Stories Archive - Page 49 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Frederick Harold Horton

18th February 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Horton

Other names: Frederick Harold

Locations in this story:
Bath, Somerset
Axbridge, Somerset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Egypt
France & Flanders
East London, South Africa
Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
Frederick Harold Horton was born in Bath, Somerset, in 1896 the son of John Horton and Kate Horton. He spent most of his early life in Axbridge, Somerset. He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Prior to the outbreak of war he had moved to South Africa and it was there on the 11 Aug 1915 at Potchefstroom he enlisted with the South African Infantry as a Private (Service No 596). He was attached to the 2nd Battalion District Depot and saw service in Egypt as well as France and Flanders and was wounded twice in this time. He finally was discharged on 7 Oct 1918 as being medically unfit for further service due to a gun shot wound in the left foot and received a 20% pension. He was in the UK at the time living in Southampton but emigrated again leaving on the SS Edinburgh Castle bound for East London, South Africa, on 10 Jul 1936. No other information has been found for this person.

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William Henry Burge Morgan

18th February 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Morgan

Other names: William Henry Burge

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sunderland
Sherborne, Dorset

Story:
William Henry Burge Morgan was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27 Mar 1893 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 22 May 1893 the son of William Morgan and Mary Anna Morgan (nee Burge). William's father ran a Drapery business at 34 High Street, Shaftesbury until his death in 1896 when William's mother took on the business for a short while. By 1911 the business had been sold and the family were living at 22 Bimport, Shaftesbury. William received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the Royal Army Medical Corps on 13 Apr 1915 as a Private (Service No. 2350). He joined the 3/3rd Wessex Field Ambulance and served only in the UK. He had considerable medical problems during his service and at one time spent nearly 7 months in Whalley Military Hospital in Sunderland. He was eventually discharged on 16 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He was also granted a 20% pension. He then lived at 'Shaston', Cold Harbour Lane, Sherborne, Dorset. His death was recorded in Sherborne on 26 Jun 1924 and as he remained single all his life administration of his estate was granted to his sister, Mary Gwendoline Morgan.

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Alan Barling Lush

12th February 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lush

Other names: Alan Barling

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Seaton, Devon
Shaftesbury, Dorset
New South Wales, Australia
South Africa
Rhodesia
Gallipoli, Turkey
France & Flanders
Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

Story:
Alan Barling Lush was born in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 22 Apr 1872 and baptised there on 10 Jul 1872 the son of Gilbert Lush and Mary Harriet Lush (nee Wornell). He lived his very early life in Donhead St. Andrew but by 1881 he and his family had moved to Seaton, Devon. Alan however received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. By 1894 he had emigrated to Australia and there married Theodora Jones on 4 Apr 1894 at Manly, New South Wales, Australia. They went on to have four children. Alan had enlisted in about 1899 with the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry as a Private (Service No. 258) and served in South Africa and Rhodesia and was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal and various campaign clasps. He was discharged at some time after and re-enlisted on 29 Aug 1914 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Imperial Brigade (Service No. 947). He later served with the 36th and 35th Battalions of the 7th Infantry Brigade (Service No. 3163). He was promoted to various non-commissioned ranks ending up as a Corporal. He served in Gallipoli, Turkey, where he was wounded and ultimately repatriated to the UK for treatment and recovery. He then rejoined his unit and served in France and Flanders. He returned back to Australia on 17 Mar 1919 and was discharged suffering from malaria and bronchitis. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. There is a note on his records that he thought he had been recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal but he was advised that no record of a recommendation could be found. He died in Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, on 22 Sep 1944.

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Victor Leopold Jeans

8th February 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jeans

Other names: Victor Leopold

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Newton Abbot, Devon

Story:
Victor Leopold Jeans was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26 Apr 1887 the son of John Jeans and Emily Jeans (nee Hopkins). He lived his early life at Ponsonby Farm, Cann, and received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until he had moved and boarded out in Dorchester, Dorset, working as a Bank Clerk. He enlisted on 27 May 1915 and joined the 4th Company of the Royal Engineers as a Corporal (Service No. 363858). Shortly after joining he was wounded and spent time in the National Sanatorium, Bournemouth, Hampshire. He was declared physically unfit to continue with military service and was discharged on 22 Nov 1915 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 200510. His father died in 1917 and the 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother at 1 Woodside Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, but no occupation at the time was shown. He married Angel Wray Dancer in Newton Abbot, Devon, on 1 Jun 1922. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 21 Grosvenor Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, described as 'of private means'. His wife died in 1954 and he went on to remarry Ella Marjorie Pilkington Plunkett in Bournemouth in 1957. Victor died on 22 Jan 1960 in Bournemouth. His brother, John Percival Jeans, also served with the Royal Air Force.

