Story:
Gerard Montague Gordon was born in Sherborne, Dorset, on 8 Jan 1891 and baptised there on 28 Feb 1891 the son of George Henry Gordon, an HM Inspector of Schools, and Mary Jane Gordon (nee Stanier).  He lived his early life in Sherborne until his family moved to Wincombe House, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire.  By 1911 Gerard was boarding at the South Eastern Agricultural College, Wye, Kent, where he was studying agriculture.  He had enlisted and obtained a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Fusiliers on 15 Aug 1914.  He served with the 3rd Battalion and was posted to France and Flanders on 9 Feb 1915 and attached to the 12th Battalion eventually being promoted to Captain and Adjutant.  He was regrettably killed in action whilst serving near Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium, on 9 Jun 1917.  He was buried in the Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium, (Grave ref: II. C. 23.).  He is remembered in the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.

Story:
Tom Fanner was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 28 Jun 1883 the son of Arthur Fanner, a Carpenter, and Ellen Fanner (nee Martin).   He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Donhead St. Mary area.   He married Alice Annie Dimmer at Ansty Parish Church, Ansty, Wiltshire on 6 Mar 1909.   He had enlisted at some time with the Territorial Unit of the 1st South West Motor Brigade of the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. T/374).   He had not been enlisted for war service however until the 27 Jun 1916 as a Wheeler (Service No. T4/212695).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he certainly went overseas as during Jul 1917 he was taken ill with Malaria.  He had a spell in hospital but was released back to his unit until late Sep 1918 when the disease recurred.  He was discharged on 14 Apr 1919 with a 30% pension (paid until 1922) and also awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register shows he was living in Water Lane, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, described as a Carpenter (disabled).  His death was registered in Mere, Wiltshire, during 1942.   His brother, Wilfred Fanner, also served and survived only until early 1919 when he died at the age of 24 years.

Story:
Ambrose Ellis Aspinall Dunston was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 10 Jun 1895 and baptised at St. John the Baptist Church, Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, on 12 Aug 1895 the son of Frederick Warburton Dunston, a Barrister, and Louisa Florence Camilla Dunston (nee Gwatkin).  He was associated with his home at Burlton House, Church Hill, Donhead St. Mary, throughout his life.   He had enlisted with the Territorial Detachment of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 14 Sep 1916 being quickly appointed a 2nd Lieutenant on 3 Oct 1914.  He served in India and Mesopotamia and in due course became a 1st Lieutenant.  He was also at times attached to the Royal Flying Corps and later with the Royal Lancashire Regiment before returning to the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment.  He remained in the Army after the end of the war having been awarded the Victory and British War Medals and also the 1915 Star.  His name was placed on the Oxford University Roll Of Honour. He had married Ellen Mignonette Leonora Devoy in Dublin, Ireland, during 1920.  He was involved in various trips abroad on Military Political)business as well as having a considerable interest in the British Legion where he represented the Wiltshire County Branch on many occasions.  He was eventually at some time promoted to Captain.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was still at Burlton House, Donhead St. Mary, described as a Captain in HM Army (Retired).  His death was recorded in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 17 Mar 1975.

Story:
Harry Edwin Charles Dowland was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, on 21 Nov 1894 the son of Alfred Henry Dowland and Amelia Dowland (nee Adlem).  He lived his early life in Tollard Royal until he enlisted in the Royal Navy on 16 Apr 1913 as a Stoker (Service No. K18698).  He served in various ships and shore establishments during his service rising to the rank of Leading Stoker.  He was eventually discharged on 27 Mar 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  He also apparently served for a very short period during early 1921 but was finally released on 4 Jun 1921 and was recorded in the 1921 Census living with his mother, who had remarried following Alfred Dowland's death in 1908, in Higher Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Cowman.   He married Elsie Olive Anna Antell at St. Rumbolds Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15 Apr 1922.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Ash Tree Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Market Gardener and Roadstone Quarrier plus being a volunteer with the Shaftesbury National Fire Service.  He died at Cann Common on 19 Feb 1979 and was buried at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23 Feb 1979.