Rufus a’Barrow Jeffery

Story:
Rufus a'Barrow Jeffery was born in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 9 Jul 1891 and baptised at Berwick St. John, Dorset, on 6 Aug 1891 the son of John Jeffery and Sarah Alice Jeffery (nee Paul).   Rufus lived his early life at Arundel Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire.    He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for part of his education.    His father had died in 1912. Rufus enlisted and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2272).  He later transferred to the 1/4th Battalion and was attached to the Royal Air Force (Service No. 200633).   He served in Mesopotamia from 23 Feb 1916 and for a short while later in India.   On the 16 Mar 1918 he was commissioned with the 2/4th Battalion of the Wiltshire (Duke of Edinburgh's) Regiment becoming a Lieutenant.   On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He had also applied for the Indian General Service Medal but apparently did not qualify.  He had returned to Arundel Farm by the time of the 1921 Census where he was working as an Auctioneer and Valuer. He travelled to Australia in 1927 but did not settle there and had returned to the UK by the time of the 1939 Register and was living at Lower Wincombe Farm, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, still single and working as an Agricultural Auctioneer's Assistant.   His death was recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry on 25 Jan 1963.