1914-1918 Archives - Page 113 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Edmund Baden Powell Gray

Surname: Gray

Other names: Edmund Baden Powell

Locations in this story:
Railway Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire
Bridport, Dorset

Story:
Edmund Baden Powell Gray was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 18th September 1900 and baptised there on 25th November 1900, the son of James Thomas Gray and Harriett Elizabeth Gray (née Powell). He lived his early life at 1 Railway Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 30th October 1918 and joined the 53rd Training Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 28512). He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 10th February 1919. There are no medal records in this case. He married Evelyn Rees in Bridport, Dorset, in 1927 and they went on to have three children. The 1939 Register shows him living at the Police Station, Bridport, Dorset, described as a Police Constable. He died in Bridport in 1977.

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James John Garrett

Surname: Garrett

Other names: James John

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cherry Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
James John Garrett was born on 19th December 1886 in the Parish of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of George William Garrett and Emily Garrett (née Jeans). Apart from his army service James spent all of his life in and around Shaftesbury, Dorset. He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, leaving in the summer of 1899.

James enlisted on the 20th December 1905 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Reserves until the 22nd April 1908 when he enlisted further with the Territorial Battalion of the same regiment (Service No. 214), attending annual training camps. He married Daisy Brine on 21st October 1913 at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and they went on to have at least five children. James was embodied at the outbreak of war on 5th Aug 1914 (Service No. 927) and served throughout his time in the UK. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal and then to Acting Sergeant but had to be released on a number of occasions during 1915 to assist on the farm, Grants Farm, Cherry Orchard, Cann. He eventually opted to take a release from the Army as he had already completed the terms of his engagement and was discharged on 22nd April 1916. There are no medal records in this case. He returned to Grants Farm but by the 1921 Census had moved to Whitings Farm, Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset, as a Dairy Farmer. The 1939 Register shows him still living at Whitings Farm. He died in The Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 13th May 1964 and was buried at St. James Church on 20 May 1964.

The "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which James served and the date and term in which he left school. His name is also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Source: Photograph of Sergeant John James Garrett in the Dorset Yeomanry supplied by Nigel Garrett.

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Shastonian

Charlie Dibben

19th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Hussars, Royal Tank Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dibben

Other names: Charlie

Locations in this story:
Twyford, Compton Abbas, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Wokingham, Berkshire
Horders Farm, French Mill Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Charlie (sometimes known as Charles) Dibben was born in Twyford, Compton Abbas, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th January 1899, the son of Alfred Dibben and Sarah Ann Dibben (née Rideout). At the time of the 1911 Census the family was living at 45 Twyford, Compton Abbas. He enlisted on 6th January 1917 but was not embodied until 22nd May 1918 when he joined the 25th Cavalry Reserve Battalion of the Hussars (Service No. H/69362). On 22nd May 1918 he was transferred to the 7th Battalion of the Tank Corps as a Private (Service No. 311932). He served in France from 28 Oct 1918 and was eventually discharged on 24th February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents a Horders Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, where he was assisiting his father on the farm. He married Gladys J. Rideout in Wokingham, Berkshire in during 1928 and there was thought to have been one child of the marriage. The 1939 Register shows him still living at Horders Farm, French Mill Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died in the North Dorset Registration District on 20th July 1986 whilst living at 13 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Of his brothers, Frank Dibben was killed in action and Claude Dibben served but survived.

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Frank Dibben
Claude Dibben
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John George Day

19th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Day

Other names: John George

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Woodyates, Pentridge, Dorset
France & Flanders
Penn Hill Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset
Branksome, Dorset
Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France
Appleby Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole, Dorset

Story:
John George Day was born at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, in 1874, the son of Charles Day and Jane Day (née Cookman). He lived most of his early life in and around Sixpenny Handley and nearby Woodyates, Pentridge, Dorset. He married Emily Agnes Martin on 6th October 1897 at Pentridge and they had one child, Stewart Arbuthnot Day (b. 1898 in Branksome, Dorset). Regrettably Emily died in 1909. John went on to re-marry Adelaide Ellen Rogers at Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, on 12th November 1910. There were no children of this marriage. John enlisted on 24th June 1916 but was not mobilized until 14th June 1918 when he joined the Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) as a Driver (Service No. T/422713). He served in France from 9 Aug 1918 and was demobilized on 4th March 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Tragically his son, Stewart, was killed on 3 Dec 1917 whilst serving with the Gloucestershire Regiment in France and whose name is recorded on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France. The 1921 Census shows John living at 'Neath', Appleby Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, working as a Bricklayer and later, at the time of his death on 25th June 1930, at Prestbury, Penn Hill Road, Parkstone, Dorset. He was buried in Branksome Cemetery.

