1914-1918 Archives - Page 123 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Frederick John Bown

Surname: Bown

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Blandford, Dorset
France
Gigant Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick John Bown was born on 13th March 1895 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Frederick John Bown and Ellen Bown (née Wareham). The family lived at 8 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, moving, by 1911, to Park Road, Blandford, Dorset. Frederick enlisted on the 23rd February 1916 and joined the Royal Flying Corps eventually holding the rank of Corporal (Service No. 23420). On 23rd March 1918 he was compulsorily transferred to the 6th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. 46196) quickly followed by a further transfer to the 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the Guards Machine Gun Regiment (Service No. 2155) finally holding the rank of Sergeant. Whilst with the RFC he had served in France; otherwise he was based at home except for a short period from 27 Jun 1918. He was demobilized on 18th July 1919 and took up residence at 161 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. By the 1921 Census he was shown living with his parents at 159 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, described as a Motor Garage Proprietor He married Violet Annie Courtney in 1925 and they went on to have three children. By the 1939 Register the family had moved to 125 Gigant Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he was employed as a Motor Engineer. He died in Salisbury on 16th January 1970.

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William Bertie Bealing

4th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bealing

Other names: William Bertie

Locations in this story:
Sherborne Causeway, Enmore Green, Dorset
India
Egypt
Gaza, Palestine
Poole, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset
Nunwell, Cattistock, Dorset

Story:
William Bertie Bealing was born at Sherborne Causeway, Enmore Green, Dorset, on 20th October 1896, the son of William George Bealing and Martha Bealing (nee Smart). He lived his early life in the Sherborne Causeway area. He enlisted on 15th June 1914 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 200587). (His second name was shown as Bertram on Military Records whereas the General Register Office record indicates 'Bertie'). He served in India and then Egypt and Gaza. On the 14th June 1918 he received a gunshot wound in the lower forearm. He was demobilized on 28th June 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Forces War Medal. In 1921 he married Lily (or Lilian) Evelyn Oliver in Poole, Dorset, and they went on to have one son. The 1921 Electoral Roll shows him living at the Police Station, Poole, Dorset, he being a Police Constable. By the 1939 Register the family were still living in Poole in Police accommodation. The last known address was Nunwell, Cattistock, Dorset (1955 Probate Record) when his estate was wound up following his death in Dorchester County Hospital, Dorchester, on 25th June 1955 following which he was later buried in Dorchester Cemetery.

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Edgar Robert Barnes

4th September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Barnes

Other names: Edgar Robert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wantage, Berkshire
Cippenham Lane, Slough, Buckinghamshire
Knap Hill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Windsor, Berkshire
Steventon, Berkshire

Story:
Edgar Robert Barnes was born on 31st January 1896 at Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Gideon Barnes and Kate Barnes (nee Miles). By the 1911 Census they were living at Knap Hill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Edgar enlisted on the 6th October 1914 and joined the 58th (London Division) of the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. S1030). On 1st September 1916 he was confirmed as a Regular in the Corps and given a new Service No. S4/238194. He served in France from 4 Feb 1917 and was discharged on 26th May 1919 on compassionate grounds due to the earlier death of his father during 1917. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 76 Mill Street, Wantage, Berkshire, living with his widowed mother and working as a Clerk employed by the Air Ministry with No 3 Stores Depot, RAF Milton, Steventon, Berkshire. He married Clara A, Moore in Windsor, Berkshire, during 1924 and they went on to have one child. By the 1939 Register the family were living at 'Shaston', Cippenham Lane, Slough, Bucks, where Robert was a Civil Servant with the Inland Revenue Tax Office. No record can be found of his death.

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Percy Thomas Alford

3rd September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alford

Other names: Percy Thomas

Locations in this story:
Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
East Down, Blandford, Dorset
Bozley Hill, Cann
Butts Knapp, Cann
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bath, Somerset

Story:
Percy Thomas Alford was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1887, and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 13 Mar 1887 the son of James Alford and Hannah Alford (née Pike). In 1891 the family were living at 5 Butts Knapp in Cann. In 1891 they were still living there and Percy was employed as an errand boy. By 1911 they had moved to Boyne Cottage, Cann and he was working as a carter on a farm. He married Mary Ann Perrett at Cann on 23rd December 1913. They lived at East Down, Blandford, Dorset, where he worked as a gardener and lodge keeper. They had one child in 1914 who regrettably passed away in 1918. Percy enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery on 10th December 1915 as a Gunner (Service No. 126723). He is known to have served abroad and contracted tuberculosis at some time towards the end of the war and was eventually declared unfit for further service and discharged on 6th December 1919, receiving the Silver War Badge No. B347557. He was also awarded the Victory and British medals. After the war Percy and Mary had a home in Bozley Hill, Cann, though the 1921 Census shows he was a patient at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Bath, Somerset, described as a Gardener. On 31st March 1925 Percy died at Bath Military Hospital and on 4th April he was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann.

Sadly two of Percy's brothers served and died in the war: Ernest John (b.1882) with the Royal Garrison Artillery and William (b.1890) with the Welsh Regiment.

Printed sources:
"The Alford Family of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset", Gold Hill Museum Archives.

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William Alford

Robert John Hayter

3rd September 2019/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment, Labour Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hayter

Other names: Robert John

Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Robert John Hayter was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset on 23rd July 1887 and baptised at St. James Church on 4th September 1887, the son of William Hayter and Elizabeth Hayter (née Padfield). In 1911 the family lived at 30 St. James Street, Shaftesbury and Robert was employed as a Coach Painter. He married Florence Elizabeth Gamlin on 13th Mar 1913 and they went on to have at least two children. He enlisted on 10th December 1915 and was mobilized on 29th March 1916, joining the Devonshire Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 23840) with whom he served in France from 15 Jun 1917. He was later transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 144607) and served with the 640th and 182nd Companies. He was demobilized on 9th June 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 5 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still working as a Coach painter. and by the 1939 Register, Robert and family had moved to 310 Higher Blandford Road, Shaftesbury, now employed as a Postman. He died in September 1957 and was buried in St. Rumbold's Churchyard, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 7th September 1957.

Robert's brother Frank Percy (b.1895) also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment.

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Frank Percy Hayter

Philip Ernest Silcox

2nd September 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Silcox

Other names: Philip Ernest

Locations in this story:
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Motcombe, Dorset
Kensington Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire

Story:
Philip Ernest Silcox was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15th December 1897 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 13th January 1898, the son of Edwin James Silcox and Emma Jane Silcox (née Weldon). They lived in Bleke Street, Shaftesbury. The father, Edwin, died in 1900 and his wife went on to re-marry Albert Coward pre-1908. The family went to live at Barton Cottage, Enmore Green, Motcombe. Philip became a Postman in March 1914 in Shaftesbury just prior to the outbreak of war. He enlisted on 15th May 1916 and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service Nos. 153169 and TF725954). He was discharged at some time around March 1917 for an unknown reason but was appointed as a Postman at Portsmouth at that time. He had been awarded the Victory and British medals. He married Gladys Violet Louisa Dean in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 1922 but she regrettably died in 1926. Philip went on to re-marry Nora Fanny Wetherall in July 1928 in Portsmouth, Hants. They went on to have two children. Philip and family were living at 160 Kensington Road, Portsmouth at the time of the 1939 Register and Philip was working as an Assistant Postal Inspector as well as being an Air Raid Warden. He had moved to 58 London Road, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, by the time he died in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Bucks, on 9th March 1954. His brothers, Harry Silcox and Philip Ernest Silcox, also served in the conflict.

