Stories Archive - Page 97 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

William Doggrell

Surname: Doggrell

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Warnford, Hampshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Egypt
Taunton, Somerset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kenton Farm, Semley, Wiltshire
Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury
Higher Beetham, Comb St. Nicholas, Near Chard, Somerset

Story:
William Doggrell was born in Warnford, Hampshire, in 1889, the son of William Doggrell and Tamar Doggrell (née Smith). The family moved to Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, by 1901 and later to Kenton Farm, Semley, Wiltshire. William enlisted on 13th July 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 108339). He served in Egypt with the M Signal Company as a Telegraphist. He was discharged on 13th June 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was working as a Farmer in partnership with another at Higher Beetham, Combe St. Nicholas, Near Chard, Somerset. He married Phyllis Elaine Power in Taunton, Somerset, in 1923. He died at the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5th January 1934 and was buried at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 8th January 1934 aged only 36 years.

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The National Archives

William Ernest Burden

29th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Corps of Hussars, Dorset Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burden

Other names: William Ernest

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bedchester, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Kit Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William Ernest Burden was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Jun 1893 and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 2nd July 1893, the son of James John Rideout Burden and Sarah Anne Burden (née Elliott). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Shaftesbury/Guy's Marsh area. He enlisted and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1681), later transferring to the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230890). It is not known where he served but on his discharge on 5 May 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Kit Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Dealer in Dairy Produce, Rabbits and Poultry. He married Elfreda Gladys Gray at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 22nd November 1921. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 79 Bedchester, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as an 'egg collector in a small way and garden labourer'. He was also an ARP Warden and a Shaftesbury Councillor. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1967. William's brothers, Victor Thomas (b.1887) and Albert Edward (b. 1890) and James John (b. 1877) 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.

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The National Archives
Victor Thomas Burden

Harry Brown

29th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brown

Other names: Harry

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Chard, Somerset
Mediterranean Theatre
Poole, Dorset
Gibraltar

Story:
Harry Brown was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1885, the son of Samuel Brown and Clara Brown (née Moore). He lived his early life at the family home in Higher Blandford Road, Cann, until, by 1901, he had moved to Chard, Somerset, as a Journeyman Baker. By 1911 he had joined the (Royal) Army Service Corps (Service No. S/18687) and was serving as a Lance Corporal in the Mediterranean area based in Gibraltar. He later became a Staff Sergeant with the 21st Company Field Bakery. Following discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in the Poole, Dorset, Registration District in 1961. (Very little other information is available.)

Two of Harry's brothers died in the war: Bertram George (b.1895) died on 4th April 1915 in a German prisoner of war camp; Obery Archibald (b.1891) was killed in France on 19th March 1917 while serving with the East Kent Regiment. Two more brothers served in the war: William Thomas (b.1888) and Cyril (b.1894).

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William Thomas Brown
Obery Archibald Brown
Bertram George Brown
Cyril Brown
The National Archives

William Alexander Stewart Blucke

29th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Blucke

Other names: William Alexander Stewart

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Cann Lodge, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wandsworth, London
Southwark, London
France & Flanders
Ireland
Hurstpierrepoint Collage, Hassocks, Sussex

Story:
William Alexander Stewart Blucke was born at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 24th July 1895 and baptised there on 17th August 1895, the son of Dr. Harry Frederick Stokes Blucke and Elizabeth Harriet Blucke (née Collins). He was a pupil at Hurstpierrepoint College, Hassocks, Sussex, from 1909 to 1912. William, whose father was the local Doctor, lived in Donhead St. Andrew for his early years until, by 1911, the family had moved to Cann Lodge, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset.

William enlisted on 24th November 1914 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and held the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He transferred on 29th June 1918 to the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force) as an Observer with the rank of Lieutenant. He served in France and Flanders and on his discharge on 4th November 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was attached for sometime after to the ADRIC (Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary) in Ireland. The 1921 Census shows him visiting his parents at Cann Lodge, Cann. He married Jessica Huxford in 1932 and by the time of the 1939 Register they were living at 27 Christchurch House, Wandsworth, London, he was described as a Company Secretary and Director with a Commission Agent. He died, aged only 47, on 5th May 1943 and was buried at Southwark, London, on 12th May 1943.

His brother, Frederick Charles Blucke, also served in the conflict, with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

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The National Archives
Frederick Charles Blucke

Frederick Charles Blucke

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Blucke

Other names: Frederick Charles

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Cann Lodge, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Staines, Middlesex
Singapore

Story:
Frederick Charles Blucke was born in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 10th August 1897 and baptised there on 2nd September 1897, the son of Dr. Harry Frederick Stokes Blucke and Elizabeth Harriet Blucke (née Collins). Frederick's father was the local Doctor and they lived at Donhead St. Andrew until, by 1911, they had moved to Cann Lodge, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School. Frederick had enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 157936). He served in France & Flanders from apr to Nov 1918. He had been promoted to Lieutenant on 24 Nov 1916 and the Service No. dropped from his record. Following discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was married at sometime, possibly not in the UK, to Antoinette. L. Blucke (maiden name not known). By the 1939 Register he was living at 27A Brightside Avenue, Staines, Middlesex, and was described as a Cleaner Sales Supervisor. He served for a time in WW2 as a Lieutenant with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (Service No. 116906). His death was recorded in Singapore on 31st October 1951. His brother, William Alexander Stewart Blucke also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment and the Royal Air Force.

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William Alexander Stewart Blucke
The National Archives

William George Brickell

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: William George

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

Charles Henry Brickell

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: Charles Henry

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.

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The National Archives
Victor Brickell

Richard Miles Alner

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alner

Other names: Richard Miles

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.

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The National Archives

Harry Sidney Smith

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Smith

Other names: Harry Sidney

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.

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The National Archives
Montague Smith

Joseph Ransom

28th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Veterinary Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ransom

Other names: Joseph

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.

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Henry John Ransom
The National Archives