1914-1918 Archives - Page 116 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Sidney John Ryall

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

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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The National Archives

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

Images:

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The National Archives
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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The National Archives

John Proudley

19th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Cameron Highlanders, Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps, Royal Defence Corps, Royal Scots Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Proudley

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Old Wareham Road, Newton, Parkstone, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Tout Hill, Shaftesbury
Peasemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset
Sedgehill, Wiltshire

Story:
John Proudley was born in Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, in 1877, the son of Joseph Proudley and Mary Jane Proudley (née Bown). He lived his early life on Tout Hill, Shaftesbury, until the family had moved to Poole, Dorset, by 1901. He married Maud Phillips (born Bessie Maud Phillips) at Kingstone, Poole, Dorset, on 19th May 1902 and they went on to have five children. John enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was placed on reserve. He was embodied on 14th June 1916 and joined the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 18228). He transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders on 29th January 1917 (Service No. 28048). He was transferred then to the Royal Defence Corps (20th Protection Company) on 27th November 1917 (Service No. 48485). On the 28th June 1918 he was yet again transferred to the 13th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (Service No. 61567). Finally, on the 4th October 1918 he ended up with the 609th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Final Service No. 670018). Having served his whole time in the UK he was demobilized on 19th March 1919 and went to live at Old Wareham Road, Newton, Parkstone, Dorset. No Medal records have been found though his Active Service form is clearly stamped 'Medal' which indicates he was entitled. The 1921 Census shows he had moved to Dewdrop Cottage, Sedgehill, Wiltshire, working as a Bacon Curer for C & G Prideaux at Motcombe, Dorset. He had later moved to Peasemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset, at the time of his death on 1st May 1938 in the Infirmary at Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Images:

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Bertram James Pike

18th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pike

Other names: Bertram James

Locations in this story:
Stour Provost, Dorset
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Italy
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. James Street, Shaftesbury
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Bertram James Pike was born at Stour Provost, Dorset, on 18th January 1883 and baptised at Stour Row Church, Dorset, on 29th January 1883, the son of James Pike and Julia Agnes Christina Pike (née Bastable). He lived his early life in and around the Stour Row, Shaftesbury, area. He became a wheelwright like his father and married Lucy Maria White at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 17th February 1908. They went on to have one child.

Bertram enlisted on 10th December 1915 and was placed on reserve until mobilized on 30th April 1917 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner Wheelwright (Service No. 158683). He served in Italy from 29 Sep 1918, the latter period with the 438th Siege Battery, and was discharged on 28th March 1919 having been awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents-in-law at 8 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Wheelwright on his own account. He then went on to live at Higher Duncliffe, Stour Provost, until, by the 1939 Register, he had moved back to 8 St James Street, Shaftesbury, now described as a Builder. His wife died in 1943 and he subsequently re-married Violet Coombs in 1951 in Shaftesbury. He died on 4th January 1954 whilst living at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, and was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 9 Jan 1954.

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The National Archives

John Pearson

18th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pearson

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Norfolk Mount, Halifax, Yorkshire
Love Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Leeds, Yorkshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Chapel Allerton, Halifax, West Yorkshire

Story:
John Pearson was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, on 16th January 1898 and baptised there at St. James Church on 10th February 1898, the son of Joseph Wild Pearson and Annie Pearson (née Barker). Shortly after his baptism the family moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset, where his father carried on business as a Bookseller, Printer and Stationer at 11 High Street, Shaftesbury. (John's mother had died in 1904 and his father re-married a Sarah Hitchens in Halifax in 1905.) He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School. John was working for the Post Office when he enlisted on 2nd March 1916 and mobilized on 23rd October 1916 joining the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 127658). Because of his expertise he trained as a Wireless Operator and served in France from 23 Feb 1917. Whilst serving there with the East Divisional Signals Company he was gassed on 16th September 1917. He was demobilized on 14th October 1919 and gave his address as 11 High Street, Shaftesbury, where he was also recorded in the 1921 Census working as a Post Office Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By 1927 John had moved back to Halifax where he married Doris Greenwood during 1927. They appear to have had only one child. By the 1939 Register John was living at 99 Norfolk Mount, Chapel Allerton, Halifax, West Yorkshire, working as a Post Office Sorting Clerk plus being a volunteer Fireman with the Auxiliary Fire Service. John's brother Ralph (b.1891) also served in the conflict, with the East Yorkshire Regiment and the King's African Rifles. John died in the Leeds Registry District in 1966.

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Ralph Pearson