Stories Archive - Page 50 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

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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Lionel George Prideaux

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

Surname: Prideaux

Other names: Lionel George

Locations in this story:
Stalbridge, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Lionel George Prideaux was born in Stalbridge, Dorset, on 30 Nov 1897 and baptised there on 16 Jan 1898 the son of George Edward Prideaux and Mary Emma Kezia Prideaux (nee Hopkins). He lived most of his early life apart from his period of education and military service in Stalbridge. By 1911 he was a pupil/boarder at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted on 2 Dec 1915 but not embodied until 21 May 1917 and joined the Royal Flying Corps (the Royal Air Force from 1 Apr 1918). (Service No. 81183). He was transferred on 29 Aug 1918 in order to take up a temporary commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He would have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals on discharge from the Service. The 1921 Census shows him now living with his parents at 'The Limes' Mere, Wiltshire, described as Manager of a Milk Factory of C & G Prideaux Wholesale Creameries Ltd. He married Marjorie Martha Light at Gillingham, Dorset, on 22 Apr 1925. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living in Gold Street, Stalbridge, Dorset, described as a Director and Manager of a Wholesale Dairy Factors. He died in Stalbridge, Dorset, on 23 Nov 1986 and was buried there on 28 Nov 1986.

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Richard Spencer Payne

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

Surname: Payne

Other names: Richard Spencer

Locations in this story:
Christchurch, Hampshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Singapore, Malaya
Kensington, London
Bournemouth, Dorset

Story:
The birth of Richard Spencer Payne was registered at Christchurch, Hampshire, on 5 Sep 1900 the son of Charles Payne and Rebecca Edith Payne (nee Dixon). He lived his early life in Bournemouth, Dorset, and, by 1911, had become a Pupil/Boarder at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. On finishing his education he signed on in 1918 as a Merchant Seaman (Registration No. 212830) attached to the Royal Naval Reserve as a Midshipman. Following the end of the war he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He sailed for Singapore on 20 Aug 1927 being described as a Rubber Planter and whilst there he married Phyllis Blair. He returned to the UK in 1934. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Flat 4 Holland Park Gardens, Kensington, London, described as a Civil Service Clerk. His death was recorded in Kirkmahoe, Dumfries, Scotland, on 6 Nov 1948 and he was buried in Kirkmahoe Churchyard on 8 Nov 1948.

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John Ernest Tollemache

21st January 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Tollemache

Other names: John Ernest

Locations in this story:
Travancore, India
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Surrey

Story:
John Ernest Tollemache was born in Travancore, India, on 19 Nov 1898 the son of Hugh Ernest Tollemache and Caroline Mary Tollemache (nee Payne). His family had returned to the UK in 1900 and by 1912 John was a Boarder/Pupil at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He had enlisted and joined the 5th Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders eventually becoming a 2nd Lieutenant. He served in France and Flanders and on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He had married Violet Edith Gertrude Sands. 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 1939 he had re-enlisted in WW2 serving in the Army. His death was recorded on 7 Apr 1969 in the Surrey North Western Registry.

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Ernest Frederick Charles Sutton

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

Surname: Sutton

Other names: Ernest Frederick Charles

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Pitton, Devon
Ilfracombe, Devon
Barnstable, Devon
Catterick, Yorkshire
Exeter, Devon
Ireland

Story:
Ernest Frederick Charles Sutton was born in Semley, Wiltshire, in 1871 and baptised there on 31 Aug 1871 the son of Henry Sutton and Mary Sutton (nee Baker). The family had moved to Pitton, Barnstable, Devon, by 1881. Ernest married Louisa Scriven in Ilfracombe, Devon, on 27 Jul 1898. They had set up home by 1911 at Bristol Cottages, Barnstable, and went on to have twelve children. Ernest had enlisted on 18 Apr 1918 and was mobilized on 25 Jun 1918 as a Private with the 1st (Garrison) Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No. 16152). On 12 Dec 1918 he was transferred to Labour Corps (Service No. 683948) and attached to the 655th Home Service Employment Company (Irish Command) working as a Tailor. He later appeared to also have been attached to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion of the West Riding Regiment at Catterick, Yorkshire. He was discharged on 11 Feb 1919. There are no medal records. The 1921 Census shows his registered address to be 32 Lower Maudlin Street, Barnstable, Devon, but hie was in fact an inmate in Exeter Prison at the time. His death was recorded in Barnstable, Devon, in 2nd Quarter of 1925.