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John Percival Jeans

8th February 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jeans

Other names: John Percival

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
France & Flanders
India
Ilford, Essex
Shanklin, Isle of Wight, Hampshire
Crewkerne, Somerset
Christchurch, Hampshire

Story:
John Percival Jeans was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 14 May 1892 the son of John Jeans and Emily Jeans (nee Hopkins). He lived his early life at Ponsonby Farm, Cann, (where his father was a Farmer), and received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until by 1911 he had moved to 7 Herberton Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, living with his sister and working as a Bank Clerk with the Wells and Dorset Bank. He enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service becoming a Corporal (Service No. 6542). He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 1 Jun 1917 (the Royal Air Force from 1 Apr 1918) and served in France and Flanders from 11 Sep 1915 where he sustained an injury to his foot. He also served in India mainly as a Motor Cyclist. (his father died during 1917.) On 8 Aug 1918 he became an Cadet Flight Officer. He was discharged on 12 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He had married Dorothy Alice Fone at Crewkerne, Somerset, on 9 Mar 1916 but this union ended in divorce on 17 Sep 1919. He went on to remarry Dorothy May Bishopp on 3 Nov 1920 at Bournemouth, Hampshire. The 1921 Census shows him living at 120 Stour Road, Christchurch, Hampshire, described as a Bank Clerk with Lloyds Bank Ltd. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 13 Chichester Gardens, Ilford, Essex, now as a Bank Manager. He died on 14 Jan 1945 in Shanklin, Isle of Wight, Hampshire. His brother, Victor Leopold Jeans, also served with the Royal Engineers.

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Harry Wilfred Benjafield

6th February 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Benjafield

Other names: Harry Wilfred

Locations in this story:
Stalbridge, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Pannal, Ripon, Yorkshire
Cambridge, Cambs
Plymouth, Devon

Story:
Harry Wilfred Benjafield was born in Stalbridge, Dorset, in 1890 the son of Walter Benjafield and Pheobe Sarah Benjafield, (nee Scammell). He lived his early life in Stalbridge but attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for some of his education. By 1911 he was an Assistant Teacher and boarding out at Barton Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire. The Shaftesbury School records show him as serving with the Artists Rifles (London Regiment) during WW1 and his name appears on the listing made by the National Union of Teachers in recognition of his service. Regrettably no other Military or Medal records can be found. The 1921 Census shows he was still in Cambridge at 24 Fitzwilliam Street, described as a Teaching Undergraduate at the University. By 1931 he was teaching at Ashville College, Pannal, Ripon, Yorkshire. His death was recorded in the Plymouth, Devon, Registry on 17 Sep 1949 though his residence, per Probate Records, shows as 187 Hills Road, Cambridge. There is no record of any marriage.

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William Douglas Walker

4th February 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Walker

Other names: William Douglas

Locations in this story:
Stoke Newington, London
Bushey, Hertfordshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Blandford, Dorset
Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
Lambeth, London

Story:
William Douglas Walker was born in Stoke Newington, London, on 19 Aug 1891 and baptised there at St. Andrews Church on 22 Nov 1891 the son or William Walker, a Stockbroker, and Annie Mary Walker (nee James). He lived his early life in Stoke Newington until his family moved to Bushey, Hertfordshire. He became a Pupil/Boarder at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1907. He had left school by 1910 and began work as a Stockbrokers Clerk at the same time enlisting on 28 Mar 1910 as a Territorial with the 28th (County of London) Battalion of the London Regiment (The Artists Rifles) as a Private (Service No. 840). He attended annual training camps until the outbreak of war when he was mobilised on 5 Aug 1914. (His father died in the same year.) He rose swiftly in rank to Sergeant and served with his unit in France and Flanders until by 11 May 1915 he was discharged from the Army and appointed a Sub Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve later serving with the Royal Naval Air Service and by the end of the war had become a Probationary Flight Officer. On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals along with the 1914/15 Star.

He married Dorothy Gertrude Pond at the Parish Church in Blandford, Dorset, on 2 Nov 1920. By the time of the 1921 Census he was living with his widowed mother at 'Salpeton'. Merry Hill Road, Bushey, Herts, described as a Stockbroker's Assistant. He appears on a list of Old Boys living in London or suburbs in the February 1922 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at The Cottage, Heathfield Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, described as a Stockbroker (a member of the Stock Exchange) as well as a Volunteer Sub Inspector in the Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary. His death was recorded at the Lambeth, London, Registry on 12 Nov 1968. (NB. The Shaftesbury School records in 1914 show him with the 'Australian Contingent' but no record of any such attachment has been found.)

