1914-1918 Archives - Page 120 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Alfred Joseph Gurd

Surname: Gurd

Other names: Alfred Joseph

Locations in this story:
Stoke Devonport, Plymouth, Devon
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Andover, Hampshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury
France

Story:
Alfred Joseph Gurd was born in Stoke Devonport, Plymouth, on 26th July 1891 but his birth was not registered until his family arrived in Shaftesbury, Dorset, where he was baptised on 27th September 1891 at St. James' Church. He was the son of Henry Gurd (described as a 'Ship's Corporal') and Mary Ann Gurd (née Davis). The family resided at 10 St. James, Shaftesbury. Alfred enlisted as a Private with the 8th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment on 1st February 1915 (Service No. 19665). He served in France but only until 6th June 1917 when he was discharged as unfit for further duty due to stomach abscesses. He was awarded the Silver Badge No. 431480 along with the Victory and British medals and the 1915 Star. He married Elizabeth M. Sennett in 1924 and by the 1939 Register they were living at 2 Norman Court Cottages, Andover, Hampshire, and Alfred was working as a Dairyman. His wife passed away in 1959 and he remarried Hilda E. Ewins in Salisbury, Wiltshire, during 1960. There were no children by either marriage. He died in Salisbury in 1969.

Alfred's brother Percy Arthur (b.1894) also served in the war, with the Royal Engineers.

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Percy Arthur Gurd

Robert Roy Gray

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Somerset Light Infantry, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Robert Roy

Locations in this story:
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ireland
Gallipoli, Turkey
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Robert Roy Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1868 and baptised at St. James' Church on 26th July 1868, the son of George Gray and Hannah Elizabeth Gray (née Wright). (A previous child called Robert had been born in January 1867 but had not survived.) Robert married Alice Louisa Brickell at St. James' Church on 14th July 1888 and they went on to have eleven children, one of whom, Frederick Percival Gray (b. 1896), was killed at Gallipoli on 21st August 1915. Robert had had previous experience with the Dorset Yeomanry. He enlisted on 18th April 1918 but was not mobilized until 6th September 1918 when he joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 54998). He was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment from 5th December 1918 until his discharge on 24th January 1919 (Service No. 69393). He had served in Ireland and there are no records of any medals being awarded. By the time of the 1939 Register, Robert was living as a widower at 5 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Retired Builder's Labourer. He died locally in 1946.

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Frederick Percival Gray

Maurice Gray

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Lancaster (Kings Own), Training Infantry Battalion Reserve /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Maurice

Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Poole, Dorset
Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Story:
Maurice Gray was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 12th June 1898, the son of Thomas 'Tom' Gray and Sarah Jane Gray (née Adams). They lived at Brickhill (now called Church Hill), Enmore Green, during his early years. Maurice enlisted on 10th July 1917 and was placed on reserve until mobilized on 19th February 1917 when he joined the 35th, followed by the 210th, Training Infantry Battalion Reserve as a Private. (Service No. 8/9464). He was transferred to the 7th Battalion of the King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment on 15th August 1917 and then the 1st/5th Battalion from 8th February 1918 and served in France from 25 July 1917 (Service No. 28197). He was demobilized on 14th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. At that time he gave his address as Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. By the time of his marriage to Dorothy Bessie Peddle in 1922 in Shaftesbury he had moved to 91 St. James Street. There was one child of the marriage. By the 1939 Register the family were living at 20 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, and Maurice was working as a Grocer's Shop Assistant. He died in the Poole Registration District in 1977 and was later buried at the United Reform Church, Shaftesbury.

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Jasper James Gray

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Jasper James

Locations in this story:
Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Jasper James Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17th December 1871, the son of Alfred Gray and Elizabeth Jane Gray (née Toomer). He married Emily Elizabeth Petty in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 24th December 1899. They had one child in 1901 before Emily died in 1912. Jasper remarried on 1st January 1913 to Martha Ann Weldon, herself a widow of a Mr. Wilmot, at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury. There were no recorded children of the marriage.

