Stories Archive - Page 84 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Frank Sims

Surname: Sims

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Dorset
Egypt
Christchurch, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Frank Sims was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd November 1887 and baptised at Cann on 1st January 1888, the son of Edwin Sims and Emily Sims (née Gray). He lived with his family during his early life in Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury. By the time he enlisted the family had moved to 77 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 35925). He later transferred to the 922nd Heavy Transport Company of the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T4/071058). He served some of his time in Egypt and was eventually discharged on 28th September 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He had given 77 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, as his address on the Absent Voters List for 1918/1919. He married Ida Nettie Adams in Christchurch, Dorset, in 1920. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register shows he was living at 8 Madeira Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, and was working as an Antique China Restorer. He died in Bournemouth on 17th May 1980. Frank's brother William also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment and the Lancashire Fusiliers.

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The National Archives
William Sims

Thomas George Pike

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Machine Gun Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pike

Other names: Thomas George

Locations in this story:
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury
Christys Lane, Shaftesbury
Kington Magna, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Thomas George Pike was born at Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1893, the son of Mark Pike and Eliza Pike (née Elliott). He lived his early life with the family at Fir Tree Cottage, Stour Row, until, later on, they moved to 63 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Thomas enlisted and joined the Machine Gun Corps as a Private (Service No. 6371) but later transferred to the Mobile Graves Registration Unit of the Labour Corps (Service No. 418623). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but when he was discharged he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Edith Ann Taylor at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 12th January 1921 and by the 1921 Census was living at 71 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Road Labourer for the Shaftesbury Rural Council. The 1939 Register shows his wife and children were living at 5 Christys Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, but there was no mention of Thomas at this time (this might indicate he was employed in some military unit even as a civilian). He had moved to Kington Magna, Dorset by the time of his death which was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1969. He was buried at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15 May 1969

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The National Archives

Arthur Stainer

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Arthur

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lyemarsh Farm, Mere, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Arthur Stainer was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1st December 1896 and baptised at St. James's Church on 27 Dec 1896 the son of George Theodore Stainer, a Cabinet Maker, and Jane Stainer (née Young). He spent his early life with the family at 83 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, until, by 1911, he was living and working for his uncle at Lyemarsh Farm, Mere, Wiltshire. He enlisted and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 762) but later transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 334553). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 census he had returned to 83 St. James Street and was living with his parents and working as a Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer. He married Florence Ethel Brickell in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26th December 1921 and the 1939 Register shows he had moved to 17 Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still working as a Cabinet Maker. His death was recorded in Shaftesbury on 12 Feb 1983 and he was buried at St.James's Church shortly after.

Two of Arthur's siblings served in the war: Walter Charles (b.1893) with the Royal Field Artillery, and Harold George (b.1888) with the Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps and Royal Flying Corps.

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Walter Charles Stainer
Harold George Stainer
The National Archives

Walter Charles Stainer

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Walter Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mere, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury
Christys Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Walter Charles Stainer was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd June 1893 and baptised at St. James' Church on 16 Jul 1893 the son of George Theodore Stainer, a Cabinet Maker, and Jane Stainer (née Young). He lived his early life with his family at 83 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 135301). It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Florence Mabel Garrett in the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry District in 1918 and by the 1921 Census was living at 22 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, working as a Carpenter. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Restville, St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was now described as a Builder. His death was recorded on 26th January 1979.

Two of Walter's siblings served in the war: Arthur Stainer (b.1896) the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry and Royal Garrison Artillery, and Harold George (b.1888) with the Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps and Royal Flying Corps.

Images:

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The National Archives
Arthur Stainer
Harold George Stainer

Montague Charles Brickell

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Australian Imperial Force /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: Montague Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Gallipoli, Turkey
Egypt
France & Flanders
Blandford, Dorset
Wincanton, Somerset
Parkstone, Poole, Dorset
Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

Story:
Montague Charles Brickell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th July 1896, the son of Hannah Laura Brickell (no father was registered). He lived mainly with his grandparents in Shaftesbury during his early years as his mother was in service and living away from home. He emigrated to Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, and enlisted there on 30th January 1914 but was not embodied until 24th February 1915 when he joined the 5th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force as a Private (Service No. 1509). He saw service in Gallipoli, Egypt, France and Flanders during which time he had many visits to various hospitals - one for a gun shot wound in the hand sustained at Gallipoli where he was treated at the 19th General Hospital . He saw service in France for the last time with the 46th Battalion after which they were posted to the UK where he was discharged on 31st August 1919 and returned to his Shaftesbury address at 17 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him visiting the Howell family in Tisbury, Wiltshire, where he was described as a Relief Manager for Joseph Frisby Ltd, a boot and shoe retailer. He went on to marry Mabel Howell in Blandford, Dorset, on 2 Sep 1923. From 1934 to 1937 had moved to Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, where he managed a shoe shop and became very active in the British Legion. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 47 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset, and was working as a Manager of a Retail Shoe Shop as well as being a Special Constable. Sometime after he moved to 18 Granville Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, and he died there on 25th February 1969.

