PN146

Percy Charles Hayter

Surname: Hayter
Other names: Percy Charles
Other people in this story:
Charles Hayter
Susan Jane Edwards Hayter née Upjohn
Harriett Minden Hayter née Bendell
Harry John Hayter
Ernest George Hayter
Locations in this story:
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cats Ash, Shepton Mallet, Somerset

Story:
Percy Charles Hayter was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset in December 1881, and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 1 Jan 1882 the son of Charles Hayter and Susan Jane Edwards Hayter (née Upjohn). He married Harriett Minden Bendell on 20th July 1903 at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset and set up home at 7 St. James, Shaftesbury. There were at least four children of the marriage. By the 1911 Census he had moved to Shepton Mallet, Somerset for work as a Gardener. From here, having had previous military experience with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment, he re-enlisted on 15th March 1913 as a Private in the Territorial Unit of the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 69115). He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and served throughout the war in the United Kingdom. He was transferred to the Labour Corps in 1918 (Service No. 200248) and then to the 16th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment with the rank of Corporal (Service No. 204670). He was discharged on 23rd April 1919 having contracted a lung disease for which he received a War Pension plus the Silver War Badge. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 4 Cats Ash, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, working as a Jobbing Gardener. Unfortunately he died in July 1926 at Shepton Mallett.  His brothers, Ernest George Hayter and Harry John Hayter, also served in the conflict. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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The National Archives

William Green

Surname: Green
Other names: William
Other people in this story:
Augustus Philip Green
Jane Green née Courtney
Bertha Maud Green née Osborne
Locations in this story:
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Marylebone, London
Denman Street, Radford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Egypt
Palestine

Story:
William Green was born in Alvediston, Wiltshire during 1879 the son of Augustus Philip Green and Jane Green (née Courtney). By the 1881 Census the family had moved to 81 York Street, Marylebone, London. William married Bertha Maud Osborne in Nottingham during 1906. There were four children of the marriage. He had enlisted in the Notts & Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment on 12th June 1910 (Service No. 612062) and served in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War. He was promoted in due time to Wheeler Sergeant. He was later attached to the Royal Horse Artillery (283rd Notts. Battery) on 20th December 1918. Discharge came on the 29th January 1920 when he received a 30% Disability Pension for 'general debility' caused by his service. He was awarded the Victory, British War and Territorial Force Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. His last known address was 268 Denman Street, Radford, Nottingham, where he died in 1937.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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The National Archives
St. James, Shaftesbury

Percy Gray

Surname: Gray
Other names: Percy
Other people in this story:
Benjamin Gray
Susan Pearce Gray née Smith
Hughina Livingstone Gray née Asher
Victor Percy Gray
Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Portland, Dorset
Brambridge, Hampshire
France
Winchester, Hampshire
Southampton, Hampshire
Malta
Bermuda
South Africa

Story:
Percy Gray was born on 5th May 1884 at Motcombe, Dorset, and baptised there on 15th June 1884, the son of Benjamin Gray and Susan Pearce Gray (née Smith). The 1901 Census shows him living with the family at 53 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, but by 1911 he had moved to 11 Moorfield Road, Portland, Dorset. During those intervening years he had served the Territorial Unit of the Hampshire Regiment from 3rd January 1903 until 2 Jan 1911 when he had been transferred to the Reserves.  During this early phase he had served in Malta, Bermuda and South Africa gaining at least four good conduct badges.   On the outbreak of WW1 he was embodied on 5th August 1914 and joined the 1st Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment as an Acting Corporal (Service No. 6722). He was posted to France on 27 Aug 1914 where he received gunshot wounds to the chest and he was discharged on 2nd January 1916, having been deemed unfit for further service.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. During 1916 he married Hughina Livingstone Asher in the Southampton, Hampshire, Registration District. There were two children of the marriage. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Woodcroft Cottages, Brambridge, Winchester, Hampshire, and was working as a Private Chauffeur.   His death was registered in the Winchester, Hampshire, Registry in 1949.  His brother, Victor Pearce Gray, also served and survived the conflict. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Gold Hill 1

George Henry Grass

Surname: Grass
Other names: George Henry
Other people in this story:
Robert Grass
Naomi Grass (nee Reynolds)
Elizabeth Selina Grass
Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
India & North West Frontier
Mandalay, Burma
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
George Henry Grass was born at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire in 1866 and baptised there on 8 May 1866, the son of Robert Grass and Naomi Grass (nee Reynolds). His mother had died in 1875. He had served with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 1740) between 2 Feb 1887 and his discharge after 12 years service on 1 Feb 1899, having served in the North West Frontier of India and Mandalay, Burma. His father died in 1908. George re-enlisted on 2nd July 1915 serving with the 1st Battalion, then the 4th Battalion and finally the 85th Provisional Battalion (Territorial Force) of the Wiltshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3653). He served in the UK only and was discharged on 10th March 1916, being 'no longer physically fit'. There are no medal records. His sister, Elizabeth Selina Grass, had become his next-of-kin for military purposes - she lived at 19 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. William died during 1925 in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter.

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Green Lane, Ashmore

Reginald Taylor Gifford

Surname: Gifford
Other names: Reginald Taylor
Other people in this story:
William Gifford
Sarah Ann Gifford née Taylor
Locations in this story:
Green Lane, Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Norwich, Norfolk

Story:
Reginald Taylor Gifford was born at Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 16th May 1888, the son of William Gifford and Sarah Ann Gifford (née Taylor). He was a Baker by trade and his mother ran the local grocery shop. He enlisted on 3rd March 1916 but was not embodied until 26th February 1917 and joined as a Private with the 57th Field Bakery, Army Service Corps, near Norwich. (Service No. S/306788) He served in the UK only due to deafness problem and was finally demobilized on 17th December 1919. There are no medal records though he qualified for the British War Medal. He was living with the Taylor family at Green Lane, Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset at the time of the both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register. He was occupied in Wood Hauling and remained single. He died in Ashmore on 26th April 1977 and was buried at St. Nicholas Church, Ashmore, on 29th April 1977.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter.

Images:
  • Ashmore Pond

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The National Archives
East Knoyle 1

George Garrett

Surname: Garrett
Other names: George
Other people in this story:
John Garrett
Mary Ann Garrett née Maidment
Ann Garrett née Venning
Locations in this story:
Summerleaze Farm, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Egypt
Newton Abbott, Devon
The Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon

Story:
George Garrett was born at East Knoyle, Wiltshire in 1870, the son of John Garrett and Mary Ann Garrett (née Maidment). The family lived at Summerleaze Farm, East Knoyle, Wiltshire until George's father died in 1890. Following this, his mother moved to The Hollow Way, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, where she is recorded still living in the 1911 Census. George married Ann Venning on 14th September 1889 and there were 2 children of the marriage. George had previously served for a period in the Royal Garrison Artillery and had spent some time in Egypt. He re-enlisted on 2nd September 1914 and joined the 1st Service Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (Special Reservists) where he eventually became a Lance Sergeant (Service No. 7223). He was at the time living in the Newton Abbott, Devonshire, area and working as a Groom. He served in Egypt from 27 Sep 1915 and was subsequently demobilized on 19th April 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at 77 East Street, Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon, working as a Chimney Sweep and Carpet Beater on his own account. He died in 1956 in the Newton Abbot, Devon, Registration District.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter

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Bimport, Shaftesbury 5

Humphrey Silvester Evans

Surname: Evans
Other names: Humphrey Silvester
Other people in this story:
Charles Silvester Evans
Lilian Mary Evans née Barton
Phyllis Evans née Wheeler
Locations in this story:
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Carminia Road, Streatham, Wandsworth, London
Suva, Fiji, South Pacific.
Egypt
France & Flanders
Castle Hill House, Bimport, Shaftesbury

Story:
Humphrey Silvester Evans was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1890 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 2nd November 1890. He was the son of Dr. Charles Silvester Evans and Lilian Mary Evans (née Barton). They were living at Castle Hill House, Bimport, Shaftesbury at the time of the 1891 Census. Following the death of Humphrey's father in 1896, the family moved to 59 Carminia Road, Streatham, Wandsworth, London. Before the outbreak of war Humphrey had started to study medicine but had enlisted on 18th February 1914 as a Private with the City of London Rifles (The Rough Riders) (Service No 2156).  He served in Egypt from 7 May 1915 and later in France & Flanders. He was, however, discharged on 15th October 1915 in order that he could 'resume studies as a medical student'.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1915 Star.  He married Phyllis Wheeler in 1916 and there were three children of the marriage. He went on to qualify as a Doctor and joined the Colonial Service. He held various Medical Officer posts throughout the world but mainly in Fiji where he died on Suva on 6th March 1965.