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1914 Shaftesbury Grammar School Athletics Team

Henry Godwin Pratt

1st February 2021/in 1914-1918 Inns of Court Officers Training Corps, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps, Welsh Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pratt

Other names: Henry Godwin

Locations in this story:
Pokesdown, Christchurch, Hampshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bristol, Gloucestershire
Brighton, Sussex
France
Russia
Baku, Azerbaijan
Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales

Story:
Henry Godwin Pratt was born in Pokesdown, Christchurch, Hampshire, on 23rd August 1897 and baptised there on 14th September 1897 at St. James' Church, the son of Arthur Godwin Pratt and Alice Mary Pratt (née Cooke). Regrettably Henry's mother died within weeks of his birth in 1897. In September 1909 he became a pupil at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. The 1911 Census shows that he was a boarder. He represented the school at football in 1913, cricket in 1914 and was part of the athletics team that won the 1914 Dorset Inter-School Sports. On leaving school in July 1914 he entered employment at an engineering works in Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales.

In 1915 he joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps and by February 1916 he had been awarded a Commission with the 3rd Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. He kept in touch with his old school, regularly writing letters to the headmaster Dr. Tovey. In the 1918 edition of the Grammar School magazine it was reported: "Godwin Pratt has recently been wounded in France, in the right hand and back; we are happy to be able to say the wounds are not serious. We hear he has applied for a transfer to the R.F.C."

He was transferred to the Royal Air Force on 5th April 1918 and served with the 62nd & 63rd Wings.It is not known in which theatre of war he served before the armistice but the June 1919 edition of the school magazine notes: "When we last heard of Godwin Pratt he was at Petrovsky, 150 miles N. of Baku, Russia." He was Mentioned in Despatches on two occasions and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Following his discharge on 19th September 1919 he rejoined his old engineering firm at Newport. The November 1919 edition of the school magazine shows that he "has been spending a few days at the School. We offer him our heartiest congratulations on being "Mentioned in Despatches" for good work done in South Russia. He has been with a sea-plane squadron on the Caspian Sea."

The 1921 Census shows he was living at 6 Risca Road, Newport, described as an Apprentice Fitter and Turner with an Engineering firm. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 1 Wolferton Road, Bristol, Gloucestershire, described as a Commercial Traveller but also serving with the No. 11 Balloon Barrage (929 Squadron) as an Aircraftsman Class 2 (Service No. 861233). His death was recorded in Brighton, Sussex, in 1970.

A "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which Godwin served and the date and term in which he left school. Throughout the war a hand-written list was also compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, October 1914
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, October 1915
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, February 1916
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1918
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1919
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1919
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1920

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The National Archives
Shastonian

John Burrow

31st January 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burrow

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Woolfardisworthy, Devon
Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Steeple Langford, Wiltshire
Gallipoli
Iwerne Courtney, Dorset
Chilhampton, Wiltshire
Egypt

Story:
John Burrow was born in Woolfardisworthy, Devon, in 1890 the son of William Newcombe Davey Burrow and Ann Burrow (nee Hockridge). By 1901 the family had moved to Manor Farm, Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and John attended at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. which he left in 1906. By 1911 the family had moved again to Steeple Langford, Wiltshire, where John worked as a Farmer. He had enlisted on 8 Apr 1908 with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Territorials (Service No. 207) and was eventually embodied and posted to Egypt on 23 Apr 1915 from where he was involved in the battle at Gallipoli attached to the Tank Corps where he was wounded. He was discharged on 7 Apr 1916 due to his wounds and was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 21201. He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Lilian Rose Hooper at St. Mary's Church, Iwerne Courtney, Dorset, on 3 Oct 1917. The 1921 Census shows he was living at Great Bathampton, Wylye, Wiltshire, still described as a Farmer. Regrettably he died on 25 Aug 1926 at Chilhampton, Wiltshire.

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James Louis Lawrence

29th January 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lawrence

Other names: James Lewis

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Stalbridge, Dorset
Alderbury, Wiltshire
Upper Parkstone, Dorset
France & Flanders
Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
James Louis (sometimes spelt 'Lewis') Lawrence was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1889 and was baptised in Alderbury, Wiltshire, on 13 Oct 1889 the son of Frederick Lewis and Clara Emma Lewis (nee Pike) who was from Stalbridge, Dorset. Whilst James was born in Donhead St. Mary, where the family had lived for at least three years, they had moved to Alderbury, Wiltshire, shortly after his birth and it was here he spent most of his childhood. By 1915 he had moved as a boarder to Pearson Avenue, Upper Parkstone, Dorset, where he was working as a Grocer's Assistant. He enlisted on 1 Nov 1915 and joined the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 6886). On the 13 Sep 1917 he was briefly transferred to the Territorial Unit of the Regiment (Service No. 320713) until finally ending up with the 6th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 203307). On 3 Nov 1917, whilst in France & Flanders, he was charged with illegally discharging a firearm and wounding a fellow soldier and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment later commuted to 3 months. Regretfully his service conditions were such that he contracted tuberculosis and was discharged on 15 May 1918 as being unfit for further duty. He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 411859 and a 100% Pension. He was further awarded the Victory and British War Medals. His death was recorded in Southampton, Hampshire, in 1920.

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