Stories Archive - Page 88 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Edwin William Dare

Surname: Dare

Other names: Edwin William

Locations in this story:
Crown Hotel, High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mediterranean Area
Sturminster, Dorset
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
Edwin (sometimes called Edward) William Dare was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset on 15th June 1896, the son of William Edward Dare and Pearl Dare (née Daubney). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Shaftesbury area. Much of his early life was living at the Crown Hotel, 40 High Street, Shaftesbury, where his father was the proprietor. He enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 5th September 1912 as a Private (Service No. 1669). He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps (Service No. 461597). He served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force where he contracted malaria for which he eventually received a small pension until 9 Dec 1921. Following his discharge on 26th March 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Forces War Medal. The 1921 Census shows him still living at The Crown Hotel assisting his father with the business. He married Agnes Catherine Marsh in Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1927 and by 1931 had moved to 49 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, where he was Registered in 1939 working as a Driver Mechanic (Heavy Goods). His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry, in 1969.

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Ralph Pearson

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry, East Yorkshire Regiment, King’s African Rifles /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pearson

Other names: Ralph

Locations in this story:
Halifax, Yorkshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire
Egypt
Sculcoates, Yorkshire
Poole, Dorset

Story:
Ralph Pearson was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, on 3rd January 1891 and baptised at St. James Church, Halifax, on 25th January 1891, the son of Joseph Wild Pearson and Annie Pearson (née Barker). (Ralph's mother died in 1904 and his father re-married a Sarah Hitchens in Halifax in 1905.) Ralph lived his early life in Halifax until, by 1911, the family had moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset and had taken over an existing Bookseller, Printer and Stationers business at 11 High Street, Shaftesbury. Ralph was assisting in the business when he enlisted with the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No.1170). He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 24 May 1917 and joined the 2nd/4th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment and, on further promotion to Lieutenant, joined the 4th Battalion of the King's African Rifles. He had served in the Egyptian Theatre from 10 Nov 1915 and on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

He had married Dorothy Maud Rowell in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, in 1917 and they went on to have two children. The 1921 Census indicates that he was living at Hornsea House, Hornsea Parade, Holderness Road, Sculcoates, Yorkshire, where he worked as a Stationer's Assistant in Hull. By 1927 he had returned to 11 High Street, Shaftesbury, where he was also Registered in 1939 as a Printer and Stationer. His death was recorded in the Poole, Dorset, Registry in 1963. His brother John (b.1898) also served in the conflict, with the Royal Engineers.

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John Pearson

Maurice George Watts

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Watts

Other names: Maurice George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cowes, Isle of Wight, Hampshire

Story:
Maurice George Watts was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st September 1898, the son of Harry Gilbert George Watts and Rose Katherine Watts (nee Highman). He spent all his early life in and around Shaftesbury and, for a period, at the Ship Inn, 1 High Street, Shaftesbury, where his father was the licensee. He enlisted with the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 55020) later transferring to the 2/4th battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 30144). He was discharged on 17th February 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living back at the Ship Inn, Shaftesbury, working as a Tailor's Apprentice for Pryce & Barrible, Sporting Tailors of Shaftesbury. He married Doris Louise Olive Payton on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, in 1930. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Capri, Bellevue Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, and was described as the Manager and Cutter of a Naval Tailor as well as being a Special Constable. He died on the Isle of Wight in 1973.

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Charles Lill London

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: London

Other names: Charles Lill

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury
St. Rumbold Road, Shaftesbury
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Charles Lill London was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th August 1897 and baptised at St. James Church on 3rd October 1897 the son of Charles Lill London and Mary Ann London (née Mills). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Shaftesbury area. He enlisted on 10th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 15th March 1917 when he joined Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 212668). He served with the 19th/67th Brigade though it is not known in which theatre of war. The Absent Voters List of 1918 gives his then address as 19 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury. On his discharge in 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, working at the Grosvenor Hotel, Shaftesbury as a Chauffeur. He married Laura Noble in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1929. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 6 St. Rumbold Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Taxi Driver. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1969 and after his funeral at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, was buried in the Town Cemetery on 9th December 1969. Charles' brothers, Frederick Henry London and Jasper Hopkins London, also served in the conflict. All their names appear on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.

