1914-1918 Archives - Page 114 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

George Spicer

22nd October 2019/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Spicer

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Sutton Waldron, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Winchester, Hampshire
Dorchester, Dorset
Poole, Dorset

Story:
George Spicer was born on 14th October 1881 in Sutton Waldron, Dorset, and baptised at Fontmell Magna, Dorset, on 11th December 1881, the son of Absalom Spicer and Margaret Spicer (née Jackson). His father passed away in 1893. He lived his early life in Higher Street, Sutton Waldron, Dorset. He enlisted on 31st August 1914 and joined the Royal Field Artillery (108/23rd Battery) as a Gunner Signaller (Service No. 98021). He served in France and was wounded on 13th July 1917 from which he recovered only to be reported missing on 27th March 1918 but rejoined his battery without any apparent inquiry. He was demobilized on 28th February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.

In 1921 he applied for a disablement pension and requested copies of his military medical records. It appears the War Office were reluctant to release them. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Cabinet Maker. There is a record of him marrying Edith M. Millard in Poole in 1925. By the 1939 Registry George was living at 2 Parsonage Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, whilst his wife was a patient in hospital in Dorchester. George was then working as a Carpenter and Joiner. He died in 1965 in the Winchester, Hampshire, Registration District.

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William Charles Sims

Surname: Sims

Other names: William Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Milford, Wiltshire
India
Sturminster, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
William Charles Sims was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26th January 1894, the son of William Sims and Sarah Sims (née Ransom). His father had died in 1899 and his mother re-married Charles Job Stretch in 1899. William lived with his mother in Milford, Wiltshire, during his childhood, until the family returned to Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, by the 1911 Census. He enlisted on 28th February 1911 and joined the 2/4th (Reserve) Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service Nos. 4561 and 4/1364). He was embodied on 14th August 1914 with the rank of Acting Sergeant and served in India until he was discharged on 23rd May 1916 having completed the terms of his engagement. Notwithstanding his discharge he re-enlisted on 15th August 1916 and joined the 4th (Reserve) Battalion (Service No. 202489). He retained his rank according to his military records. He was finally demobilized in March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living with his mother and step-father at 10 Church Lane, Shaftesbury, working as a Baker and Confectioner on his own account. He married Beatrice Vera Chubb in Shaftesbury during the Oct/Dec Quarter of 1921. They went on to have at least three children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 25 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury and still described as a Baker. His death was registered at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1968.

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Montague Smith

21st October 2019/in 1914-1918 Lancers, Machine Gun Corps, Royal Tank Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Smith

Other names: Montague

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Streatham, Surrey
Drayton Park, Willesden, Middlesex
Brent, Middlesex
France & Flanders
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Mustons Lane, Shaftesbury
South Africa
Paddington, London

Story:
Montague Smith was born on 6th July 1889 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised on 28th July 1889 at Holy Trinity Church, the son of Harry and Mary Smith. He lived his early life at 7 Mustons Lane, Shaftesbury, one of eleven children in the family. He enlisted on 15th July 1907 and joined the 9th Lancers of Cavalry of the Line (Service No. 246) and later the 21st Lancers and served in South Africa. He was discharged to reserves on 14th July 1914 only to be almost immediately embodied on 15th August 1914 as a Shoeing Smith Corporal (Service No. 41347). He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) and joined the 2nd Machine Gun Squadron of the Royal Tank Corps on 27th June 1916 and served in France. He was discharged on 14 Jul 1919 having completed the terms of his engagement. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He had married Eva Annie Wooders at St. Anselem Church, Streatham, Surrey, on 9th August 1917. One child is recorded. By the 1921 Census he was living at 11 Tavistock Crescest, Paddington, London, working as a Store Labourer. But by the 1939 Register he had moved to 86a Drayton Park, Willesden, Middlesex, working as a Bus Conductor. He died on 21st November 1966 in the Brent, Middlesex, Registry area.

Montague's brother Harry Sidney (b.1869) also had a career in the army, with the Somerset Light Infantry.

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Harry Sidney Smith

Sidney John Ryall

21st October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ryall

Other names: Sidney John

Locations in this story:
Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Langton Road, Blandford, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Sidney John Ryall was born on 25th February 1898 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of William Ryall and Eleanor Ryall (née Goodman). He lived most if his early life in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on the 7th June 1916 but was not embodied until 24th May 1918 when he joined the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 40961). He served in France from 11 Oct 1918 as a Lewis Gunner and received a gun shot wound on 18th October 1918 from which he recovered and re-assigned to the 3rd Battalion. His mother regrettably died in 1918. He was discharged on 4th March 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He went to live at 31 Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury but by the 1921 Census had moved with his widowed father to 12 Compton Abbas working as a Bricklayer. He married Emma May Parker in Blandford, Dorset, on 16th February 1924 and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 8 Langton Road, Blandford, Dorset, still working as a bricklayer. He died in Blandford on 15th December 1975. Sidney's brother Victor Alfred (b.1896) also served with the Dorsetshire Regiment during the First World War. He died in the Somme region on 15th September 1916.

