Stories Archive - Page 89 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

James Henry Russell

Surname: Russell

Other names: James Henry

Locations in this story:
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Shefford, Bedfordshire
Woking, Surrey

Story:
James Henry Russell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd December 1885 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 21st January 1886, the son of Mark Russell and Mary Ann Russell (née Fry). He lived his early life in and around the area and by 1911 the family home was at 13 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 71198). He served with the Lines of Communication Signal Services in France and Flanders. Following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Gwendolyne Gladys Irene Alldritt at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Shefford, Bedfordshire, in 1920. They went on to have four children. By the 1921 Census he was living at Kirkby Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, based at the Woking Post Office and by the 1939 Register had moved to 157 York Road, Woking, Surrey, working as a GPO Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist. His death was recorded on 15th December 1950 at Woking, Surrey.

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Arthur Edward Sidney Coaker

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

Surname: Coaker

Other names: Arthur Edward Sidney

Locations in this story:
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Canterbury, Kent
Malta
Weymouth, Dorset
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury
Larkhill, Wiltshire
Figheldean, Durrington, Wiltshire

Story:
Arthur Edward Sidney Coaker was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5th December 1897 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 9th January 1898, the son of Charles Coaker and Mary Ann Coaker (née Weatherdon). His early life was spent at home either at 11 Victoria Street or, from 1911, 8 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted and joined the Royal Flying Corps (Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) on 29th March 1917 becoming an Aircraftsman 1 (AC1) (Service No 69036). It is not known where he served during the war period but he was posted after the Armistice to Malta for a short time in 1919. He had married a Lottie Longley in Canterbury, Kent, on 23rd April 1919 and gave 14 Palace Street, Canterbury, Kent, as his address. There were possibly two children of the marriage. Arthur was discharged from the RAF on 10th February 1920 and would have qualified for the Victory and British War medals though there are no obvious medal records in this case. The 1921 Census shows him working in a civilian capacity as a Motor Fitter & Turner for the 348th Company of the Royal Army Service Corps at Larkhill, Wiltshire, and living at 2 Carn Brea Cottages, Figheldean, Durrington, Wiltshire. By the 1939 Register he had moved to Berkley, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Motor Transport Driver. His death was recorded at the Weymouth, Dorset, Registry in 1959.

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Percival James Harding

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Harding

Other names: Percival James

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Coventry, Warwickshire
Birmingham, Warwickshire
Solihull, Warwickshire
Banbury, Oxfordshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
Percival James Harding was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7th August 1890 and baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, on 31st August 1890, the son of Rudolph James Harding and Mary Harding (née Down). He lived his early life with the family at 4 Bleke Street, Shaftesbury. By 1911 he had moved to 36 Smithford Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, to work with a Chemist and Druggist.

He enlisted and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 23094) and later transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 622879). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but after discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Eva Lucy Freer in the Birmingham South, Warwickshire, Registration District, in 1925 and they went on to have one son. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 84 Burman Road, Solihull, Warwickshire, and was described as a Finance Representative. His death was recorded at the Banbury, Oxfordshire, Registry in 1977.

Percival's brother Harold George (b.1878) also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment.

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Harold George Harding

Maurice William Sidney Harris

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Middlesex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Harris

Other names: Maurice William Sidney

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sherborne School, Sherborne, Dorset
France & Flanders
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Calne, Wiltshire

Story:
Maurice William Sidney Harris was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th October 1897 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 17th November 1897, the son of William James Harris, MD, a local Doctor, and Kathleen Emily Harris (née Howe). In 1901 the family was living at 37 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, but by 1911 they had moved to "Avishayes" in Bleke Street. He attended Sherborne School, Sherborne, Dorset, from June 1910 to December 1914.

He enlisted with the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He served in France and Flanders from 29 May 1916 and promoted the 1st Lieutenant on 8 Dec 1916. Whilst serving in France it was announced in May 1918 that he had been awarded the Military Cross. Following his discharge he was further awarded the Victory and British War medals. He returned to the family home at "Avishayes", as evidenced by the 1921 Census and Electoral Rolls, where he took up employment as a Bacon Curer at Harris's of Calne, Wiltshire. His death was recorded in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 27th July 1922 at the early age of 24 and he was later buried at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury. A brass plaque in his memory was placed in the Sherborne School Chapel.

Maurice's sister Mary also served in the war, firstly with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and later as a driver with the RAF.

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Mary Harris
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Reginald Storey

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

Surname: Storey

Other names: Reginald

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Wareham, Dorset
Mill Hill, London

Story:
Reginald Storey was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1895 and baptised there on 4th August 1895, the son of Loftus Storey, (a local schoolmaster), and Ellen Storey (née Parsons). He lived most of his early life at 1 Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, after his father died in 1900. He enlisted and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 44173). He served in France and Flanders and following his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He gave 1 Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, as his address on the Absent Voters List of 1918 but by 1919 was living at 10 Victoria Road, Mill Hill, London, NW. The last known address was in 1927 when he was living at 1 East Street, Wareham, Dorset, and was still single. No other information has been found.

