Stories Archive - Page 71 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Percy Frank Parsons

29th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Percy Frank

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Semley, Wiltshire
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Abertillery, Monmouthshire, South Wales
Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, South Wales
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales
India

Story:
Percy Frank Parsons was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4 Oct 1895 the son of Joseph Parsons and Frances Parsons (nee Frost). He lived his early life with his family at Hugglers Hole, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 4 Sep 1914 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 2556 & 200862). He served with the 1/4th Battalion in India from 18 Feb 1916. On the 28 Sep 1917 he received gunshot wounds to the chest. He was discharged on 20 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals. His family had moved to Longcross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and he was registered at that address until 1920. He moved to Monmouthshire, South Wales and by the time of the 1939 Register he was the Licensee of the Tillery Fountain, Penybont Road, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, and still single. He eventually married Elizabeth Ann James in Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, in 1946. He died at the Neville Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, on 5 Nov 1964. Of his brothers, Charles George Parsons, died in service whilst Walter John Parsons and Archibald Joseph Parsons both served and survived the conflict.

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Charles George Parsons

Ernest Harold Miles

29th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Miles

Other names: Ernest Harold

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Ernest Harold Miles was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27 Apr 1898 and baptised there on 25 May 1898 the son of Ernest William Miles and Annie Miles (nee Ware). He spent all his life apart from Military Service in Motcombe. (Probably because his father was also 'Ernest' his name was frequently changed to Harold in the records but he was registered and baptised as Ernest Harold.) He enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2170). He later transferred to the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment and served with the 2/4th Battalion (Service No. 6638) and the 6th and 2nd Battalions (Service No. 202551). It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He married Elsie May Brickell at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Jul 1925. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at The Bungalow, Elm Hill, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Maintenance Engineer in a Milk Factory. He died in Motcombe on 22 Jan 1990 aged 92 years.

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Arthur Douglas Miles

29th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Miles

Other names: Arthur Douglas

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Maidenhead, Berkshire
Amersham, Buckinghamshire
Ogbourne St. Andrew, Marlborough, Wiltshire

Story:
Arthur Douglas Miles was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23 Jun 1895 the son of Edwin Miles and Lucy Jane Miles (nee Meade). He spent his early life with his family at The Nurseries, Nettlebed, Enmore Green. He enlisted on 19 Jan 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 64935). He served in France and Flanders from the 25 July 1915 as a Telegraphist with the 18th Signal Company. Whilst serving he received gun shot wounds on 1 Aug 1917 and spent three weeks in military hospital. He rejoined the 59th Divisional Signals Company until he was discharged on 15 Feb 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows he was boarding out at 56 High Street, Ogbourne St. Andrew, Marlborough, Wiltshire, working for the Post Office as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist. He married Winifred May Ricks in Marlborough, Wiltshire, on 18 June 1922. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 31 Woodside Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, working as a Post Office Clerk. He died in Amersham on 6 Oct 1963. Arthur's brothers, Harold Edwin Miles and Charles Ernest Miles, also served in the conflict.

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Thomas Edward Guy Mead

29th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mead

Other names: Thomas Edward Guy

Locations in this story:
Highgate, London
Chelsea, London
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ardley, Oxfordshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Islington, London

Story:
Thomas Edward Guy Mead was born in Highgate, London, on 14 Oct 1888 and baptised at Christ Church, Chelsea, London, on 6 Jan 1889 the son of Thomas Arthur Mead and Kate Mead (nee Coward). Thomas spent his early life in Islington, London and later at The Street, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where he was living with his Uncle (his mother's brother). By 1911 he had moved to Ardley Hall, Ardley, Oxfordshire, where he was employed as a Footman. He enlisted and served with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 48482). There are no other military records other than those indicated on the Absent Voter List of 1918/1919. He had married Mabel Emily Beatrice Sams as recorded in the Shaftesbury, Dorset, Registry in 1916. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living in Shorts Green Lane, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Lorry Driver in the Wholesale Milk Trade. His death was recorded in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1953.

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Arthur Charles Maskell

29th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Maskell

Other names: Arthur Charles

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Arthur Charles Maskell was born at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire on 13 Oct 1892 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 25 Dec 1892 the son of Arthur Uriah Maskell and Emily Jane Maskell (nee Toogood). He lived his early life in and around the Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, area. He married Lily Matilda Gray in Bournemouth, Hampshire, in 1915. He had enlisted with the Royal Navy (Service No. ZP/2019) on 5 Jul 1915 giving 7 Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, as his address. He was however discharged almost immediately for an unknown reason. He then re-enlisted and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 3608 & 201686). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge on 5 Jun 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He had given Enmore Green as his address on the Absent Voters List in 1918/1919 and the Census of 1921 shows he was working as a Bricklayer and still living with his wife in Enmore Green their four children but by the time of his early death a further two children had been born, the last one in 1929. His death was recorded in Shaftesbury in 1932 and he was buried in the churchyard at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 4 Jul 1932. His wife went on to re-marry Ernest E. Harris in 1943. His brother, Bertie George Maskell, also served in the conflict.

