Tom Wareham

Story:
Tom Wareham was born in Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7 Dec 1880 and baptised there on 6 Feb 1881 the son of George Wareham and Emma Georgina Wareham (nee Wareham).  He lived most of his life in Iwerne Minster including Blandford Road and later The Hollow.  He married Mary Light in Iwerne Minster on 21 Aug 1901 but, regrettably, she died on 17 Mar 1903.  Tom went on to re-marry Elizabeth Hester Stanley in Sturminster, Dorset, on 19 Feb 1912.   He had enlisted with the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 38542).  He later transferred to the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No. 39033) serving with the 12th and 1/5th Battalions.  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living in Blandford Road, iwerne Minster, working as a Gardener on the Ismay Estate. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to accommodation opposite the Post Office, Iwerne Minster, Dorset, working as a Farm Labourer.  His death was recorded in the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1950.   His name appears on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster.