William Henry Ainsworth

Story:
William Henry Ainsworth was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 2 Jan 1880 and baptised at the Parish Church in Gussage St. Andrew, Dorset, on 29 Feb 1880 the son of Henry Ainsworth and Ann Ainsworth (nee Webb).  He lived his early life in the Sixpenny Handley area though after his father's death in 1887, he had moved to Dean, Sixpenny Handley.   By the 1911 Census he was boarding out in Salisbury, Wiltshire, working as a Domestic Gardening Assistant.  He married Minnie Vera Dicks in Salisbury on 4 Mar 1914 and they set up home at 37 Park Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire.  William enlisted on the 18 Sep 1916 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 5925) serving in France and Flanders from 16 Jun 1917 until the 14 Aug 1917 only.  He was transferred to the 69th Battalion and given a new Service No. 301657.  At some point he was again transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 588543).  On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show he was still living at his old address in Park Street, Salisbury and working as a Public Works Contractor's Labourer.  His death was recorded in Salisbury in 1962.