1914-1918 Archives - Page 109 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Percy Sandle Sharp

Surname: Sharp

Other names: Percy Sandle

Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Taunton, Somerset
Stoke St. Gregory, Taunton, Somerset
Chisledon, Swindon, Wiltshire

Story:
Percy Sandle Sharp was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 9th April 1883, the son of Annie Maria Sandle Sharp. (There is no record of his father). He lived his early life with his mother at his grandparents' home in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary. He enlisted on 6th December 1915 and joined the 531st Horse Transport Company of the Army Service Corps (Service No. TS/10133). In view of his occupation as a wheelwright he was ranked as a Wheeler Driver. He served in France & Flanders from 8 Feb 1917. Towards the end of the conflict he was invalided back to the UK with an injury to his knee joint. He was discharged on 5th April 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his mother, described as a 'widow', at 6 Carisbrook Terrace, Chisledon, Swindon, Wiltshire, working as an Agricultural Wheelwright. He married Florence Augusta Peare in Taunton, Somerset, on 15th October 1924 and they went on to have at least one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at Dunfield House, Stoke St. Gregory, Taunton, Somerset, working as a Carpenter (Vehicle Builder). He died in Stoke St. Gregory, Taunton, Somerset, in 1968.

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Thomas James Lucas

Surname: Lucas

Other names: Thomas James

Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Middle East
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Gallipoli, Turkey

Story:
Thomas James Lucas was born on 18th April 1898 in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 22nd May 1898 (along with his twin brother Alfred John Lucas) the son of Alfred Lucas and Julia Anne Cox Lucas (née Reed). He lived all his early life in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary. He enlisted on 5th September 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12873). Very quickly thereafter he was transferred to the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Leinster Regiment (Service No. 6/1260) and posted to the Middle East on 5 Aug 1915. He served at Gallipoli, Turkey, and was wounded. He also suffered from enteritis plus being wounded a second time following which he lost a finger on his left hand. His disability did not stop him being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 73994) and thereafter attached to the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) until his discharge on 9th March 1919. He had been awarded a gratuity as a result of the lost finger but no pension. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Beckingshill, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, working as a Painter and Decorator. He married Emma Margaret Alice Johnson in Bournemouth, Hampshire, during 1929 and they went on to have at least one child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 94 Castlemain Avenue, Bournemouth, Hampshire, working as an Engineer's Labourer. He died in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District during 1982. His twin brother, Alfred John Lucas, also served in the conflict.

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Frederick Tom Sharp

13th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Royal Sussex Regiment, Territorial Force /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Sharp

Other names: Frederick Tom

Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Farnham, Dorset
Sussex
Lewes, Sussex
France & Flanders
Egypt
East Chiltington, Sussex

Story:
Frederick Tom Sharp was born at Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th May 1894, the son of Tom Sharp and Eliza Emmeline Sharp (née Hibbs). He lived most of his early life at Farnham, Dorset, until moving to Sussex with his family by 1911. His father died in 1914. He enlisted on 15th November 1915 and joined the 2nd/5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5/3492). He was posted to France on 22nd April 1916 and almost immediately caught rheumatic fever and had to be sent back to the UK on 24th June 1916 for treatment. Following his recovery he was attached to the 4th Battalion (T.F. Reserve) (Service No. 4/5281) and posted to Egypt on 1 Nov 1916. He was transferred to the 800th Agricultural Employment Company of the Labour Corps on 8th December 1917 (Service No. 361819). He was discharged with a small pension due to the earlier indisposition and also awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother at 'Rumara', Malling Street, Lewes, Sussex, working as an Agricultural Engineer. Frederick married Dorothy May Ware on 5 Feb 1924 at East Chiltington,Sussex, and they went on to have one known child. By the 1939 Register he was living at 26 St John Street, Lewes, Sussex, now described as a Fitter and Agricultural Engineer. He died in 1967.

