1914-1918 Archives - Page 101 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Henry Arthur Oborn

Surname: Oborn

Other names: Henry Arthur

Locations in this story:
Hammersmith, London
Horseshoe Inn, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Crism Cottage, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire

Story:
Henry Arthur Oborn was born in Hammersmith, London, on 2nd June 1882, the son of Arthur Oborn (a Police Constable originally from Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire) and Emily Jane Oborn (née Smith). By 1911 Henry's father had retired and moved back to his birthplace and become landlord of the Horseshoe Inn, Ebbesbourne Wake. Henry married Mabel Young at the Parish Church on 2nd May 1914 and they went on to have four children. Henry enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 3rd June 1916, joining the 13th Works Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2648). He was transferred to the 312th Home Service Works Company of the Labour Corps on 28th April 1917 (Service No. 172906). He served in the UK and was eventually discharged on 15th July 1919. His military record shows he qualified for Medals which would have been the Victory and British War Medals. By the 1921 Census he was back in Ebbesbourne Wake working as a Carpenter and by the 1939 Register had moved to Crism Cottage, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, in the same occupation. He died on the 29th December 1961 in Salisbury, Wiltshire. His brother, Ernest William Oborn, also served for a short time before being discharged as unfit fit further duty. Henry's sister Emily Beatrice (b.1886) also served in the war, with the Voluntary Aid Detachment in a number of military hospitals around the UK.

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Emily Beatrice Oborn
The National Archives

William Crutcher

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Crutcher

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
France & Flanders
Deanland, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset

Story:
William Crutcher was born at Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 14th March 1888 and baptised at Sixpenny Handley on 6th May 1888, the son of William Crutcher and Mary Anne Crutcher (née Witherington). He lived all his civilian life in and around Sixpenny Handley. William enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 22nd May 1916 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 82122). He served in France & Flanders. He was transferred to the No. 1 (RGA) Sussex Company (Service No. 374578) and then to the 368th Forestry Company, Royal Engineers 2 Aug 1918 as a Pioneer (Service No. 327932). He was finally discharged on 20th October 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Deanland, Sixpenny Handley, living with his, by then, widowed father working as a Woodman and Hurdle Maker on his own account. He married Margaret Ellen Lane at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 31st October 1921. There are no records of children. By the 1939 Register he was still living at Deanland, with the same occupation. His death is recorded on 17th August 1968 and he was buried at Sixpenny Handley on 20 Aug 1968.

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John Langhorn Coombs

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Middlesex Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coombs

Other names: John Langhorn

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Tollard Farm, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Birmingham, Warwickshire

Story:
John Langhorn Coombs (same names as his father) was born on 12th May 1894 at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, the son of John Langhorn Coombs and Amelia Coombs (née Clarke). He spent all his civilian life in and around Berwick St. John and Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 4th February 1915 and joined the Public Schools Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment rising to the rank of Lance Corporal (Service No. 1558). He served in France and Flanders from 17 Nov 1915 and was awarded the Military Medal in accordance with the Special Army Order dated 14th August 1917. He also received the King's Certificate No. 10642 dated 7th September 1917. He was discharged on 12th Feb 1919 and further awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Tollard Royal assisting his father of the Farm.

His brother, Reginald James (b.1895) had also served and been wounded in the conflict, dying in 1926. John went on to marry his Reginald's widow, Annie Amelia Hart (Coombs), in Birmingham, Warwickshire, in 1928 and they had two children. Another brother, Leonard (b.1899) also served in the war, with The Hussars and the Tank Corps.

By the 1939 Register John was living at Tollard Farm, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, and described as a Dairy and Corn Farmer as well as a Special Constable. His death is recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, District Registry on 20 Sep 1967 and he was buried at Tollard Royal.

