Story:
Horace Genge Bloom was born in Bristol on 20 Dec 1893 and baptised at St. Marks Church, Easton, Gloucestershire, on 14 Jan 1896 the son of Henry George Bloom and Mary Susanna Bloom (nee Genge).  He lived his early life in Bristol until by 1911 he was a Pupil boarder at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  His father had died about 1913 and Horace had emigrated to Toronto, Canada, along with his mother to live at 903 Bathurst Road, Toronto, working as a Clerk.  He had enlisted on 22 Dec 1915 with the 75th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a Private (Service No. 140636).  He was posted to the UK arriving on 4 May 1916 where he worked in the record office of his Battalion.  He suffered various bouts of abdominal problems resulting in him being invalided back to Canada on 29 Dec 1917 where he was eventually discharged on 1 Apr 1918 as being unfit for further duty.  There are no obvious medal records in this case.  The 1921 Canadian Census shows him living at 28 Rushholme Park Crescent, Toronto, described as a Traveller. He married Hazel Anastasia Rolland in York, Ontario, Canada, on 11 Aug 1924.  His last known address was then 99 Delaware Road, Toronto.  No other records have been discovered since.

Story:
Sidney Herbert Gatehouse was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1878 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 12 May 1878 the son of James Howe Gatehouse and Mary Gatehouse (nee Farmer).  He spent his early life in the Ivy Cross area of Shaftesbury until his family moved to Milton on Stour, Gillingham, Dorset, by 1901   He married Beatrice Blanche Mary Coombs in Shaftesbury during 1901 and they went on to have three children.  By 1911 the family were living at Cemetery Road, Gillingham, Dorset.  Sidney had enlisted on 24 Nov 1914 and joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12301).  He was posted to the Balkans area on 31 Oct 1915 and served with the 9th and 11th Battalions.  He was wounded at sometime during this period and was discharged on 14 Nov 1917 as being unfit for further service.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 270049.  He was later also awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 10 Sotheryby Road, Islington, London, noted as a Groom (out of work) and 'single'. It is presumed that he obtained a divorce from his wife, Beatrice, as he legitimately married Edith Honoria Woolley in Islington, London, during 1922 and they also went on to have three children.   Sidney's death was recorded at the Camden, London, Registry on 28 Mar 1938.  His brothers, Ernest Edward, Thomas William, Percy George and Charles Howe also served and survived the conflict whilst their nephew, Victor Stokes, died whilst serving. His other brother, Walter John, is said to have served but no military record has been found to confirm this.

Story:
Victor George Imber was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13 Mar 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 13 Apr 1898 the son of George Henry Imber (Butcher) and Hannah Mary Imber (nee Kerridge).   He lived his early life at 9 High Street, Shaftesbury.  He was a boarder pupil at Shaftesbury Grammar School by 1911.   He enlisted with the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 327501).  He served in France & Flanders and on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him baording at 6 Camden Terrace, Bristol, where he was working as a General Bank Clerk for the London County & Westminster Bank. He married Ella Irene Woodman in the St. Giles, London, Registry area in 1923.  In 1924 their only son, Basil George Imber, was born.   By the time of the 1939 Register Victor was living at 129 Abbotts Gardens, Finchley, Middlesex, described as a Bank Official.   Basil Imber, the son, was killed in Germany on 20 Jan 1944.   Victor's death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1972.

Story:
Edward Whitley-Baker was born on 6 Feb 1889 and baptised at Wimborne Minster on 20 Apr 1889 the son of Edward Whitley-Baker (a Veterinary Surgeon) and Clara Mary Whitley-Baker (nee Dowsing).  He lived most of his early life in Wimborne except between 1901 and 1911 he was a boarder pupil at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.   He had enlisted with the 5th Battalion of the Coldstream Guards becoming as Lance Corporal (Service No. 12853).  However on 31 Aug 1916 he transferred to the Royal Engineers having become an Officer Cadet.  He was eventually commissioned as a Lieutenant and served in France and Flanders from 17 Mar 1915 with the 17th Divisional Signal Company where he was awarded the Military Cross per a London Gazette notice dated 3 Jun 1919.   Following the end of hostilities he was posted to Berlin, Germany, attached to the 65th Headquarters Company of the 51st Infantry Brigade.  He however died on 16 Dec 1920 of pneumonia at the Burggrafen Street Infirmary, Berlin.  He was buried back in the UK in the Wimborne Minster Cemetery on 24 Dec 1920 (WGC Grave Ref. C. 6. 5280). He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.   He is also remembered on the Dorset Freemasons Memorial at Sherborne, Dorset.  

Story:
Rufus a'Barrow Jeffery was born in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 9 Jul 1891 and baptised at Berwick St. John, Dorset, on 6 Aug 1891 the son of John Jeffery and Sarah Alice Jeffery (nee Paul).   Rufus lived his early life at Arundel Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire.    He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for part of his education.    His father had died in 1912. Rufus enlisted and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2272).  He later transferred to the 1/4th Battalion and was attached to the Royal Air Force (Service No. 200633).   He served in Mesopotamia from 23 Feb 1916 and for a short while later in India.   On the 16 Mar 1918 he was commissioned with the 2/4th Battalion of the Wiltshire (Duke of Edinburgh's) Regiment becoming a Lieutenant.   On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He had also applied for the Indian General Service Medal but apparently did not qualify.  He had returned to Arundel Farm by the time of the 1921 Census where he was working as an Auctioneer and Valuer. He travelled to Australia in 1927 but did not settle there and had returned to the UK by the time of the 1939 Register and was living at Lower Wincombe Farm, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, still single and working as an Agricultural Auctioneer's Assistant.   His death was recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry on 25 Jan 1963.