Wilfred Purefoy Messer

Story:
Wilfred Purefoy (Jack) Messer was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 16 Mar 1899 and baptised there on 29 Apr 1899 the son of George Messer and Sarah Messer (nee White).  He lived his early life in Sixpenny Handley.  He had enlisted and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 22226).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he remained in the Army after the conflict for a period when other uses for the military had been found.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He married Joyce Louisa Bond in St Georges, Hanover Square, London, during 1926.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living and working at the County Hotel, Bridge Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, as a Waiter.   His death was recorded in the Launceston, Cornwall, area during 1995 at the age of 96 years.  Of his brothers, Maurice George Messer served but died during the conflict whilst Reginald George Messer served and survived.