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Leonard Coombs
Reginald James Coombs

Edward James Emm

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Emm

Other names: Edward James

Locations in this story:
Broad Chalke, Wiltshire
Water Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Poona, India
Flamestone, Wilton, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Bishopstone, Wiltshire

Story:
Edward James Emms was born in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, on 23rd April 1898 and baptised there on 22nd May 1898, the son of George Emm and Linda Emm (née Barter). The family had moved to Water Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, by 1911 and from there Edward enlisted on 13th May 1916. He was mobilized on 11th January 1917, joining the Royal Engineers becoming a Sapper (Shoeing Smith) (Service No. 222108). He served in Poona, India, and was eventually discharged on 21st January 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Violet May (or Marguerite according to the marriage record) Warman in Wilton, Wiltshire, on 9th Jun 1921 and initially, per the 1921 Census, lived in Water Street, Berwick St. John where Edward was described as a Shoeing and General Smith. There are no records of children. By the 1939 Register he was living at the Cottage, Flamestone, Wilton Wiltshire. His death is recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, District Registry in 1972 and he was buried at Bishopstone, Wiltshire, on 1 Dec 1972.

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Archelaus Myall

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Defence Corps, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Myall

Other names: Archelaus

Locations in this story:
Stour Provost, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
South Africa
East Stour, Dorset

Story:
Archelaus Myall was born at Stour Provost, Dorset, in 1868 and baptised there on 11th June 1868, the son of Thomas Myall and Eliza Myall (née Pike). He lived most of his life in and around the Stour Provost and Stour Row, Dorset, area. His marriage to Bertha Elizabeth Tucker was registered in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during January 1906 and they went on to have five children. He had enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the 4th Dorsetshire Regiment on 17th March 1886 (Service No. 2202) and served in South Africa, (for which he was awarded the 1900-1901 South Africa medal and seven clasps) and was then placed on Reserve. He re-enlisted on 26th September 1914 and joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 1634) rising to the rank of Lance Corporal. He moved from Company to Company within the UK, with Service No. 516322 when attached to the Royal Defence Corps. He was eventually discharged on 22nd October 1918 being physically unfit for further service due to Rheumatic Arthritis aggravated by his service and was granted a small pension. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and issued with the Silver War Badge No. B31665. By the 1921 Census he was living at The Common, East Stour, Dorset, described as a Bricklayer (out of work). His death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, District Registry in 1937.

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Walter George Bugler

1st April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bugler

Other names: Walter George

Locations in this story:
Winfrith, Dorset
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
France

Story:
Walter George Bugler was born in Winfrith, Dorset, on 23rd December 1888 and baptised at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire on 16th May 1889, the son of Thomas Bugler and Elizabeth Bugler (née Mabey). By 1911 his family had moved to Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire where he married Ellen Louise Scammel on 14th April 1913. They went on to have five children.

He enlisted on 6th November 1914 with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (with whom he had served as a Territorial earlier) as a Private (Service No. 3138 updated to 3730). He was immediately discharged on 7th November 1914 as being medically unfit for service. He re-enlisted on 22nd November 1915 and was accepted into the 13th Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 30947). He served in France before being transferred to the Royal Engineers on 1 Jun 1917 as a Sapper (Service No. 308716) then again to the Labour Corps on 27 Jun 1917 (Service No. 98541). He was eventually discharged on 22nd March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Slate Cottage, Donhead St. Mary, working as a General Labourer and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Jenkins Corner, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, now working as a Stone Mason. His death was recorded at the Mere, Wiltshire, District Registry on 8 Sep 1968 and he was later buried at Donhead St. Mary.

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Reginald James Coombs

30th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coombs

Other names: Reginald James

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece

Story:
Reginald James Coombs was born at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, in 1895, the son of John Langhorn Coombs and Amelia Coombs (née Clarke). He lived much of his life, apart from Military Service, in the Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, area. He had enlisted on 7th December 1915 and was mobilized on 29th February 1916, joining the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver. He served in Salonika from 11 Nov 1916 and suffered from malaria which eventually qualified him for a pension following his discharge on 25th June 1919. (During his service he had moved from Battery to Battery and received Service Nos. 1025, 132620 and 169422). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

It is to be noted that his elder brother, John Langhorn Coombs (b.1894), served with the Middlesex Regiment and was awarded the Military Medal. Another brother, Leonard (b.1899) also served in the war, with The Hussars and the Tank Corps. By the time of the 1921 Census, Reginald had returned to Tollard Farm, Tollard Royal, and was assisting his father as a Horseman on the farm. He married Annie Amelia Hart on 15 Oct 1921 at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. There were no recorded children of the marriage. Reginald death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, District Registry in 1926. His wife remained at the Farm housekeeping for her father-in-law. She died in 1983.

