Stories Archive - Page 61 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Sidney Stanley Merefield

25th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Merefield

Other names: Sidney Stanley

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset
New Forest, Hampshire

Story:
Sidney Stanley Merefield was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23 Sep 1899 the son of Frederick Merefield and Mary Ellen Merefield (nee Gray). He lived his early life at 3 North Street, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 01054 & 40114). It is not known in which theatre of war he served (possibly the Middle East as he had contracted malaria at some time) but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows him living back in Fontmell Magna with his parents described as a Farm Worker. He married Kathleen Mary Bealing in Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28 May 1928. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 1 North Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a General Labourer at a Waterworks. His death was recorded in the New Forest, Hampshire, Registry in 1984. His brother, Bertie Merefield, also served in the conflict.

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Thomas Chick

25th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Chick

Other names: Thomas

Locations in this story:
Hemyock, Devon
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Liverpool
Quebec, Canada
Heath, Alberta, Canada
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Gilt Edge, Alberta, Canada

Story:
Thomas Chick was born in Hemyock, Devon, on 22 Apr 1888 the son of Thomas Edward Chick and Sarah Ann Chick (nee Clist). He lived his early life in Devon until, by 1911, his family had moved to Blandfords Farm, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Thomas had found employment as a Carpenter and Wheelwright, He emigrated from Liverpool on the SS Lake Champlain and arrived in Quebec, Canada, on 7 May 1912. He lived in Heath, Alberta, Canada, where he was described as a Farmer. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 12 Nov 1917 as a Private (Service No. 211287). He served in France and Flanders where he joined the Machine Gun Corps on 3 Jan 1918. On his discharge on 26 Mar 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census of Canada shows him living in Battle River, Gilt Edge, Alberta, Canada, working as a Farm Labourer. He died on 25 Oct 1930 and was buried in the Edmonton, Alberta, Cemetery on 27 Oct 1930. (NB There is some evidence that he had married Lily (or Lillie) Jackson in Alberta in 1927 but no definitive evidence has been found).

Thomas' brother Benjamin George (b.1896) also served in the war, with the Dorset Yeomanry and the Royal Engineers.

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Benjamin George Chick

Ernest Henry White

25th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: White

Other names: Ernest Henry

Locations in this story:
Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Finsbury, London
Weymouth, Dorset

Story:
Ernest Henry White was born in Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 2 Apr 1886 and baptised there on 2 May 1886 the son of Emanuel George White and Edith White (nee Dinham). He lived his early life from at least 1891 in South Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 11 Apr 1902 as a Boy Class 2 (Service No. 220351). He served in various ships and shore establishments in his time reaching the rank of Able Seaman. His principal service was on HMS Neptune, a Dreadnought Battleship, from 31 Aug 1912 through to 29 May 1918, during which time he took part in the Battle of Jutland. He served throughout WW1 and was eventually discharged on 19 May 1919 with a pension. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 417 St. John Street, Finsbury, London, working as a Porter in a Stores Department. He died in the Weymouth & District Hospital, Weymouth, Dorset, on 2 Jun 1959. His brother, Frederick James White, also served in the conflict. (NB It is thought Ernest had married but no definitive record can be found.)

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Clarence Reginald Still

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Still

Other names: Clarence Reginald

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St Georges, Hanover Square, London
France & Flanders
Luton Bedfordshire
Hatherleigh Place College, Hatfield Peverel, Essex,

Story:
Clarence Reginald Still was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13 Nov 1876 the son of Tom Still and Ellen Still (nee West). He lived his early life in Fontmell Magna. His marriage to Edith Kate Flower was recorded in Chelsea, London, Registry in 1900 and they had set up home by 1901 at 54 Gresham Street, St. George Hanover Square, London. Clarence was working as a Domestic Coachman. He enlisted and served with the Army Service Corps as Private (Service No. M2/074713). He served in France and Flanders from 1 May 1915 and was discharged on 28 Apr 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Hatherleigh Place College, Hatfield Peverel, Essex, working as a Chauffeur. By 1928 he had moved to Bedfordshire and by the time of the 1939 Register was living at 15 Kingsway. Luton, Bedfordshire, working as a Bus Driver. His death was recorded in Luton on 23 Mar 1950. His brothers, Archibald Arthur Still and Stanley Charles Still, also served in the conflict.

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Archibald Arthur Still
Stanley Charles Still

Henry Shute

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Shute

Other names: Henry

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Harborne, Birmingham, Warwickshire
Flanders

Story:
Henry Shute was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 25 Feb 1890 and baptised there on 6 Apr 1890 the son of Henry Young Shute and Anna Shute (nee Merefield). He lived his early life at 41 Smiths Hole, Fontmell Magna. His marriage to Mary Lucy Bird was registered in Birmingham, Warwickshire, in 1912. He enlisted on 20 Sep 1915 and served with the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. M2/180986). He had obviously served abroad because he was discharged on 19 Apr 1919 with a small pension being no longer fit for service due to malaria. On his discharge on 20 Apr 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. His address at the time of discharge was 45 North Road, Harborne, Birmingham, Warwickshire, and he was still residing there at the time of the both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register working as a Doctor's Chauffeur. His wife died in 1949 and he later re-married Ada Winifred Barnett in Birmingham. His death was recorded in Birmingham in 1958. His brother, Sidney Shute, had also served but had died in Flanders.