Jasper enlisted on 1st November 1918 as a Private with the 3rd Battalion, 73rd Squadron, of the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. R/444948). He served in the UK only and was discharged on 21st June 1919. There were no medal records found. His brother Frederick John also served in the war, with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

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Frederick John Gray

Henry Isaac Gray

25th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Henry Isaac

Locations in this story:
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset
The Cross Keys Inn, Devizes, Wiltshire
Salonika, Greece
Coombe Lodge, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. Martin's Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Queen's Head, The Embankment, Twickenham, Middlesex

Story:
Henry Isaac Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 19th November 1886 and baptised at St. James' Church on 12th December 1886, the son of Samuel Gray and Sarah Ann Gray (née Oxford). He lived with his family on Gold Hill, Shaftesbury for most of his early life until his marriage to Elizabeth Cotton at St. Martin's Church, Salisbury, on 23rd October 1907. They went on to have four children. By 1911 Henry was living at the Cross Keys Inn, Devizes, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 19th November 1915 and was immediately placed on reserve and not mobilized until 27th April 1917 when he joined the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. M/316796). He served in Salonika as a lorry driver from 15 July 1917. He was discharged on 27th March 1919 being 'no longer physically fit for service' due to malaria. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at the Queen's Head, The Embankment, Twickenham, Middlesex, as a the Licensee. By the 1939 Register he had moved to Coombe Lodge, Salisbury Road, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He died in Wilton, Wiltshire on 25th May 1982 and was buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Shaftesbury, aged 95 years.

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Frank Gray

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Jutland
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blaenau, Gwent, Wales

Story:
Frank Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th September 1895 and baptised at St. James' Church on 29th September 1895, the son of John Thomas Gray and Linda Louisa Gray (nee Jenkins). The family lived at Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury (now called Church Hill). Frank enlisted in the Royal Navy on 4th September 1913 to serve for a period of 12 years (Service No. J17472). He served on a number of ships but memorably on HMS Colussus at the Battle of Jutland. The battleship was the only ship of the Dreadnought Class to be damaged in the battle but nevertheless managed to remain on station throughout. Frank had by then become a leading seaman. He married Fanny Orlinda Ellen Pike on 21st December 1918 in Shaftesbury and they went on to have two children. Frank continued in the Navy until his first discharge on 18th May 1927. He had been awarded the Victory and British War medals, the 1914/15 Star and the RN Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Frank had immediately signed on for a further period of service and went on into WW2 until his final discharge on pension on 22 Aug 1945. At the time of the 1939 Register his wife had been living with her parents at 67 St, James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Frank's death was recorded at the Blaenau, Gwent, Wales, Registry in Apr 1975. His brothers, Sidney Charles Gray and Harry Gray, both served in the Army but regrettably both lost their lives in the conflict.

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William Charles George Ginn

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Hampshire Regiment, Royal Army Service Corps, Worcestershire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ginn

Other names: William Charles George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sea Road, Pokesdown, Hampshire
Christchurch, Hampshire
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Livingstone Road, Pokesdown, Hampshire
Bournemouith, Hampshire

Story:
William Charles George Ginn was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9th October 1884 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 4th December 1884, the son of William Ginn and Jane Ginn (née Stroud). William Charles lived with his family in Shaftesbury until 1891 when they moved from the area. William married Emma Yandell on 21st September 1910 at Christchurch, Hampshire, and they had at least one child. They lived by then at 53 Sea Road, Pokesdown, Hampshire, where William was working as a milkman.

He enlisted on 8th December 1915 and was placed on reserve with the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No. 30350). He was mobilized on 2nd June 1916 when he joined the 17th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 381018). He was again transferred to the Army Service Corps on 28th December 1918 as a Driver (Service No. T/446804). He was demobilized on 27th September 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was living at 13 Livingstone Road, Pokesdown, Hampshire, latterly working in a Royal Navy Cordite Factory. He died on the 1st November 1959 in Christchurch Hospital.

