1914-1918 Archives - Page 134 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Bertram Percival Bowles

Surname: Bowles

Other names: Bertram Percival

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Mesopotamia
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Baghdad, Iraq
Old Workhouse, Semley, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley
Axminster, Devon

Story:
Bertram Percival Bowles was born in Semley, Wiltshire, in 1893. He was the son of Frank Bowles, a Foreman Platelayer, and Bessie Alice Bowles (née Trevelian). His siblings included Alfred Radcliffe Bowles, born in 1895, who also died in the war as well as Leonard Frank Bowles and Harold Donald Victor Bowles who served and survived. At the time of the 1911 Census, Bertram was single, working as a Railway Porter and living at the Old Workhouse, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Axminster, Devon, as a Private and joined the 1st/4th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (Service No. 2398 later changed to 200736). He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 16th April 1918 and was buried at the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Baghdad, Iraq (grave id. IV.C.3). 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 as well as the War Memorial at Axminster, Devon.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Alfred Radcliffe Bowles

Horace William Brown

Surname: Brown

Other names: Horace William

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Cologne Southern Military Cemetery, Germany
Bow Marsh Cottage, Semley, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley
Hendon, Middlesex
Winchester, Hampshire
Petersfield, Hampshire
Tisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Horace William Brown was born Hendon, Middlesex in 1893 but the birth was registered in Tisbury, Wiltshire. Both his parents were from Donhead St. Mary: Edward Brown, a cowman on a farm, and Elizabeth Brown (née Goddard). By the time of the 1911 Census the family had moved to Semley. Horace was single, working as a cowman on a farm and living at Bow Marsh Cottage, Semley, Wiltshire.

He enlisted in Winchester as a Private and joined the 1st Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 18167), giving his residence at the time as Petersfield, Hampshire. He also served with the 14th and 2nd Battalions. He served in France & Flanders and was with the 2nd Battalion when he was taken prisoner. He died on 16th November 1918 whilst in captivity and was buried at Cologne Southern Military Cemetery in Germany (grave id. XVII.A.4). The cemetery was used not only for original burials but also for men who died in prison camps elsewhere and were re-interred after the Armistice. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He is remembered on the War Memorial in St. Leonard's Churchyard, Semley, and the Semley Baptist Chapel plaque, now in the Church.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Ernest Leslie Butt

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Marine Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Butt

Other names: Ernest Leslie

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Arras Memorial, France
Barkers Hill, Semley, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Ernest Leslie Butt was born in Semley, Wiltshire, in 1889. He was the son of James Butt, a Farm Labourer, and Elizabeth Ann Butt (née Kelly). His siblings included Wilfrid James Butt, born in 1896, who also died in the war as well as Edwin Albert Butt who served and survived. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Barkers Hill, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted on 29th July, 1916, as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Marine Light Infantry (Service No. CH/1612(S)). He went missing presumed killed whilst with the 'C' Company, 10th Platoon of the 2nd RMLI on 28th April 1917 and his name appears on the Arras Memorial in France (Bay 1). 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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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Wilfrid Butt

Wilfrid James Butt

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

Surname: Butt

Other names: Wilfrid James

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, Pas de Calais, France
Barkers Hill, Semley, Wiltshire
Warminster, Wiltshire

Story:
Wilfrid (as spelt on GRO Records and later census Records) James Butt was born in Semley, Wiltshrie, in 1896, and baptised there on 19th July, 1896. He was the son of James Butt, a Farm Labourer, and Elizabeth Ann Butt (née Kelly). His siblings included Ernest Leslie, born in 1889, who also died in the war and Edwin Albert Butt who served and survived. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Barkers Hill, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Warminster as a Private and joined the 6th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 22690). (Army records show his name as Wilfred) He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 29th November 1916 and was buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, Pas De Calais, France (grave id. XX.D.4A). 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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Ernest Leslie Butt

Lionel George Churchill

18th September 2017/in 1914-1918 Cape Mounted Rifles, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars /by Ann Symons

Surname: Churchill

Other names: Lionel George

Locations in this story:
Gillingham, Dorset
South Africa
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Gloucester

Story:
Lionel George Churchill was born in 1882 in Gillingham, Dorset. He was the son of Mark Churchill and Elizabeth Churchill (née Lush). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and working as a shop assistant in Eastgate Street, Gloucester. He enlisted in Gloucester and joined the 1/1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (Yeomanry) (Service No. 2215) and at the time of his death held the rank of Corporal. He died at sea off Gallipoli on 24th August 1915 and his name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 18). He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star 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 parents were by then living in Semley, Wiltshire.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission citation states that Lionel had also served in the South African War, spending five years with the Cape Mounted Rifles.

