Story:
Ernest George Davis was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15 Jun 1889 the son of James John Davis and Maria Davis (nee Russell).  He lived all his early life in the Shaftesbury area.   He married Ada Adams at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1909 and they set up home in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where Ernest worked as a Domestic Gardener.  He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12459).  He served in France and Flanders from 13 Jul 1915 and was later transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 625940).   On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living in Salisbury Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Baker. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 'Sunnycott', Manor Lane, Verwood, Dorset, working as a Kitchen Gardener.   His death was recorded in Poole, Dorset, during 1964. His brother, John Richard Davis, also served in the conflict and their names were mentioned on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.  His other brother, Percival James Davis, also served and survived the conflict.

Story:
George Wilfred Clemas was born in Hindon, Wiltshire on 25 Nov 1889 the son of Edward Richard Clemas and Elizabeth Ellen Clemas (nee Brickell).  He lived his early life in Hindon until by 1901 he was living at 59 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, with his Uncle presumably because his had mother died in 1893.  By 1911 he had moved to Merton Abbey, Surrey, where he had become an Elementary School Teacher.  His Military Service cannot be verified except his name appears on the Roll Of Honour published in the St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, in Nov 1918 and the fact that his service is acknowledged in the National Union of Teachers Roll of Honour.  The 1921 Census shows him visiting his uncle at 59 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, now described as a Student Undergraduate at Cambridge University. By the time of the 1939 Register he was residng at 9 Delamere Road, Wimbledon, Surrey, described as an Assistant Master in a Secondary School.  He was still single at this time.  His death was recorded in the British American Hospital, Madrid, Spain, on 19 Aug 1965 and his address on the Probate records indicate he was officially living at 9 Rangers Hotel, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex.

Story:
Samuel Brickell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1881 and was baptised at St. James' Church on 9 Oct 1881 the son of George Brickell and Sarah Brickell (nee Dennis).   He spent his early life in St. James Street, Shaftesbury, until by 1911 he had moved to Bermondsey, London, and was boarding with his brother and working as a Railway Porter.  He enlisted on the 8 Nov 1915 and joined the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment as a Private (Service No. G/10824).  He served some time in Tipperary, Ireland, where he was recovering from diptheria. He married Alice Louisa Ball (nee Barnett), the widow of John James Ball who had died in 1912, at St. Thomas Church, Lambeth, London, on 23 Apr 1916.  He was posted to France and Flanders on 13 Mar 1918 and joined the 7th Reserve Battalion and was promoted to Corporal.  He was reported missing in action on 21 Mar 1918 whilst the 5th Brigade was being involved during a retreat in the Somme area.  He was officially presumed killed in action on 28 Mar 1918.  His wife had to write from her home in Kennington, London, on 26 Jun 1918 asking for news of him.  The Red Cross had also made enquiries as late as 20 Nov 1918 (after the Armistice).  There had obviously been a considerable failure to advise his wife of the situation on the part of the Military authorities.  Samuel was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and his name appears on the Pozieres Memorial in the Pozieres British Military Cemetery, Pozieres, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France, (Panels 58 & 59).  His name was also on the Roll of Honour published in the Parish Magazine of Nov 1918 by St. James' Church, Shaftesbury.  Charles' brothers, Thomas Dennis Brickell and Charles Brickell, also served in the conflict and survived.

Story:
George William Bastable was born in Woodville, Marnull, Near Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 Mar 1883 the son of Claudious Charles Bastable, a Blacksmith, and Rose Anna Bastable (nee Moore).  He lived his early life at Pond Farm Cottages, Marnull, Dorset.   He married Kate Matilda Roberts in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in Oct 1909.  By 1911 he had set up home at 2 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where he was working as a Warehouse Porter.  He had served in the Territorial Branch of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry prior to this time (Service No. D/4354) and at the outbreak of war he re-enlisted and rejoined his Regiment as a Trooper with Service No. 841.  He was posted to Egypt on 23 Apr 1915  and his unit became part of the Corps of Hussars with his Service No. changing to 230219.  He was killed in action in Jerusalem, Palestine (Israel) on 13 Nov 1917 whilst serving with the 1st/1st Battalion and buried in the Ramleh War Cemetery, Nr Tel Aviv, Israel. (Grave Ref. P.35)  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Story:
Stanley Charles Still was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17 May 1888 the son of Tom Still and Ellen Still (nee West).  He lived with his parents in West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He had enlisted with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry and served for 6 years in the Territorial Unit and had been discharged following the end of his engagement prior to 1911 (by which time his parents had moved to St. James Street, Shaftesbury).  Stanley had sailed for Australia on 31 Mar 1911 eventually arriving in Perth, Western Australia, and there enlisted on 25 Sep 1914 and was attached to the 16th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force but only lasted a few weeks and was discharged as being unfit.  He however must have recovered sufficiently to re-enlist on the 19 May 1915 (Service No. 1037) being attached to the 28th Battalion and serving in Egypt.  Whilst in Egypt he had a motorcycle accident to his knee on duty and, despite being landed at Gallipoli, Turkey, had to be evacuated due to his injury and was posted to the UK as a Clerk in the Kit Service Unit being promoted to Acting Corporal.   Whilst in England, and according to the Military Record, he married Constance Griffiths in Kensington, London, on 24 Jan 1918.  He was eventually discharged in London as being unfit for further service on 20 Oct 1919 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. A88666 as well as the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 237 Lancaster Road, Kensington, London, working as a Conductor for the London General Omnibus Co. Ltd. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 49 Achillies Road, Hampstead, London, still working as a Bus Conductor.  His wife is noted as Susan Edith Still (nee Evans) who he married in 1937.  (There are no obvious records of Constance dying or being divorced.)   His wife died in 1970 and the death of Stanley was recorded in Lambeth, London, during 1978.  His name had been published on the Roll of Honour in the St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Parish Magazine of Nov 1918.  His brothers, Archibald Arthur Still and Clarence Reginald Still, also both served in the conflict.