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Walter Matthews Gibbs

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gibbs

Other names: Walter Matthews

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
Egypt
Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset
Bath, Somerset
Blynfield Farm, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Tisbury, Wiltshire
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Walter Matthews Gibbs was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1884 and baptised at St. James' Church on 17th August 1884. He was the son of Edwin George Gibbs and Mary Gibbs (née Matthews). His siblings. Alwin Thomas Gibbs (b.1888) served in the 16th Lancers, Claude Ivor Bertie Gibbs (b.1897) served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Lucius George Gibbs (b. 1882) served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment from the time of being awarded a commission in 1915. Walter's sister, Ada Prudence Gibbs, served as a nurse with the Red Cross VAD at Tisbury, Wiltshire. The family home was at Blynfield Farm, Shaftesbury, where Walter's father was the Farmer. Walter had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Yeomanry (Reserve Militia) on 7th February 1902 and attended annual training regularly, achieving the rank of Sergeant (Service No. 691). He was eventually embodied on 5th August 1914, joining the 1st Battalion (Service No. 231) and serving at Gallipoli and in Egypt from 7th April 1915 until 29th April 1916. It was announced in the London Gazette on 3rd June 1916 that he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) after he had already been discharged, having completed his term of service, on 8th May 1916. At a very later date a certificate was issued on 7th May 1921 to the effect that he had also been Mentioned in Despatches. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. He married Mildred Mary Dare at Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset, on 18th November 1919. They went on to have three children. The 1921 Census shows he was living at Swainscombe Farm, East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Farmer. Walter regrettably died at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, Somerset, on 30 May 1931 aged only 46 years.

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Alwin Thomas Gibbs
Claude Ivor Bertie Gibbs
Lucius George Gibbs

Walter Stewart Genge

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Hussars, Machine Gun Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Genge

Other names: Walter Stewart

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hawkesdene Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Waverley Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire
France
Broadstone, Dorset
Branksome, Poole, Dorset

Story:
Walter Stewart Genge was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1st September 1889, the son of Walter Genge and Mary Genge (née Antell). He lived his early life with the family in Hawkesdene Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury. He had had previous military service with the Dorset Yeomanry which was time expired. He re-enlisted on 2nd September 1914 and joined the 9th Battalion of The Hussars Reserve Cavalry later joining the 3rd Battalion as a Private (Service No. 18335). On the 28th February 1916 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) and served with the 4th Squadron M.G. (Service No 41749). He served in France from 25 May 1915 and was eventually demobilized on 10th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals plus the 1915 Star. He married Elsie Sims on 11th October 1926 at Broadstone, Dorset. It is not known if there were any children of the marriage. By 1928 the family were living at 152 Holdenhurst Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset but by the 1939 Register Walter and Elsie had moved to 21 Waverley Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire where he was working for the Bournemouth Corporation in the Entertainments Department. He died in Bournemouth in 1969.

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Thomas William Gatehouse

24th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gatehouse

Other names: Thomas William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Zeals, Wiltshire
Walnut Farm, Sandfords, Somerset
Weston Super Mare, Somerset
Winscombe, Axbridge, Somerset

Story:
Thomas William Gatehouse was born on 30th April 1880 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at Cann Parish Church on 12th June 1881, the son of James Howe Gatehouse and Mary Gatehouse (née Farmer). He spent his childhood with his family at Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury. He married Evangeline Mary Read at St. Martin's Church, Zeals, Wiltshire, on 5th March 1912. They went on to have five children. Thomas had had 12 years previous service with the Dorsetshire Regiment and had served in Malta, India and South Africa and was the holder of the Queen's South African Medal with Clasps and had been discharged to the reserves. He was embodied on 26th November 1914 and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 12547). He served in France from 31 Dec 1916 and later received a serious gun shot wound to the head and lesser ones to the right hand. He was eventually discharged on 17th March 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as a Life pension. The 1921 Census shows he was living at Slow Pit Cottages, Winscombe, Axbridge, Somerst, working as a Quarryman. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Walnut Farm, Sandfords, Somerset, still working as a quarryman. He died in the Weston Super Mare Registration area in 1965. His brothers, Ernest Edward, Sidney Herbert, Percy George and Charles Howe, also served in the conflict and survived whilst his nephew, Victor Stokes, was killed during the war in an accident. His remaining brother, Walter John, was purported to have served in the war but no reliable military record can be found.

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