1914-1918 Archives - Page 117 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

William Peach

Surname: Peach

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
Isle of Man

Story:
William Peach was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1874 and was baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 31st January 1875, the son of Walter Peach and Caroline Peach (nee Sims). He lived his whole life in and around Shaftesbury. He married Mary Elizabeth England on 5th January 1901 (the same year William's father died) in Shaftesbury and they appear to have had only one child. William enlisted on 25th July 1918, aged 44 years, and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 54406) serving in the UK only. He transferred to the Royal Defence Corps on 18th November 1918 (Service No. 97531) and served in the Isle of Man from 23 Nov 1918 on PoW Camp duties. He was demobilized on 29th January 1919 giving his address as 11 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, where he was also shown on the 1921 Census working as a Hairdresser. No medal records can be found in this case. He died on 25th September 1936, his residence still given as 11 Salisbury Street.

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John Padfield

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

Surname: Padfield

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
India
South Africa
France & Flanders
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
John Padfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9th June 1878 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 30th June 1878 the son of John Padfield and Jane Padfield (née Moore). He lived his early life in Love Lane, Shaftesbury. He originally enlisted on 4th January 1898 and joined the 12th Lancers of the Corps of Lancers of the Line (Service No. 4356). He served in India and South Africa gaining the Queen's South African medal with three clasps and the King's South African medal with two clasps. Whilst serving in the Army he married Kate Mahony at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury on 9th February 1903 and they set up home at 3 Laundry Lane, Shaftesbury. They went on to have two children. John was discharged to the reserves on 4th January 1905 having served five years with the colours. He was mobilized on 4th August 1914 again with the 12th Lancers (New Service No. 5156). He served in France from 19th October 1914 and whilst there transferred to the 16th Lancers (Service No. 13129). He had the rank of Private throughout his military service. He was demobilized on 29th January 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register indicate he was still at 3 Laundry Lane working as a General Builders Labourer. He died in Shaftesbury in 1941 and was buried in the Town Cemetery on 30 December 1940.

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George Padfield

17th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Padfield

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wandsworth, London
France & Flanders
Putney, London, S.W.
Battersea, London
Egypt
India
South Africa

Story:
George Padfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1871 and baptised on 7th January 1872 at St. James' Church, the son of William Padfield and Martha Ann Padfield (née Cross). His father had died in 1886. George lived in the St. James, Shaftesbury, area throughout his early years. He married Elizabeth Howard in Wandsworth, London, during 1899 and they went on to have five children. He had enlisted on 9th January 1899 and served with the 1st (Service No. 2993) and 3rd Battalions (Service No. 3/8458) of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private. He had postings to Egypt, India and South Africa, being awarded various campaign medals. He was discharged after serving 13 years. He re-enlisted on 4th October 1914 and joined the 443rd Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 528319). He served in France from 23 October 1914 until 7th August 1917, thereafter in the UK. He was demobilized on 6th March 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 census shows him living at 26 Quill Lane, Putney, Surrey, working as a Bricklayer's Labourer, and later moving to 1 Gladwyn Road, Putney, London, S.W. until his death during 1932 in the Battersea, London, Registration District.

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Charles Padfield

17th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Territorial Force /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Padfield

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury
Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Charles Padfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1st May 1884 and baptised at St. James Church on 15 Jun 1884 the son of John Charles Padfield and Mary Elizabeth Padfield (née Maidment). He lived all his early years in and around St. James, Shaftesbury. He married Florence Ethel Galpin in Shaftesbury in 1908. They went on to have three children.

Charles enlisted in February 1911 with the 4th (86th Provisional) Battalion (Territorial Force) as a Private (Service No. 4892). He was embodied at the outbreak of war (Service No. 1362) and was eventually discharged on 27th February 1916 having completed the five year term of his engagement. He re-enlisted 19th August 1916 and served with the 5th (Service) Battalion (Service No. 202498) and was finally demobilized on 20th March 1919. There is no indication from the limited records available that he served anywhere other than the UK. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. On discharge he gave 5 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, as his address though by the 1921 Census this had changed to 7 Salisbury Street from where he was working as a Painter and Paperhanger. By 1939 he had moved to 89 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, now described as a House Painter. When he died on 2nd February 1963 he had been living at 10 Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury.

Two of Charles' brothers served in the war with the Dorsetshire Regiment: Alfred George (b.1888) and Edwin (b.1891).

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Ernest William Newman

17th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Newman

Other names: Ernest William

Locations in this story:
Sutton Waldron, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe, Norwich, Norfolk
Maperton, Wincanton, Somerset
Yeovil, Somerset
West Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Ernest William Newman was born in Sutton Waldron, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th April 1899 and baptised at the Parish Church on 28th May 1899 the son of Henry Newman and Mary Elizabeth Newman (née Burden). He lived with his family at Sutton Waldron and later at East Orchard, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 29th April 1917 but was not embodied until 24th May 1918 when he joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 40979). He left for France on 12th September 1918 and was posted to the 6th Battalion. He received a gun shot wound to the shoulder on 10th October 1918 and by 15th October 1918 had been repatriated to the Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe, Norwich, from where he was discharged back to duty after recovery on 3rd December 1918. He was demobilized on 23rd January 1919 and gave his address as 19 West Orchard, Shaftesbury. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in West Orchard working as an Agricultural Labourer. He married Phyllis May Jackson on 3rd December 1933 in Maperton, Somerset, and they went on to have two children. By the 1939 Regsiter he was living at Clapton, Maperton, Wincanton, Somerset and working as a Farm Carter. He died in the Yeovil Registration District in 1982.

