Story:
Sidney George Nobbs was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 21 Jan 1891 and baptised there on 15 Feb 1891 the son of William Walter Nobbs and Sarah Ann Nobbs (nee Gordge).  He lived most of his early life at the School House, Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, where his father was the local Schoolmaster.   He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, which he left in 1907.   In 1912 he emigrated to Canada and obtain work as a Water Baliff but by 27 Oct 1914 had returned to the UK where he enlisted with the Royal Navy as a Signaller (Service No. Z/637).  He received his training at Chatham, Kent, before taking up duties at sea.  He was discharged on 2 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  In the 1921 Census he is shown visiting the UK and staying in accommodation at 8 Waverley Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, described as a Water Baliff. He obviously remained in the country as he married Julia M.A. Focketyn in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1923.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 247 High Street, Poole, Dorset, working as a Commercial Traveller.  He died in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, on 9 Sep 1983 where he had moved to live.

Story:
Alfred Lawrence Filley was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 25 Aug 1896 the son of George Frederick Filley and Sarah Louisa Filley (nee Wheeler).   His father died in 1900 and he and his mother moved to Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, where Sarah became a local school teacher.   Alfred had attended at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for some of his education leaving at the end of 1911.  He enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Trainee Engineering Artificer (Service No. M3763).  He served on many ships during the war and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He continued to serve in the Royal Navy and is still mentioned in the records, having achieved the rank of Lieutenant (Honorary).  The 1921 Census gives his address as Curfew Cottage, Water Street, Berwick St John, Wiltshire, (where he was visiting his mother) describing him as an Engine Room Artificer (RN).  He had married Annie Sansom in Berwick St. John in 1919 but she regrettably died in 1936.  He rejoined the Royal Navy by Jul 1938 and was gazetted as a Lieutenant on 23 May 1944. Alfred went on to re-marry Gwladys Jane Pashby or Cross (records are confusing) in Lancaster, Lancashire, on 19 Aug 1959.  He died in the Everleigh Nursing Home, 12 Grove Road, Wallasey, Cheshire, on 22 Mar 1988.

Story:
Albert Edward Atkinson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, on 22 Apr 1895 the son of Thomas Frederick Atkinson and Selina Atkinson (nee Reed).  His family moved back to the UK and set up home, initially, in Woking, Surrey, but, by 1911, they were living at Ferne Cottages, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, and Albert was attending school at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He enlisted on 5 Nov 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 13794).  He served in France and Flanders from 25 Mar 1915 with the 2nd Battalion.  He was discharged on 14 Dec 1918 being surplus to Military requirements.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  He also received the Silver War Badge No. B97591. He married Kathleen Matilda Abram Oakenfold at Holy Trinity Church, Winchmore Hill, Enfield, Middlesex, on 17 May 1924.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 71 Hengistbury Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, described as the Managing Director of a Garage as well as being a volunteer ARP Warden.   He was later registered as living at 108 Manor Road, North Hinchley Wood, Esher, Surrey, at the time of his death on 13 Jul 1964 in the Sunbury Nursing Home, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex. His brother, Frederick Thomas Atkinson, also served but died of wounds sustained in France whilst on active service.

Story:
William Ayling was born in Buckhorn Weston, Dorset, in 1883 and baptised there on 30 Dec 1883 the son of Thomas Ayling and Henrietta Ayling (nee Hine).  He lived his early life in Buckhorn Weston and Kington Magna, Dorset.   He emigrated on 26 May 1911 and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 10 Jul 1911.   He married Letty Hill in Perth, Western Australia, on 26 Aug 1914.   He enlisted on 31 Jan 1916 and joined the 9/51st Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force as a Private (Service No. 3347).  (It is noted on his enlistment papers that he had previous territorial experience with the 4th Battalion of the Hampshire Volunteer Regiment in the UK.)  He was posted to France and Flanders where he was killed in action on 14 Oct 1917.  He was originally buried at the Broadsands Cemetery but later re-interred in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery, West Flanders, Belgium. (Grave Ref: XIV. A. 1.).  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He is remembered on the Kington Magna, Dorset, War Memorial.  (NB:  His name also appears on the Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, War Memorial on a plaque thought to have come from Kington Magna.)