St. Lawrence's Church, Farnham

William Read

Surname: Read
Other names: William
Other people in this story:
William John Read
Sarah Maria Read née Harrison
Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Loos Memorial, France
Tollard Royal, Dorset
Blandford

Story:
William Read was born in 1898 in Tollard Royal, Dorset. He was the son of William John Read, a woodman, and Sarah Maria Read (née Harrison). 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 1st Battalion of the Welsh Guards (Service No. 971). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 27th September 1915 and has no known grave. His name appears on the Loos Memorial in France (Panel 10) and on the Farnham War Memorial in St. Lawrence's Church.

Images:
  • Farnham War Memorial

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

James Weeks

Surname: Weeks
Other names: James
Other people in this story:
Edward Jesse Weeks
Sarah Ann Weeks nee Avery
Sidney Weeks
Edward Jesse Weeks
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:
  • St. Lawrence's Church, Farnham

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
St. Lawrence's Church, Farnham

Sidney Weeks

Surname: Weeks
Other names: Sidney
Other people in this story:
Edward Jesse Weeks
Sarah Ann Weeks nee Avery
James Weeks
Sybil Gwendoline May Weeks nee Frampton
Arthur Leslie Weeks
Roy Robert Pearce
Edward Jesse Weeks
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:
  • Farnham War Memorial

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

Oakley John Whitmarsh

Surname: Whitmarsh
Other names: Oakley John
Other people in this story:
William George Coombes Whitmarsh
Emily Jane Whitmarsh nee Conway
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:
  • Farnham War Memorial

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

Reginald James Wilkins

Surname: Wilkins
Other names: Reginald James
Other people in this story:
George Frank Wilkins
Constance Catherine Emma Wilkins nee Smith
Charles Frank Wilkins
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:
  • Farnham churchyard

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
St. Lawrence's Church, Farnham

Edwin Woolfries

Surname: Woolfries
Other names: Edwin
Other people in this story:
Francis Woolfries
Elizabeth Ann Cole Woolfries née Jeans
Arthur Eldred Woolfries
Harry Woolfries
Charles Woolfries
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:
  • Farnham War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Arthur Eldred Woolfries
Harry Woolfries
Names on Fontmell Magna War Memorial 1

Percy George Barnes

Surname: Barnes
Other names: Percy George
Other people in this story:
George Joseph Barnes
Emily Ann Barnes née Tuffin
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:
  • Names on Fontmell Magna War Memorial 4
  • Fontmell Magna War Memorial 4
  • Fontmell Magna War Memorial 1

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Names on Fontmell Magna War Memorial 4

Bertie John Bradley

Surname: Bradley
Other names: Bertie John
Other people in this story:
Albert Bradley
Fanny Elizabeth. Bradley née Sharpe
Locations in this story:
Kit Hill, Near Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury
France
Calais Southern Cemetery, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Lurmer Street, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
St. James's Church, Shaftesbury
Kensal Rise, London
Shepherds Bush, Middlesex
British General Hospital, Calais, France

Story:
Bertie John Bradley was born in 1895 at Kit Hill, Near Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury and baptised at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury on 19th May, 1895.. He was the son of Albert Bradley, a horseman on a farm, and Fanny Elizabeth Bradley (née Sharpe). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Milk Carrier and living at 21 Lurmer Street, Fontmell Magna. Between then and his enlistment, he had moved to Kensal Rise, London, where he was employed as a milk carrier. He enlisted at Shepherds Bush, Middlesex, on the 6th July, 1915, as a Private in the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment (Service No. F/561). He served in France and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He was wounded in action on 30th January, 1916, and died of his wounds at the British General Hospital, Calais, France, on 27th February, 1916. He was buried at Calais Southern Cemetery, Nord Pas de Calais, France (grave id. Plot B. Row 3. Grave 17). At the time of his death his parents were living at 21 Lurmer Street and 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:
  • Names on Fontmell Magna War Memorial 2
  • Fontmell Magna War Memorial 4
  • Fontmell Magna War Memorial 3

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

Albert George Alner

Surname: Alner
Other names: Albert George
Other people in this story:
George Albert Alner
Bessie (Betsy) Alner née Conway
Walter Mark Alner
Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, Midi-Pyrenees, France
Tollard Royal, Dorset
Blandford

Story:
Albert George Alner was born in 1887 in Tollard Royal, Dorset. He was the son of George Albert Alner, a gardener, and Bessie (or Betsy) Alner (née Conway). His siblings included Walter Mark, born in 1893, who also died in the war. At the time of the 1911 Census Albert was single, working as a shepherd and living at Farnham, Blandford, Dorset. He enlisted in Blandford as a Private with the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 16878). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action on 6th August 1916 and was buried at Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, Midi-Pyrenees, France (grave id. VI.J.6). He is remembered on the Farnham War Memorial in St. Lawrence's Church.

Images:
  • Farnham War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Walter Mark Alner
Fontmell Magna War Memorial 4

Frederick George Frampton

Surname: Frampton
Other names: Frederick George
Other people in this story:
Edwin Thomas Frampton
Priscilla Frampton née Gray
Herbert Gray
Bertram John Frampton
Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Mesopotamia
Basra Memorial, Iraq
Bleeks Hill, Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna
Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Devizes, Wiltshire
Kington Magna, Dorset

Story:
Frederick George Frampton was born in 1895 in Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna, Dorset. He was the son of Edwin Thomas Frampton, a cattleman on a farm, and Priscilla Frampton (née Gray). They lived at Bleeks Hill in Hartgrove. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living with his uncle, Herbert Gray, at Harpitt, Kington Magna, Dorset. His family were living at 109 Bleeks, Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted in Devizes, Wiltshire as a Private and joined the 5th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 19209). He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died in Iraq on 5th April 1916 and his name appears on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq (Panel 30 and 64). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His brother Bertram John also served in the war, with the Royal Fusiliers.

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

Images:
  • Names on Fontmell Magna War Memorial 4
  • Names on Fontmell Magna War Memorial 2
  • Fontmell Magna War Memorial 2

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