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Maurice Vernon Reeves

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Reeves

Other names: Maurice Vernon

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Portland, Dorset
Bedminster, Bristol

Story:
Maurice Vernon Reeves was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21 Apr 1897 and baptised there on 18 Jul 1897 the son of Walter William Reeves and Emily Reeves (nee Bennett). He lived his early life at 54 West Street, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted on 22 Oct 1915 and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 74262). He served abroad but it is not known where. He was discharged on 12 Apr 1917 due to being medically unfit as a result of VHD (Heart Disease) attributable to his service conditions. He received a limited pension and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Silver War Badge No. 164132. The 1921 Census shows him living with an uncle at his bakery business at Hambro Road, Portland, Dorset, as Journeyman Baker. He married Rose Matilda Smith at Fontmell Magna on 16 Mar 1927. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 1 St Paul's Road, Portland, Dorset, described as a Baker and Grocer. He had moved to 18 King William Street, Bedminster, Bristol, by the time of his death on 2 May 1984.

Maurice's father and two of his brothers, Leo Bennett Reeves and Cecil John Reeves, served in the conflict though Cecil died whilst serving.

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Walter William Reeves
Cecil John Reeves
Leo Bennett Reeves

Gerald John James Andrews

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Andrews

Other names: Gerald John James

Locations in this story:
Marnull, Dorset
Tarrant Keynston, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Woolcotts Farm, Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury
Palestine
Egypt
Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset

Story:
Gerald John James Andrews was born in Marnull, Dorset, on 2nd July 1894 and baptised there on 12 Aug 1894 the son of Edwin Walter Andrews and Lucy Beatrice Andrews (née Day). He lived his early life at Dairy House, Tarrant Keynston, Dorset. He enlisted as a Territorial on 9th February 1911 and joined the 'C' Squadron of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry (Service No. 508). He attended regular annual training camps but was embodied at the outbreak of WW1 on 5th August 1914 eventually becoming a Corporal. He was discharged having completed his service time with his unit on 8th February 1916 but he re-enlisted and joined the Royal Engineers as a Driver (Service No. 152684). (His family have advised that he had sent postcards from the Palestine/Egyptian area whilst serving with the Royal Engineers and was en route returning to the UK during Apr 1919.) On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. By the 1921 Census he was living with his parents at a farm near Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, helping his father on the farm. He married Ruby Ada Lear at Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th Aug 1929. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Woolcotts Farm, Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died in Blandford Hospital, Blandford, Dorset, on 21st January 1966 and was buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe.

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The National Archives

Ernest Edward Miles

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Miles

Other names: Ernest Edward

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Ernest Edward Miles was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1900 and baptised there on 9 Sep 1900 the son of Ernest Edward Miles (senior) and Harriet Rebecca Miles (nee Nottle). His father died in 1900 and he spent his early life at The Dairy House, North Street, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted and joined the Army Service Corps (Service No. M2/153195). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother in Fontmell Magna without any occupation being recorded. By 1937 he was a patient in the Dorset Mental Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, where he died in 1939. His brother, Everard James Miles, also served in the conflict.

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Everard Joseph Miles

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Miles

Other names: Everard Joseph

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Fareham, Hampshire
Gosport, Hampshire

Story:
Everard Joseph Miles was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 Nov 1894 and baptised at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, on 30 Dec 1894 the son of Ernest Edward Miles and Harriet Rebecca Miles (nee Nottle). He spent his early life in the area and by 1901 was living at the Dairy House, North Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He had enlisted and joined the 4th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's) as a Private (Service No. D.6804). He later transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery (Service No. 101919). He served in France and Flanders from 13 Oct 1914 and was eventually discharged on 3 Jun 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He had married Martha Doris Ivy Taulbut at St. Peter & Paul's Church, Fareham, Hampshire, on 27 Jul 1917. The 1921 Census shows him lodging at 2 Gordon Road, Fareham, Hampshire, working as a Stoker for the Fareham Urban District Council. On the 2 Apr 1925 he re-enlisted and joined the Royal Tank Corps as a Trooper (Service No. 388248) on a two year engagement which came to an end on 1 Apr 1927. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 7 Coleno Road, Fareham, Hampshire, described as a Skilled Labourer in the Royal Navy Mine Depot. His death was recorded in Gosport, Hampshire, in 1972. His brother, Ernest Edward Miles (junior), also served in the conflict.

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Frederick James White

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: White

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sutton Waldron, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset
Weymouth, Dorset
Cardiff, Wales

Story:
Frederick James White was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1890 and baptised there on 13 Jul 1890 the son of Emanuel George White and Edith White (nee Dinham). He lived his early life in Fontmell Magna and later in Sutton Waldron, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted on 3 Sep 1914 and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 265645) and later transferred to the Rifle Brigade (Service No. 211836). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was discharged as being physically unfit for further service due to Melancholia on 10 Dec 1918 being granted the Silver War Badge No. B59242. The recommendation was that he needed treatment in a mental facility. He was granted a pension as his condition was attributable to his service. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. Initially he was admitted to the Cardif City Mental Hospital and later spent time in Weymouth, Dorset. His death was recorded at the Dorchester, Dorset, Registry in 1921. His brother, Ernest Henry White, served in the Royal Navy and also survived.

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