Stories Archive - Page 37 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Frank Maidment

25th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Maidment

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Fordington, Dorset
Mortonhampstead, Devon
Newton Abbot, Devon
Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire

Story:
Frank Maidment was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 9 Sep 1887 and baptised at the Birdbush Independent Chapel, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 9 Oct 1887 the son of John Eugene Maidment and Mary Jane Maidment (nee Read). He lived his early life at Fiveways, Charlton, Donhead St. Mary. He married Dorothy Alice Blandamer at St. Georges Church, Fordington, Dorset, on 25 Dec 1915. He enlisted on 17 Sep 1918 and joined the Royal Air Force as an Air Mechanic Class 3 (Service No. 296180). His wife was recorded as living in Mortonhampstead, Devon, at the time. He was discharged on 27 Feb 1919. The 1921 Census shows him living at 21 Kinsman Dale, Mortonhampstead, working as a Traction Engine Driver for the Newton Abbott Rural District Council. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 45 Ley Lane, Newton Abbot, Devon, described as a Steam Roller Driver. His death was recorded in Newton Abbot on 18 Dec 1939. His brother, Hubert James Maidment, also served in the conflict.

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Reginald Charles Charlton

25th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Charlton

Other names: Reginald Charles

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Islington, London
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Paddington, London
Mere, Wiltshire
Wood Green, Middlesex

Story:
Reginald Charles Charlton was born in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 30 Sep 1881 and baptised there on 6 Nov 1881 the son of Henry Charlton, a Schoolmaster, and Abigail Charlton (nee Howell). He lived his early life in Lower Street, Donhead St. Andrew, until by 1901 he had moved to Islington, London, where he was boarding out whilst working as a Warehouseman. He married May Henley in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 1911. He enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service on 25 May 1916 (Service No. F15038) and later transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918 with Service No. 215038. He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 15 Feb 1919. Whilst no medal records can be found he would have qualified for the British War Medal at least. By the 1921 Census his wife and two children were registered at 140 Albert Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, but no mention of Reginald can be found. His wife regrettably died in 1923 in the same year their son also died. By the time of the 1939 Register Reginald had moved to 85 Waverley Walk, Paddington, London. He remarried Kathleen Keating in the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry area in 1942. He died in Mere in 1948.

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Arthur George Roberts

25th November 2021/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Naval Air Service /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Roberts

Other names: Arthur George

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Putney, London, SW
Port Said, Egypt
Alexandria, Egypt
France & Flanders
Dover, Kent
Holloway, Islington, London
Folkestone, Kent

Story:
Arthur George Roberts was born in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 26th January 1891 and baptised there on 22nd February 1891, the son of John William Roberts and Louisa Roberts (nee Haskell). He lived all his early life in Lower Street and later Bartholemew Street, Donhead St. Andrew, until by 1914 he had moved to Putney, London, SW and was working as a Police Constable. He married Emily Mann there in March 1914. He enlisted on 23rd February 1916 with the Royal Naval Air Service as an Air Mechanic Class 1 (Service No. F12246). He worked as a Rigger on Airships and on Balloons in places such as Port Said and Alexandria, Egypt, and France and Flanders. He was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918 with Service No. 212246. He was eventually discharged on 11th April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He returned to the Police Service and served for a number of years in Islington, London, the 1921 Census showing him living at 34 Jackson Road, Holloway, Islington. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 'Yoqa', Dover Road, Dover, Kent, and was still a Police Constable. His death was recorded in Folkestone, Kent, on 25th June 1964. His brother, William John Roberts, also served in the conflict.

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The National Archives

Albert Henry Coke

24th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coke

Other names: Albert Henry

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
East Stour, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Westminster, London

Story:
Albert Henry Coke was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 30 Jan 1899 the son of William John Coke and Elizabeth Jane Coke (nee Bealing). His family had moved by 1901 to Hunger Hill, East Stour, Dorset, and then to Peasemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset. Albert enlisted with the Royal Navy on 5 Sep 1917 as an Ordinary Seaman (Service No. J77308). He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 24 Feb 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He married Fanny Maria Fish in the Shaftesbury, Dorset, Registry area in 1920. The 1921 Census shows him living in High Street, Gillingham, Dorset, described as a Retail Confectioner and Tobacconist (own account). By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 17 Parham Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, working as a Motor Driver. His wife died in 1947 and he want on to remarry Irene Ethel Martha Witt in Bournemouth during 1948. He died in the Westminster Hospital, Westminster, London, on 1 Jan 1954.

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Herbert Thomas Ralls

24th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ralls

Other names: Herbert Thomas

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Raynes Park, London
Wimbledon, Surrey
Merton, Surrey
Staines, Middlesex
South Wimbledon, Surrey

Story:
Herbert Thomas Ralls was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 22 Sep 1885 the son of George Patrick Ralls, a Railway Clerk, and Mary Jane Ralls (nee Hayward). He spent his early life in his parents home at The Porters Cottage, Railway Sidings, Semley. Sometime after 1901 he had moved to Raynes Park, London where he was working as a Carpenter. He married Elsie Frances Connors in Staines, Middlesex, in 1908. He enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service on 3 Jul 1917 (having been in the Royal Navy Voluntary Reserve prior to this time (Service No. Y2990)) as a Rigger (Service No. F32657). He was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918 as a Corporal Mechanic (Service No. 232657). He was eventually discharged on 11 Apr 1919 and awarded the British War Medal. The 1921 Census shows him living at 291 Haydon's Road, South Wimbledon, Surrey, working as a Carpenter and Joiner. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 27 Bierston Road, Wimbledon, Surrey, now described as a Joiner. His death was recorded in the Surrey North Eastern Registry in 1959 and he was buried in Merton, Surrey, on 12 Mar 1959.