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Leo Bennett Reeves

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Reeves

Other names: Leo Bennett

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Weymouth, Dorset
Pimperne, Dorset
University Road, Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
Leo Bennett Reeves was born on 15th August 1893 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 8th October 1893, the son of Walter William Reeves and Emily Reeves (née Bennett). He lived with his family during his early years in West Street, Fontmell Magna. By 1911 he had moved to Weymouth, Dorset, working as a baker. At the outbreak of war his firm were making bread for the military. He enlisted on 2 Nov 1915 and joined the 21st Field Bakery of the Army Service Corps (Service No. S4/145269). He served in Salonika from 24 Dec 1916 and was eventually demobilized on 19th August 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Frances Harris in Pimperne, Dorset, on 25th August 1920 and they set up home in Pimperne where, by the 1921 Census, he was working as a Baker's Saleman. No 1939 Register record can be found. In 1984 he was living at 141 University Road, Southampton, Hampshire, where he died on 14th Aug 1984 aged 91 years.

Leo's father and brother Maurice Vernon also served in the war and survived. Sadly brother Cecil John died in a military hospital in Suffolk on 9th May 1917, having also served as a baker with the Army Service Corps.

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Cecil John Reeves
Walter William Reeves
Maurice Vernon Reeves

Harry Dennis

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Seaforth Highlanders /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dennis

Other names: Harry

Locations in this story:
Church Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Nairn, Scotland
Merryton, Morayshire, Scotland

Story:
Harry Dennis was born on 11th November 1884 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 28th December 1884, the son of John Dennis and Ellen Dennis (née Jeffrey). He lived with his family in Church Street, Fontmell Magna, until he enlisted on 6th May 1902 and joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 4696). He transferred to the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders on 10th April 1907 and later the 6th Battalion (Service No. 8920). On the 2nd December 1910 he transferred yet again to the 4th Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders (Service No. 899). During this time he had progressed from the rank of Private to Sergeant. He was posted to France at the outbreak of war and on 19th March 1915 was wounded in action and was posted back to the UK with yet another Service No. 200050. On his recovery he joined the 7th Division (Salvage Company) of the Labour Corps as he was considered unfit for field duty (Service No. 222325). He was discharged on 22nd February 1919 and a few days later, on 26th February 1919, married Helen Dunbar in Nairn, Scotland. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals, the 1914/15 Star and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. He re-enlisted with the Labour Corps on 9th April 1920 until finally discharged on 8th April 1923. The 1939 Register shows him living at Denson Villa, Merryton, Morayshire, Scotland, described as Laundry Manager (Proprietor). He died in Nairn, Scotland, in 1953.

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Reginald John Creed

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 227th Infantry Brigade, 9th (Secunderabad) Division, Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Creed

Other names: Reginald John

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Tisbury, Wiltshire
India
Stockbridge Road, Winchester, Hampshire

Story:
Reginald John Creed was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 8th September 1891 and baptised there on 6th December 1891, the son of Charles Edmund Creed and Cymbriana Green Creed (née Berry). He lived with his family near Church Farm, Semley, Wiltshire. He was a Wheelwright and Carpenter when he enlisted on 7th December 1915 and mobilized on 4th March 1916, joining the Royal Field Artillery 3/3rd Brigade. (Service No. 2951). He served in India from 16 Jun 1916 joining the 9th (Secunderabad) Division of the British Indian Army (Service No. 861184). He again transferred to the 1103rd Battery of the 227th Brigade on 1st January 1917 (Service No. 288402). Throughout he was a Gunner in rank though his wheelwright skills were well used. He was released early to work with his father's business at Semley on 23rd February 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal only. No 1921 Census record can be found. He married Mary L. Williams in the Tisbury Registry area in 1926 and they went on to have one son. Regrettably his wife died in 1929. By the 1939 Register he was living as a widower at 25 Stockbridge Road, Winchester, Hampshire, and was described as an Allotments Secretary (Disabled). He died at Winchester on 10th August 1957.