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Percy George Stainer

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

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Percy George

Locations in this story:
Bradford Abbas, Dorset
Motcombe, Dorset
Semley, Wiltshire
Wandsworth, London
Sutton, Greater London
France

Story:
Percy George Stainer was born in Bradford Abbas, Dorset, on 23 Feb 1890 the son of Walter George Stainer and Mary Emma Stainer (nee Pavitt). He lived his early life in Bradford Abbas until the family moved firstly to North End Lane, Motcombe, Dorset, and later to Church Green, Semley, Wiltshire, whilst the father maintained his employment on the railway. Percy had served prior to the war with the Army Service Corps on a Territorial basis and had completed an engagement of four years before being discharged. At the outbreak of war he was working as a Groom and Gardener and enlisted on 11 Nov 1914 as a Private with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry (Service No. 1197). However he was discharged on 19 Jan 1915 as being unlikely to make an efficient soldier. No other reason was given. He had moved to Wandsworth, London, where he married Irene Ball (nee Hanslip), the widow of Samuel Wilfred Ball who had died in France on 19 May 1919 whilst serving with the Labour Corps, on 17 Oct 1920. Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register Percy show him living at 115 Strathville Road, Wandsworth, London, working as a Railway Shunter for the Southern Railway. His death was recorded in Sutton, Greater London, in 1987. Of his brothers', Walter Vernon Stainer was killed in action whilst Theodore Bridge Stainer served and survived.

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Robert Samuel Baker

9th January 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Baker

Other names: Robert Samuel

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Egypt
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Robert Samuel Baker was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 24 Aug 1898 and baptised there on 18 Sep 1898 the son of Robert Baker and Emily Baker (nee Sharp). He lived much of his life in Semley including, at one time, Westwood Farm. He enlisted in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Jan 1916 and joined the Territorial Unit of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1778). He served in Egypt from 17 Jun 1916 and was transferred to the 17th Squadron of the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) on 17 Mar 1917 (Service No. 96200). He was discharged on 19 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows him still living at Westwood Farm, Semley, with his widowed mother (his father having died in 1920). He was managing the farm on his mother's behalf. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Littledown, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Postman and still single. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry, in 1971.

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Denis Hugh Maidment

9th January 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Maidment

Other names: Denis Hugh

Locations in this story:
Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Egypt
Tarrant Gunville, Dorset

Story:
Denis Hugh Maidment was born in Sedgehill, Wiltshire, in 1898 and baptised there on 30 Oct 1898 the son of Thomas Clement Maidment and Ella Grace Maidment (nee Flint). Shortly after his birth his family moved to Sem Hill, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on the 21 Sep 1916 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 46945). He served in France, Flanders and Egypt during which time he was transferred to the Devonshire Regiment on 27 Sep 1918 (Service No. 32656) and then the 2/4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 4 Mar 1919 (Service No. 4761). He was eventually discharged on 2 Apr 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Caldicotts Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire, as a Farm Worker. He married Elsie May Giles in Tarrant Gunville, Dorset, on 24 Sep 1925. He regrettably died on 6 May 1938 in Tarrant Gunville at the early age of 39 years and buried there on 10 May 1938. His brother, Clement Martin Maidment, also served but died in 1918 after being discharged early due to his health which had been affected during his service.

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Clement Martin Maidment

Willie James Masters

9th January 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Masters

Other names: Willie James

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Semley, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Tisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Willie James Masters was born in Donhead St. Andrew on 13 Dec 1887 the son of Thomas Masters and Emily Ann Burden Masters (nee Barber). He lived his early life in Berry Wood Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, and later in Barkers Hill, Semley, Wiltshire. His marriage to Alice Ellen Haimes was registered in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registry on 26 Dec 1914. He had enlisted on 15 Jun 1916 and joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 29455). Unfortunately he was discharged on 25 Aug 1916 due to having 'bad Feet' and thereby unlikely to make an efficient soldier. He was called up a second time on 15 Jun 1917 but was not embodied as he continued to remain unfit. He remained at Barkers Hill, Semley, at the time of the 1921 Census. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 8 Shaftesbury Road, Wilton, Wiltshire, working as an Estate Carpenter. He death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1967.

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Arthur Fred Kimber

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

Surname: Kimber

Other names: Arthur Fred

Locations in this story:
Todber, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Jutland

Story:
Arthur Fred Kimber was born in Todber, Dorset, (registered in Shaftesbury, Dorset) on 11 Jul 1898 the son of William Kimber and Emily Ellen Kimber (nee Burden). He spent all his early life in Well Common, Todber, Dorset. He had enlisted on 10 Nov 1914 with the Royal Navy as a Boy Class 2 eventually rising to the being an Able Seaman (Service No. J32863). He served in many ships in many parts of the world including the Cruiser HMS Fearless (an Active Scout Class Cruiser) at the Battle of Jutland. Rather than being discharged at the end of the war, he signed on for extended service. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census gives his registered address as Wavering Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, described as an Able Seaman (RN). He married Margaret Selina Newman in Portsmouth, Hampshire, during 1926. In 1928 he was due for discharge but signed on yet again. On 26 Aug 1931 he was also awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. By the time of the 1939 Register he was recorded living at 26 Totland Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, described as an Able Seaman serving on HMS Viceroy (land based posting) with Service No. PJX159488. His death was recorded in Portsmouth in 1984. His brother, Stanley Kimber, also served in the conflict during which time he had been awarded the Military Medal. (NB. The family advise that Arthur also served in the 2WW from 1940 to 1944. He was on board HMS King George V at a time which included the sinking of the German battleship Bismark.)

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Stanley Kimber