Little Down, Shaftesbury

William George Brickell

Surname: Brickell
Other names: William George
Other people in this story:
James Henry Harry Brickell
Kate Frances Brickell née Blanchard
Ellen Brickell née Fisher (Whittaker)
William Warrington Whittaker
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Branksome, Bournemouth, Hampshire
Poole, Dorset
Port Said, Egypt
Little Down, Semley Road, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders

Story:
William George Brickell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th July 1891 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 6th September 1891, the son of James Henry Harry Brickell and Kate Frances Brickell (née Blanchard).  He lived his early life in and around Shaftesbury and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.  By 1911 he was living at Little Down, Semley Road, Shaftesbury and was a policeman.   He had served as a territorial with the 4th battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment prior to WW1 in 1911 but he enlisted with the Royal Navy Air Service on 6th Jul 1915 (Service No. F6312) and served on land based duties as an Airship Rigger in France & Flanders (1915 and 1918) and Port Said, Egypt (1916 to 1917).  On 31st March 1918 he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force (Service No. 206312) for military police duties.  He was discharged on 20th April 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals.  He married Ellen Fisher (Widow of William Warrington Whiitaker) in Bournemouth, Hampshire, in 1938.  By the 1939 Register he was living at 62 Redbreast Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, described as a Retired Police Officer.  His death was recorded in the Poole, Dorset, Registry in 1964.

Images:

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The National Archives
Butts Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury

Charles Henry Brickell

Surname: Brickell
Other names: Charles Henry
Other people in this story:
James Brickell
Lucy Elizabeth Brickell née Andrews
Ethel M. Brickell née Davis
Arthur Victor Robert Brickell
Locations in this story:
Butts Knap, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Kensington, London
Chelsea, London
New Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor, Berkshire

Story:
Charles Henry Brickell was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7th June 1885 and baptised there on 5th July 1885, the son of James Brickell and Lucy Elizabeth Brickell (née Andrews).  He spent his early years in and around Butts Knap, Cann.  By 1901 he had moved to Bournemouth, Hampshire, where he was a scullery boy at the Hawthornes Hotel.  By 1911 he had again moved to 33 Brompton Square, Kensington, London, where he was a domestic servant (Waiter). He enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 61549).  It is not known where he served but on discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  His marriage in 1924 to Elsie M. Davis is recorded in the Chelsea, London, Registry.  By the 1939 Register he was living at 64 Oxford Road, New Windsor, Berkshire, and was employed as a Chef.  (His wife was a Lady's Maid living-in in Fulham, London.)   His death is recorded in the Windsor, Berkshire, Registry in 1967. Charles's brother Arthur Victor Robert (b.1896) also served in the war and was sadly killed in 1917 while serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in Dorsetshire Regiment in France.

Images:
  • C. Brickell medals

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The National Archives
Victor Brickell
Cann and Shaftesbury from Melbury Hill

Richard Miles Alner

Surname: Alner
Other names: Richard Miles
Other people in this story:
Samuel Alner
Kezia Ann Alner née Miles
Sarah Ann Alner née Gosling
Locations in this story:
Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Asia
Sherborne, Dorset

Story:
Richard Miles Alner was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th November 1881 and was baptised at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, on 25th December 1881, the son of Samuel Alner and Kezia Ann Alner (née Miles). He spent his all his life, apart from Military Service, in and around Cann. By 1911 he was serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 7986).  He was known to be in the Asiatic Theatre of war by 6th November 1914, the date of his medal qualification.  He also served in the Princess Victoria's Royal Irish Fusiliers (Service No. G/25327).  Following his discharge on 5 May 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.  The 1921 census shows him living with his parents at Bozley Hill, Cann, working as a Farm Labourer. He married Sarah Ann Gosling in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1926.   By the 1939 Register he was still living at Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as an Agricultural Contractor's Labourer.   He died in the Yeatman Hospital, Sherborne, Dorset, on 8th April 1956 and was buried at Sherborne on 12th April 1956.