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Sidney James Maidment

29th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Maidment

Other names: Sidney James

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
London, S.E.
France & Flanders
Walthamstow, London, E 17
Camberwell, London

Story:
Sidney James Maidment was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16 Oct 1893 the son of Edward Maidment and Lydia Maidment (nee Fish). He lived his early life in the Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, area. By 1915 he had moved to Old Kent Road, London, S.E. and enlisted from there on 6 May 1915 and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver (Service No. L/20984). He served in France and Flanders with the 162 Brigade and was discharged on 17 Jun 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. Though he had used the Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, address for the Absent Voter List in 1918/1919 on discharge he gave his address then as 4 Cannings Road, Walthamstow, London, E.17. but on resuming civilian life the 1921 Census shows he was living at 139 Sumner Road, Peckham, Camberwell, London, working as a Stores Assistant with the South Metropolitan Gas Company. He had married Kate Alice Douglas at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Walthamstow, on 8 Jun 1920. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 3 Elcot Avenue, Camberwell, London, working as a Gas Works Checker. No reliable record of his death has yet been found. His brother, Charles Maidment, also served in the conflict.

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Charles Maidment

28th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Maidment

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Aberystruth, Monmouthshire, South Wales
Sturminster, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
Charles Maidment was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Feb 1888 the son of Edward Maidment and Lydia Maidment (nee Fish). He lived a lot of his early life at Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, Dorset. By 1911 he was living with an Uncle in Aberystruth, Monmouthshire, South Wales. His father had died in 1912. He enlisted on 5 Apr 1916 and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 24434). He later transferred to the London Regiment (Service Nos. 6937 & 573722). He served with the 17th Battalion in France and Flanders and on his discharge on 15 Sep 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He did not return to South Wales on his discharge but lived with his widowed mother back in Sherborne Causeway. The 1921 Census indicates he was an unemployed Road Labourer at the time. By 1939 he was living at 96 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Farm Labourer and still single. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry on 13 Aug 1973. His brother, Sidney James Maidment, also served in the conflict.

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William John King

28th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: King

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Gillingham, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William John King was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3 May 1874 the son of Alfred King and Ann King (nee Kerton). He spent his early life at Elm Hill, Motcombe. He had enlisted on 31 Dec 1895 and joined the Royal Marines (Service No. RM5763) and in 1911 was stationed in Portsmouth, Dorset. He was at one time was a Gunner serving aboard HMS Ringdove. It is not known in which other theatre's of war he served in and there are no other records of his service available including medal records though he was have qualified for at least the Victory and British War Medals and possibly the 1914/15 Star. By the 1921 Census, following his discharge, he was back living with his widowed mother at 60 Elm Hill, Motcombe, and shown as 'Out of Work' though he had a Naval pension. His death was recorded at the Shaftesbury, Dorset, Registry in 1936 and he was buried at Gillingham, Dorset, on 18 Nov 1936.

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Henry Thomas Love

28th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Love

Other names: Henry Thomas

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Henry Thomas Love was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12 Mar 1886 the son of George Edwin Love and Elizabeth Love (nee Lush). He spent most of his early life in Shaftesbury at 3 Gold Hill. He had become a Cabinet Maker prior to the outbreak of war and had married Winifred Louise Bennett at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury on 4 Jan 1912. He enlisted with the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 15489). He became a Lance Corporal and served with the 'B' Signal Depot. It is not known in which theatre of war her served in but on his discharge on 22 Oct 1921 had received a limited pension due to Malaria attributable to his service and was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows he was living at home in Foot's Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, working as a Builder's Labourer but by the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 50 High Street. Poole, Dorset, and had resumed working as a Cabinet Maker. His death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1958.

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Reginald Watson Inkpen

28th July 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Inkpen

Other names: Reginald Watson

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset

Story:
Reginald Watson Inkpen was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Feb 1878 and baptised there on 6 Mar 1878 the son of Edwin Thomas Inkpen (one time Innkeeper of the Royal Oak) and Mary Ann Inkpen (nee Clack). He had enlisted with the Imperial Yeomanry on 11 Jan 1900 as a Private (Service No. 5350) and served with the 26th Company in South Africa from 2 Mar 1900 until 17 Jun 1901 following which he requested his discharge with effect from 18 Jul 1901. For his service he had been awarded the South Africa Medal with three clasps. He continued his life in Motcombe except by 1911 he was working and boarding as an Ostler at a hotel in Gillingham, Dorset. He re-enlisted and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver (Service Nos. 23077 & 202832). At a later stage he transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 643738) until his discharge on 9 Mar 1919. It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals plus being awarded a small pension due to having contracted malaria during his service. The Census of 1921 shows him living with his parents at 33 Bittles Green, Motcombe, working as a Gardener for Lord Stalbridge. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Norfolk Cottage, Shorts Green Lane, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Private Gardener. He remained single all his life his death being recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1941 and buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe on 31 Oct 1941. His brother, Rufus William Inkpen, had also served in the conflict with the Royal Navy.

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