1914-1918 Archives - Page 120 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

William Henry Fletcher

11th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Machine Gun Corps, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Fletcher

Other names: William Henry

Locations in this story:
Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France
Egypt
Salonika, Greece
Willinghdon Road, Wood Green, Middlesex
Haringey, Greater London
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William Henry Fletcher was born at Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 30th October 1894 and baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 6th January 1895. He was the son of William Fletcher and Charlotte Ann Fletcher (née Watts) and brother of Sidney Frank (b.1892) who was killed during the Great War. During his childhood William lived with his family at Higher Coombe. He enlisted on 10th September 1914 with the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 14253) but was immediately placed on reserve. He rejoined on 22nd September 1914 and was transferred to the 10th (Service) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment on 30th September 1914 (Service No. 13507). He embarked for France on 22nd September 1915 and on 31st October 1915 re-embarked for Egypt. He then served in Salonika during which time he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 14th August 1917 (Service No. 74545) and was attached to the 79th Company (Tank Corps). He suffered during his time in the Near East with malaria and had various spells in hospital. Nevertheless on the 22nd December 1918 he was promoted to Sergeant. He embarked for England on 11th April 1919 and was eventually demobilized on 25th May 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. By the 1939 Register he is shown living at 157 Willingdon Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, working as a hotel valet. He remained single and died in the Haringey, Greater London, Registry District in 1981. Two other brothers, Percy Edwin John Fletcher and Victor Reginald Fletcher, also served and survived.

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Sidney Frank Fletcher

William Fanner

11th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Fanner

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Melbury Road, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Bute Road, Croydon, Surrey
Butts Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Islington, London
Croydon, Surrey

Story:
William Fanner was born on 19th December 1897 at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of James Fanner and Harriet Jane Fanner (née Stacey). His siblings included Frederick, who served in the Dorsetshire Regiment and the Royal Horse Artillery. The family lived at 4 Melbury Road, Melbury Abbas for a time before moving to Butts Knap, Cann, Shaftesbury by 1901.

William enlisted on the 3rd June 1916 and was mobilized on 25th September 1916 when he joined the Royal Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. 223395). He served in France from 25 Mar 1917 with the 25th Motor Ambulance Company. At one time he was marked down as a deserter (following home leave) and on 30th May 1919 an inquiry was held. Unbeknown to the authorities he had been in hospital and this had not been recorded. Consequently the charge of desertion was duly dropped on 2nd July 1919. He was demobilized on 28th November 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with an Uncle at 53 Marlborough Road, Islington, London, working as a Chauffeur. He married Grace Clara Coleman in 1924 in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District. They went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he and his family were living at 36 Bute Road, Croydon, Surrey, described as a Motor Driver. His death was registered in Croydon during 1969.

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Frederick Fanner

St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Tom William Dennis

11th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dennis

Other names: Tom William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hereford
Chestnut Grove, New Malden, Surrey
Brighton, Sussex
France
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Tan Yard Court, St. James, Shaftesbury
Acton, Middlesex

Story:
Tom William Dennis was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1879 and baptised at St. James' Church on 28th December 1879, the son of John Dennis and Emma Jane Dennis (née Blandford). He spent his first few years living with the family in Tan Yard Court, St. James, Shaftesbury, until the family moved to Hereford. Tom married Ruby Hilda Philips in New Malden, Surrey, on 22nd June 1911. They went on to have one child. Tom enlisted on 2nd November 1915 (giving his address as 102 Chestnut Grove, New Malden, Surrey) and joined the Army Service Corps (Service No. SS/21328). He rose to the rank of Corporal and served in France from 16 Dec 1915 being eventually demobilized on 6th February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows he was living at 5 Bayham Road, Acton, Middlesex, working as a Newspaper Ledger Clerk for the Times Newspapers. His death on the 5th September 1937 was registered at the Brighton, Sussex, Registry.

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Samuel Thomas Dennis

10th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dennis

Other names: Samuel Thomas

Locations in this story:
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Wandsworth, London
Belleville Road, Clapham Junction, London, SW
Weston Super Mare, Somerset

Story:
Samuel Thomas Dennis was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21 Dec 1887, the son of Thomas Dennis and Emily Norton Dennis (née Barnes). The family lived at 31 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, according to Census records, from 1891 to 1911. Samuel moved to London and married Isabella Brickell at St. Luke's Church, Wandsworth, London, on 11th February 1909. They went on to have one daughter.

He enlisted on 10th May 1915 and joined the Royal Army Service Corps (604th Mechanical Transport Company) as a Driver (Service No DM2/097161). He served in France from 9 Sep 1915 and was eventually discharged on 1st July 1919, giving his address as 31 Belleville Road, Clapham Junction, London, SW. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. On 20th November 1919 he made a belated application for a pension based on an accident in the field when a lorry ran over his foot. This was considered by a panel but rejected with the exception that he received the sum of £35 as a gratuity in lieu. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was still living at 31 Belleville Road, (now) Wandsworth, London, working as a Compositor. He died in the Weston Super Mare, Somerset, Registration District in 1965.

Samuel's brother Ernest Edwin (b.1895) also served in the war, with the Royal Marine Artillery.

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Ernest Edwin Dennis

Robert Dean

9th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dean

Other names: Robert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Motcombe, Dorset
Newark, Nottinghamshire
Headstone Lane, Harrow, Middlesex
France
The Rhine Area, Germany
Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Brent, Greater London

Story:
Robert Dean was born on 26 Feb 1894 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 1st April 1894 the son of Herbert Francis Dean, a carpenter, and Kate Ellen Dean (née Adams). By 1901 the family had moved to Enmore Green, Motcombe, Dorset. By 1911 Robert was working as carpenter's apprentice. He enlisted on 3rd December 1915 but was not mobilized until 22nd January 1916 when he joined the Royal Engineers as a Private (Service No. 146048). After training and passing his proficiency Test as a Carpenter he was posted to France on 25 Jun 1916 as a Sapper. Records show he was admitted to hospital in December 1916 after which he returned to duty. He was admitted to hospital again on 3rd August 1917 and transferred back to England on 24th August 1917 to the Red Cross Hospital at Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, where he remained until 24th October 1917. Just prior to his hospitalization he was awarded the Military Medal whilst serving with the 155th Field Company per an announcement in the London Gazette on 17th July 1917 - no citation can be found except for a medal certificate. The medal awarded was numbered 93815. Following his recovery he was posted to the 17th Field Company on 3rd April 1918. After the Armistice he found himself in the Rhine Area of Germany and it was from here he proceeded to England for discharge on 30th September 1919. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Dorothy Nellie Pepper on 8 Nov 1919 at Christ Church, Newark, Nottinghamshire. They went on to have two children. The 1921 Census shows him living at 44 Askern Road, Carcroft, Adwick le Street, West Riding, Yorkshire, working still as a Carpenter on buildings. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 64 Headstone Lane, Harrow, Middlesex, where he was described as a carpenter and joiner. He died in the Brent, Greater London, area during 1971 aged 77 years.

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Frank Davis

9th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Coldstream Guards /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Davis

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Motcombe, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cherry Orchard Farm, Cann, Shaftesbury
Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Frank Davis was born in Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury in 1882 and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, on 26th February 1882, the son of Frederick Davis and Emily Davis née Jenkins. He was the brother of Harry (b.1880) and Charles (b.1888) Davis, both of whom lost their lives in the First World War serving in the Dorsetshire Regiment. His other brothers, William Robert (b.1886) also served in the war with the Dorsets and Edward Frederick (b. 1898) with the Inniskilling Fusiliers. By 1901 the family had moved to Cherry Orchard Farm, St. James, Cann, Shaftesbury (Per 1901 Census). Frank married Rose Oliver on 19th October 1902 at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, and they went on to have one child. By 1911 they were living at 3 Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in the Coldstream Guards as a Guardsman (Service No. 20782) on 6 Dec 1915 but was not embodied until 9 Oct 1916. He was discharged on 11 Mar 1919 and later made a pension claim on 14th April 1920 which was rejected apart from receiving a £5 grant in lieu. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him still living at 3 Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury, working as a Baker's Roundsman. He died in Shaftesbury in 1934 and was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 22 Feb 1934.

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Harry Davis
Charles Davis
William Robert

George Burridge

9th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Labour Corps, Royal Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burridge

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Frenchmill Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Malta
India
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
George Burridge was born in 1873 at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. Rumbolds Church, Cann, on 25 Dec 1873 the son of Charles Burridge, a Blacksmith and Farrier, and Agnes Burridge (nee Flower). The family lived in Frenchmill Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury. He had originally enlisted on 13th June 1898 with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5701) and had served in Malta and India. He was discharged to reserves on 12 Jun 1910. At the outbreak of war he re-enlisted on 26 Aug 1914 with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 7652). He was transferred on numerous occasions - 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (S/n 19923), 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (S/n 14683), The Labour Corps (S/n 451361) and finally, the 39th Garrison Company, 43rd (G) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (S/n G/105488). He served in France from 6 May 1915 and received gunshot wounds in July 1916. He was eventually discharged on 23rd February 1917 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He gave his home address then as Hawkesdene Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, where he was living at the time of the 1921 Census. He had married Ellen Mary Sheridan at Shaftesbury on 13th September 1917 and they had two children. George died on 15th Jun 1924 and was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 19th June 1924. George's brothers, Maurice Burridge and Walter Burridge also served in the conflict in the Royal Navy. A cousin, Percy Albert Burridge, who had been born in Dorchester, Dorset, in 1877 and was also in the Royal Navy, registered the address of the family for the 1918 Absent Voters List and remained so until 1921.

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George Reginald Burr

9th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy, South Wales Borderers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burr

Other names: George Reginald

Locations in this story:
Guys Marsh, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Abertillery, South Wales
St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury
St. George's Road, Shaftesbury
Magdelene Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Reginald Burr was born in Guys Marsh, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 21st October 1895, the son of John Burr and Elizabeth Ann Burr (née Brockway). He was living with the family at Guys Marsh in 1901 but by 1911 had moved to St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury. At the time of his enlistment on 10th February 1915 he was living in Abertillery, South Wales, and gave his occupation as a coal miner. He joined the South Wales Borderers as Private (Service No. 21372) but on 5th March 1915 he was discharged due to defective eyesight. He was issued with an armband on 31st January 1916 which signified he was a volunteer yet to be mobilised. On 14th September 1917 he again enlisted, this time with the Royal Navy (no mention of his eye problems) and joined HMS Vivid II (Service No. K45909). He was discharged on 22nd September 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Frances Emily Sharp in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd November 1923 and they went on to have eleven children. In 1924 the family were living at 3 Magdelelne lane, with his wife's parents but by the 1939 Register he had moved to 2 Bellevue Terrace, Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Builder's Labourer. From here they moved to 51 St Georges Road, Shaftesbury, where George died on 12th December 1952. His burial service at St Rumbolds Church, Cann, was followed by his interment at The Mampitts Road Cemetery on 17th December 1952. His brother, Job Burr, also served in the conflict. George's name was also on the Roll of Honour published in the Nov 1918 issue of the St. James' Church Parish magazine.

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Percy William Burden

8th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Labour Corps, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burden

Other names: Percy William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Black House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Yew Tree Farm, Whiteparish, Salisbury, Wiltshire
France
Bockner End, Nr. Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Swallowfield, Berkshire
Wokingham, Berkshire

Story:
Percy William Burden was born at Sedgehill, Wiltshire, (registered at Shaftesbury, Dorset) in 1898, the son of Herbert William Burden and Mary Augusta Burden (née Coombes). The family were living at Black House, 2 Sedgehill, Wiltshire in 1901 but had moved away prior to the 1911 Census. Percy enlisted on 25th July 1916 but was not embodied until 14th Feb 1917 when he joined the 93rd Reserve Training Battalion as a Private (Service No. TR/7/7265). After appropriate training he was transferred to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 30005) and posted to France. He was frequently in hospital due to debility and this possibly led him to be transferred to the 77th Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 396700) on 5th October 1917. He was demobilized on 9th March 1919 giving has address as Yew Tree Farm, Whiteparish, Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Minne G. Shackleford in 1936 in the Wokingham, Berkshire, Registry area. It is not known if they had children. By the 1939 Register he was living at Bockner End, Nr. Marlow, Bucks, working as a Cowman on a farm. He died at Swallowfield, Berkshire, in 1967.

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Francis Hannen Buckland

8th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Buckland

Other names: Francis Hannen

Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Italy
Lower Weston, Bath
Hammersmith, London
Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury
High Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
Francis Hannen Buckland was born on 30th September 1878 in St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there at St. James' Church on 27th October 1878, the son of William Thomas Buckland and Emma Buckland (née Guy). The family were living in Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, and the father was described as an Auctioneer. Francis married Jemima Grace Yaxley on 28th November 1908 at St. Johns Church, Lower Weston, Bath. They lived at 51 High Steet, Shaftesbury and went on to have two children. Francis enlisted on 19th August 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 73120). He served in France from 16 Jun 1916 and later in Italy and was employed as an office telegraphist. His last posting was to the 7th Divisional Signal Company after which he was demobilized on 20th February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 59 High Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Post ooofice Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Boscombe Road, Hammersmith, London, and was now described as a Filing Clerk for Post Office Telegraphs. He died in 1958 in the Paddington, London, Registry District. His brother, Walter Thomas Buckland, also served in the conflict and was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1918.

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Walter Thomas Buckland