Story:
Bertie Charles Brooks (the name he was registered with was frequently reversed as Charles Bertie Brooks) was born in Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 11 Sep 1893 and baptised there (as Bertie Edward) on 5 Nov 1893 the son of Thomas Brooks and Eliza Brooks (nee Wareham).  He lived all his life in Iwerne Minster except when he enlisted on 26 Jan 1917 with the Royal Engineers (Motor Transport) as a Pioneer (Service No. WR 40244).  He served in France and Flanders where he received severe gun shot wounds to his right thigh which eventually necessitated a full amputation of the leg.  He was discharged on 9 Oct 1918 as being medically unfit and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B10625 plus the Victory and British War Medals. He was fitted with an artificial leg and became a very successful fund raiser for the Iwerne Minster men who were Prisoners of War. James Ismay of Iwerne Minster House paid for him to be trained as a hairdresser and set him up in business in the village. He married Kate Pitman in Weymouth, Dorset, on 28 Mar 1921.  Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was living and working as a Hairdresser in Blandford Road, Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry on 20 Jan 1969.  His name appears on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster.

Printed source:
"Iwerne Minster Before, During, and After the Great War", Edited by P. Anderson Graham, Printed for Private Circulation only.

Story:
William Henry Keirle was born in Paddington, London, on 22 Nov 1893 the son of Matthew George Keirle and Elizabeth Ann Keirle (nee Clisby).  He spent his early years in Paddington but by 1911 had taken employment at Iwerne Minster House, Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, apparently working as Gentleman's Valet, Butler and Chauffeur to Lord Ismay.  He had joined the Royal Fusiliers Militia (Hampshire Caribiniers) on 2 May 1911 as a Private (Service No. 14745).  He completed a special course and was then discharged at his own request on 27 Nov 1913.  He had re-enlisted on 8 May 1915 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 8760) and ended up as part of the Machine Gun Corps becoming in due time a Tank Driver in the Tanks Corps (Service No. 94830).  He had served in France and Flanders where he received gun shot wounds to his Right Arm and Leg.  He was repatriated to the UK and spent time at the Chester War Hospital eventually being posted to Catterick Camp, Yorkshire.  He was discharged in Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He then went to live in West Ham, Essex, until by the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 40 Great Western Road, Queens Park, London, working as a Provisions Assistant and still single.  His death was recorded in the Kensington, London, Registry during 1968.  His name appears on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster.

Story:
Hugh Grant Lankey was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 14 Apr 1899 the son of Frederick Lankey and Annie Lankey (nee Grant).  He lived his early life in West Street, Fontmell Magna.  He had enlisted and joined the Royal Fusiliers as a Private (Service No. GS/76651).  He served in France and Flanders with the 23rd and 26th Companies finally transferring to the 10th Company on 25 Jul 1918.  On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   At the time of his discharge his parents had moved to Victoria Road, Ferndown, Dorset, and later, by the 1921 Census, to West Moors, West Parley, Dorset, where Hugh had lived, working as a Fitter, until he married Muriel Gertrude Horsey in Hampreston, Dorset, on 16 Feb 1930.  By the time of the 1939 Register his wife and child were living at 'Fontmell', 559 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, but there was no mention of Hugh.  He could possibly have been back in the forces at that time.  His death was recorded on 3 Feb 1974 in the Poole, Dorset, Registry and his last address accords with the 1939 Register.  His brother, Charles Lankey, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Percy George Gatehouse was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8 Sep 1886 the son of James Howe Gatehouse and Mary Gatehouse (nee Farmer).  He lived his early life at Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury, until the family move to Milton on Stour, Gillingham, Dorset, and later to Peasemarsh, Gillingham.  Percy had enlisted with the 12th (The Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers as a Private (Service No. L/5940).  He was later promoted to Lance Corporal and transferred to the Corps of Lancers (Service No. L/13022).   He served in France and Flanders from 15 Aug 1914 and at some time was reported to be an 'unofficial' Prisoner of War being held in Germany per a Red Cross report at the time.  He was discharged on 21 Sep 1919 but apparently re-enlisted immediately with Service No. L/19695.  He had been awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  He had married Florence Mabel Janes at the Parish Church, Gillingham, on 10 Apr 1917.  By the 1921 Census he had obviously left the Army and was living in The Wyke, Gillingham, Dorset, working as a Railway Delivery Agent's Carman. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Wavering Lane, Wyke, Gillingham, working as a General Labourer.  He died in Gillingham in 1982 and was buried there on 21 Apr 1982.  Four of his brothers, Charles Howe, Sidney Herbert, Ernest Edward and Thomas William, all served and survived the conflict whilst his nephew, Victor Stokes, who lived with the family, died.  The remaining brother, Walter John, is purported to have served but no reliable military record can be found.