Stories Archive - Page 99 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Harold Francis Cosser

Surname: Cosser

Other names: Harold Francis

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mesopotamia
Basra, Iraq
Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Story:
Harold Francis Cosser was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 30th November 1894 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24th January 1895, the son of George Cosser and Anna Louisa Cosser (née Hopkins), a local family. Harold spent his early years in Donhead St. Mary until, by 1911, he was boarding in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and working as an apprentice ironmonger. He enlisted with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 1191). He was later attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200122). He served in Mesopotamia and died in Turkish hands whilst a prisoner on 22nd May 1917 and is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq, (Panel 22 & 63). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Frederick James Staples

14th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Staples

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Hainaut, Belgium

Story:
Frederick James Staples was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, in 1897, the son of Bennett George Staples and Annie Kate Staples (née Horlock), a local family. Frederick lived all his life in and around Tollard Royal. He enlisted and joined the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 202416). He served in France & Flanders where he died on 12th April 1918. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium, (Ref: Panel 8.). He is also remembered in the church at Tollard Royal with an inscription 'died in France, youngest son of Bennett George'. He does not appear on the village War Memorial. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Arthur Burden

13th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burden

Other names: Arthur

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
India
France & Flanders
Theipval Memorial, Somme, France
Christchurch, Hampshire

Story:
Arthur Burden was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, his birth being registered in the 1st quarter of 1888, the son of Charles Burden and Mary Ann Burden (nee Pamden), a local family. He spent his early years at Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset, but on 3rd June 1906 had enlisted with the 2nd/1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 8088). He served in India and was awarded the India Coronation Durbar Medal in 1912. He returned to the UK and was placed on reserve on 2nd December 1913 but was mobilized and joined the 5th Battalion on 5th August 1914 on the outbreak of war. He married May Eva Toop in Christchurch, Hampshire, in 1915. Arthur had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served in France and Flanders where he was killed in action on 26th September 1916. He is remembered on the Theipval Memorial, Somme, France, (Pier and Face 7 B). (There is a notation on family records saying he was buried at some time well after the conflict but no grave reference is given.) He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914 Star. He was later granted the 1915 Star clasp following application from the family. It is understood his widow remarried, to Ernest Arthur Besant in 1922. His brother, Wyndham Burden, had also served in the conflict.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Victor Stokes

13th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Berkshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stokes

Other names: Victor

Locations in this story:
Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Milton on Stour, Gillingham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Mericourt-L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France
Gillingham War Memorial, Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
Victor Stokes was born in Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset, registered in the 1st quarter of 1900, the son of Harry Stokes and Augusta Farmer Stokes (née Gatehouse), a local family. Victor lived for the first few years of his life at Hartgrove but, by 1905, had moved with his family to Milton on Stour, Gillingham, Dorset. He enlisted with the 8th Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 45981). He served in France & Flanders where, according to the Dependant's Pension Record Form, he was accidentally killed on 5th September 1918 along with at least two other fellow members of the Regiment. He was buried in the Mericourt-L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, (Grave Ref: III. H. 15.) and is remembered on the Gillingham War Memorial. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. His family received a pension payment for some years after the event certainly up until 1934 when Victor's mother died in 1934.

Images:

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The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Charles Card

11th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Coldstream Guards /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Card

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mere, Wiltshire
Brompton, London
France & Flanders
Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, Nord, France

Story:
Charles Card was born at Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd January 1891 and baptised at Mere, Wiltshire, on 18th February 1891, the son of Richard Thomas Card and Hannah Mary Annie Card (née Lander). He lived his early childhood in and around Motcombe until, by 1911, the family had moved to Mere, Wiltshire. He enlisted and joined the Coldstream Guards as a Private (Service No. 21487). He married Eliza Mary Henly in Brompton, London, on 24th January 1917 and returned to service in France & Flanders where he was presumed killed in action on 27th November 1917. He is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, Nord, France, (Panel 2), and on the War Memorial at Mere, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

Images:

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The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Percy Gray

11th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Northumberland Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Percy

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Burton, Christchurch, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Somme, France
St. Mary's Church, Avington, Winchester, Hampshire

Story:
Percy Gray was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1892, the son of John Gray and Kate Linda Gray (née Brickell), themselves native to the area. Percy lived his early life in and around Enmore Green until, by 1911, the family had moved to work at Waters Farm, Burton, Christchurch, Hampshire. Percy enlisted and joined the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers Battalion of the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line as a Trooper (Service No. 35275). He died of his wounds in France & Flanders on 30th August 1918 and was buried at Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, (Grave Ref:VII.B.56). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and is remembered on the Avington Memorial Cross at St. Mary's Church, Avington, Winchester, Hampshire.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

William John Fry

10th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Middlesex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Fry

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford St. Mary, Dorset
Egypt
Palestine

Story:
William John Fry was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13th November 1890, the son of Samuel Fry and Ellen Fry (née Rabbets). He lived his early childhood years in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, until, by 1901, the family had moved to Blandford St. Mary, Dorset. He married Elizabeth Jane Stevens at Blandford St. Mary on 15th May 1914. He enlisted and joined the 2nd/10th Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment as a Private (Service No. G/51482). He served in Egypt and Palestine where he was killed in action on 21st December 1917. He was buried at the Jerusalem War Cemetery, Palestine (Israel), (Grave Ref: S.91) and is remembered on the war memorial at Blandford St. Mary. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Hugh Davey Labrum

10th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Labrum

Other names: Hugh Davey

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Warminster, Wiltshire
Mesopotamia
Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq

Story:
Hugh Davey Labrum was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1895 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 8th May 1895, the son of Richard Newman Labrum and Frances Mary Labrum (née Davey). Hugh lived his very early childhood in Shaftesbury before the family moved to Warminster, Wiltshire. Hugh enlisted with the 1st/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 1550 and 200220). He served in Mesopotamia attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment where he was captured and eventually died as a Prisoner of War on the presumed date of 24th May 1917. He is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq and on the Warminster War Memorial, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Sydney William Belbin

9th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Belbin

Other names: Sydney William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Boscombe, Bournemouth, Hampshire
Southampston, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Loos, Pas de Calais, France

Story:
Sydney William Belbin was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1886, the son of Henry Belbin and Selina Emma Belbin (née Wright). He lived his early life in Shaftesbury until, by 1901, the family had moved to Boscombe, Bournemouth, Hampshire. By 1911, Sydney had become a boarder in Southampton, Hampshire, where he obtained work as Painter. He enlisted with the 8th (Service) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 17700). He was declared presumed killed in action on 25th September 1915 and is remembered on the Loos Memorial, Loos, Pas de Calais, France, (Panel 35 to 37). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

William Charles Knight

9th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Knight

Other names: William Charles

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium
St. Leonard's Church, Semley

Story:
William Charles Knight was born in Semley, Wiltshire, in 1898 and baptised at St. Leonard's Church, Semley, on 20th February 1898, the son of Charles Knight and Elizabeth Ann Knight (née Gray). He lived in Semley and St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until, by 1911, his family had moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 176400) but later transferred to the 11th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers with the rank of Fusilier (Service No. 33489). He was killed in action in Flanders on 10th April 1918. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium (Panel 4) and on the Salisbury Guildhall Memorial in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission