1914-1918 Archives - Page 139 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

William Sidney Lawrence

Surname: Lawrence

Other names: William Sidney

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
France & Flanders
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders
Blandford

Story:
William Sidney Lawrence was born in 1878 in Fontmell Magna, Dorset, and was baptised there on 14th April 1878. He was the son of Thomas Lawrence, a Farm Labourer, and Elizabeth Sarah Ann Lawrence (née Dibben). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as an estate labourer and living at 48 Fontmell Magna. He enlisted on 19th September 1895, as a Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 4702) and was discharged to the reserves on 18th September 1907. At the outbreak of war he re-enlisted in Blandford and joined the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. No 3/7690). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals. He died on 2nd May 1915 and his name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Flanders (Panel 37). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Printed Sources:
"Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.

Images:

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

William Henry Fisher

Surname: Fisher

Other names: William Henry

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Mesopotamia
Amara War Cemetery, Iraq
The Brickyard, Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Devizes, Wiltshire

Story:
William Henry Fisher was born in 1893 in Iwerne Minster and baptised there on 5th November 1893. He was the son of Henry Fisher, a brick maker, and Sarah Fisher (née Baker). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a groom and living at The Brickyard, Iwerne Minster, Dorset. He enlisted in Devizes, Wiltshire as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 9318). He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died from fever on 9th August 1916 and was buried at the Amara War Cemetery, Iraq (grave id. IX.B.5). He is remembered on the Iwerne Minster War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

William's brother Cecil George (b.1986) also served in the war, with the Labour Corps.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Cecil George Fisher

Victor George Merrifield

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Merrifield

Other names: Victor George

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
South Street, Fontmell Magna
Blandford

Story:
Victor George Merrifield (surname as registered) was born in 1892 in Fontmell Magna. He was the son of Henry John Merefield, (surname as registered) a farm labourer, and Anne Stroud Merefield (née Tanswell). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a gardener and living at 37 South Street, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted at Blandford on 27th August 1914 and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10194). He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 15th January 1915. He was reported missing at Gallipoli on 22nd August 1915 but presumed to have died on 21st August 1915. His name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 136 to 139) and on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals (which were sent to his father at 37 South Street, Fontmell Magna).

His brothers, Edgar William, Reginald Henry and John Percival, all served and survived.

Printed Sources:
"Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.

Images:

Wesley Harry Warren Mowlem

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Mowlem

Other names: Wesley Harry Warren

Locations in this story:
Holnest, Sherborne, Dorset
France & Flanders
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
West Street, Fontmell Magna, Dorset

Story:
Wesley Harry Warren Mowlem was born on 5th November, 1894, in Holnest, Sherborne, Dorset, and baptised in the parish church on 25th November, 1894. He was the son of Robert William Mowlem, an estate woodman, and Rosetta Mowlem (née Warren). He lived much of his early life in Holnest until by 1911 he was working as a farm labourer and living with his parents at 58 West Street, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted at Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 31744). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 30th October 1917 and was buried at Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, (grave id. V.D.6). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury. Of his brothers, both Ernest William Warren Mowlem and Sidney Harold Warren Mowlem served and survived the conflict.

Printed Sources: "Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.

Images:

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

Cecil John Reeves

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Reeves

Other names: Cecil John

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
St. Andrew's Church, Fontmell Magna
Lahore, India
Wrexham
Babergh, Hadleigh, Suffolk
Michaels Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Cecil John Reeves was born in 1888 in Fontmell Magna and baptised there on 9th September, 1888. He was the son of Walter Reeves, a Brewer's Drayman, and Emily Reeves (née Bennett). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Confectioner and boarding with a family at 35 Michaels Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, whilst the family were living at 40 Fontmell Magna. He enlisted in Wrexham and joined the (Royal) Army Service Corps (Service No. SS/1310). There is an indication from his records that he was posted to Lahore, India, with the 63rd Field Bakery attached to the 551st Company of the RASC. He returned to England and was admitted to a Military Hospital in the Babergh area of Hadleigh, Suffolk, where he died on 9th May, 1917. At the time of his death he held the rank of Corporal. He was interred in the churchyard of St. Andrew's Church, Fontmell Magna, on 14th May, 1917. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals and is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Cecil's father and two of his brothers, Leo Bennett Reeves and Maurice Vernon Reeves, also served during the conflict and survived.