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Leonard Coombs
John Langhorn Coombs
The National Archives

Richard Henry Baker

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Baker

Other names: Richard Henry

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Marlborough, Wiltshire
Military Hospital, Bangor, North Wales
Swindon, Wiltshire
London

Story:
Richard Henry Baker was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24th September 1898, the son of Edward John Baker and Lillian Maria Baker (nee Hart). He lived all his early life in and around Shaftesbury, Dorset, receiving some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School. His father was in business at 47 & 49 High Street, Shaftesbury. Richard enlisted on 21st September 1916 but was not mobilized until 7th May 1918 when he joined the Royal Engineers (Signals) as a Pioneer (Service No. 349937). He served in the UK only. He was latterly treated at the Military Hospital, Bangor, North Wales, for Rheumatic Fever and was discharged being no longer physically fit for service on 24th January 1919. He was granted a reduced pension. There are no medal records.

He appears on a list of Old Boys living in London or suburbs in the February 1922 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine. No record of the 1921 Census can be found but the Electoral Roll 1920 shows him living at 49 High Street, Shaftesbury. He married Eileen Gwen Mumford in Shaftesbury during 1928. By the 1939 Register he was living at 133 High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire, described as a Chemist Shopkeeper and Optician. He died in the Swindon, Wiltshire, Registry District in 1985.

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Shastonian

William James Whitty

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Whitty

Other names: William James

Locations in this story:
Blandford, Dorset
Redmans Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wincanton, Somerset
Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Hardway, Near Bruton, Somerset
Coventry, Warwickshire

Story:
William James Whitty was born in Blandford, Dorset, on 15th July 1887 and baptised there on 28th September 1887, the son of George Whitty and Jane Whitty (née Gosney). He lived most of his early life in and around Blandford. He married Maud Winifred Martin at Sutton Waldron, Dorset, on 30th December 1914 and they set up home in Redmans Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. They went on to have five children. He enlisted on the first occasion on 26th June 1915 and joined the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 27408) and served in the UK for nearly two years before being discharged due to deafness on 24th July 1917. He returned to the Devonshire Regiment on 11th February 1919 (Service No. 186345) classified as a 'W' Reservist and working at the Munitions Factory situated at the Rover Company in Coventry, Warwickshire, where he served until 24th July 1919. There are no medal records. The 1921 Census shows him living at 19 The Street, Sutton Waldron, working as a Wheelwright. By the 1939 Register he was living at 3 Sunnyside, Wincanton, Somerset, now described as a Wheelwright and Carpenter. He died at Hardway, near Bruton, Somerset, on 25th July 1961.

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Emma Gertrude Green

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Green

Other names: Emma Gertrude

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
Red Cross Hospital, Station Road, Gillingham, Dorset
Chelsea, London
Cranley Gardens, London
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Emma Gertrude Green was born on 8 Dec 1884 in Chelsea, London, and baptised at St. Peter's Church, Cranley Gardens, London on 18 Jan 1885 the daughter of Sidney Charles Green and Mary Green (nee Pitman) (born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset). Her early life was spent with her parents in the London area until by 1911 she had moved to Semley, Wiltshire, as an Elementary School Teacher residing in The School House, Semley, Wiltshire, with a teaching colleague, Edith Jane Read. She became a member of the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) from 13th October 1915 until 6th March 1919 (giving her address as Amberleaze Farm, Semley) (VAD No Dorset 98). She was originally a Ward Orderly and later a Nurse at the Red Cross Hospital, Station Road, Gillingham, Dorset, and worked voluntarily for one day a week. This Hospital was set up in Miss Dunn's High School for Girls from 1914 to 1919 and came under the control of the Shaftesbury Division (Dorset/98) of the British Red Cross. It initially had 35 beds but this was eventually extended to 62. Being near the railway station it was a convenient point of reference. The 1921 Census shows her back living at the School House, Semley, teaching at the local school employing a local live in servant, Lilian Marfield. By the 1939 Register she had taken up residence at Larkinglass Farm, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where she was described as a former Certified Teacher now nursing her incapacitated mother, Mary. She died in the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry District area on 14 November 1968 her given address then being The Bungalow, The Street, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. She had remained single throughout her life.

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