Charles Reginald Miles Cox

Surname: Cox
Other names: Charles Reginald Miles
Other people in this story:
Charles Albert Cox
Mary Jane Cox (nee Miles)
Arthur Roy Cox
Mary Gladys Gellion
Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
France & Flanders
Denison, Tasmania, Australia
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Charles Reginald Miles Cox was born in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia, on 4 Nov 1888 the son of Charles Albert Cox (formerly of Mere, Wiltshire) and Mary Jane Cox (nee Miles) (formerly of Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  Charles's parents had married at Compton Abbas on 10 Feb 1886 and shortly thereafter emigrated to Box Hill, Victoria, Australia.  Arthur Roy Cox, Charles's brother, had also served in the conflict.  Charles and his brother had returned to the UK for part of their education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  Charles had left school in 1904 and returned eventually to Australia in December 1913.  Having had some previous Territorial Military Service, Charles had enlisted with the Australian Infantry Force and joined the 14th Battalion as a 2nd Lieutenant rising eventually in the ranks to Major.  He served at Gallipoli, Turkey, where he was wounded and later moved to France and Flanders where again he received gun shot wounds as well as being badly gassed.  At one time it was reported he was extremely ill as a result of his wounds and there were doubts as to his recovery.  Recover he did and was given command of his Unit but this was eventually brought short due to his health and he was repatriated back to Australia in March 1918 described as 'war worn'.  He was finally discharged 31 Jan 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.   He married Mary Gladys Gellion in Victoria, Australia, in 1919.  He obtained a position in Denison, Tasmania, in Government employment.  At the outbreak of WW2 he had applied to joined the Indian Army but this was refused on health grounds and he continued in his employment.  His rank at the time was shown as Lt. Colonel.  He died in Tasmania on 24 June 1956.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

Arthur Roy Cox

Surname: Cox
Other names: Arthur Roy
Other people in this story:
Charles Albert Cox
Mary Jane Cox (nee Miles)
Charles Reginald Miles Cox
Doris Thelma Turner
Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
France & Flanders
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Arthur Roy Cox was born in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia, on 25 May 1894 the son of Charles Albert Cox (formerly of Mere, Wiltshire) and Mary Jane Cox (nee Miles) (formerly of Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset). Arthur's parents had married at Compton Abbas on 10 Feb 1886 and shortly thereafter emigrated to Box Hill, Victoria, Australia.  Charles Reginald Miles Cox, Arthur's brother, also served in the conflict.   Arthur and his brother had returned to the UK for part of their education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, which he left in 1911 thereafter returning to Australia on 25 Apr 1913.  Arthur enlisted with the Australian Infantry Force and joined the 14th Battalion as a 2nd Lieutenant eventually rising to the rank of Captain.  He served in both Gallipoli, Turkey, and in France and Flanders during which time he had been wounded on three occasions.  On his discharge he would have been entitled to the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  He married Doris Thelma Turner at St Philip's Church, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 17 Apr 1929.  He was a Director in his father's firm of Clothing Manufacturers and Factors.  His death was recorded in Sydney on 19 May 1972.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

A. H. Bowden

Surname: Bowden
Other names: A. H.
Other people in this story:
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
Very little is known of this former pupil of the Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, who left that establishment in 1895.  A. H. Bowden was a Staff Sergeant with the Army Service Corps (Service No. S4/091428).  He served in France & Flanders from 3 Oct 1915 and was Mentioned in Despatches on 24 Dec 1917. On his discharge on 1 May 1915 was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1915 Star.  Any other information would be welcome.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

Edward William Lewis Bennett

Surname: Bennett
Other names: Edward William Lewis
Other people in this story:
William G. Bennett
Harriett Emily Bennett (nee Dawn)
Locations in this story:
Westminster, London
Enfield, London
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Golders Green, London

Story:
Edward William Lewis Bennett was born in 1891 in the Westminster, London, Registry area the son of William G. Bennett and Harriett Emily Bennett (nee Dawn).  He lived much of his early life in London but received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, which establishment he left in 1907.  He enlisted as a Territorial with the 11th Battalion of the County of London Regiment as a Private (Service No. 897).  He attended annual training camps up until the outbreak of war.  He was embodied on 12 Aug 1914 and was transferred to the 1/11th Regiment of the London Rifles (Service No. 2284).  He was posted to France and Flanders.  He was again transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force) on 8 Jan 1917 as a Fitter (Service No. 403082).  He had received wounds to his knee and head and was treated at the 22nd Casualty Clearing Station on 14 Nov 1918 (the wounds probably predated the Armistice).  He was discharged on the 16 Feb 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.   There is some uncorroborated evidence that he married.   It is known he died at the Manor House Hospital, Golders Green, London, in 1938 and was buried on 20 Aug 1938.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

