1914-1918 Archives - Page 132 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Reginald Arthur Gale

Surname: Gale

Other names: Reginald Arthur

Locations in this story:
Long Crichel, Wimborne, Dorset
France & Flanders
Egypt
Couin, France
Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Reginald Arthur Gale was born in Long Crichel, Dorset, in 1898, the son of William Alfred Gale and Elizabeth Gale (née Lewis). He spent all his life in and around the Long Crichel and Wimborne areas. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (later a Driver) (Service No. 1264). He served originally in Egypt and later in France & Flanders where he died of wounds on 24th June 1916 and was buried in the Couin British Cemetery, Couin, France, (Grave Ref: I.A.12). He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He is remembered on the Semley, Wiltshire, War Memorial. (Information confirmed by posting on Flickr.)

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Ernest William Gray

Surname: Gray

Other names: Ernest William

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France
Old Workhouse, Semley, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury

Story:
Ernest William Gray was born in Semley, Wiltshire, 1891 and baptised there on 20th September, 1891. He was the son of William Gray and Mary Jane Gray (née Rogers). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at the Old Workhouse, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 19525). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 12th April 1917 and his name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France (Bay 6). He is remembered on the Semley War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, and on the Roll of Honour inside the church. His name was included on the Baptist Chapel plaque, now also in the church.

Ernest's brother Frederick James (b.1888) also served in the war, with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

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Frederick James Gray

Alfred Sidney Harding

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Harding

Other names: Alfred Sidney

Locations in this story:
Sedgehill, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Poelcapelle British War Cemetery, Langemark-Poelcappelle, Belgium
Hugglers Hole Cottage, Semley, Wiltshire
Gillingham, Dorset
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Alfred Sidney Harding was born in 1882 in Sedgehill, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 24th September, 1882. He was the son of Thomas Baker Harding, a Farm Labourer, and Mary Ann Harding (née Harding). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Haulier's Carter and living at Hugglers Hole Cottage, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th December, 1915, as a Private and joined the 3rd/8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 306722). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was originally reported 'wounded and missing' but his body was later recovered for burial. He died on 27th August 1917 and was buried at Poelcapelle British War Cemetery, Langemark-Poelcappelle, Belgium (grave id. XLII.C.19). He is remembered on the War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, Semley and on the Semley Baptist Chapel plaque, now in St. Leonard's Church. Alfred's brother, Arthur John Harding, served with the Royal Flying Corps (later RAF) and survived.

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Ernest Edward Hibberd

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Hibberd

Other names: Ernest Edward

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Ploegsteert Memorial, Ploegsteert, Hainaut, Belgium
Dairy Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire
Southampton
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Winchester Road, Shirley, Southampton

Story:
Ernest Edward Hibberd was born in 1899 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 30th July, 1899. He was the son of Frank Reuben Hibberd, a Milk Factory Hand, and Ellen Hibberd (née Chubb). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at Dairy Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Southampton as a Private and joined the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 41320). He noted on enlistment he was living at 48 Winchester Road, Shirley, Southampton. (His name was reversed on Military Records). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 13th April 1918 and his name appears on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Ploegsteert, Hainaut, Belgium (Panel 6). He is remembered on the War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, Semley, Wiltshire, and the Semley Baptist Chapel plaque, now in St. Leonard's Church. Two of Ernest's brothers, Hubert William Hibberd and William Hibberd, also served but survived.

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George Robert Batson

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Batson

Other names: George Robert

Locations in this story:
Trent, Dorset
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial, Flanders
Warnford, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire
Westcombe, Evercreech, Somerset
St. Catherine's Church, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Bristol Road, Sherborne, Dorset
Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Pewsey, Wiltshire

Story:
George Robert Batson was born in 1883 in Trent, Dorset, and baptised there on 1st April, 1883. He was the son of Charles Batson, a Labourer, and his second wife, Jane Batson (née Sanders). He had joined the Dorsetshire Regiment during 1901 but had been discharged prior to 1909 and was living in Bristol Road, Sherborne, Dorset, where he married Flora Ellen Smith (nee England), (a widow), on 30th May, 1909. At the time of the 1911 Census they were living at Warnford, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, along with his step-daughter, where he was working as a cowman. There were two children of the marriage - one boy and one girl. They were living at Sedgehill, Wiltshire, when he re-enlisted in Shaftesbury and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14561). He served in France & Flanders and at the time of his death on 16th August 1917 held the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Flanders (Panel 92). He is remembered on the memorial plaque in St. Catherine's Church, Sedgehill.

In 1917 Flora re-married, to John W. Parham; they lived at Westcombe, Evercreech, Somerset. The 1939 Register shows the couple living at 105 High Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire.

