Thomas Richard Gladdis

Story:
Thomas Richard Gladdis was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28 Jun 1897 and baptised there on 19 Jul 1897 the son of Harry Gladdis (the local schoolmaster) and Margaret Elizabeth Gladdis (nee Moffatt).  He lived all his early life at the School House, Fontmell Magna.  He had enlisted on 10 Jan 1916 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 4747, 17554 & 202666).  He married Yvonne Alice Williams on 2 Sep 1916 at Poole, Dorset, Registry Office.  Shortly after he was posted on 3 May 1917 and served in Salonika and Mesopotamia during which time he suffered from dysentry.  He was sent to Poona, India, to the Deccan War Hospital on 22 Sep 1917 and eventually returned to the UK for further treatment.  He was eventually discharged on 14 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  By the 1921 Census was living at 25 Canford Magna, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Cowman.  By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to South Lodge, Kingston Lacy, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Gamekeeper.  His death was recorded at Poole, Dorset, in 1966.  His brother, Herbert Gladdis, served in the Royal Flying Corps (later RAF) at the same time.