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Howard William Highman

2nd September 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Irish Rifles /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Highman

Other names: Howard William

Locations in this story:
Fieldings, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Stour Provost, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
Salonika, Greece
Egypt
Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Howard William Highman was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th January 1897, the son of George Highman and Elizabeth Highman (nee Roberts). He lived at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, up until he volunteered for war service during which time his father had died on 13 Sep 1901. He enlisted on 8th December 1915 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment (7th Reserve Battalion) as a Private (Service No. 17605). He transferred shortly after to the Royal Irish Rifles (Service No. 10074). Having served in Salonika from 5 Jan 1917. He returned to England and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 2nd January 1918 (later the Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) (Service No. 138549) and served in Egypt from2 Jan 1918. He achieved the rank of AC1 and remained until demobilized on 21st May 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother still at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working a a Motor Mechanic. He re-enlisted in the RAF (Service No. 138519) on 18th April 1931 and served through until placed on Reserve on 18th April 1939. He had married Florence Amelia Alice Hyde in 1928 (Bournemouth District Register). There were possibly two children of the marriage. The family lived at 12 Fieldings, Shaftesbury at the time of the 1939 Register and, once no longer serving with the RAF, Howard became an Automobile Association Road Patrolman. He died in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th December 1976.

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St. James Street junction with Tanyard Lane

Reginald John Baker

20th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Baker

Other names: Reginald John

Locations in this story:
Tan Yard, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
China
Jutland
Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Lydlinch, Dorset
Compton Dundon, Somerset
Llangafelach, Swansea, Glamorganshire
Southsea, Hampshire

Story:
Reginald John Baker was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st December 1879, the son of Samuel Baker and Sarah Jane Baker (née Edgar). His early life was spent with his parents at Tan Yard, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was living with his grandparents in Compton Dundon, Somerset, at the time of the 1891 Census and by 1901 was boarding in Llangafelach, Swansea, Glamorganshire and working as a Fitter.

He joined the Royal Navy on 16 May 1901 (Service No. 270449). He served on many ships in time throughout the world and by 1911 was stationed on board HMS Inconstant in the China Area. He served at the Battle of Jutland in WW1 and was finally discharged on 19th October 1918. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. His final rank was Acting Artificer (Engineering). The 1921 Census shows him living at 36 Bradford Road, Southsea, Hampshire, described as an Artificer Engineer (RN) Retired. He is known to have lived at 18 St John's Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire, where he died on 2nd March 1937, He was interred at Lydlinch, Dorset (his parents' birth place) on 7th March 1937. Probate was granted later to his widow, Martha Baker, though no record of the marriage can be found.

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Enmore Green. New Buildings in the foreground

Albert Charles Brickell

20th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Hampshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Brickell

Other names: Albert Charles

Locations in this story:
New Buildings, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Oakley Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Story:
Albert Charles Brickell was born on 27th September 1889 in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Albert Brickell and Emma Jane Brickell (née Adams). By the 1911 Census the family was living at 7 New Buildings, Enmore Green. Albert married Edith Elizabeth Day on 10th May 1915 at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset. They went on to have three children. Albert enlisted on 12th December 1915, and joined the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 35975). He served in France from 22 Oct 1916 and whilst there received two gunshot wounds - one to the left eyebrow and the other to the right thigh. These were sufficient for him to be eventually discharged and on the 20th June 1918 he received the King's Certificate No. 3500 and the Silver War Badge No. 414064 and a small pension. He also received the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows the family living at East Oakley Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, with Albert working as a House Painter. The 1939 Register shows the address as 'Mendip', Oakley Lane, Basingstoke. Albert was then described as a coach painter. He died during March 1980 in Basingstoke at the age of 80 years.

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Richard Charles Mullins

20th August 2019/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Mullins

Other names: Richard Charles

Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
Richard Charles Mullins was born on 1st May 1895 at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset and baptised there on 2nd June 1895, the son of Charles Mullins and Elizabeth Mullins (née Lucas). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Cann Common, Shaftesbury. He joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 560) but later transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) as a Gunner (Service No.334552). During his time in the services he had been in France & Flanders. Following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Elsie Greenwood at Ludwell, Wiltshire, on 3rd April 1920 and they went on to have two children. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died at Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th September 1973 and was later interred at Melbury Abbas alongside his wife who had predeceased him in 1966.

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