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Frederick George London
The National Archives

Rebbick Leonard Wright

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wright

Other names: Rebbick Leonard

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Jutland
Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire

Story:
Rebbick Leonard Wright (Registered as Rebbeck but various spellings used throughout his life) was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15th July 1890, the son of Sylvester Wallace Wright and Laura Wright (née Young). He lived some of his early life at the Half Moon Inn where his father was the licensee. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 22nd February 1912 with the eventual rank of Cook Class 1 (Service No. L3369). He served initially on HMS Warrior and later on HMS Conqueror, an Orion Class Dreadnought Battleship, at the Battle of Jutland. He was discharged on 5th December 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 census record has not been found but in 1920 he was registered in the Electoral Roll at 18 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. He married Emily Weaver in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, in 1923. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 69 Wellsted Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, and was working as a Joiner's Labourer. His death was recorded in Kingston-upon-Hull on 22nd July 1964. His brother, Maurice William Wright, also served in the conflict.

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Maurice William Wright
The National Archives

Maurice William Wright

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 London Regiment, Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wright

Other names: Maurice William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Pancras, London
Paddington, London
France & Flanders
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Half Moon Inn, Shaftesbury

Story:
Maurice William Wright was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th November 1887 and baptised at St. James Church on 25th December 1887, the son of Sylvester Wallace Wright and Laura Wright (née Young). He spent his early years at the Half Moon Inn where his father was the licensee. By 1911 he had moved to 11 Gower Place, St, Pancras, London, where he was employed as a House Porter in a business house. He enlisted with the 3rd Battalion of the London Regiment as a Private (Service No. 253772) later transferring to the Army Service Corps on 22 Oct 1917 and joining the 1029th Company (Motor Transport). He served in France and Flanders and following his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was boarding at 49 Grafton Way, St. Pancras, London, W.1. working as a Kitchen Porter for Maple & Co, Furnishers. He married Gladys Martha Thorpe in 1925 in St. Pancras, London. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 47 Grafton Way, St. Pancras, London, working as a Department Store Catering Storekeeper for Maple & Co. His death was registered in the Paddington, London, Registry in 1952. Maurice's brother, Rebbick Leonard Wright, also served in the conflict.

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Rebbick Leonard Wright

Frederick Sidney Alner

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alner

Other names: Frederick Sidney

Locations in this story:
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury
India

Story:
Frederick Sidney Alner was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 25th November 1896 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 17th December 1896, the son of Sidney William Alner and Mary Ellen Alner (née Case). The family lived at 14 Gold Hill and Frederick lived all his life, except for Military Service, in the Shaftesbury area. He enlisted and joined the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 3690 and 201752). He served in India on North West Frontier and following his discharge on 28th November 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the India General Service Afghanistan NWF Medal 1919. The 1921 Census shows he had returned to 14 Gold Hill with his parents and was employed as a Mineral Water Hand with Stratton, Son and Mead of Shaftesbury. He married Louisa Barter at Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 26th December 1931. By the 1939 Register he was living in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, and was working as a Painter. He later moved to 65 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury. His death was recorded in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry on 13th April 1965 and he was buried at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 17th April 1965. His name appears on the Roll of Honour prepared by his former employers, Stratton, Son & Mead of Shaftesbury. Sadly Frederick's brothers Harry and Sidney both died in the war in 1918, less than a month apart.

