Story:
Austin Stacey was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 11 Dec 1879 the son of Samuel Stacey and Caroline Stacey (nee Elsworth). He lived much of his early life in Shorts Green Lane, Motcombe. He had enlisted on 1 Jan 1898 with the 3rd Dragoon Guards Regiment as a Private (Service No. D/14121). He served in South Africa and India being awarded both the Queen's South Africa and King's South Africa Medals with clasps. He was discharged to the Reserves from 30 Oct 1905 to final discharge on 31 Dec 1909. Having returned to Motcombe where he was employed as an Estate Woodman he at some time after 1911 had re-enlisted joining the 2nd Dragoons becoming a Corporal (Service No. GS/12007). He married Jessie Flora Sangers in Canterbury, Kent, during 1916. Following the end of the conflict he was discharged and awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 26 Norley Street, Canterbury, Kent, where he was working as a civilian Barrack Labourer for the Royal Army Service Corps. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 17 Royal Military Avenue, Folkestone, Kent, where he was still described as a Barrack Labourer. His death was recorded in Folkestone, Kent, during 1957.

Story:
Arthur Frank Hatch was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15 Mar 1894 the son of Albert Hatch and Mary Ann Hatch (nee Penny). He lived his early life in Bittles Green, Motcombe. He married Elizabeth Sarah Francis in Gillingham, Dorset, on 16 Nov 1914 whist apparently on leave. He had enlisted with, initially, the Reserves (Service No. 6719) eventually being placed with the 4th Dragoon Guards as a Private. He had served from 16 Aug 1914 in France and Flanders before being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 20 Apr 1917 (Service No. 39815). He was discharged on 9 May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Culvers, Gillingham, Dorset, working as a Cowman on Culvers Farm. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 15 Addison Terrace, Gillingham, Dorset, where he was described as a General Labourer. He died in Gillingham during 1965 and was buried there on 13 Nov 1965. His brother, Ernest William Hatch, had served in the Royal Navy during the conflict.

Story:
Richard John Humphrey Lear (aka John) was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8 Apr 1894 the son of Thomas Lear and Emma Lear (nee Bastable). His family moved to Nylands Farm, Kington Magna, Dorset, sometime prior to 1901. He had enlisted with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 548). He served with the 1/1 Battalion in the Egyptian Theatre from 23 Apr 1915 during which time his unit was absorbed into the Corps of Hussars (Service No. H230035). He was discharged on 20 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals along with the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows he had returned to Nylands Farm where he was working for his father as a Swine Herdsman. During the period between 1928 to 1930 he had travelled to Victoria, Australia, where his brother had emigrated to but Richard had returned to the UK and, by the 1939 Register, was living at 23 Gaston Road, Malmsbury, Wiltshire, where he was employed as an Aero Engine Fitter's Mate. He remained single throughout his life. His death was registered at the Swindon, Wiltshire, Registry despite him dying on 28 Feb 1969 whilst at the Stratton Residential Club, Stratton Street, London, SW. His brothers, King Lionel Lear and Loftus Harold Lear, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Victor Pearce Gray was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, on 20 Apr 1899 and baptised there on 11 Jun 1899 the son of Benjamin Gray and Susanna Pearce Gray (nee Smith). He lived his early life in East Knoyle until he enlisted and joined the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 06038). He later transferred to the 1/20th Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment (Service No. 634706) and again transferred back to the 15th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 43644) by which time he had been promoted to Acting Sergeant. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. During late October 1919 he married Elizabeth Julia Loxley in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. When the time for his discharge had arrived he signed on for a further period and joined the Royal Army Service Corps as a Lance Sergeant (Service No. 5486707). He was posted to the Army Directorate of Supplies Transport (British Army) and served with them in Constantinople, Turkey, per the 1921 Census. He gave 11 Moorfield Road, Portland, Dorset, as his absentee address where his wife was living. He had left the army by 1922 and resided himself in Portland. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 'Kimberley', Court Road, Orpington, Kent, described as a House and General Building Contractor as well as volunteering as a Special Police Constable. He was visiting Westham, Weymouth, Dorset, at the time of his death on 9 Jan 1959. His brother, Percy Gray, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Arthur William Morgan was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9 Mar 1893 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 7 May 1893 the son of Edwin Charles Morgan (aka Charles) and Mary Morgan (nee Petty). He lived most of his life at the family home at 22 Bimport, Shaftesbury. He had enlisted on 9 Dec 1915 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 16111). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he did in fact serve somewhere abroad as confirmed on his Silver War Badge record. He was discharged as being medically unfit due to anaemia, which had been caused due to his service, on 22 Jun 1918. He was issued with Silver War Badge No. 385439 as well as being awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He also received a limited pension until 17 Feb 1922. Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show him living with his brother, Albert James Morgan - an Agricultural Smith working for J. Farris & Co, and sister, Emily Mary Morgan, at 22 Bimport, Shaftesbury. Arthur was by 1939 disabled and not working having previously been a Blacksmith Labourer for J. Farris & Co, of Shaftesbury. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry, during 1974. He had remained single throughout his life. (NB. The family report that they thought Albert James Morgan had also served but no record can currently be found to support this.)