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

Harold Vernon Browne

Surname: Browne

Other names: Harold Vernon

Locations in this story:
Port Gawler, South Australia
Gallipoli, Turkey
Hill 10 Cemetery, Turkey
Hoburne, Hampshire
Suvla Bay, Turkey
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
St. Mary's Church, Iwerne Minster
Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire

Story:
Harold Vernon Browne was born on 25th August, 1885 in Buckland Park, Port Gawler, South Australia. He was the son of Leonard Gilbert Browne, described as living by his "own means", and Helen Mary Browne (née Price). The family moved to England in 1891 and by 1901 Harold was a boarder at Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire. On 24th June, 1908 he married Mabel Doris Tillard, eventually moving to Iwerne Minster. They had four children: three boys and a girl. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was also living by his "own means", at Hoburne, Hampshire. He joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry in 1908. He became a Lieutenant in October 1913 and Captain in July 1915 - which rank he held at the time of his death. He served at Gallipoli and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. On 7th September 1915 he was killed by a shell whilst discharging his duties as Military Landing Officer on "A" Beach, Suvla Bay. He was buried at the nearby Hill 10 Cemetery, Turkey (grave id. II.B.12) and is remembered on the Iwerne Minster War Memorial, Shaftesbury and on a stone pillar in front of the pulpit of St. Mary's Church, Iwerne Minster. He is also mentioned on the De-Ruvigny's Roll of Honour and on the Wellington College Roll of Honour. His wife went on to re-marry Thomas Hartley Carlisle in Shaftesbury in 1922.

Images:

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

Albert Jenkins

Surname: Jenkins

Other names: Albert

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
France & Flanders
Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood, Authuille, Somme, France
Smith's Hole, Fontmell Magna
Shaftesbury

Story:
Albert Jenkins was born in 1898 in Fontmell Magna. He was the son of Henry Jenkins, a shepherd, and Ellen Jenkins (née Coombs). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at 44 Smith's Hole, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted at Shaftesbury and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 13022) later transferring to the 1st Battalion. At the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 2nd July 1916 and was buried at Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood, Authuille, Somme, France (grave id. II.B.9). 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

Reginald Eli James Clark

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

Surname: Clark

Other names: Reginald Eli James

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Gallipoli, Turkey
Helles Memorial, Turkey
Tower Hill, Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Suvla Bay, Turkey
Blandford, Dorset

Story:
Reginald Eli James Clark was born in 1889 in Iwerne Minster and baptised there on 7th April 1889. He was the son of James Clark, a mason, and Sarah Anne Clark (née Burt). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a bricklayer and living at Tower Hill, Iwerne Minster, Dorset. He enlisted at Blandford on 17th August 1914 as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 9859). He served at Gallipoli and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He went missing at Suvla Bay on 21st August 1915 but he was not officially declared dead until 10th October 1915. His name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 136 to 139). He is remembered on the Iwerne Minster War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Reginald's brother Maurice Frederick (b.1893) also served with the Dorsetshire Regiment during the war, but survived.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Maurice Frederick Clark

Frank Jesse

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

Surname: Jesse

Other names: Frank

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
France & Flanders
Soissons Memorial, Aisne, Picardie, France
Gulliver's Farm, East Orchard, Dorset
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster Newton, Dorset

Story:
Frank Jesse was born in 1899 in Fontmell Magna, Dorset, and baptised there on 21st May, 1899. He was the son of William Jesse, a Miller & Farmer, and Kate Rose Jesse (née Jeanes). Unfortunately his mother passed away on 26th March, 1899 possibly following Frank's birth. His father died in 1905. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was a scholar and living with his brother, Reginald, at Gulliver's Farm, East Orchard, Dorset. His brother Charles also went on to serve in the war, with the City of London Regiment and Royal Engineers also brother, Percy William, served with the the New Zealand Forces .

Frank attended Shaftesbury Grammar School between April 1912 and July 1913. He enlisted in Sturminster Newton as a Private and joined the 2nd Battalion of Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment (Service No. 44857). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. His death was 'officially accepted' as being 27th May 1918 as his remains were not recovered. He is remembered on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne, Picardie, France as well as on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial and the Shaftesbury Grammar School Memorial now in the hall at Shaftesbury School. (Originally his name was missed off the Fontmell Magna Memorial and had be hurriedly added at a later date).

His name was also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. An asterix can be seen next to Frank's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
"Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1919.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Shastonian
Charlie Jesse
Percy William Jesse

Francis Frederick George (Frank) Crabbe

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

Surname: Crabb

Other names: Francis Frederick George (Frank)

Locations in this story:
Beaminster, Dorset
France & Flanders
Cement House Cemetery, Langemark, West Flanders, Belgium
Shute Lane, Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Langemarke, Belgium

Story:
Francis Frederick George (Frank) Crabb was born in 1895 in Beaminster. (N.B. Early records give his family name as Crabbe but the 'e' was dropped by 1911). For most of his life he was known as Frank, including military records. He was the son of George Crabb, an agricultural labourer, and Ellen Elizabeth Crabb (née Gale). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and living at Shute Lane, Iwerne Minster, Dorset. He enlisted in Blandford as a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 16349). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action on 19th November 1917 at Langemark, Belgium and was buried at Cement House Cemetery, Langemark, West Flanders, Belgium, (grave id. V.B.16). He is remembered on the Iwerne Minster War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His brother, Sidney Herbert Crabbe, also served but survived the conflict. Both the brothers are named on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

William Sidney Lawrence

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

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

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

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

James Weeks

21st June 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Weeks

Other names: James

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
France & Flanders
St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France
Farnham, Blandford, Dorset
Bournemouth
Rouen, France

Story:
James Weeks was born in 1897 in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, and baptised there on 15th April, 1898. He was the son of Edward Jesse Weeks, a Game Keeper, and Sarah Ann Weeks (nee Avery). His siblings included Sidney, born in 1887, who also died in the war whereas Edward Jesse Weeks served and survived. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Farnham, Blandford, Dorset. He enlisted in Bournemouth as a Driver with the Territorial Force of the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 645269). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. At the time of his death he was serving with the RFA (3rd Army Reinforcements) and died of an unspecified illness in Rouen on 26th June 1918 and was buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France (grave id. Q.II.C.11). He is remembered on the Farnham War Memorial in St. Lawrence's Church.

Images:

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