Wilfred John Genge

Surname: Genge
Other names: Wilfred John
Other people in this story:
Phillip Chitty Genge
Elizabeth Genge (nee Wallis)
Winifred Alice Meacham
Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Newtown, Tisbury, Wiltshire
West Drayton, Middlesex
Maryborough, Wide Bay, Queensland, Australia
Currajong, Herbert, Queensland, Australia
France & Flanders

Story:
Wilfred John Genge was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, in 1894 and baptised at the Parish Church, Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 18 Mar 1894 the son of Phillip Chitty Genge and Elizabeth Genge (nee Wallis).  He spent his early life in and around West Tisbury, Wiltshire, attending at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, which he left in 1910.  His father had died in 1901 and his mother in 1908. By 1911 he had moved to West Drayton, Middlesex, where he was a Student in Telegraphy.  He had enlisted with the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. M1/4987).  He was at one time attached to the 8th Division of the Australian Group in France and Flanders from 9 Nov 1914 and also held the temporary rank of Lance Corporal.  On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  He had emigrated to Australia on board the SS Euripides on 21 Jun 1922 and by 1925 was living at Maryborough, Wide Bay, Queensland, working at Meacham's Stores.  On 20 May 1933 he married Winifred Alice Meacham and continued to live at Maryborough until 1972 when his address was given as 28 Hutchins Street, Currajong, Herbert, Queensland.  There is no information as to the date of his death.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

Hugh Leslie Taylor

Surname: Taylor
Other names: Hugh Leslie
Other people in this story:
Albert Taylor
Emma Taylor
Margaret Jane Payne
Locations in this story:
Compton, Hampshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Chelmsford, Essex
Runwell, Widford, Essex
Dover Castle, Dover, Kent

Story:
Hugh Leslie Taylor was born on 2 Jan 1896 in Compton, Hampshire, the son of Albert and Emma Taylor.  He lived his early life in Hampshire and attended at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for some of his education.  On leaving school in 1910 he obtained employment in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, as a Shop Assistant with a soft furnishing firm.   He joined the 1st/4th Regiment of the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 203296).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  According to the 1921 census he had remained in the army and was based at Dover Castle, Dover, Kent, with the newly formed Royal Corps of Signals. He married Margaret Jane Payne in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, on 17 Apr, 1922.  His death was recorded at the Chelmsford, Essex, Registry on 18 Aug 1969 whilst he had been a patient in the Runwell Hospital, Runwell, Widford, Essex, and he was later buried at St. Mary's Church, Runwell, Essex, on 26 Aug 1969.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

Joseph William New

Surname: New
Other names: Joseph William
Other people in this story:
Joseph New
Ellen Seymour New (nee Bolt)
Elizabeth Eleanor Sondern
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lewisham, London
France & Flanders
Manhattan, New York, U S A
Egham, Surrey
East Virginia Water, Surrey
Mortlake, Surrey

Story:
Joseph William New was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2 Jul 1887 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 16 Sep 1887 the son of Joseph New and Ellen Seymour New (nee Bolt).   His father died in 1898. He lived his early life at premises in the High Street, Shaftesbury, and attended at Shaftesbury Grammar School for some of his education eventually leaving in 1903.  By 1911 he was living in Lewisham, London, working as a Bank Clerk.  He enlisted with the 1/28th (County of London) Battalion (The Artist's Rifles) becoming a Lance Corporal in time. (Service No. 1205).  He served in France and Flanders from 27 Oct 1914 where he was later transferred to the 12th Regiment of the Middlesex Regiment and appointed a Lieutenant (rising in due course to Captain and attached to the Royal Air Force as part of the 8th Battalion).  On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  By the time of the 1921 Census he was visiting and staying at 12 Spencer Gardens, Mortlake, Surrey, where he was described as a Bank Official with the National Provincial & Union Bank.

