1914-1918 Archives - Page 101 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Percy Gray

Surname: Gray

Other names: Percy

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Burton, Christchurch, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Somme, France
St. Mary's Church, Avington, Winchester, Hampshire

Story:
Percy Gray was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1892, the son of John Gray and Kate Linda Gray (née Brickell), themselves native to the area. Percy lived his early life in and around Enmore Green until, by 1911, the family had moved to work at Waters Farm, Burton, Christchurch, Hampshire. Percy enlisted and joined the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers Battalion of the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line as a Trooper (Service No. 35275). He died of his wounds in France & Flanders on 30th August 1918 and was buried at Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, (Grave Ref:VII.B.56). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and is remembered on the Avington Memorial Cross at St. Mary's Church, Avington, Winchester, Hampshire.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

William John Fry

Surname: Fry

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford St. Mary, Dorset
Egypt
Palestine

Story:
William John Fry was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13th November 1890, the son of Samuel Fry and Ellen Fry (née Rabbets). He lived his early childhood years in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, until, by 1901, the family had moved to Blandford St. Mary, Dorset. He married Elizabeth Jane Stevens at Blandford St. Mary on 15th May 1914. He enlisted and joined the 2nd/10th Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment as a Private (Service No. G/51482). He served in Egypt and Palestine where he was killed in action on 21st December 1917. He was buried at the Jerusalem War Cemetery, Palestine (Israel), (Grave Ref: S.91) and is remembered on the war memorial at Blandford St. Mary. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Hugh Davey Labrum

10th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Labrum

Other names: Hugh Davey

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Warminster, Wiltshire
Mesopotamia
Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq

Story:
Hugh Davey Labrum was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1895 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 8th May 1895, the son of Richard Newman Labrum and Frances Mary Labrum (née Davey). Hugh lived his very early childhood in Shaftesbury before the family moved to Warminster, Wiltshire. Hugh enlisted with the 1st/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 1550 and 200220). He served in Mesopotamia attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment where he was captured and eventually died as a Prisoner of War on the presumed date of 24th May 1917. He is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq and on the Warminster War Memorial, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Sydney William Belbin

9th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Belbin

Other names: Sydney William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Boscombe, Bournemouth, Hampshire
Southampston, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Loos, Pas de Calais, France

Story:
Sydney William Belbin was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1886, the son of Henry Belbin and Selina Emma Belbin (née Wright). He lived his early life in Shaftesbury until, by 1901, the family had moved to Boscombe, Bournemouth, Hampshire. By 1911, Sydney had become a boarder in Southampton, Hampshire, where he obtained work as Painter. He enlisted with the 8th (Service) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 17700). He was declared presumed killed in action on 25th September 1915 and is remembered on the Loos Memorial, Loos, Pas de Calais, France, (Panel 35 to 37). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

William Charles Knight

9th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Knight

Other names: William Charles

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium
St. Leonard's Church, Semley

Story:
William Charles Knight was born in Semley, Wiltshire, in 1898 and baptised at St. Leonard's Church, Semley, on 20th February 1898, the son of Charles Knight and Elizabeth Ann Knight (née Gray). He lived in Semley and St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until, by 1911, his family had moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 176400) but later transferred to the 11th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers with the rank of Fusilier (Service No. 33489). He was killed in action in Flanders on 10th April 1918. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium (Panel 4) and on the Salisbury Guildhall Memorial in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Alfred John Brickell

8th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Monmouthshire Regiment, Welsh Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: Alfred John

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tredegar, Monmouthshire, South Wales
France & Flanders
Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, South Wales.

Story:
Alfred John Brickell was born in Enmore Green, in the parish of Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1886, the son of Thomas Brickell and Elizabeth Brickell (née Wilkins). He lived his first few years in Enmore Green until the family moved to South Wales for work in the mines. They lived in Bedwelty and Tredegar, Monmouthshire. Alfred married Agnes Pugh in Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, in 1913. He enlisted and joined the Monmouthsire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2176) and later transferred to the 9th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment (Service No. 53708) rising to the rank of Lance Sergeant. He was killed in action in Flanders on 7th June 1917. He was buried at the Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, (Grave Ref: II.B.23) and is remembered on the Tredegar War Memorial in the grounds of Bedwellty House and Park, Tredegar. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Alfred's older brother Frederick James (b.1884) also served with Monmouthshire Regiment during the war, and like his brother, transferred to the Welsh Regiment.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Frederick James Brickell
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