Images:

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The National Archives

Ernest Mayo

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Machine Gun Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mayo

Other names: Ernest

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Rumbolds Road, Shaftesbury
Poole, Dorset

Story:
Ernest Mayo was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd September 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 9th September 1898, the son of Edwin Mayo and Georgina Mayo (née Mullins). He lived nearly all his life in the Shaftesbury area apart from when on Military Service. By 1911 the family were living at 44 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. Ernest enlisted and served with the 34th Company of the Machine Gun Corps as a Private (Service No. 129888). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge on 15th October 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him boarding at 'Sunnyside, Cornelia Crescent, Poole, Dorset, working as a Painter. He married Annie Maud Hillier in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1925 and by the time of the 1939 Register was living at 25 St. Rumbolds Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, as a General Labourer. He died in Cann, Shaftesbury, in 1962 and was buried at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 26th January 1962.

Ernest's brother Arthur Edwin (b.1895) also served in the war and sadly died in 1917 while serving with the Coldstream Guards in Flanders.

Images:

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The National Archives
Arthur Edwin Mayo

Ernest George Hardiman

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Ernest George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dalton-in-Furness, Lancashire
Wimbledon, Surrey
France & Flanders
St. James, Shaftesbury
Pancras, London

Story:
Ernest George Hardiman was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 30th April 1890 and baptised at St. James' Church on 25th May 1890 the son of Charles Hardiman and Martha Ann Hardiman (née Brockway). (His father had been arrested for vagrancy and desertion on a number of times and served prison sentences. He had also denied paternity of the children of the marriage. His name does not appear on any other family records.) Ernest lived his early life with the family at 37 Andrews Yard, St. James Street, Shaftesbury. By 1911 he had moved for work as a chauffeur to Dalton-in-Furness, Lancashire, where he enlisted on 11th October 1914, joining the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T1/025721). He had envisaged driving motor vehicles but was told there were only openings for horse transport. This resulted in him being discharged on 19th November 1914. He went on to re-enlist and joined the Royal Engineers as a Driver (Service No. 32516). He served in France and Flanders being eventually discharged on 21st January 1920 and being awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Ethel Jane Brigden in Pancras, London, in 1929 and they went on to have three children. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 18 Cromwell Road, Wimbledon, Surrey, and was still working as a Chauffeur. His death was recorded in Surrey in 1972. His brother, Decimus Hardiman, also served but was killed in action.

Images:

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Decimus Charles Hardiman
The National Archives

Edwin Padfield

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Padfield

Other names: Edwin or Edward

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Willesden, Middlesex
Hampstead, London, NW
Camden, London

Story:
Edwin (sometimes called Edward) Padfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 6th January 1891 and baptised at St. James' Church on 8th February 1891, the son of John Charles Padfield and Mary Eliza (as registered) Padfield (née Maidment). He lived his early life with the family at 36 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. His father however passed away in 1904. He enlisted with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 2511 & 200829). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge on 22nd May 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was living back at 36 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, with his widowed mother working as a Tailor for the local firm of Pryce & Barribal. He married Emily Esther Rees in Willesden, Middlesex, during 1928. By the time of the 1939 Register Edwin was living at 124 Boundary Road, Hampstead, London, NW, still working as a Tailor. His death was recorded in the Camden, London, Registry on 21 Dec 1978 and he was later buried in the nearby Hampstead Cemetery.

Two of Edwin's brothers also served in the war: Charles (b.1884) with the 5th Service Battalion, and Alfred George (b.1888) with the Dorsetshire Regiment and the South Wales Borderers.

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Alfred George Padfield
The National Archives
Charles Padfield

Alfred George Padfield

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Padfield

Other names: Alfred George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Alfred George Padfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th October 1888 and baptised at St. James' Church on 9th November 1888, the son of John Charles Padfield and Mary Eliza (as registered) Padfield (née Maidment). His early life was spent with the family at 36 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, his father having passed away in 1904. He enlisted and joined the 3rd Battalion and then the 15th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 16887) and was later transferred to the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (Service No. 42753). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Bessie Parsons at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury, on 25th December 1919 and by the 1921 census was living at 27 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Tailor with the local firm of Pryce and Barribal (Sports Tailors). By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Orchard Road, Gillingham, Dorset, still working as a Tailor. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1970.

Two of Alfred's brothers also served in the war: Edwin (sometimes known as Edward) (b.1891) with the Dorsetshire Regiment and Charles (b.1884) with the 5th Service Battalion.

Images:

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The National Archives
Edwin Padfield
Charles Padfield

Frederick Belbin

4th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Essex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Belbin

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
Blandford, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick Belbin was born in Blandford, Dorset, on 26th October 1890 and baptised there on 21st November 1890, the son of Harry (or Henry) Belbin and Elizabeth Belbin (née Tucker). By 1901 the family had moved to 11 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Frederick enlisted with the 2/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 201837), later transferring to the 1st Battalion of the Essex Regiment (Service No. 59152). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Sarah Ann Dora Stacey in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7th July 1919. The 1921 Census shows him living in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, working as a Painter and Decorator and later by the 1939 Register he was recorded at 'Glencot', Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, still working as a Decorator. His death was registered in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 11 Feb 1961 and he was later buried at St. John's Church, Enmore Green on 16 Feb 1961. Of Frederick's brothers, George Reginald Belbin, also served and survived but regrettably both Charles Belbin and William John Belbin died during the conflict.

Images:

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The National Archives
George Reginald Belbin