Shaftesbury High Streeet

Richard Henry Baker

Surname: Baker
Other names: Richard Henry
Other people in this story:
Edward John Baker
Lillian Maria Baker née Hart
Eileen Gwen Baker née Mumford
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

Surname: Whitty
Other names: William James
Other people in this story:
George Whitty
Jane Whitty née Gosney
Maud Winifred Whitty née Martin
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

Surname: Green
Other names: Emma Gertrude
Other people in this story:
Sidney Charles Green
Mary Green (nee Pitman)
Miss Dunn
Edith Jane Read
Lilian Marfield
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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Agnes Esther Clarke

Surname: Clarke
Other names: Agnes Jessie
Other people in this story:
Lady Napier
Locations in this story:
Gunville House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Little is known about (Miss) Agnes Esther Clarke except that she was born in 1893 and was either boarding or working for Lady Napier at Gunville House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire, when she worked as a (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Cook at the Red Cross Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire from June 1916 until August 1916.  She remained in Wiltshire and died in Salisbury in 1979.

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Jessie Graham Elizabeth Tudhope

Surname: Tudhope
Other names: Jessie Graham Elizabeth
Other people in this story:
John H Tudhope
Mrs Butter
Locations in this story:
New Lane House, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Canada
South Africa
Fulham, London

Story:
Little is known about (Mrs) Jessie Graham Elizabeth Tudhope except that during her service with the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) she was boarding with a Mrs Butter, New Lane House, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  She had been born in South Africa in 1894 and lived for some time in Canada. Jessie was married to John H. Tudhope (who was a Captain serving with the Royal Air Force). She joined the VAD on 15th February 1917 and served until 25th June 1917.  She was appointed to the Military Hospital, Fulham, London.  She is known to have died on 14th January 1946.

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Bleke Street, Shaftesbury

Mary Harris

Surname: Harris
Other names: Mary
Other people in this story:
William James Harris
Kathleen Emily Harris née Howe
Maurice William Sydney Harris
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury
Bell Street, Shaftesbury
Tisbury Red Cross War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Mary Harris was born in Shaftesbury in 1896, daughter of Dr. William James Harris and Kathleen Emily Harris née Howe. In 1901 the family were living at 37 Bell Street, but soon moved to "Avishayes" in Bleke Street. The 1903 Kelly's Directory describes Dr. Harris as "surgeon & hon. medical officer to the Westminster Memorial Cottage Hospital, & public vaccinator to the Shaftesbury district & medical officer to the Workhouse." Mary's brother Maurice William Sydney (b.1897) also served in the war, with the Middlesex Regiment.

Mary was living at "Avishayes" when she joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) in the Autumn of 1916.  She served as a Nurse at the Tisbury Red Cross War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire, and at Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire, until August 1918 when she joined the Headquarters RAF Salisbury for motor driving. The date on which she completed her military service is not known. Research continues.

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Maurice William Sidney Harris
The National Archives

Oenone Grove

Surname: Grove
Other names: Oenone
Other people in this story:
Walter John Grove
Agnes Geraldine Grove née Fox-Pitt-Rivers
Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Sedgehill Manor, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
St. Thomas Hospital, London
Mere, Wiltshire
Maida Vale, London

Story:
Oenone Grove was born at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 1st March 1889, the daughter of Sir Walter John Grove, 2nd Baronet, and Agnes Geraldine Grove (née Fox-Pitt-Rivers).   She lived a good part of her civilian life at Sedgehill Manor, Sedgehill, Wiltshire.  She joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) on 1st November 1917 and worked as a Nurse at 5th London General, St. Thomas Hospital, London, until 30th May 1918.  She left the Detachment to join the Royal Air Force on 21st June 1918 (Service No. 11807) and is understood to have served in the UK only - occupation unknown. She is likely to have been discharged by 1921 when the general stand down came into effect as the 1921 Census shows her living in Flat 4B, 91 Warrington Crescent, Maida Vale, London.  She travelled extensively thereafter, frequently going between the UK, Canada and USA.  She died on 21st January 1956 (Mere, Wiltshire, Registration District) whilst living at Sedgehill and was buried on 21st January 1956 at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. She remained single throughout her life.

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PN419

Reginald Southgate

Surname: Southgate
Other names: Reginald
Other people in this story:
Ernest Southgate
Sarah Sally Southgate née Dawson
Ernest Harold Southgate
Florence Mahalia Southgate née Bennett
Locations in this story:
Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Landsley Farm, Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Knaphill, Woking, Surrey
Honiton, Devon

Story:
Reginald Southgate was born at Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 21st November 1899 and baptised at St. John the Baptist Church, Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 2nd June 1901, the son of Ernest Southgate and Sarah Sally Southgate (née Dawson). (Reginald's elder brother, Ernest Harold Southgate, was baptised on the same day and also served in the war.)  Reginald lived most of his early life at Landsley Farm, Higher Coombe.  He enlisted on 27th December 1917 and joined the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 30521).  He later transferred to the Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars on 29th March 1918 (Service No. 67043).  He served in the UK only and was discharged on 10th February 1919.  There are no medal records.  By the 1921 Census he had returned to Higher Coombe and was working as a Plumber & Fitter for S. Humphries & Son, Shaftesbury.  Reginald married Florence Mahalia Bennett at Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, in 1923 and they went on to have two children.  By the 1939 Register he was living at 34 Herbert Crescent, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, working as a Wholesale Dairy Producer.  He died in the Honiton, Devon, Registry District in 1982.

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Elizabeth Bastalle Wilkins

Surname: Wilkins
Other names: Elizabeth Bastalle
Other people in this story:
Locations in this story:
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cottage Hospital, Chard, Somerset

Story:
Elizabeth Bastalle Wilkins was born on 24th Febrary 1883.  There are no identifiable records as to her parents or previous residences.  It is know that she was living at Pear Tree Cottage, Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset, at the outbreak of war and she joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) as a trained nurse on 22nd March 1916 at a local unnamed hospital.  She was quickly promoted to Sister in Charge and remained in service until 22nd March 1919.  She was at that time still living in Stour Row.  The 1939 Register shows her address as The Cottage Hospital, Chard, Somerset, where she was the Matron and single.  There is no identifiable record of the date of her death.

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Wincombe Park

John Hastings

Surname: Hastings
Other names: John
Other people in this story:
Dorothy H. Hastings
Locations in this story:
Downpatrick, Co. Down, Ireland
Wincombe Park, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Etaples, France
Boulogne, France

Story:
John Hastings was born in Downpatrick, Co. Down, Ireland, in 1862. He had retired as a Solicitor and moved to Wincombe Park, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire with his wife, Dorothy H. Hastings, whom he had married in 1902.  Following the outbreak of war he joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Motor Ambulance Department and served in Etaples and Boulogne, France, between 17th March 1915 and April 1916 as an ambulance driver.  He remained at Wincombe Park throughout and died in 1932.

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