He appears on a list of Old Boys living in London or suburbs in the February 1922 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine. He sailed to the USA and there married Elizabeth Eleanor Sondern on 27 Jan 1927 in Manhattan, New York, USA.  He returned to the UK by the time of the 1939 Register and was living at 'Fairway' Wellington Avenue, Egham, Surrey, now described as a Bank Manager.  At some point he had been awarded the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.).  He moved to East House, Woodlands Road, East Virginia Water, Surrey, where he died on 8 Jul 1946.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

Sidney Colvin Birch

Surname: Birch
Other names: Sidney Colvin
Other people in this story:
Alexander Colvin Birch
Marion Birch (nee Amey)
Violet Bruce Johnston
Locations in this story:
Bengal, India
Conchan, Isle of Man
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Pimlico, Middlesex
Sturminster Marshall, Dorset

Story:
Sidney (sometimes Sydney) Colvin Birch was born in Bengal, India, on 5 Aug 1871 the son of Col. Alexander Colvin Birch and Marion Birch (nee Amey).  His initial education was at Strathallan Hall School, Conchan, Isle of Man, and later at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until he left in 1886.  He had joined the Army serving with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry rising to the rank of Sergeant until 1895 when he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred as Adjutant to the 4th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers eventually rising to the rank of Captain by the time of WW1. During his time in the Army he had served in South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War. There is no record of him serving abroad during WW1 but he would certainly have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals though there is no mention of this on his medal record card.   He had married Violet Bruce Johnston at St. Peter's Church, Pimlico, Middlesex, on 31 Jan 1901.  Little is known of his military service during the war other than he was attached to the 1st Battalion at the time he died on 1 Aug 1917 and was buried at Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, on 2 Aug 1917.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

William Tapper

Surname: Tapper
Other names: William
Other people in this story:
Henry John Tapper
Kate Tapper (nee Rose)
Emma May Hinds
Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Handsworth, Staffordshire
Croydon, Surrey
Belper, Derbyshire
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Bootle, Lancashire

Story:
(Rev) William Tapper was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 25 Dec 1883 the son of Henry John Tapper (a Farmer) and Kate Tapper (nee Rose).  He spent his early life in Compton Abbas and received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  In 1910 he entered the Wesleyan Methodist Ministry and attended at the Wesleyan College, Handsworth, Stafforshire, as a Theological Student.  On his appointment he became a Padre in the Chaplains Department of the Army.  There are no other details of his Military Service.  The 1921 Census shows him as a Minister of the Wesleyan Chapel in Bootle, Lancashire, and living there at 48 Oxford Road. His marriage to Emma May Hinds was registered at the Croydon, Surrey, Registry in 1927.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 264 Duffield Road, Belper, Derbyshire, described as a Methodist Minister.  He died in Bournemouth, Hampshire, on 3 Feb 1968.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:

Howard Baker Spry

Surname: Spry
Other names: Howard Baker
Other people in this story:
Frederick Lamble Spry
Elizabeth Jane Spry (nee Baker)
Mildred Stones
Locations in this story:
Paignton, Devonshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Totnes, Devonshire

Story:
Howard Baker Spry was born in Paignton, Devonshire, on 22 Mar 1898 the son of Frederick Lamble Spry and Elizabeth (Bessie) Jane Spry (nee Baker).  He spent most of his early life in Paignton apart from some of his education at Shaftesbury, Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  In 1915 he moved to Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, where he was learning the trade of a Tailor & Outfitter.  He enlisted on 26 Apr 1917 with the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force from 1 Apr 1918) and trained as a Lewis Gunner with the 24th Wing (Training Reserve Battalion) before transferring as an Office Cadet on 5 Apr 1918.  He became a registered member of the Royal Aero Club on 21 Oct 1918 and held Certificate No. 7176.  He was eventually discharged on 20 Mar 1919 and granted the rank of Honorary Lieutenant.  No medal records have been found in this case. The 1921 Census shows him living with the parents at 10 Victoria Street, Paignton, assisting ha father in the tailoring business  His marriage to Mildred Stones was recorded at the Totnes, Devonshire, Registry in 1925.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 21 Whitstone Road, Paignton, Devonshire, described as a Tailor and Outfitter (Shopkeeper) and also a Special Constable.  His death was recorded in Paignton on 1 Dec 1955.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources: