Thomas William Lodge

Story:
Thomas William Lodge was born on 12th September 1879 in Cann, Shaftesbury, and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church on 25th July 1880, the son of Albin Andrew Lodge and Elizabeth Jane Lodge (née Kelly).  The family lived in and around Cann throughout his childhood.  He had previous experience with the 3rd Reserve Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment but enlisted as a Regular Soldier on 19th March 1897 and saw service in Crete, Malta, South Africa and, by 1911, in India.  (His Service No. was 5345).  He held the rank of Acting Regimental Sergeant Major at one time but was factually a Sergeant.  He remained in India during the First World War until his discharge on 15th August 1920 having completed his period of engagement of over 23 years.   According to his medal roll he was only awarded the British War Medal.  He was on a full pension and lived initially at Eccliffe, Gillingham, Dorset.  In 1929 he married Jessie Mary Ann Hutchings at Beaminster, Dorset.  They had one child.  By the 1939 Register  he was living at Beaminster, Dorset but noted as incapacitated.   He died in 1950 and was buried at Thorncombe, Bridport, Dorset, on 9 Oct 1950.