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Victor Alfred Ryall
The National Archives

Enmore Green. New Buildings in the foreground

James Roberts

21st October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Roberts

Other names: James

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury
Mustons Lane, Shaftesbury
Sturminster Newton, Dorset
St. James Church, Shaftesbury
St. John's Church, Enmore Green

Story:
James Roberts was born in Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st April 1879 and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, on 1st June 1879, the son of James Roberts and Emma Jane Roberts (née Lane). He lived most of his life in the Shaftesbury area. He married Agnes Ellen Pickford at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 25th December 1903. They went on to have eight children. James enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Territorial Force) as a Private on 6th May 1908 and attended regular annual training camps (Service No. 495). He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and served solely in the UK with the rank of Pioneer (Service No. 4529). He was discharged on 5th May 1916 having completed the terms of his engagement. He was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal on 1st August 1915 but no other medal records have been found. At the time of his discharge he was living at 12 Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, and was still there by the time of the 1921 Census working for Messrs Stratton, Son & Mead, Grocers, of Shaftesbury. His wife died in 1937. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 7 Mustons Lane, Shaftesbury and was employed as a Grocer's Yardman. James died in 1960 in the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry area. His name is found on the Roll of Honour prepared by his former employers, Stratton, Son & Mead of Shaftesbury. Two of James' brothers served in the war: Charles (b.1888) with the Royal Garrison Artillery and George (b.1887) with the south Wales Borderers and the Monmouthshire Regiment.

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George Roberts
Charles Roberts
The National Archives

George Roberts

21st October 2019/in 1914-1918 Monmouthshire Regiment, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Roberts

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales
Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, Wales
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Roberts was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20th April 1887, the son of James Roberts and Emma Jane Roberts (née Lane). He grew up at the family home at 15 Layton Lane in Shaftesbury. By 1909 he had moved to Abertillery, Monmouthshire, to work as a Collier and had served two years with the South Wales Borderers (3rd Volunteer Battalion) on a Territorial basis. On 14th January 1909 he re-enlisted with the Monmouthshire Regiment (48th Provisional, 3rd Battalion) as a Territorial and he attended annual training camps (Service No. 699). He married Margretta Deacon on 13 Nov 1910 at St. Michaels Church, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, and they went on to have four children. He was mobilized on 5th August 1914 and served as a Private in the UK only. He was discharged on 17th May 1916 having completed his terms of engagement. He gave his address as 29 Kings Head Road, Abertillery. No medal records can be found for this soldier. The 1921 Census shows him living at 4 Vine Cottages, Pantypwelyn Road, Abertillaery, described as a Colliery Haulier (out of work). By the 1939 Register he had moved to 32 Montague Street, Abertillery and was noted now working as a Colliery Coal Cutter (Below Ground). He died in 1955 in the Bedwellty Registration District.

Two of George's brothers served in the war: James (b.1879) with the Dorsetshire Regiment and Charles (b.1888) with the Dorsets.

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James Roberts
Charles Roberts

Ivor George Ridout

20th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ridout

Other names: Ivor George

Locations in this story:
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gore Farm, Margaret Marsh, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset
West Milton, Powerstock, Dorset
Wilkins Farm, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Stour Provost, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mampitts Road, Shaftesbury

Story:
Ivor George Ridout was born on 7th May 1889 at Stour Provost, Dorset, and baptised there on 28th July 1889 the son of Charles Ridout and Hannah Sarah Wright Ridout (née Stone). He spent his early life in and around Stour Provost and Stour Row, Dorset. He enlisted on 8th April 1908 with the Dorsetshire (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Territorial Force, attending annual training camps (Service No. 227). He was embodied on 5th August 1914 and appointed a Sergeant (Service No. 1061). He served in the UK only and was given special leave on a number of occasions to help with the harvest work at his father's farm, Gore Farm, Margaret Marsh, Dorset. He was finally discharged on 7th May 1916 having completed the terms of his engagement. No medal records can be found for Ivor. He had married Elsie Pickford on 14th April 1915 at West Milton, Powerstock, Dorset. They went on to have three children. By 1923 he was Farming at Pigeon House Farm, Stour Provost, and by the 1939 Register had moved to Wilkins Farm, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, still farming. He died on 10th October 1968 in the Poole, Dorset, Registry District, his address being shown as 3 Mampitts Road, Shaftesbury. He was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 14th Oct 1968.