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Sidney William Alner
Harry Walter Alner

Percy Thorne

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Thorne

Other names: Percy

Locations in this story:
Yeovil, Somerset
Midhurst, Sussex
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
The early life of Percy Thorne is shrouded in doubt but it is more than possible that he was born on 15 Jun 1884 in Yeovil, Somerset, and baptised there on 16 Oct 1884 the son of William Thorne, a Hawker, and Ann Thorne. The mother died in 1892 and the father in 1904 both in Yeovil. The 1911 Census shows Percy Thorne (born in an estimated year of 1887 in Yeovil) working as a Domestic Groom and living at Cowdray Park Stables, Midhurst, Sussex. The first reference to Percy Thorne in Shaftesbury, Dorset, is on both the Absent Voters List and the Electoral Roll of 1918 showing he was registered at 12 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He had enlisted and joined the Army Service Corps as a Private eventually being promoted to Corporal (Service No. R4/066292). He served in France and Flanders from 4 Apr 1915 with the 4th B R D Remounts Section. He was discharged on 19th May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Clara Taylor at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, in 1919 and they went on to have five children. The 1921 Census indicates that he had moved to 29 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, and was described as a Dealer (born in Yeovil). By the time of the 1939 Register he was living back at 15 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Gardener and gave his date of birth as 1887 not 1884. He continued to live at 15 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, right up to his death at the Newbridge Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 10th October 1960 (as confirmed on the Probate Register). His wife continued to live in Gold Hill until her own death in 1979.

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Albert Charles Phillips

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Phillips

Other names: Albert Charles

Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Penybont Road, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales
Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, Wales
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Brecon Military Hospital

Story:
Albert Charles Phillips was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th December 1877 and baptised there on 17th February 1878, the son of Edward Phillips and Edith Phillips (née White). He spent his early life in the family home at Brickhill (now Church Hill), Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. He had enlisted with the 1st/3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and had served for sixteen years before the end of his first engagement. He married Ellen Gumbleton at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 18th July 1906 and they went on to have three children.

By 1911 Albert had moved to Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales, in order to work in the mining industry. He re-enlisted on 15th July 1914 and was mobilized on 8th Aug 1914 joining the South Wales Borderers (Special Reserve) as a Sergeant (Service No. 3/11615). He served in France and Flanders from 15 Mar 1916 with the 1st and 3rd Battalions and was gassed on 18th May 1916 and wounded on 8th Sep 1916. This involved hospital treatment at the Brecon Military Hospital where he was diagnosed with hysteria and duly declared unfit for further service and discharged on 28th August 1917. He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 225758 as well as small pension and was later awarded the Victory and British War medals plus receiving the King's Certificate No. 1613. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at 24 Weavers Buildings, 63 Penybont Road, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales, and described as a Colliery Timberman (below ground). His death was recorded in the Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, District Registry in 1940.

Three of Albert's brothers served in the First World War: Frank (b.1885) with the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Field Artillery; Frederick William (b.1875) with the Dorchester Regiment. The youngest, James (b.1886) was killed while serving with the Wiltshire Regiment in France on 21st October 1914.

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James Phillips
Frank Phillips
Frederick William Phillips

Victor Sidney Taylor

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Taylor

Other names: Victor Sidney

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Surrey
Fitzroy Square, London
Willesden, Middlesex
North Dorset
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury
Bimport, Shaftesbury
Hampstead, London

Story:
Victor Sidney Taylor was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd April 1893 and baptised at St. Rumbolds Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 11th May 1893, the son of Sydney Taylor and Kate Taylor (née Case). He lived his early life with his family at 16 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps on 14th January 1916 (the Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) as an Aircraftsman 1 (AC1) (Service No. 18341). He was employed as a fabric worker and served in France and Flanders. He married Matilda Sarah Ann Ingle, first at a civil ceremony on 14th November 1917 in Surrey and then, by licence, on 18th November 1917 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Fitzroy Square, London. They went on to have six children. Victor was discharged from the RAF on 8th May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was living at 3 Medley Road, Hmapstead, London, working as a Tailor for Messrs. Samuelson & Sons, of London and by the 1939 Register had moved to 51 Kings Road, Willesden, Middlesex, now working as a Tailor on his own account. It is recorded that by 1955 he had returned to Shaftesbury and was living at Alcester House, Bimport, Shaftesbury. His death was recorded locally on 8th May 1977.

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