Shaftesbury from St. Peter's Church

Cecil George Pickford Wareham

Surname: Wareham
Other names: Cecil George Pickford
Other people in this story:
George Wareham
Anna Wareham née Pickford
Gertrude Amy Wareham née Pocock
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salonica, Greece
Hambledon, Surrey
Church Lane, Shaftesbury
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury
High Street, Shaftesbury
Chard, Somerset

Story:
Cecil George Pickford Wareham was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st December 1892 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 5th February 1893, the son of George Wareham and Anna Wareham (née Pickford).  The family home throughout Cecil's early life was 8 Church Lane, Shaftesbury.  He enlisted on 16th August 1915 with the 3rd/1st Wessex Divisional Training Battalion as a Reserve Private (Service No. T1889).  He was embodied on the 15th April 1916 with the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T4/185635).  He was posted to Salonica, Greece, on 9 Aug 1916 and whilst there he had an accident in March 1918 resulting in the loss of his right middle finger.  He was discharged on 8th July 1919 with an eventual gratuity in lieu of pension for his disability in addition he was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  

The 1921 Census shows him boarding in East Street, Chard, Somerset, where he was working as a Grocery Assistant. He married Gertrude Amy Pocock at Hambledon, Surrey, in 1932 and there is evidence of at least two children.   By the 1939 Register he was living at 'Quinton', Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, and described as a Wool and Draper Shopkeeper. The Kelly's Directory for that year lists his business as a "wool shop" at 37a High Street. He died in Shaftesbury on 15th April 1975.

Cecil's brother John Thomas (b.1886) also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment.

Images:
  • Church Lane, Shaftesbury 8 & 10
  • Church Lane, Shaftesbury

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The National Archives
John Thomas Wareham

Albert James Tuffin

Surname: Tuffin
Other names: Albert James
Other people in this story:
Albert Philip Tuffin
Susannah Tuffin née Still
Bertha Mary Tuffin née Lawrence
Florence Mabel Tuffin née King
Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
South Africa
India
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Albert James Tuffin was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13th September 1872 and baptised there on 19th October 1872, the son of Albert Philip Tuffin and Susannah Tuffin (née Still).   He spent his early years in Fontmell Magna.  He had enlisted in 1890 with the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3084).  He served in South Africa and India and was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal (5 Clasps), the King's South Africa Medal (2 Clasps) and the India Medal (2 Clasps).  His discharge date from this period of service is currently not known.  He married Bertha Mary Lawrence in Fontmell Magna on 23 Nov 1898.  They went on to have four children before Bertha died in 1910.  He had re-enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Territorial on 2nd April 1908 attending annual training camps but employed in civilian life as a Postman.  He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and served in the UK only (Service No. 5632).  He married Florence Mabel King at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 19th November 1914.  There was one child of the marriage.  Albert was finally discharged on 31st March 1916 having completed the terms of his engagement.  There is no record of any further medals being awarded.  The 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show him living at 22 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and, by 1939, was described as a retired postman.  He died in Shaftesbury on 7th October 1947 and was buried at St. James Church on 11 Oct 1947.

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The National Archives
St. James, Shaftesbury 2

Sidney Wilfred Tucker

Surname: Tucker
Other names: Sidney Wilfred
Other people in this story:
Gideon Tucker
Mary Elizabeth Tucker née Foot
Florence Amelia Tucker née Thompson
George Farley Tucker DCM
Victor Douglas Tucker
Howard Tucker
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
India
Oxley Wood Road, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
St. James, Shaftesbury
Layton Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Sidney Wilfred Tucker was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th February 1894 and baptised at St. James' Church on 11th March 1894, the son of Gideon Tucker and Mary Elizabeth Tucker (née Foot).  He lived with his parents at 25 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, throughout his early life and trained as a Tailor.  He had enlisted with the 2/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 28th February 1911 as a Territorial (Reserve) Soldier (Service No. 1363) and attended annual training camps.  He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and joined his regiment in India. On 23rd May 1916 he was discharged having completed the term of his engagement.  He then went back to 25 St. James Street, Shaftesbury.  On 1st August 1916 he re-enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 4562).  He was again posted to India, being transferred to the 29th Reserve Battalion as a Corporal (Service No. 202490).  He was eventually discharged on 3rd January 1920 and went to live at 6 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, where he was recorded in th e 1921 Census living with his parents and working as a Tailor for Messrs Pryce & Barribal, Sporting Tailors of Shaftesbury.   He had been awarded the British War Medal. He later applied for the Territorial Force War Medal in 1926 but the result of this application is not known.   He married Florence Amelia Thompson in Shaftesbury in 1930 and they appear to have had one child.   By the 1939 Register he had moved to 178 Oxley Wood Road, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, where he is described as a Tailor (Journeyman).  He died in Wolverhampton in 1977. Three of Sidney's brothers served in the war: Victor Douglas (b.1888) with the Machine Gun Corps, George Farley Tucker, who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal while serving with the Somerset Light Infantry and Howard (b. 1886) with the Army Service Corps.

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The National Archives
George Farley Tucker
Victor Douglas Tucker

Albert James Tucker

Surname: Tucker
Other names: Albert James
Other people in this story:
Sidney William Tucker
Rosanna Tucker née Davidge
Locations in this story:
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Salisbury, Wiltshire
High Duncliffe Farm, Stour Row
Stour Provost, Dorset
Ireland

Story:
Albert James Tucker was born at Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1st March 1897 and baptised at Stour Provost, Dorset, on 20th June 1897, the son of Sidney William Tucker and Rosanna Tucker (née Davidge).  He lived most of his life around the Stour Row area and for a number of early years at Higher Duncliffe Farm, Stour Row.    He enlisted on 11th February 1916 but was not mobilized until 24th May 1918 as a Private in the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 40983).   He served in France and Flanders and whilst there received both shell and gunshot wounds.  The latter occurred on 12th October 1918 and it was followed by repatriation to the UK on 14th October 1918 for treatment and recovery.  He also served for period in Ireland until he was discharged on 11th October 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals.   The 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show him living at The Stores, Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and described as a shopkeeper.   He remained single all his life and eventually died in 1966 in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District.