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Fred Richard Godden

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Somerset Light Infantry, Training Reserve Battalion /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Godden

Other names: Fred Richard

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Bradford Peverell. Dorset
France & Flanders
Dorchester, Dorset
High Street, Yeovil, Somerset
Sutton, Surrey
Arras, France
Halifax, Yorkshire

Story:
Fred Richard Godden was born on 10th April 1899 at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, the son of William George Godden and Susanna Godden (née Whitmarsh). By 1901 he had moved with his parents to Bradford Peverell, Dorset, where he spent most of his early life. He enlisted on 6th February 1917 but was not mobilized until 7th May 1917 when he joined the 34th/35th Training Reserve Battalion as a Private (Service No. 8/55876). He was later attached to the Somerset Light Infantry (Training Reserve) (Service No. 40987). He was posted to France and Flanders on 3 Apr 1918 and transferred to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 9 Apr 1918 (Service No. 38951). He received shrapnel wounds in the hand and chest at Arras, France, on 23rd August 1918 and was hospitalized both in the field and at the Spring Hill Hospital and the St. Lukes War Hospital, both in Halifax, Yorkshire. He was awarded the Military Medal. Regrettably he was eventually discharged on 8th February 1919 being no longer physically fit for service and received a life pension as well as the Silver War Badge No. B.170848. In addition he also recived the Victory and British War Medals. His marriage to Florence Parsons was registered in Dorchester, Dorset, during 1922. There are no known children of the marriage. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 342 High Street, Yeovil, Somerset, working as a road rolling machine driver. He died on 6th October 1993 in Sutton, Surrey, at the age of 94 years.

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Wilfred Critchell Thick

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Lincolnshire Regiment, Royal North Devon Hussars /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Thick

Other names: Wilfred Critchell

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Holbury, Southampton, Hampshire
Chelmsford, Essex
Blackfields, Fawley, Hampshire

Story:
Wilfred Critchell Thick was born on 15th March 1899 at Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, the son of Edwin George Thick and Agnes Ellen Thick (née Critchell). He lived his early life in Ebbesbourne Wake where his father was proprietor of the Old Stores. He enlisted on 27th April 1917 and joined the Royal North Devon Hussars (Service No. 225795) but transferred on 19 Oct 1918 to the Lincolnshire Regiment as a Cyclist (Service No.52588) at which time he was posted to France & Flanders only to be transferred again on the 2 Nov 1918 to the 1st Reserve Battalion (Service No.56669) as an Acting Corporal. After the Armistice he had volunteered to remain on occupation duties but was eventually discharged on 18th May 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at Blackfield, Fawley, Hampshire, working as a Surveyor's Clerk. He married Agnes Harriet Cox in 1926 in the Southampton, Hampshire, Registry area and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 64 Longstamps Road, Chelmsford, Essex and was a Chartered Quantity Surveyor as well as an ARP Warden. It is to be noted that he also served as a Councillor on Chelmsford District Council for a time. He eventually moved to 72 Rolleston Road, Holbury, Southampton, Hampshire, where he died on 22nd December 1992 aged 93 years.

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Walter Hardiman

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Walter

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
France & Flanders
East Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Walter Hardiman was born on 16th February 1897 in Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 16th March 1897, the son of Charles Hardiman and Louisa Hardiman (née Burton). He spent most of his early life, apart from Military Service, in the Ebbesbourne Wake area. He enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment on 6th September 1914 (Service No. 12159) but was almost immediately on 18 Sep 1914 transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 15221). He served with the 7th and then the 1st Battalions in Salonika and Egypt from 10 Jul 1915 and France & Flanders from 11 Jun 1918. During his service he suffered various bouts of malaria but not sufficient to qualify for a pension. He was discharged on 1st March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. On discharge he went to live at East Winterslow, Nr. Salisbury, Wiltshire, with his brother working as a Dairyman as recorded in the 1921 Census. Records beyond this point have not been found.