Images:

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The National Archives

Harry Sidney Smith

Surname: Smith
Other names: Harry Sidney
Other people in this story:
Harry Smith
Mary Smith née Mitchell
Harriet Smith née Fanner
Montague Smith
Locations in this story:
Wilton, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hawkesdene, Cann, Shaftesbury
Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Harry Sidney Smith was born in Wilton, Wiltshire, in 1869 and baptised there on 29th November 1869, the son of Harry Smith and Mary Smith (née Mitchell).  By 1871 the family had moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset. Harry had married Harriet Fanner in Shaftesbury on 31 Aug 1890 and they went on to have four children, one of whom died as an infant.  Harry had obvious extended service with the military but the only information found is that he is listed on the Absent Voters list for 1918 as being Company Quartermaster Sergeant with the 13th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 265708).  The 1921 Census shows him living in Alcester, Shaftesbury, working as a Decorator on his own account. His last known address was in Hawkesdene, Cann, Shaftesbury and his death was recorded at Shaftesbury on 14 Feb 1934.

Harry's brother Montague (b.1889) also had a career with the army, with the Lancers, the Machine Gun Corps and the Royal Tank Corps.

Images:

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The National Archives
Montague Smith
Enmore Green, The Knapp

Joseph Ransom

Surname: Ransom
Other names: Joseph
Other people in this story:
James Ransom
Mary Hannah Ransom née Jeans
Lucy Alice Ransom née Burt
Henry John Ransom
Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
The Knapp, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Winterbourne St. Martin, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann Common, Shaftesbury
Higher Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury

Story:
Joseph Ransom (sometimes spelt 'Ransome') was born in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st January 1879 and baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd March 1879, the son of James Ransom and Mary Hannah Ransom (née Jeans).  He spent his early years in Melbury Abbas and Cann. By 1901 he had moved to the Knapp, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, and was lodging out.  He married Lucy Alice Burt at Winterbourne St. Martin, Dorset, on 11th June 1907 and set up home in Cann Common.  He enlisted and joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (Service No. SE.29476).  He rose to the rank of Corporal by the time of his discharge but it is not known which area he served in.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living still in Cann Common working as a Bricklayer.  By the 1939 Register he had moved to Higher Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still employed as a Bricklayer.  His death was recorded in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1946 and he was buried in St. Rumbold's churchyard, Cann, on 9th January 1946.   His brother, Henry John Ransom, also served in the conflict, with the Royal Engineers and the Labour Corps.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Henry John Ransom
The National Archives
Cann from Melbury Hill

Henry John Ransom

Surname: Ransom
Other names: Henry John
Other people in this story:
James Ransom
Mary Hannah Ransom née Jeans
Violet Jane Gaskin Ransom née Roberts
Joseph Ransom
Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Greenwich, London
Mampitts Cottage, Shaftesbury
Cann Common, Shaftesbury

Story:
Henry John Ransom (sometimes spelt 'Ransome') was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st May 1874 and baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, on 28th June 1874, the son of James Ransom and Mary Hannah Ransom (née Jeans).  He lived his early life in and around Cann. He went for work in the Greenwich, London, area and met and married Violet Jane Gaskin Roberts at St. John the Baptist Church, Greenwich, London, on 21st October 1907 and they went on to have one child.  He was back in Shaftesbury when he enlisted on 25th August 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 117595).  He served in France and Flanders from 3 Sep 1915 where, on 14th October 1917, he received gunshot wounds to his right arm and right thigh.  He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 10th February 1918 (Service No. 292865) and served as a Private with the 609th Agricultural Company.  He was discharged on 1 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.   The 1921 Census shows him living at Jasmine Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury, working as a Ploughman for J. J. Brickell, (Farmer of East Melbury Farm). By the 1939 Register he had moved to Mampitts Cottage, (near Mampitts Farm),  Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was employed as a Carter.  He died in 1956 and was buried at The Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury on 21st January 1956.    His brother, Joseph Ransom(e), also served in the conflict with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Joseph Ransom

Richard Charles Sheppard Parsons

Surname: Parsons
Other names: Richard Charles Sheppard
Other people in this story:
Charles Parsons
Emily Parsons née Sheppard
Annie Elizabeth Parsons nee Clark
Locations in this story:
The Zeals, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mill Lane, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Chapel Cottage, Cann

Story:
Richard Charles Sheppard Parsons was born at The Zeals, Wiltshire, on 10th March 1889 and baptised at St. Martin's Church, The Zeals, on 14th May 1889, the son of Charles Parsons and Emily Parsons (née Sheppard). He lived his early life in The Zeals until 1901 when his family moved to 21 Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He married Annie Elizabeth Clark in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during 1912.  He enlisted and served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 307225).  It is not known in which area he served but was with both the 1/8th and 16th Battalions at times. On discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living in Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, working as a Bricklayer for A. Williams, Builder, Shaftesbury. The 1939 Register indicates he was still in Mill Lane, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, now described as a Builder's Labourer. He died on 15th January 1953 at Chapel Cottage, Cann. 

