William Thomas Cole
Surname: Cole
Other names: William Thomas
Locations in this story: BlandfordSt. Peter's Church, ShaftesburyHoly Trinity Church, ShaftesburyThe Bank House, High Street, GillinghamSalisbury Street, BlandfordThe Square, Axbridge, SomersetWimborne, Dorset
Story: William Thomas Cole was born in 1897 in Blandford. He was the son of John Cole, a bank manager, and Caroline Jessie Cole (nee Atkinson). Due to the father's employment the family moved around often. In 1901 they were in Salisbury Street, Blandford and by 1911 they had moved to The Square, Axbridge, Somerset, leaving William as a boarder at school in Wimborne. Between then and the death of their son, the family were recorded at The Bank House, High Street, Gillingham, Dorset. William enlisted with the 100th T.R. Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 46016). He later transferred to the Royal Air Force and held the rank of 2nd Lieutenant at the time of his death in a flying accident on 23rd October 1918. He was buried to the west of the church at Holy Trinity Churchyard in a private grave.
The Victory and British War medals were sent to his parents at 156 New North Road, Islington, London N1 on 29th May 1923. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.
The Victory and British War medals were sent to his parents at 156 New North Road, Islington, London N1 on 29th May 1923. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.
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