Story:
James Oswald Harrington was born in Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 21 Mar 1887 the son of Harry William Harrington, a Wheelwright, and Mary Eliza Harrington (nee Lambert).  He lived all his early life in Birdbush, Ludwell.   He enlisted in the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. M2/156957).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him back with his parents in Birdbush working as a Blacksmith. He married Mary Jane Whitney (nee Feltham), a widow whose husband had died in 1921, at St John the Baptist Church, Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire on 28 Mar 1922.  By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Oxleaze Farm, West Knoyle, Wiltshire, described as a Farmer as well as a Special Constable.  He died at the Emergency Hospital, Tower House, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 19 Sep 1942 and was later buried in the grounds of the Independent Chapel, Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 29 Sep 1942.  His brother, Francis Livden Harrington, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Arthur Lionel Hare was born in Wellingore, Lincolnshire, on 8 Nov 1883 and was baptised there on 3 Feb 1884 the son of Thomas Hare, a Gardener, and Elizabeth Hare (nee Hudson).  He lived his early life in Wellingore until by 1901 the family had moved to Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire.  By 1911 Arthur had moved to Wimbledon, Surrey, where he was boarding and working as an Ironmongers Assistant.   He married Elizabeth Martha Brickell in Wimbledon, Surrey, on 11 Sep 1915.  He had enlisted on 18 Oct 1916 and joined the 'A' Battery of No. 7 Reserve Brigade of the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 176516).  He appears to have served in the UK only with various Anti Aircraft Companies due to his medical catagory eventually becoming an Acting Corporal.  His final unit was No. 26 AA Company (Service No. 157953) and he was eventually discharged on 3 Mar 1919.  No medal record can be found but he would have been entitled to at least the British War Medal.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 70 Palmerstone Road, Wimbledon, Surrey, working as a Furnishing Ironmonger's Manager and it was here where his wife died during 1932.  By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 52 Whatley Avenue, Merton, Surrey, a Widower, working as a Jobbing Gardener.  His death was recorded in Merton during 1975 where he was buried on 24 Sep 1975.

Story:
Reginald Leslie Gurd was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 5 Jun 1899 the son of Sidney Gurd, a Blacksmith, and Susan Gurd (nee Brown).  He lived all his life apart from Military Service in Donhead St. Mary principally in Horse Hill Lane.  He had enlisted and joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 41233).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was with the 1st Battalion when he received gunshot wounds to the right leg and left buttock.  He was eventually discharged on 27 Nov 1919 and awarded a small pension plus grant.  He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He returned to Horse Hill Lane, Donhead St. Mary where he was recorded on the 1921 Census and 1939 Register which shows him as a General Hand (Buildings) and still single.  His death was recorded at Sturminster, Dorset, Registry during 1956.  His brothers, Keble Sidney Gurd and Albert Harold Gurd, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Albert Harold Gurd was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in July 1893 and baptised at St. John the Baptist Church on 6 Aug 1893 the son of Sidney Gurd, a Blacksmith, and Susan Gurd (nee Brown).  He lived most of his early life at Horse Hill Lane, Donhead St. Mary.  He had enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the Wiltshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1438).  He was soon promoted to Shoeing Smith with the rank of Corporal. He attended the usual annual camps until he was embodied on 4 Aug 1914.  He served in France and Flanders from 5 Jun 1916 to Mar 1918. During this time his unit became part of the 3rd Reserve Battalion of the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 320512).  He suffered from a very bad bout of Pneumonia in Jan 1918 and was hospitalized in Rouen, France, and later transferred to the 1st London Hospital, Camberwell, London, for further treatment.   He was finally discharged on 15 Apr 1919 being physically unfit for further service and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B319424 and granted a short term pension.  He was also later awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal.  He had married Harriet Jane Penny at the Parish Church, Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 6 Aug 1917.  The 1921 Census shows him living at Newtown, West Tisbury, Wiltshire, working as an Estate Blacksmith. In 1928 he had enlisted in the Territorial Unit of the Royal Tank Corps (Service No. 548123) with the rank of WOII. By the time of the 1939 Register he and his family had moved to Gas Cottages, Pythouse, Tisbury, Wiltshire, still working as a Blacksmith. He was obviously embodied into the army with the Royal Armoured Corps (which the Wiltshire Yeomanry had become part of). He was discharged in due course on 14 Mar 1943 having completed 15 years and 15 days service and eventually awarded the Africa Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.  His death was recorded in Mere, Wiltshire, during 1955.  His brothers, Keble Sidney Gurd and Reginald Leslie Gurd, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Laurel Goddard was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 30 Oct 1894 and baptised there on 8 Apr 1895 the son of Frederick Goddard, a Bootmaker, and Fanny Goddard (nee Castle).  He lived all his early life in Sixpenny Handley.   He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 10505),  He served with the 5th Battalion in the Balkans from 11 Jul 1915 and was in time promoted to Corporal.  He was eventually discharged on 13 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.   He married Beatrice Mary Squibb in Wimborne, Dorset, on 16 Nov 1921.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 10 The Parade, Poole, Dorset, working as a Retail Confectioner and Tobacconist.  His death was recorded in Poole, Dorset, on 29 Nov 1979.  His brothers, Littleton Percival Goddard and Ewart Moss Goddard, also served during the conflict.