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Richard William Brown

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brown

Other names: Richard William

Locations in this story:
Sutton Waldron, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Highworth Road, Lower Stratton, Swindon, Wiltshire
Dorchester, Dorset
Pennington, Neasr Lymington, Hampshire

Story:
Richard William Brown was born in Sutton Waldron, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1886 and baptised there on 22nd August 1886, the son of Frederick Brown and Emily Brown (née Mullens). He lived his early life in and around Sutton Waldron and Fontmell Magna, Dorset. He enlisted as a Territorial Reservist with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 1985) prior to the outbreak of war gaining experience of Field Hospitals. He married Grace Lilian Herbert at Lower Stratton, Wiltshire on 4th December 1912 and they went on to have two children. He was mobilized on 14th June 1915 with the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) (Service No. 88407) and joined the 77th Field Ambulance serving in France on 14 Jun 1917. He received a gun shot wound in the left thigh on 25th May 1918 and was repatriated to the UK on 26th July 1918, receiving treatment in various military hospitals until 2nd January 1919. He was discharged on 8th March 1919 and gave his address as 12 Highworth Road, Lower Stratton, Swindon, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals plus a limited pension. Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show him living in Highworth Road, Lower Stratton, (or Stratton St. Margaret), Highworth, Wiltshire, and was described as a Pattern Store Manager (GWR). He died in the Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, on 5 Oct 1963 having been previously living in Pennington, Near Lymington, Hampshire.

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Ernest John Biddiscombe

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Biddiscombe

Other names: Ernest John

Locations in this story:
Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Sherborne, Dorset
Mere, Wiltshire
Salisbury Road, Ludwell

Story:
Ernest John Biddiscombe was born on 3rd August 1879 in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, the son of Henry Biddiscombe and Emma Foot Biddiscombe (née Smart). Apart from his war service Ernest spent his whole life in and around Ludwell. He married Rose Park in Sherborne, Dorset, on 20th June 1906 and they went on to have four children. Ernest's brother Arthur James (b.1877) joined the Welsh Regiment and died in Flanders on 6th November 1914. Ernest enlisted on 7th December 1915 and was issued with a Reservist's Khaki Armband No. 57825 to wear until mobilized on 17th August 1916 when he joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 185119) becoming in time a Corporal. On 1st January 1917 he was transferred to the 445th (Welsh) Company, Railway Operating Division, and was posted to France on 23rd March 1917 (New Service No. 448719). He then transferred again to the R.E. (ROD) with a new Service No. WR/282836 on 9th September 1917. He was discharged on 13th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. His address throughout was consistently shown as Hope Cottage, Salisbury Road, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, confirmed in the 1921 Census as well as the 1939 Register and always described as a Builder. He death was registered at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry on 16th May 1959.

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Arthur James Biddiscombe

William John Barter

16th November 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps, Royal West Kent Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Barter

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Grove Inn, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
South Dulwich, London
Upper Norwood, London, S.E. 19
High Street, Sheppey, Kent
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William John Barter was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire on 3rd October 1876 and baptised there on 29 Oct 1876 the son of Ebenezer Barter and Bessie Ann Barter (née Down). He lived with his parents most of his early life at the Grove Inn, Ludwell, where his father was the licensee. He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He married Lucy Gladys Trowbridge at St. Stephen's Church, South Dulwich, London, on 23rd April 1914 and they went on to have one child. William was living at 15 Colby Road, Upper Norwood, London, S.E. 19 when he was enlisted on 3rd August 1916 and joined the Army Service Corps 2/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion (Service No. 2644). His unit eventually came under the command of the Royal West Kent Regiment (New Service No. 266568). He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 19th February 1919. There are no medal records for his service though he may have been entitled to the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows him back living at 15 Colby Road, Upper Norwood, working as a Clerk for the Ministry of Labour. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 92 High Street, Sheppey, Kent, and was described as a Tobacconist and Confectioner. He died in Sheppey, Kent, during 1945.

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