John Brickell

8th April 2020/in 1914-1918 South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Little Down, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bedwelty, Abertillery, Monmouthshire
France & Flanders
Somme, France
Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France

Story:
John Brickell was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1893, the son of William Brickell and Susan Brickell (née Parsons). John lived his early life at Little Down, Cann, Shaftesbury, until, by 1911, the family had moved to 34 Hill Street, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, for work in the mines. He married Florence A. Kidner on 6th June 1914 in Abertillery. He enlisted and joined the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers as a Private (Service No. 20971). He was killed in action in France at the Somme on 20th July 1916. He was buried at the Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France, (Grave Ref: I.D.43). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Walter Adams

7th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Adams

Other names: Walter

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Efford, Plymouth, Devon
Upper Parkstone, Dorset

Story:
Walter Adams was born at Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1888, the son of Albert Adams and Alice Mary Adams (née Feltham), themselves from local families. (All other records indicate that he was born in 1891 but his birth was registered in Shaftesbury in the 4th Quarter of 1888 - mother's maiden name Feltham). He lived his early life in and around Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, until by 1911 his family had moved to Bournemouth, Hampshire. He originally enlisted with the Devonshire Regiment on 26 Feb 1916 as a Private (Service No.17423) but was rapidly transferred to the 12th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment (Service No. 28964) on 26 Mar 1916 and served with them in France & Flanders. He was transferred again on 9 May 1917 to the Labour Corps (Service No. 116112) and but regrettably died in the UK from pulmonary tuberculosis on 16th August 1917. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The War Graves Commission list his grave at Plymouth (Efford) Cemetery, Efford, Plymouth, Devon, (Grave Ref. Church C. 4890). His mother, then living in Upper Parkstone, Dorset, was granted a limited pension.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Frederick James Perry

7th April 2020/in 1914-1918 South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Perry

Other names: Frederick James

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Axbridge, Somerset
Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Alvediston, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Souchez, Pas de Calais, France
Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales

Story:
Frederick James Perry (sometimes known as James) was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1876 and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 16th December 1876, the son of Thomas Perry and Cordelia Perry (née Davis). Frederick spent his early life in Shaftesbury until moving to Shepton Mallet, Somerset, just prior to 1896 in which year he married Beatrice Annie Tinkler at Axbridge, Somerset. They went on to have five children. By 1911 the family had moved to Alvediston, Wiltshire. They later moved to Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales. Frederick enlisted at Newport and joined the 1st Battalion of the South Wales Borderers as a Private (Service No. 13219). He served in France and Flanders where he was killed in action on 9th May 1915. He was buried at the Caberet-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France (Grave ref XXVII.A.3). He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals. A memorial plaque in Holy Trinity Church, Newport includes the name Frederick James Perry.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Stanley Edgar Saunders

2nd April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Saunders

Other names: Stanley Edgar

Locations in this story:
Barnet, Hertfordshire
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Cheam, Surrey
Hammersmith, London

Story:
Stanley Edgar Saunders was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire on 7th March 1899, the son of Frederick Saunders and Mary J. Saunders. By 1911 the family had moved to Iwerne Minster where Stanley's father was employed as an Estate Carpenter and Stanley was a Hall Boy at Iwerne Minster House. He originally enlisted in the Royal Navy on 27th January 1916 (Service No. J49351) but he was discharged on 9th June 1916 as unfit for service. He re-enlisted on 12th March 1917 and was mobilized on 23rd April 1917, joining the Royal Army Medical Corps as Private (Service No. 112382). He was posted to the 329th (Lowland) Field Ambulance, serving in the UK only. He was discharged on 12th February 1919. No medal records have been found. According to the 1921 Census he had returned to Iwerne Minster House, living in as a Footman. He married Mildred Sutherland at Cheam, Surrey, on 30th March 1936 (he was described as a Butler) and there is possibly one child of the marriage. His death is not confirmed but could have been in Hammersmith, London, in 1967. (No other information can be found).

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives