William George Wilmot

Story:
William George Wilmot was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd October 1896, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27th December 1896, the son of John Richard Wilmot and Martha Ann Wilmot (née Weldon).  He lived all his early life at the family home at 2 Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury.  His father died in 1910. William enlisted and joined the 1st/4th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 201750), later transferring to the 1st/9 Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 210924).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge on 6 Feb 1920 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was living with his mother, who had remarried Jesper Gray, at 12 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working as a General Labourer at the Shaftesbury Gas Works.  He married Elizabeth Georgina Beeston at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th August 1924 and they went on to have one child.   By the time of the 1939 Register, William was living at 37 Station Road, Sturminster, Dorset, described as a Gasworks Manager.   His death was registered in Gillingham, Dorset, on 15th June 1969.