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William Long

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Long

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Cadeby, Leicestershire
Mesopotamia
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq
Cottage Row, Gaywood, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
Semley, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Walsingham, Norfolk

Story:
William Long was born in 1888 in Cadeby, Leicestershire. He was the son of Henry Long, a Gamekeeper, and Amy Long (née Bailey). He married Mary Ann Graver at Walsingham, Norfolk, in 1907. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was living at Cottage Row, Gaywood, Kings Lynn, Norfolk with his wife and children. He enlisted in Shaftesbury (having by then moved to Semley, Wiltshire,) and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14861) and served in Mesopotamia. At the time of his death on 10th December 1917 he held the rank of Sergeant. His name appears on the Nisbim Memorial 240 in the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery in Iraq. The military death notice stated that he was a resident of Semley, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and is remembered on the War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard and on the Semley Baptist Chapel plaque, now in St. Leonard's Church.

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Charles George Parsons

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Charles George

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France
Huggler's Hole Cottages, Semley
St. Catherine's Church, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Charles George Parsons was born in 1898 in Semley, Wiltshire. He was the son of Walter Joseph Parsons (known as Joseph), a general labourer, and Frances Parsons (née Frost). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at Huggler's Hole Cottages, Semley. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14501). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 9th November 1916 and was buried in the Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France (grave id. X.X.8). He is remembered on the Memorial Plaque in St. Catherine's Church, Sedgehill, the War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, Semley, Wiltshire, the Semley Baptist Church Memorial Plaque (now in St. Leonard's Church). His other three brothers, Walter John Parsons, Percy Frank Parsons and Archibald Joseph Parsons, all served and survived the conflict.

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Percy Frank Parsons
Walter John Parsons
Archibald Joseph Parsons

Clement Martin Maidment

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Maidment

Other names: Clement Martin

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley
Knipe's Farm, Semley, Wiltshire
India
Dorchester

Story:
Clement Martin Maidment was born in Semley, Wiltshire, in 1897. He was the son of Thomas Clement Maidment and Ella Grace Maidment (née Flint). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as an Errand Boy and living at Knipe's Farm, Semley, Wiltshire.

He enlisted in Dorchester on 8th September, 1914, as a Private in the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200907). He was posted to India from 9th October 1914 to 26th February 1917, when he joined the Middle East Expeditionary Force and was wounded on 26th September 1917. He returned to India on 21st December 1917, where he was hospitalized. He returned to the UK on 5th January 1918 and received further treatment but, on assessment, was declared unfit for further duty and discharged on 16th September 1918.

His pension, though shortlived, was equivalent £1.37p. per week. He died at home on 11th November 1918, and was buried in the north-west corner of St. Leonard's Churchyard. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He is remembered on the Semley War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, and on the Roll of Honour inside the church. His name was included on the Baptist Chapel plaque, now also in the church. His brother, Denis Hugh Maidment, also served but survived.

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Dennis Hugh Maidment

Niel Shaw Stewart

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Rifle Brigade /by Ann Symons

Surname: Shaw Stewart

Other names: Niel

Locations in this story:
Belgravia, London
Guillemont, France
Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France
Hays House, Wiltshire
Eton College, Berkshire
St. Catherine's Church, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Fonthill Abbey, Tisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
University College, Oxford
St. Pancras Church, Marylebone, London

Story:
Niel Shaw-Stewart was born on 7th July, 1894 in Belgravia, London, and baptised at St. Pancras Church, Marylebone, London, on 10th July, 1894. He was the son of Walter Richard Shaw-Stewart and Mary Beatrice Sydney Shaw-Stewart (nee Leverson-Lane). At the time of the 1911 Census the family were living at Hays House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire, and Niel was single and a scholar at Eton College from where he went on to University College, Oxford, and obtained a B.A. degree in 1916. He enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) served in France & Flanders, including Ypres and the Somme. he was wounded on 3rd May, 1915, but was able to return in due course to active duty. He died on 21st August 1916 in Guillemont in France. At the time of his death he held the rank of Lieutenant. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He was buried at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France (grave id. XIII.N.10). He is remembered on the memorial plaque in St. Catherine's Church, Sedgehill. In 1922 his parents were living at Fonthill Abbey, Tisbury, Wiltshire. They commissioned a separate memorial to their son which is in the form of a stone cross on the A350 which was restored by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the centenary commemorations in 2014. His name also appears on the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.

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Wilfred Harry Merefield

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Merefield

Other names: Wilfred Harry

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension, West Flanders, Belgium
Compton Abbas, Dorset
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Devizes, Wiltshire
Bridgend, Glamorgan
Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Wilfred Harry Merefield was born in Compton Abbas, Dorset, in 1882. He was the son of James Merefield and Amelia Merefield (née Merefield). Though by 1901 he was living with his brother Albert in Bridgend, Glamorgan, and working as a coal miner. He returned to Semley and married Louisa Gertrude Woodrow on 18th January 1904 at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a Cowman on a Farm and they were living at Compton Abbas, Dorset. By the time of his enlistment they were living at 229 Gutch Common, Semley, Wiltshire. His father had died in 1909 and his mother in 1913.

He enlisted in Devizes, Wiltshire, and joined 'C' Battery, 82nd Brigade, of the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 57938). He served in France & Flanders and he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 1st August 1917 and was buried at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. II.F.14). He is remembered on the Semley War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, and on the Roll of Honour inside the church. His name was included on the Baptist Chapel plaque, now also in the church.

Images:

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