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Those Who Served on Ebbesbourne Wake Memorial

Fred Hardiman

12th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hardiman

Other names: Fred

Locations in this story:
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Long Stratford, Salisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Chilhampton, Salisbury, Wiltshire
South Newton, Wiltshire
Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Fred Hardiman was born on 24th January 1879 at Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, the son of William Hardiman and Sarah Jane Hardiman (née Moxham). He lived most of his early life in and around Pound Street, Ebbesbourne Wake. He married Priscilla Mary Williams Everett on 11th December 1915 at Long Stratford, Salisbury, Wiltshire, and they went on to have one child. Fred enlisted on 25th March 1916 and joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 25191) with whom he saw service in France & Flanders from 7 May 1916. He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 9 May 1917 (Service No. 93810) and served with various units with the (Home Service) Employment Company eventually being promoted to Lance Corporal on 17 Oct 1918. He was demobilized on 26th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer and by the 1939 Register he had moved to Chilhampton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, still working as a Labourer. He died on 3rd May 1956 and was buried at St. Andrew's Church, South Newton, Wiltshire.

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John Thomas Compton

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Compton

Other names: John Thomas

Locations in this story:
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Warminster, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
France & Flanders
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Wokingham, Berkshire
Chichester, Sussex

Story:
John Thomas Compton was born in Alvediston, Wiltshire, on 30th May 1895 and baptised at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 7th July 1895, the son of George Digby Compton and Jane Elizabeth Compton (née Isgar). He lived most of his life in and around Alvediston where his father was licensee of The Crown Inn. He enlisted on 1st October 1915 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 32075) and later transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (Service No. 2090). He served in both Salonika from Sep 1916 and France & Flanders from 11 Aug 1917. He was wounded on at least three occasions and spent much time in various hospitals. The last wound was a gunshot wound in the neck for which he was transferred to the Graylingwell Military Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, and later to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Wokingham, Berkshire, until 31st December 1918. On discharge from hospital he was transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers (Service No. 33428). He was demobilized shortly after on 26th February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Mary Elizabeth West at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 18 May 1921 and the 1921 Census shows they set up home in Elcombe Lane, Alvediston. John was then described as a Smallholder. Mary and he went on to have at least five children. By the 1939 Register he was living adjacent to Billingham House, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer and Rabbit Catcher. His death at the age of 90 years was registered in the Warminster, Wiltshire, district in 1986.

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Leonard Coombs

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Hussars, Royal Tank Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Coombs

Other names: Leonard

Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Leonard Coombs was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 15th August 1899, the son of John Langhorn Coombs and Amelia Coombs. He lived most of his life, apart from Military Service, in Tollard Royal. He did not enlist due to his age until 22nd May 1918 and joined the Hussars of the Line (Service No. H/69428). He was with the 5th Reserve Cavalry Regiment. On 1st September 1918 he transferred to the Tank Corps (Service No. 311925). Initially he was at the School of Gunnery but was sent to France on 28th October 1918 within days of the Armistice. He was discharged on 19th February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living in Tollard Royal working on his own account as a Mail Contractor. He married Louise Taylor on 18th April 1927 in Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset. There are no records of children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register he was living at 28 Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, working as a Corn, Dairy and Poultry Farmer as well volunteering as an ARP Warden. He died at the early age of 43 years on 10th October 1942 in Tollard Royal.

Two of Leonard's brothers also served in the war: John Langhorn (b.1894) who was awarded the Military Medal while serving with the Middlesex Regiment and Reginald James (b.1895) who served with the Royal Field Artillery.

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Reginald James Coombs
John Langhorn Coombs

Jubel Frederick Bridle

10th February 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Berkshire Regiment, Royal West Kent Regiment, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bridle

Other names: Jubel Frederick

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Wells, Somerset
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Jubel Frederick Bridle was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 8th May 1894, the son of Frederick Eli Bridle and Maria Bridle (nee Norris). He lived much of his life in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 11th December 1915 in Shaftesbury and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 20988). On the 4th May 1916 he was transferred to the 2/5th Battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment (Service no. 241262) during which time he was also attached for a period to the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He served all his time in the United Kingdom. He was discharged on 26th June 1917 being no longer physically fit for military service due to heart problems. He received the Silver War Badge No. B131877. He married Christina Mary Reakes in Wells, Somerset, in 1917. There is no information about children of the marriage. The 1921 Census shows him living at Church Cottage, Church Hill, Donhead St. Mary, working as a Mason's Labourer. he was at the same address by the 1939 Register now working as a Chimney Sweep. He died in the Mere, Wiltshire, Registration District in 1953.

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