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Cann and Shaftesbury from Melbury Hill

Walter Edwin Stainer

Surname: Stainer
Other names: Walter Edwin
Other people in this story:
Edwin Stainer
Martha Stainer née Foot
Laura Stainer née Clare
Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Jesty's Avenue, Broadwey, Melcombe Regis, Dorset
Weymouth, Dorset
Ireland
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Walter Edwin Stainer was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, on 15th January 1879, the son of Edwin Stainer and Martha Stainer (née Foot).  He lived his early childhhood in Cann, Shaftesbury, until the family had, by 1891, moved away from Shaftesbury.  Walter married Laura Clare on 31st March 1902 at St.Mary's Church, Melcombe Regis, Dorset, and they went on to have two children.  He enlisted on 3rd September 1914 and joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 2407).  He was later transferred to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion (Service No. 200743) and again, on 30th June 1917, to the 512th Home Service Company and the 628th Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 285747).  He served with the latter unit in Enniskillen and Londonderry, Ireland.  He was discharged on 29th March 1919.  No medal records can be found under any of the above Service Nos.   The 1921 Census shows him living at 5 Louise Road, Dorchester, Dorset, working as a House Decorator.  By the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Jesty's Avenue, Broadwey, Melcombe Regis, Dorset, still working as a House Decorator.  He died in Broadway on 21 Jan 1951.

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The National Archives
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Harry Walter Stainer

Surname: Stainer
Other names: Harry Walter
Other people in this story:
Albert George Stainer
Martha Rosina Stainer née Warren
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Story:
Harry Walter Stainer was born on 22nd September 1898 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Albert George Stainer and Martha Rosina Stainer (née Warren).  The family home was at 9 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury and Harry lived there throughout his life. He enlisted on 21st September 1916 but was not mobilized until 20th August 1917 when he joined the 34th Territorial Battalion as a Private (Service No. 8/20524).  He transferred to the 303rd Reserve Labour Company of the Labour Corps on 7th October 1917 and later, on the 17th November 1917, to the 649th Agricultural Company (Service No. 432205) as a Lance Corporal.  He was discharged as being physically unfit, by virtue of deformed feet, on 13th March 1919.  Whilst no medal record has been found there is an imprint on his Service Records which simply says 'MEDAL' and nothing else.  It is assumed he may have received the Victory and British War medals but the index cards are missing.  The 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was still living at 9 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, with his sister. He was single and working as a Builders Labourer.  He died locally in 1962 and was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury on 20 Jun 1962.    

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The National Archives
St. James' Church

Harold George Stainer

Surname: Stainer
Other names: Harold George
Other people in this story:
George Theodore Stainer
Jane Stainer née Young
Kate Mary Stainer née King
Walter Charles Stainer
Arthur Stainer
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Harold George Stainer was born on the 30th September 1888 in Shaftesbury, Dorset and baptised at St. James' Church on 28th October 1888 the son of the George Theodore Stainer and Jane Stainer (née Young).  He lived his whole life, apart from during Military Service, in St. James, Shaftesbury. He married Kate Mary King at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 10th September 1914.  There are no records of any children.  

Harold enlisted on the 7th June 1916 but was not mobilized until 12th March 1917 when he joined the Devonshire Regiment (Labour Battalion) as a Private (Service No. 59879).  Shortly after on 9 June 1916 he was transferred to the Labour Corps 3rd Reserve Battalion and was posted to the 303rd Labour Company (Service No. 290276).   On the 13th October 1917 he was transferred to the 191 Training Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (which became the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918) (Service No. 104964).  He held the rank of Air Mechanic II and was employed as an Aero Rigger.   He was discharged, having served the whole time in the UK, on 12th April 1919 as being unfit for further service and received the Silver War Badge No. 7071 and a short lived limited pension.  There are no other obvious medal records. The 1921 Census shows him living at 1 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Cabinet Maker and by the 1939 Register he had moved to 18 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, still working as a Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer. He died in Shaftesbury on 1st April 1955 and was buried in St. James Churchyard on 6th April 1955.

Two of Harold's siblings served in the war: Walter Charles (b.1893) with the Royal Field Artillery, and Arthur (b.1896) with the Dorset Yeomanry and Royal Garrison Artillery.

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Walter Charles Stainer
Arthur Stainer
Fontmell Magna Church

George Spicer

Surname: Spicer
Other names: George
Other people in this story:
Absalom Spicer
Margaret Spicer née Jackson
Edith M. Spicer née Millard
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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The National Archives
Shaftesbury from St. Peter's Church

William Charles Sims

Surname: Sims
Other names: William Charles
Other people in this story:
William Sims
Sarah Sims née Ransom
Beatrice Vera Sims née Chubb
Charles Job Stretch
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.

Images:
  • Church Lane, Shaftesbury
  • Church Lane, Shaftesbury 10
  • Church Lane, Shaftesbury 8 & 10

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury 1

Montague Smith

Surname: Smith
Other names: Montague
Other people in this story:
Harry Smith
Mary Smith
Eva Annie Smith née Wooders
Harry Sidney Smith
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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The National Archives
Harry Sidney Smith