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Ernest John Gray

24th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Ernest John

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Scilly Isles
Buckland, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Story:
Ernest John Gray was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 14 Jun 1887 the son of James Taylor Gray, a Market Gardener, and Sarah Jane Gray (nee Scammell). He lived his early life with his family in Gutch Common, Semley, until he moved to live with his mother's brother in Portsmouth, Hampshire, following the death of his father in 1894. He later went to live with his mother, working as a Grocer's Assistant, at 97 Shearer Road, Portsmouth. He married Edith Mary Hooper at the Buckland Wesleyan Chapel, Buckland, Portsmouth, on 12 Sep 1912. He enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service on 2 Jul 1917 (Service No. F32585) and was based in the Scilly Isles. He was transferred to the Royal Air Force when it was formed on 1 Apr 1918 as a Private Class 1 until he was re-classified as an Aircraftsman Class 1 (Service No. 232585). He was discharged on 8 Mar 1919. Records show he was awarded the British War Medal only. The 1921 Census shows him living at 67 St. Mary's Road, Buckland, Portsmouth, described as a Grocer (own account). He died on 28 Mar 1931 in Portsmouth as the very early age of 43 years. His brother, Howard James Gray, also served in the conflict.

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Reginald John Cowley

24th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Cowley

Other names: Reginald John

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kent, Ontario, Canada
Ontario, Canada

Story:
Reginald John Cowley was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 19 Aug 1896 and was baptised there on 20 Sep 1896 the son of John Cowley and Fannie Cowley (nee Feltham). He lived with his parents in Fontmell Magna until the whole family emigrated to Canada in 1906 eventually settling down in Kent, Ontario, Canada. Reginald enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 10 Jul 1918 as a Private (Service No. 3139275) and was attached to the West Ontario Regiment at the 1st Battalion Depot. He only served in Canada and was finally discharged on 16 Jan 1919. He married Hazel Whittington in Kent, Ontario, on 22 Nov 1924. His death was recorded in Kent, Ontario, in 1982.

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Walter William Gaulton

24th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gaulton

Other names: Walter William

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Petersfield, Hampshire
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Gosport, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Story:
Walter William Gaulton was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5 Dec 1883 the son of Joseph Tucker Gaulton and Sarah Gaulton (nee Feltham). By 1891 the family had moved to Witchampton, Dorset. He married Rose Charlotte Hawkins on 24 Apr 1905 in Petersfield, Hampshire. He enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps on 12 Jul 1915 becoming a Corporal Mechanic (Service No. 6925). The service changed its name to the Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918. He was discharged on 30 Apr 1920 and would have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals but no record can be found at this time. The 1921 Census shows him living at 3 Noreuil Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, working as a Motor Driver. By the 1939 Register his wife was living at 3 Forbury Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, whilst Walter had become a Volunteer Reservist with the Royal Air Force being called up on 14 Dec 1938 with the rank of Corporal and he had signed on for four years. His wife, Rose, died in 1950 and Walter went on to re-marry Dorothy G. Barfield or Warren (possibly a widow) in Gosport, Portsmouth, Hampshire, during 1951. His death was recorded in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 1965.

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Robert Beale

24th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Beale

Other names: Robert

Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Longfleet, Dorset
Wimborne, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Robert Beale was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9 Jan 1885 the son of Henry O. Stone Beale and Mehetabel Beale (nee Waygood). He lived his early life in Compton Abbas until he enlisted in the Royal Navy on 6 Apr 1900 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, as a Boy (Class 2) (Service No. 209428). He eventually rose to Able Seaman and served in many ships during his time his last sea service being on HMS Minatour which was on the Northern Patrol in 1914 and 1915. He was discharged due to defective vision on 3 Feb 1916. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at Furzehill, Colehill, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a General Labourer. He married Ellen Emily Skinner on 9 Apr 1927 in Longfleet, Dorset. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 5 Greenclose, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Labourer as well as a Volunteer ARP Warden. His death was recorded on 1 Jan 1951 at Herrison Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, and he was buried at St. John the Evangelist Church, Wimborne, on 4 Jan 1951.

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John Frank Brooks

24th November 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brooks

Other names: John Frank

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset
Charminster, Dorset

Story:
John Frank Brooks was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7 Sep 1899 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 8 Oct 1899 the son of George Brooks, a Blacksmith, and Ellen Beatrice Brooks (nee Pond). Apart from later life and Military service he lived with his family at 4 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury. He had enlisted on 24 Sep 1917 and joined the Royal Naval Air Service (Service No. F38771). He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 15 Dec 1917, later becoming the Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918, with the rank of Air Mechanic Class 2 (Service No. 238771). He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 2 Dec 1919. Regrettably by the time of the 1939 Register he was a patient in the Herrison Mental Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset. He died at the Hospital during 1960 and was buried in Charminster, Dorset, Cemetery on 4 Aug 1960.

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