Images:

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The National Archives

Stanley Charles Hunt

Surname: Hunt
Other names: Stanley Charles
Other people in this story:
Charles Hunt
Sarah Hunt née Wilkins
Amy Sarah Hunt née King
Percy George Hunt
Locations in this story:
High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sherborne, Dorset

Story:
Stanley Charles Hunt was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5th November 1889, the son of Charles Hunt (a Seedsman and Ironmonger) and Sarah Hunt (née Wilkins).  Apart from Military Service, Stanley lived all his life in Shaftesbury.   He married Amy Sarah King in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1915 and they went on to have one daughter.  Stanley enlisted and joined the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 29245), eventually becoming a Lance Corporal.  It is not know in which area he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 29 High Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Fruiterer and Greengrocer. By the 1939 Register the address was given as 12 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still a Fruiterer and Greengrocer as well as a Special Constable. His death is recorded in the Sherborne, Dorset, Registry on 27th August 1973.   His brother, Percy George Hunt, also served in the conflict.

Images:

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The National Archives
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury 1

Amos John Caudle

Surname: Caudle
Other names: Amos John
Other people in this story:
John Perkins Caudle
Martha Caudle née Crew
Ellen Mary Caudle née Bound
Locations in this story:
Sheffield, Yorkshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Yeovil, Somerset
Kingsman Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Amos John Caudle was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, on 16th August 1884, the son of John Perkins Caudle and Martha Caudle (née Crew).  Amos lived his early years in the Yorkshire area until, by 1911, he had moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was living at 3 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, and was working as a Grocer's Assistant.  He married Ellen Mary Bound in Shaftesbury on 18th August 1915 and they had one son. 

Amos enlisted on 2nd December 1915 but was not embodied until 31st May 1917 when he joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 239630).  He served in France & Flanders on 27th November 1917 where he transferred to the 4th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment as Private (Service No. 56698).  On 15th July 1918 he was further transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 573057) during this time he was working at PoW Camps in France where German prisoners were held.  He was discharged on 16th October 1919 and, though no medal record can be found, his Service papers show he was entitled to the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 census he was living at 7 Mustons Lane, Shaftesbury, working as a Carpet and Hardware Stores Assistant for Stratton, Sons & Mead of Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 4 Kingsman Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Hardware and Furnishing Manager.  His death was recorded at the Yeovil, Somerset, Registry in 1953.

Images:

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The National Archives

Victor Thomas Burden

Surname: Burden
Other names: Victor Thomas
Other people in this story:
James John Rideout Burden
Sarah Ann Burden née Elliott
Annie Emily Burden née Hawkins
William Ernest Burden
Albert Edward Burden
James John Burden
Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Salonika
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
East Knoyle, Wiltshire

Story:
Victor Thomas Burden was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th November 1887 and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 18th December 1887, the son of James John Rideout Burden and Sarah Ann Burden (née Elliott).  Victor spent all his early life in Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury.  He enlisted on 27th November 1915 but, before he was mobilized, married Annie Emily Hawkins at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 27th December 1915. They went on to have three children. Victor was eventually mobilized on 29th February 1916 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 65016).  He served initially inn Salonika but mainly in France and Flanders with the 166th, 201st and 196th heavy batteries where he suffered back troubles and was eventually discharged as being unfit for further service on 17th January 1919.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as a small short-lived pension.  The 1921 Census shows he was living at Leigh Farm Cottage, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer. Regrettably his wife died in 1928. By the 1939 Register he had moved to a cottage at Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and working as a Public Works Contractor's Labourer. He died at Hartgrove in 1970. Victor's brothers William Ernest Burden, James John Burden and Albert Edward Burden, also served in the conflict and all their names appeared on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.

Images:

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The National Archives
William Ernest Burden