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Robert Moody

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Machine Gun Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Moody

Other names: Robert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
India
Mesopotamia

Story:
Robert Moody was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, according to Parish Records, on 10th June 1894 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 19th August 1894, the son of Thomas Henry Moody and Emma Moody (née Case). Regrettably his father died in 1895. He lived most of his early life apart from Military Service at 23 Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2505) and served with the 4th Battalion in India and Mesopotamia. While serving he sustained injuries to his hand and leg. He later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 62085) and on his discharge on 4th June 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. According to the Absent Voters List 1918 he also had a Service No. 200824 which is not recorded on his medal record or any other surviving service details. By the 1921 Census he was back in Bimport living with his widowed mother working as a Dental Technician for H. Harrington, Dentist, of 3 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. He married Kathleen Irene Abbott in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1932. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 47 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was working as a Painter and Decorator. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1970 and he was buried in the Shaftesbury Town Cemetery on 24 Dec 1970.

Robert's brother Tyrell (b.1883) also served in the war, with the Royal Army Service Corps.

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Tyrell William Moody

John Thomas Wareham

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wareham

Other names: John Thomas

Locations in this story:
Church Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
John Thomas Wareham was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9th September 1886 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 3rd October 1886, the son of George Wareham and Anna Wareham (née Pickford). John's brother Cecil George Pickford Wareham (b.1893) also served in the war, with the Army Service Corps. They lived their early lives mainly at 8 Church Lane, Shaftesbury, apart from when on Military Service. John enlisted as a Territorial with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 1955). After embodiment at the outbreak of war he joined his regiment with Service No. 200411. It is not known in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge on 27th April 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal. He married Emmeline Johnson at Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 30th September 1920 and they went on to have one daughter. The 1921 Census shows him living at 1 Knapp Villas, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as an out-of-work Decorator. By the time of the 1939 Register he was still living at 1 Knapp Villas, Motcombe, working as a Painter and Decorator. He died in the Salisbury Infirmary, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 24th August 1959 and later buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe.

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Cecil George Pickford Wareham

George Charles Hodson Kent

19th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Kent

Other names: George Charles Hodson

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Taunton, Somerset
Frome, Somerset
France & Flanders
Calcutta, India
Co. Monaghan, Ireland
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Charles Hodson Kent was born at Cann Villa, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1895 and baptised at Cann on 21st November 1895, the son of Charles Hodson Kent, a Solicitor, and Ethel Mary Kent (née Manby). He lived his early life at Cann and later at Bleke House, Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, until, by 1911, he had become a boarding scholar at Kings College, Taunton, Somerset.

He enlisted with the 6th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment with the rank of Lieutenant, later promoted to Captain. He served in France and Flanders and following his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married Margaret Olive Henry in Co. Monaghan, Ireland on 30th December 1924. He and his wife went to Calcutta, India, and his medals were directed there after the war. He returned to the UK and died on 17th March, 1952 at Frome, Somerset, and was buried there at St. Mary's Church.

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William Richard Gamlin

18th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Marine Light Infantry, Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gamlin

Other names: William Richard

Locations in this story:
Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hanover Square, London
Suez Canal, Egypt
Cowes, Isle of Wight
Osborne, Isle of Wight
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
William Richard Gamlin was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd October 1865 and baptised at St. Peter's Church, as Richard Willie, on 25th October 1865, the son of Richard Gamlin and Elizabeth Gamlin (née Parrott). He lived his early life in the family home in Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury. By 1881 he had moved to serve the Jolliffe family as a footman at 43 Charles Street, St. George's Hanover Square, London. He enlisted on 7th May 1886 and joined the Royal Marines Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 3543) and by 1901 was serving in the Suez Canal Zone, Egypt. He married Phyllis Moody at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 2nd November 1905 and they went on to have two children. He transferred to the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman (Service No. J101935) on 14th April 1921, and served at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight, following which he was discharged on 9th September 1922. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. On discharge he joined the Merchant Navy for a period of time from 10 Sep 1923 whilst his family lived at 23 Bimport, Shaftesbury. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 71 Adelaide Grove, Cowes, Isle of Wight, and was working as a General Labourer, but also noted as a Royal Marine pensioner. His death was recorded on the Isle of Wight in 1952.

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William George Wilmot

18th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Herefordshire Regiment, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wilmot

Other names: William George

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

Story:
William George Wilmot was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd October 1896, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27th December 1896, the son of John Richard Wilmot and Martha Ann Wilmot (née Weldon). He lived all his early life at the family home at 2 Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury. His father died in 1910. William enlisted and joined the 1st/4th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 201750), later transferring to the 1st/9 Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 210924). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge on 6 Feb 1920 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was living with his mother, who had remarried Jesper Gray, at 12 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working as a General Labourer at the Shaftesbury Gas Works. He married Elizabeth Georgina Beeston at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th August 1924 and they went on to have one child. By the time of the 1939 Register, William was living at 37 Station Road, Sturminster, Dorset, described as a Gasworks Manager. His death was registered in Gillingham, Dorset, on 15th June 1969.

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