Printed Sources: "Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Leo Bennett Reeves
Walter William Reeves
Maurice Vernon Reeves

Sidney Weeks

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Weeks

Other names: Sidney

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Arras Memorial, France
Dean, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Gussage St. Andrew, Dorset
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Blandford

Story:
Sidney Weeks was born in 1887 in Dean, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, and baptised at Gussage St Andrew, Dorset, on 1st January, 1888. He was the son of Edward Jesse Weeks, a Game Keeper, and Sarah Ann Weeks (nee Avery). His siblings included James, born in 1897, who also died in the war whereas Edward Jesse Weeks served and survived. At the time of the 1911 Census Sidney was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Farnham, Blandford, Dorset. He married Sybil Gwendoline May Frampton in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on 1st March, 1915 but their child, Arthur Leslie Weeks, was born in 1914 and baptised at Gussage St. Andrew on 14th June, 1914. Sidney enlisted in Blandford as a Private with the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 29665). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 24th April 1917 and his name appears on the Arras Memorial in France (Bay 7). He is remembered on the Farnham War Memorial. His wife re-married a Roy Robert Pearce in 1918.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Oakley John Whitmarsh

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Whitmarsh

Other names: Oakley John

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Dardanelles
Bere Regis, Dorset

Story:
Oakley John Whitmarsh was born on 17 Jul 1891 in Farnham, Dorset. He was the son of William George Coombes Whitmarsh, a Farmer, and Emily Jane Whitmarsh (nee Conway). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, he was working as a Farm Labourer and boarding out at Bere Regis, Dorset. His family remained in Farnham, Dorset. He enlisted on 1st September, 1914 as a Private with the 5th Service Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10576). He was posted to join the Middle East Expeditionary Force in the Dardanelles on 1 Jul 1915 where he was recorded as wounded at Gallipoli on 25 Aug 1915 and finally officially missing on 12 Dec 1915. His presumed date of death was finally given as 21st August, 1915. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. His name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 136 to 139) as well as the Farnham War Memorial.

Images:

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

Reginald James Wilkins

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Leicestershire Regiment, Machine Gun Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Wilkins

Other names: Reginald James

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France
Blandford

Story:
Reginald James Wilkins was born in 1899 in Farnham, Dorset. He was the son of George Frank Wilkins, a Baker & Grocer, and Constance Catherine Emma Wilkins (nee Smith). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living in the family home at Farnham, Blandford, Dorset. His mother died on 4th July 1915. He enlisted in Blandford as a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment (Service No. 42975) and later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 20588). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 22nd October 1918 and his name appears on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France (Panel 5). He is remembered on the Farnham War Memorial. His brother, Charles Frank Wilkins, also served and survived.

Images:

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

Edwin Woolfries

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Woolfries

Other names: Edwin

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Blandford
Stourpaine, Dorset

Story:
Edwin Woolfries was born in 1898 in Farnham, Dorset, and baptised at Stourpaine, Dorset, on 30th May, 1898. He was the son of Francis Woolfries, a Blacksmith, and Elizabeth Ann Cole Woolfries (née Jeans). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living in the family home at Farnham, Blandford, Dorset. He enlisted in Blandford as a Private with the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 11095). He served at Gallipoli and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 21st August 1915 and his name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 136 to 139). He is remembered on the Farnham War Memorial. Edwin had three brothers who also served in the war, but survived: Harry (b.1891) with the Royal Field Artillery, Arthur Eldred (b.1892) who served with a number of different regiments and Charles (b.1885) who served with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Arthur Eldred Woolfries
Harry Woolfries

Percy George Barnes

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Devonshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Barnes

Other names: Percy George

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Arras, France
Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France
West Street, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
France
Gillingham, Dorset
Twyford, Dorset

Story:
Percy George Barnes was born in 1892 in Twyford, Dorset. He was the son of George Joseph Barnes, (known a Joseph), an Estate Labourer, and Emily Ann Barnes (née Tuffin). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Barman and living at 54 West Street, Fontmell Magna.

He enlisted in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th September 1914. He joined the 6th Service Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10851) and was posted to the home depot where he rose rapidly from Private to Sergeant in the space of a few months. On the 12th February, 1917, he transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 54595) and was posted to France on 8th March, 1917, where he eventually joined the 169th Company of the Labour Corps with yet another Service No. 100803. His death on 31st July 1917 was caused by an accident which happened a few days before, on the 27th July 1917, when he was thrown off his cycle by a runaway horse and received injuries from which he did not recover. It was later stated at the inquiry that Sergeant Barnes was in no way to blame for the accident. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died at the 19th Casualty Clearing Station in Arras on 31st July 1917 and was buried at Duisans British War Cemetery, Etrun, France (grave id. V.A.52). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Further reading:
"Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.

Images:

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