Source: Based on earlier research by Ken Baxter.

Images:
  • Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury 1

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The National Archives
Tollard Royal

Herbert Alexander Dudman

Surname: Dudman
Other names: Herbert Alexander
Other people in this story:
Thomas Dudman
Emily Dudman née Pike
Locations in this story:
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire
France
Bodenham, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Harmsworth Hospital, Harmsworth, Middlesex

Story:
Herbert Alexander Dudman was born at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire in 1895, the son of Thomas Dudman and Emily Dudman (née Pike).  His early life was spent at 16 Silver Street, Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire.  He enlisted on 5th September 1914 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12186). He later transferred to the 7th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 14950) and was promoted to Lance Corporal.  He initially served in the Balkans from 9 Aug 1915 and later in France during the latter part of 1918. During his time in France he received gunshot wounds in his back which ultimately caused tuberculosis and was the main cause for his discharge on 4th November 1919.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1914/15 Star. He was also issued with the Silver War Badge (No. B331563), The King's Certificate of Service and a war pension. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Bodenham, Salisbury, Wiltshire, assisting his father in his baking business. He regrettably died, still single, of his disease on 31st July 1923, in the Harmsworth Hospital, Harmsworth, Middlesex.

Source: Earlier research by Ken Baxter.

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Bolton War Memorial

Edgar John Dibben

Surname: Dibben
Other names: Edgar John
Other people in this story:
Edwin John Dibben
Ellen Dibben née Pike
Elizabeth Ellen Dibben née Harris
Beatrice May Dibben née Hilton
Frederick Charles Dibben
Edwin George Dibben
Locations in this story:
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
France
Greensward, Wokingham, Berkshire
Bradford Street, Bolton, Lancashire
Shillingstone Lodge, The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, Dorset.
Deptford, London
Shenfield on Loddon, Hampshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Edgar John Dibben was born at Iwerne Minster, Dorset, on 27th March 1883, and baptised there on 10 Jun 1883 the son of Police Constable Edwin John Dibben and Ellen Dibben (née Pike).  He spent his early childhood at Shillingstone Lodge, The Chalk, Iwerne Minster, Dorset.  He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery on 31st August 1914 and achieved the rank of Lance Bombardier (Service No. 98037).  He served in France from 21 May 1915 on attachment to the 60th (Reserve) Battery though, on his return to the UK prior to discharge, he was serving as a Gymnastic Instructor.  He married Elizabeth Ellen Harris on 5th March 1918 at St. John's Church, Deptford, London.  He was demobilized on 17th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1915 Star.  The Electoral Register of 1921 shows him living at Church End, Sherfield on Loddon, Hampshure. By the 1939 Register he had moved to The Cottage, Greensward, Wokingham, Berkshire, working as a Private Gardener.  His wife, Elizabeth died in 1942 and he remarried Beatrice May Hilton in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, area during 1943.  There were no children of either marriage.  Edgar died on 9th February 1955 at his then home, 145 Bradford Street, Bolton, Lancashire.  His brothers, Frederick Charles and Edwin George, also served in the conflict and all their names appear on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

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Donhead St. Andrew Church

Frederick George Dewey

Surname: Dewey
Other names: Frederick George
Other people in this story:
Michael Thomas Dewey
Louisa Dewey née Scammell
Mabel Nellie Dewey née Pickford
Locations in this story:
Mansfield Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
France
Tisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick (Fred) George Dewey was born at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire in the 1st Quarter of 1887, the son of Michael Thomas Dewey and Louisa Dewey (née Scammell).  He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Donhead St. Andrew area. He had served in the military from 13th August 1909 with the Army Service Corps (Service Nos. T118 and T4247356).  He eventually held the rank of Farrier Staff Sergeant.  He served mainly in the UK and France.  He was demobilized on 25th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals.   He married Mabel Nellie Pickford in 1920 (Registered at Tisbury, Wiltshire) and they had one child.  His address was Mansfield Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, per the 1911 Census which shows him working as a blacksmith and by the 1921 Census it was now New Road, Donhead St. Andrew.  He died in 1926 (Registered at Tisbury).

Source: Based on original research by Ken Baxter.

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The National Archives