Stories Archive - Page 90 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Elijah Sidney Wilmot

17th May 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wilmot

Other names: Elijah Sidney

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset

Story:
Elijah Sidney Wilmot was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9th February 1889, the son of George Wilmot and Barbara Wilmot (née Butt). He lived his early life at 3 Magdelene Lane, Shaftesbury, where his mother died in 1900 and his father in 1902. He had enlisted prior to the war with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private in a Territorial capacity (Service No. 453). On embodiment he rejoined his Regiment with Service No. 200163. It is not known in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge on 25th April 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal. By then his registered address was 12 Bimport, Shaftesbury, per the 1921 Census, which describes him as a Chimney Sweep. At some time he moved again to 9 Tout Hill, Shaftesbury, and he died there on 1st July 1937 per the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry and was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury. He remained single throughout his life. His brother William George Wilmot also served in the conflict.

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Stuart Menzies Frank Strange

Surname: Strange

Other names: Stuart Menzies Frank

Locations in this story:
Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon
St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lambeth, London
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Stuart Menzies Frank Strange was born in Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon, on 1st January 1897, and baptised there at St. Leonard's Church on 1 Jan 1897 the son of Edward Frank Strange and Mary Clarke Strange (née Wishart). He and his family had moved to St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands by 1901 and again, by 1911, they had moved to 5 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where hisfather set up business as a grocer. Stuart enlisted with the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 201822) and later transferred to the 1st/4th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment (Service No. 204743). It is not known which theatre of war he served in but after discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at 1 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working as a Grocer's Assistant to his father. Stuart married Ivy Gwendoline Muriel Brine in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 2nd October 1929 and they went on to have one son. The 1930 Electoral Register shows him living at Greens Farm, Cherry Tree, Cann, Shaftesbury and by the 1939 Register at Highlands, Semley Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Grocer. He died in St. Thomas Hospital, Lambeth, London, on 3rd January 1949. His brother, John Edward Primrose Strange, also served in the conflict but survived until his early death in 1934.

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Arthur Thomas Hardy

17th May 2020/in 1914-1918 North Lancashire Regiment, Northumberland Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardy

Other names: Arthur Thomas

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Germany
Sutton Mandville, Wiltshire

Story:
Arthur Thomas Hardy was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 30th May 1898 the son of Walter Hardy and Elizabeth Hardy (née Strange). He lived most of his life in the Shaftesbury area apart from Military Service. Initially he lived at 5 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, and later, by the 1911 Census, had moved with the family to 28 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted and joined the 1st/5th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 36757) and later transferring to the 4th/5th Battalion. Again, at a later date, he was transferred to the 23rd Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (New Service No. 41115). He served in France and Flanders where he was taken as a Prisoner of War to Germany. On his release and discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. By the 1921 Census he was living at 42 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, with his parents and working as a Plasterer and later, by the 1939 Register, was shown to have moved to The Anchorage, Bell Street, Shaftesbury, with his widowed mother (his father having died in 1924) now described as a Golf Club Steward and a Special Constable for the Dorset Constabulary. It is noted he eventually married Margaret Mullins on 13 Dec 1941 at Sutton Mandville, Wiltshire. His death was recorded at the North Dorset Registry in the January/March Quarter of 1978.

Arthur's brother Henry (b.1888) also served in the war, with the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment and the North Staffordshire Regiment.

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Henry Walter Hardy

Walter Richard Trowbridge

17th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Trowbridge

Other names: Walter Richard

Locations in this story:
Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Honiton, Devon
Chesham, Buckinghamshire
Amersham, Buckinghamshire

Story:
Walter Richard Trowbridge was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 25th March 1884 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27th April 1884, the son of Isaac Trowbridge and Sarah Ann Trowbridge (née Ellis). He lived his early life at the family home at 17 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. By 1911 he had moved as a boarder to Honiton, Devonshire, where he was working as an upholsterer apprentice. He enlisted on 2nd March 1916 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Private (Service No. M/320118). Having served in the UK only he was discharged on 14th July 1918 being no longer physically fit for service. No medal records have been found in this case although he was awarded the Silver War Badge No. B251431. He returned at this time to 17 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. No record can be found for him in the 1921 Census but his widowed mother was lodging at 16 Gladstone Road, Chesham, Bucks, where, by the time of the 1939 Register, Walter was also living and working as a upholsterer and still single. His death was recorded at the Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Registry on 10th December 1962.

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Thomas Allen Mitchell

17th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mitchell

Other names: Thomas Allen

Locations in this story:
Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Russia
Southampton, Hampshire
Dundee, Scotland
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Thomas Allen Mitchell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 11th March 1899 and baptised at St. James' Church on 9th April 1899, the son of George Henry Ernest Mitchell and Katherine Mitchell (née Gould). He lived his early life in the family home at 15 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force) on 15th March 1917 becoming an Air Mechanic 2. (Service No. 66831). He served in France and Flanders with the 58th Squadron until, following the end of the war, he was posted to Russia for a short period until 31 Mar 1920. Whilst serving he married Mary Philp at St. Andrews Church, Dundee, Scotland, on 4th September 1920. He was eventually discharged on 14th March 1925 giving 14 Avenue Road, Southampton, Hampshire, as his forwarding address. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals. On the 1st February 1939 he re-enlisted in the Royal Air Force as a Corporal. His death was recorded at the Southampton, Hampshire, Registry in 1963.