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Osborne Bernard Ricketts

20th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ricketts

Other names: Osborne Bernard

Locations in this story:
Culverhouse Farm, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, Turkey
Sadden Farm, Burbidge, West Grafton, Marlborough, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Osborne Bernard Ricketts was born on 14th April 1892 in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 30th August 1892, the son of James John Charles Ricketts and Sara Ann Ricketts (née Broadway). He lived most of his early life at Culverhouse Farm, Motcombe, where his father was the Farmer and attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, leaving in the spring of 1905. He enlisted on the 1st May 1908 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Territorial Force, attending annual camps for training (Service No. 226). (N.B. His military records are in the name of Bernard only.) He was re-engaged on 30th April 1914 and embodied on 5th August 1914 with the rank of Corporal (Service No. 1058). He was at Gallipoli, Turkey, and landed at Sulva Bay where he was severely wounded on 2nd August 1915. He was invalided back to the UK on 9th October 1915 and discharged on 5th June 1916 having completed his terms of engagement. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He married Sophia Louisa King on 24th April 1917 at Motcombe, Dorset. By the 1939 Register he was living at Sadden Farm, Burbage, West Grafton, Marlborough, Wiltshire, and was working as a Dairyman and Cowman. He died in Marlborough in 1966.

Osborne Bernard's younger brother Hubert Martin (b.1896) died on 9th September 1915 while serving with the Dorset Yeomanry at Gallipoli.

A "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 the brothers served and the date and term in which they left school. Their names are also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. An asterix can be seen next to Hubert's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, October 1915
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

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Hubert Martin Ricketts
Shastonian

Henry Thomas Reed

20th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Reed

Other names: Henry Thomas

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
India
Iran
New Park Road, Benfleet, Essex
Thurrock, Essex
Rasht, Gilon Province, Iran
Ludwell, Wiltshire

Story:
Henry Thomas Reed (known as Thomas in the family) was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 8th September 1889, the son of Henry Reed and Anna Maria Reed (née Scammell). He was baptised at Tollard Royal (date unknown) but received into the church at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 25 July 1892 at the same time his sister was baptised. He lived his early life at Birdbush, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary. He had joined the Dorsetshire Regiment at some time before the war and was a reservist (Service No. 8495). He re-enlisted as a regular Private on 12th August 1908 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and served in India and Iran having completed a military telegraphist course. He had been wounded during his service but had fully recovered. He was discharged to the reserves on 1st April 1919 but seconded to the Consular Authorities in Iran as a telegraphist (Service No. 5718124). He had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal per an announcement in the London Gazette on 22nd September 1919. He also qualified for the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. Whilst in Iran he married Marta E. Zalming in 1920 at the British Consulate in Rasht, Gilon Province, Iran. It is not known if there were any children of the marriage. On his return to the UK he initially lived in Ludwell, Wiltshire. By the 1939 Register he was living at 'Engell', New Park Road, Benfleet, Essex, and was described as a Retired Postman. He died in 1950 in the Thurrock, Essex, Registration District.

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Charles Edward Ranger

19th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ranger

Other names: Charles Edward

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire
India
Gibralter
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Bermuda
France & Flanders
St. James, Shaftesbury
Newton Longville, Bletchley, Buckinhamshire
Northampton

Story:
Charles Edward Ranger was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1870 and baptised at St. James Church on 27th May 1870, the son of Charles Ranger and Sarah Anne Ranger (née Elliott). He lived his early life in St. James, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 21st March 1889 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 4219). He saw service in India, Gibralter, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and Bermuda until his discharge after 18 years service on 12th July 1907. During this time he had married Emma Jane Hillier on 25th December, 1892. It is thought they had one child.

By 1911 Charles had moved to Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire where he had employment as a Collier Coal Hewer. His wife died in the same year and he went on to marry Laura Frances Charles in Pontnewydd on 6th October 1916. They had four children - one of whom died in early infancy. Charles had been mobilized on 17th October 1914 and returned to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 71904). He served a short time in France but spent most of the war in the UK. He was transferred to the 16th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment as a Private on 27th April 1918 (Service No. 62273). He had been diagnosed with Rheumatism in 1915 and this was a constant source of concern. He was discharged on 19th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He later applied for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal but this was refused after an official inquiry. By the 1921 Census he had moved to Brickyard Cottages, Newton Longville, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, where he worked as a General Labourer in the Gravel Pits. He died in 1930 in the Northampton Registry area.

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