Images:

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Geoffrey Matthew George Culley

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

Surname: Culley

Other names: Geoffrey Matthew George

Locations in this story:
Glendale, Northumberland
France & Flanders
Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, Somme, France
Grove House, Semley, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley

Story:
Geoffrey Matthew George Culley was born in 1883 in the Glendale Registration District of Northumberland. He was the son of Matthew Tewart Culley, described as "Living on own means", and Eleanor Jane Culley (née Darling). Geoffrey's father died on 2nd March, 1889. At the time of the 1911 Census, Geoffrey was a Regular Soldier with the rank of Captain serving with the 4th Reserves of the Durham Light Infantry and living at Grove House, Semley, Wiltshire (the home of his mother). He married Elizabeth Frances Twynam in 1914. There were two sons of the marriage both of whom died in the Second World War.

At the outbreak of war he joined the 9th Scottish Rifles but later transferred to the 11th Battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment. He served in France & Flanders and at the time of his death had retained the rank of Captain. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 15th September 1916 and was buried at Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, Somme, France (grave id.III.G.8). He is remembered on the Semley War Memorial in St. Leonard's churchyard, and on the Roll of Honour inside the church. His name (spelt with a J) was included on the Baptist Chapel plaque, now also in the church.

His sons, George. W. Culley (b. 1915) was a Major in the Royal Artillery (Airborne Division) and won the Military Cross whilst Geoffrey Matthew Culley (b.1916) served as a Sergeant with 39 Squadron, Royal Air Force)

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Ernest James Day

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

Surname: Day

Other names: Ernest James

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Semley Baptist Chapel Yard
Balas Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire
St. Leonard's Church, Semley
Fargo Hospital, Durrington, Wiltshire

Story:
Ernest James Day was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 9th March, 1888. He was the son of Elizabeth Sarah Day - known as Sarah. (No father recorded on the birth certificate). His mother died in 1888. In 1891 Ernest was living with his grandmother Sarah Day and his aunt Emma J. Day. By 1901 he was living solely with his aunt. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Railway Porter and living at Balas Cottages, Semley, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a gunner in the 57th 3 'A' Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 273336). There is no record of medals being awarded. He died in the Fargo Hospital, Durrington, Wiltshire, on 9th November 1918 and was buried in Semley Baptist Chapel Yard (grave id. O.207). 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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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

William George Barter

1st August 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Barter

Other names: William George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Fulham Military Hospital, London, W.8.
St. Bartholomew's Church, Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Throop Farm, Christchurch, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Hampstead, London
Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hampshire

Story:
William George Barter was born in 1895 in the registration district of Shaftesbury. He was the son of Frederick Sidney Barter, an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Jane Barter (née Sims). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a grocer and living at Throop Farm, near Christchurch, Hampshire. He enlisted at Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hampshire, and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 66659) and served with the Expeditionary Force in France. Moving from Battery to Battery he was eventually promoted to Bombardier and finished up with the 39th Brigade. On 29th September 1918 he returned to the UK for officer training with the Royal Air Force during which time he held a temporary commission. Shortly after his posting to RAF Flying School he contracted Cerebo Spinal Fever and was admitted to Fulham Military Hospital, Dunstans Road, London, W.8. where he died on 16th October 1918. He was buried in the churchyard to the north of St. Bartholomew's Church, Sutton Waldron, Dorset. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He is remembered on the Sutton Waldron section of the War Memorial at Iwerne Minster (the inscription gives Hampstead as his place of death.)

Images:

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Raymond William Brown

1st August 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Brown

Other names: Raymond William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Thiepval Memorial, France
Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Sturminster Newton, Dorset

Story:
Raymond William Brown was born in 1898 at Sutton Waldron, Dorset, and baptised there on 12th June 1898. He was the son of William Brown, an agricultural labourer, and Love Brown (née Foot). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Sutton Waldron, Dorset. He enlisted at Sturminster Newton, Dorset, as a Private with the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14922). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 26th September 1916 and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial in France (Pier and Face 7 B). He is remembered on the Sutton Waldron section of the War Memorial at Iwerne Minster.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Percy Charles Domoney

1st August 2017/in 1914-1918 Somerset Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Domoney

Other names: Percy Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Arras Memorial, France
Sutton Waldron, Dorset
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Crewkerne, Somerset

Story:
Percy Charles Domoney was born in 1893 in the registration district of Shaftesbury. He was the son of Josiah Domoney, a shepherd, and Elizabeth Domoney (née Foot). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a farm labourer and living at Sutton Waldron, Dorset. He enlisted at Crewkerne, Somerset as a Private in the 8th Battalion of Prince Albert's (Somerset) Light Infantry (Service No. 20736). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 11th April 1917 and his name appears on the Arras Memorial in France (Bay 4). He is remembered on the Sutton Waldron section of the War Memorial at Iwerne Minster.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives