Ernest Edward Hibberd served but was killed in action whereas Hubert William Hibberd served and survived.

Story:
Arthur John Harding was born in Sedgehill, Wiltshire, on 11 Feb 1888 and baptised there on 14 Oct 1888 the son of Thomas Baker Harding and Mary Ann Harding (nee Harding).  He lived his early life in Sedgehill until by 1911 the family had moved to Smugglers Hole Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire.   He had enlisted on 1 Oct 1917 and joined the Royal Flying Corps becoming a Private 2nd Class (Service No. 97761).  He served in France and Flanders from 14 Nov 1917 to 17 Mar 1919 during which time the Royal Air Force had been established on 1 Apr 1918.   He was discharged on 16 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living with has parents at The Street, Sedgehill, working as a Farm Labourer. He married Nellie Lillian Gray at Sedgehill Parish Church on 26 Dec 1922.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was recorded at 47 Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, working as a Cowman on a farm.  He died on the 21 Jul 1975 and was buried in the East Knoyle Cemetery.  His brother, Alfred Sidney Harding, also served but was regrettably killed in action. (NB  Not to be confused with Arthur John Harding born 1893 in Sedgehill whose father was George Arthur Harding.)

Story:
Hubert Morgan Pitman was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 12 Jan 1893 and baptised there on 12 Feb 1893 the son of John Pitman and Mary Ann Pitman (nee Phillips).  His mother died in 1898. He lived his early life in Motcombe and later in Semley Green, Semley, Wiltshire.   He had enlisted with the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 35652).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but at some later time he was transferred to the Labour Corps as a Corporal (Service No. 107072).  On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed father back in Semley described as a Produce Dealer in Eggs and Poultry (on own account). By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Church Cottage, Semley Green, Semley, Wiltshire, still described as an Egg and Poultry Producer and he was still single.   He died in Salisbury Infirmary, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 8 Jun 1954.  Of his brothers, Stanley George Pitman, had been killed in action whereas William John Pitman and Harold Arthur Pitman both served and survived.

Story:
Brian Benjamin Slade was born in Blewbury, Berkshire, on 8 Oct 1897 the son of Leonard Gillott Slade, a farmer, and Maria Slade (nee Bishop).  He spent his early life at Manor Farm, Blewbury, until the family moved to Park Gate Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, though by 1911 Brian was a scholar boarding out at a private school in Margate, Kent.  He had enlisted with the Cavalry of the Line (10th Hussars) on 21 Dec 1914 as a Private (Service No. H/19821).  Regrettably he was discharged on 29 Mar 1915 as he was unlikely to make an efficient solder due to defective eyesight.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Stourville, Shorts Green Lane, Motcombe, Dorset, described as a Factory Relief Worker and still single.  His death was recorded in Sturminster, Dorset, Registry during 1975.   His brother, Robert Bishop Slade, had also served in the conflict but was killed in action.