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William Edward Southernwood Smith

17th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Smith

Other names: William Edward Southernwood

Locations in this story:
Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Southsea, Hampshire
Essex

Story:
William Edward Southernwood Smith was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd July 1882 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 6th August 1882, the son of William Robert Smith and Elizabeth Dennis Smith (née Purnell). He lived his early life in Shaftesbury, attending Shaftesbury Grammar School for some of his education, until, by 1911, he had moved to premises at 54-66 Kings Road, Southsea, Hampshire, where he was a living-in Drapery Assistant. His mother meanwhile had died and his father had re-married and was living in the family home at 12 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. William enlisted and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, becoming a Staff Sergeant (Service No. 45284). He served in France and Flanders from 3 Jun 1915 and following his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. His address per the Electoral Register of 1918 was 11 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, (where his Grandmother lived) and he was still there by the time of the 1939 Register still single and employed as a Drapery Salesman. He is thought to have died in the Essex South Western Registry area in 1960.

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William Henry Brockway

17th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brockway

Other names: William Henry

Locations in this story:
Barton Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset

Story:
William Henry Brockway was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd October 1893 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 16th November 1893, the son of Thomas Brockway and Emma Jane Brockway (née Foot). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, at 6 Barton Hill, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 143210). It is not known which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He had returned to the family home at 6 Bell Street by the 1921 Census and was working as a Carpenter for Edward Wright, Builder, of Angel Square, Shaftesbury. By the 1939 Register he was still at 6 Barton Hill and was described as a Master Builder and still single. He death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1973.

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George Richard Freer

17th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Freer

Other names: George Richard

Locations in this story:
Barton Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Warsop, Nottinghamshire
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

Story:
George Richard Freer was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st October 1894 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 11th April 1895, the son of John James Freer and Lucy Freer (née Brooks). He lived his early life at 4 Barton Hill, Shaftesbury, apart from time in the Military. He enlisted with the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. M2/101129). He served in France & Flanders from 31 Aug 1915 where he was awarded the Military Medal. He was eventually discharged on 3rd August 1919 and further awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He married May Ellen Mason at Warsop, Nottinghamshire, on 12th October 1918 and they went on to have five children. The 1921 census shows him living with his parents-in-law at 34 Victoria Street, Warsop, Nottinghamshire, working as a Motor Mechanic for the Warsop Motor Co. Ltd. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 62 Victoria Street, Warsop, still working as a Motor Mechanic. He died at the Victoria Hospital, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on 20th August 1974.

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William George Chubb

17th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Chubb

Other names: William George

Locations in this story:
Carlingcott, Somerset
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Bradford, West Yorkshire
Shipley, Yorkshire
Bingley, Yorkshire

Story:
William George Chubb was born at Carlingcott, Somerset, on 16th December 1892 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd April 1893, the son of John William Chubb and Annie Chubb (née Heal). He lived most of his early life at 6 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, apart from his Military Service. He enlisted on 4th August 1908 with the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 2471) on a Territorial basis attending annual camps until discharged to the reserve in 1912. He was embodied on 7th September 1914 and rejoined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Sergeant (Service No. 200796). He served in France and Flanders from 18 Feb 1916 and was eventually discharged on 8th December 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal. He married Lucy Bye at St. Peter's Church, Shipley, Yorkshire, on 22nd May 1920 and they went on to have one daughter. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents-in-law at Cottingley Hall Lodge, Near Bingley, Yorkshire, described as a Stuff and Woollen Warehouseman for A & S Henry & Co, Leeds Road, Bradford. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 17 Endor Crescent, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, working as a Poultryman. He died in the Bradford, West Yorkshire, Registry District in 1977.

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Sidney Charles Morgan

16th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Morgan

Other names: Sidney Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Guernsey, Channel Islands

Story:
Sidney Charles Morgan was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd December 1885, the son of George Morgan and Emily Morgan (née Brockway). Apart from Military Service he spent all his life in and around Shaftesbury. He married Annie Louisa Morgan at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 8th October 1910 and they went on to have one son. He enlisted on 26 Sep 1914 and joined, successively, the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 20090), the Royal Engineers (Transport) as a Sapper (Service No. T/2903) and the Royal Engineers (Service No. 508483). He served in France & Flanders from 12 Feb 1917 to 7 Apr 1918 after which he was posted to 166th Fortress Company based at Fort George, Guernsey, Channel Islands. Following his discharge on 19 Feb 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 4 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Fitter and Turner for J. Farris & Sons, Agricultural Engineers, of Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 56 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still working as a Fitter and Turner (Agricultural Work). He died in the Newbridge Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 14th April 1961 and was buried in the Shaftesbury Town Cemetery on 18 Apr 1961.

Sidney's brother Percival Stewart (b.1887) also served in the war, with the King's Dragoon Guards.

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Percival Stewart Morgan