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Frederick Harry Bennett

7th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bennett

Other names: Frederick Harry

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Ashcombe, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Andover, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Possingworth Park, Sussex
Eastbourne, Sussex
Vicarage Road, Wallingford, Berkshire
Possingworth Park, Sussex
Waldron, Sussex

Story:
Frederick Harry Bennett was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1889, the son of Thomas Bennett and Ann (Annie) Bennett (née Witt). He lived his early life with his family at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and Ashcombe, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He married Agnes Marjorie Ingram in the Andover Registration District, Hampshire, in 1910. He enlisted with the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 36457). He was transferred to the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 76119) and served in France and Flanders where it is understood he was a sniper. After his discharge he was awarded the British War Medal. (There are no surviving military records in this case.) The 1921 Census shows him living at Keepers Cottage, Waldron, Sussex, working as a Gamekeeper but by the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 1 Vicarage Road, Wallingford, Berkshire. He took up a position of Gamekeeper at Possingworth Park, Sussex, where he was highly thought of. His death in 1968 was registered in the Eastbourne, Sussex, Registration District and buried at All Saints Church, Waldron, East Sussex. The tragedy is that he was one of five brothers of whom four, Bertie Harold, Walter Sam, Thomas William and Reginald George, were all killed in the conflict.

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Walter Sam Bennett
Bertie Harry Bennett
Reginald George Bennett
Thomas William Bennett

Bertie Merefield

7th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Merefield

Other names: Bertie

Locations in this story:
North Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Church Farm, West Stour, Dorset
France & Flanders
Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Bertie Merefield was born on 27th November 1889 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Frederick and Mary Ellen Merefield (nee Gray). The family lived in 3 North Street, Fontmell Magna, Dorset. By the outbreak of war Bertie had moved to Church Farm, West Stour, Dorset, where he was employed as a Wheelwright. He enlisted on 11th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 16th November 1916 when he joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 212394). He carried on his trade as a Wheelwright. He transferred to the Durham Light Infantry on 17 Sep 1917 (Service No. 77005) with whom he served in France and Flanders. He transferred back to the Royal Engineers (Service No. 212394) eventually becoming an Acting Lance Corporal. He was discharged on 14th October 1919. (Note his military records show him as Bertram but he was registered as Bertie.) He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He married Dorothy May P. Yeatman in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1928. It is not known if there were any children of the marriage. By the 1939 Register he was living at Restmor, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury and was working as a General Carpenter. He died locally in 1974. His brother, Sidney Stanley Merefield, also served in the conflict.

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William John Mcghee

7th October 2019/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mcghee

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Dorset
Jutland
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Whirlowdale Road, Sheffield, West Riding, Yorkshire
Poole, Dorset
Malta

Story:
William John Mcghee was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 8th November 1889 and baptised there on 8th December 1889, the son of William Mcghee and Mary Maria Mcghee (née Bown). The family lived in Northend Lane, Motcombe, Dorset, until moving to 1 Bramble Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire by 1901. William enlisted in the Royal Navy on 11 Jul 1906 as a Junior Rating and served on many ships including HMS Dreadnought at the Battle of Jutland and HMS Naiad - a Cruiser and Minelayer. He worked his way through the ranks becoming an Engine Room Artificer with a Junior Officer rank described as Mte (E) on 5th April 1917. He married Mary Ann R. Herron in the Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, Registry area in 1919 and there is evidence of at least one child of the marriage. The 1921 Census shows him still serving now aboard HMS Centurion (a King George V Class Battleship) with the rank of Engineer Lieutenant based in Malta. There is no discharge date shown on his records. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1914/15 Star. By the 1939 Register it is known that he and his wife were living at 153 Whirlowdale Road, Sheffield, West Riding, Yorkshire, and that he was employed as a Naval Ordinance Inspector (Civil Service). His death was registered in Poole, Dorset, in 1967.

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St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Percy Albert Mayo

7th October 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mayo

Other names: Percy Albert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Wandsworth, London
Kempshott Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire
High Street, Shaftesbury
St. James, Shaftesbury
Basingstoke, Hampshire

Story:
Percy Albert Mayo was born on 10 March 1895 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church on 7th April 1895, the son of Alfred Mayo and Eva Mayo (née Warren). He lived with his parents at 93 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, and later at 1 High Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 20th Nov 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 226291). On being posted to France on 22 February 1917 he joined the 312th Road Construction Unit and was allotted Service No. WR/22416. He was demobilized on 21st November 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living back with his parents at 1 High Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Painter (out of work). He married Mildred Kate Day in Wandsworth, London, in 1923. By the 1939 Register he was living in Oakley Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, working as a Hall Porter and had moved to 105 Kempshott Lane, Basingstoke, by the time he died on 1st December 1949.

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Fred Toogood

3rd October 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Toogood

Other names: Fred

Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
India
Yeovil, Somerset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Mesopotamia

Story:
Fred Toogood was born in St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1884 according to his Military enlistment papers. There is little information about his early years but it is known he lived for a time in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He had enlisted prior to WW1 with the Special Reserves of the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and served with them for six years. By 1911 was working in Yeovil and boarding out. He married Margaret Annie Dunn in Yeovil, Somerset, in 1914. He was embodied on 1st September 1914 and joined the 5th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 2466) he later joined the 5th Battalion (Service No. 240823) in Mesopotamia and was attached to the Tank Corps. Whilst there he suffered severe wounds to his left leg and was transferred to India for medical treatment. Unfortunately his leg had to be amputated and he was sent back to the UK and found physically unfit for further service. He was discharged on 10 Aug 1917 with a full pension for life and awarded the British War Medal as well as the Silver War Badge No. 124600 . He went to live in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where his wife had been staying, before moving back to 44 Park Street, Yeovil, Somerset, and by the 1921 Census had moved to 4 Dampier Place, Yeovil, where he died in 1937.

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