Story:
Leonard Frederick Spinney was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 6 Jun 1894 the son of Frederick Spinney and Maude Spinney.  He lived most of his early life in Motcombe and at some time attended the Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury.  According to the Absent Voters List of 1918/1919 he served with the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. S/358931).  There are no obvious military or medal records in this case.  By 1936 he had moved to St. Pancras, London, N.1. where he was boarding out.  By the 1939 Register he was living at 28A Longley Avenue, Surbiton, Surrey, working as a Local Government Officer and General Clerk.  He also was a volunteer at an emergency post for the London County Council.   He died when living in London, S.E.3. on 1 Jul 1975.

Story:
Fred Burden was born in Stour Provost, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Oct 1878 the son of Samuel Burden and Caroline Burden (nee Curtis).  He lived much of his early life, apart from Military Service, in Stour Provost.  He married Annie Pauley in Stour Provost in 8 Aug 1910.  They went on to have six children.   He enlisted and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 25529).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge on 7 Jul 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a General Farm Labourer. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 12 Council Houses, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary. Wiltshire, still working as a General Farm Labourer.  His death was recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry in 1959.

Story:
Frederick Robert Brickell was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27 Feb 1896 the son of Albert Brickell and Emma Jane Brickell (nee Adams).  He lived the great majority of his life in Enmore Green.   He enlisted and joined the A.T. Company of the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 143209).   It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, working as a Carpenter. He married Florence Maud Short in Shaftesbury on 10 Jan 1927.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 14 New Buildings, Breach Lane, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still working as a Carpenter.  He died in Poole, Dorset, on 18 Apr 1968 and buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe.

Story:
Reginald Charles Arnold was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 25 Jun 1898 and baptised there on 24 Jul 1898 the son of Thomas Arnold and Alice Arnold (nee Coward).  He spent all his early life in Motcombe. By 1911 he was living in Church Walk, Motcombe.   He enlisted and joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 38065).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him still living with his parents in Church Walk, Motcombe, working as a Shop Assistant. He married Winifred Lavinia Hunt on 20 Nov 1926 in Motcombe.   By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 57 Hightown Road, Ringwood, Hampshire, working as a Bus Conductor.   He died in Ringwood on 1 Jan 1983.

Story:
Elijah Tom Burden Alford was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1877 the son of Samuel Thomas Alford and Rebecca Alford (nee Burden).  He spent all his life apart from Military Service in the Shaftesbury area.   He had enlisted on 15 Jan 1900 with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3499). He had served for a short period in South Africa and was awarded the Queens South African Medal (Clasp Laings Nok, Transvaal) and discharged on 14 Jun 1901. He married Amy Estelle White on 19 May 1902 at Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.  He re-enlisted and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3/8507).  He served in the Balkans area from 16 Oct 1915 and was promoted to Corporal.  He was discharged on 11 Feb 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  The 1921 Census shows him living in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Casing and Sausage Maker for C. G. Prideaux of Motcombe. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Stoker in a Food Factory.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1950.   His brother, Joseph Alford, also served in the conflict.