Story:
David Henry McDowell was born in Lambeg Town, Derriaghy, Antrim, Ireland, on 11 Mar 1892 the son of David McDowell and Elizabeth Anne McDowell.  He spent his early years in Derriaghy until he enlisted with the Royal Marines Light Infantry on 22 Jan 1908 as a Private (Service Nos. 14336 & 24898).  For his WW1 service he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  He was stationed at Blandford, Camp, Dorset, and there met and married Dorcas Nellie Andrews at St. Andrews Church, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9 Feb 1918.  He gave his parents-in-law address of 34 Mill Street, Fontmill Magna, in the Absent Voters List for 1918.  He had remained in the Marines after the war and by the 1921 Census was based in Cambridge. By the 1939 Register his wife was living at 10 Madan Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, and it is presumed that David had remained in the forces.  He later set up home with his wife at 4 Vine Street, Templecombe, Somerset and he died there on 28 Dec 1969.

Story:
Frank Gray was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22 Sep 1889 the son of William Gray and Jane Gray (nee Hardiman).  He lived his early life in and around Compton Abbas.  He married Ann Sims at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 May 1912 and they lived at 19 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury.  He had enlisted and joined the Machine Gun Corps as a Private (Service No. 105935).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows he had returned to 19 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, where he was described as a Carman for H. Hirst a local ironmonger. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 1 Tanyard Villas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still working as an Ironmonger's Carman.  His death was registered at Sturminster, Dorset, in 1964 and he was buried at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 19 Jun 1964.  His brother, Harry Gray, also served for a short time in the forces and survived.

Story:
Charles Wright was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15 Mar 1871 the son of Charles Wright and Hannah Wright (nee Lodge).  He lived all his early life in the family home at Barton Hill, Shaftesbury.  He had joined the 12th Lancers as a Trooper on 15 Jul 1892 having previously served as a Territorial with the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 3531). He was discharged after completing his engagement on 11 Jul 1899 but swiftly recalled on 9 Oct 1899 and posted to South Africa where he was eventually awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with three clasps and the Kings South Africa Medal. He was finally placed on reserve on 11 Jul 1904.  He had married Ada Caroline Rideout at Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2 Oct 1899 and they went on to have three children.  By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 5 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, working as a Groom.  He was called out of reserved on 19 Apr 1915 and initially joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 5262) but within days was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps as a Private (Service No. 8709).  He served his time in the UK only with, amongst others, the 263rd Protection Company and was finally discharged on 22 Feb 1919.  There are no medal records evident in this case.  Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show he was still living at 5 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, Dorset, ultimately working as a Dried Milk Powder Packer.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1943.

Story:
Arthur Francis Thomas was born in Netherbury, Beamintser, Dorset, in 1876 and baptised there on 24 Feb 1876 the son of George Nunn Thomas, a former Army officer, and Louisa Frances Thomas (nee Keddle).  He spent his early life in Dorset including some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He became a merchant seaman and achieved his 2nd Mate's Certificate on 30 Apr 1896.  He had apparently left the sea and had settled in Canada but returned to the UK and married Doris Grace Loxley at All Souls Church, Marylebone, London, on 31 Dec 1903.  They went on to have six children.  By the time of the Canadian Census of 1906 the family had returned to Canada and were living at Marquette, Manitoba, Canada.  There is some confusion as to Arthur's part in WW1 but the Shaftesbury Grammar School record shows him serving in the Navy without mentioning any branch, i.e. Military or Merchant, British or Canadian.  No medal records have been found at this time.  The Canadian Census of 1920 gives his address as 3006 Cedar Hill, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, with an occupation of Conductor (living on own means!).  His death was recorded in British Columbia on 10 Aug 1935.  His brother, Charles Samuel Williamson Thomas, also served in the conflict.