Sidney Stanley Merefield

Story:
Sidney Stanley Merefield was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23 Sep 1899 the son of Frederick Merefield and Mary Ellen Merefield (nee Gray).   He lived his early life at 3 North Street, Fontmell Magna.   He enlisted and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 01054 & 40114).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served (possibly the Middle East as he had contracted malaria at some time) but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living back in Fontmell Magna with his parents described as a Farm Worker.  He married Kathleen Mary Bealing in Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28 May 1928.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 1 North Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a General Labourer at a Waterworks.  His death was recorded in the New Forest, Hampshire, Registry in 1984.  His brother, Bertie Merefield, also served in the conflict.