Story:
Charles Lankey was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20 Dec 1895 the son of Frederick Lankey and Annie Lankey (nee Grant).  He spent his early life in West Street, Fontmell Magna, until he emigrated to Quebec, Canada, leaving from Southampton, Hampshire, on the SS Ascania on 12 Jun 1913.  He was described at the time as a Gardener.  He enlisted on the 22 Sep 1914 at Valeartier, Quebec, and joined the 12th Reserve Battalion and later the 4th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry as a Private (Service No. 11596).  He was sent to France and Flanders where he received gunshot wounds on 2 May 1915 which were sufficiently severe that he was repatriated to the UK and spent time at the 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.  He was eventually declared unfit for further service and discharged back to Canada on 20 Aug 1916.   He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.   He married Margaret Louise Walsh on 19 Nov 1929 in Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada.   His death was recorded in 1962 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, and there is a local press obituary dated 7 Feb 1962.  His brother, Hugh Grant Lankey, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Gabriel Adrian Langdon was born in Chiselborough, Somerset, on 14 Dec 1875 the son of Joseph Langdon and Elizabeth Langdon (nee Druce).  He lived his early life in Chiselborough.  He married Lillian Maude Latimer in the Christchurch, Hampshire, Registry area in 1895.  Regrettably his wife died in 1898.    He went on to re-marry Rose King in the New Forest, Hampshire, area in 1899.  By 1911 he had moved to West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, having found employment as an Estate Carpenter.   He enlisted on 3 Jan 1915 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1287).  He was later attached to the Corps of Hussars (Service No. H/230568).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was discharged on 29 Jan 1917 being no longer physically fit for service due to Hydrocephalus & Varicose Veins.  There is no record of any medals being awarded but he was issued with the Silver War Badge No. 326427.  By the 1921 Census he was living at 36 Southville, Yeovil, Somerset, described as a Carpenter and Wheelwright on his own account. His death was recorded at the Yeovil, Somerset, Registry in 1925.

Story:
Frederick Lawrence (also know as 'Fred') was born on 6 Aug 1892 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 17 Oct 1899 the son of Thomas Lawrence and Jessie Grace Lawrence (nee Bown).   Frederick's father had died before he was born on 15 May 1892.  Frederick lived his early life in Lurmer Street, Fontmell Magna.   He enlisted and served with the 1/6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 242862).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  By the 1921 Census he was living with his mother in Fontmill Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Baker Maker and Salesman.  He married Jessie Hinton in Romsey, Hampshire, in 1928.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Woodford House, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, working as a Master Baker.  His death was recorded at the Chard, Somerset, Registry on 8 Jun 1946 and he was buried at All Saint's Church, Merriott, Somerset, on 11 Jun 1946.  His brother, Harry Lawrence, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Thomas Richard Gladdis was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28 Jun 1897 and baptised there on 19 Jul 1897 the son of Harry Gladdis (the local schoolmaster) and Margaret Elizabeth Gladdis (nee Moffatt).  He lived all his early life at the School House, Fontmell Magna.  He had enlisted on 10 Jan 1916 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 4747, 17554 & 202666).  He married Yvonne Alice Williams on 2 Sep 1916 at Poole, Dorset, Registry Office.  Shortly after he was posted on 3 May 1917 and served in Salonika and Mesopotamia during which time he suffered from dysentry.  He was sent to Poona, India, to the Deccan War Hospital on 22 Sep 1917 and eventually returned to the UK for further treatment.  He was eventually discharged on 14 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  By the 1921 Census was living at 25 Canford Magna, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Cowman.  By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to South Lodge, Kingston Lacy, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Gamekeeper.  His death was recorded at Poole, Dorset, in 1966.  His brother, Herbert Gladdis, served in the Royal Flying Corps (later RAF) at the same time.

Story:
Percy William Jesse was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8 Jul 1894 and baptised there on 19 Aug 1894 the son of William Jesse and Kate Rose Jesse (nee Jeans).   His mother died in 1899 and he lived his early life at Woodbridge Mill, Fontmell Magna, until the death of his father in 1905 when the rest of the family moved to Black Ven Farm, Fontmell Magna.   At some time after 1911 he had emigrated to New Zealand and had enlisted on the 10 Oct 1915 joining the 5th Battalion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (Rifle Brigade) as a Rifleman (Service Nos. 14/616 and 25/646).  He served in France and Flanders where he was wounded on 6 Aug 1917.  On the 31 Oct 1917 it was announced he had been awarded the Military Medal for 'acts of gallantry in the field'.  He was discharged in the UK on 8 May 1919 and further awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  At that time he did not choose to return to New Zealand.  The 1921 Census shows him living with a brother at Lower Leigh Farm, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, described as a Farmer. His marriage to Doris Evelyn Green was registered at Mere, Wiltshire, in 1924 and they had one child.  Regrettably his wife died in 1931.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Hadden Farm, Upton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, described as a Dairy Farmer and widower.  He enlisted in the Royal Artillery on 1 Sep 1939 under Service No. 2588024 serving with the 191st Field Regiment from 28 Dec 1942 until 15 Dec 1943.  His death was recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry, on 7 Apr 1957 and he was buried in East Knoyle Cemetery.  His brothers, Charles Jesse and Frank Jesse, also served in the conflict though Frank did not return having been killed in action.