1914-1918 Archives - Page 142 of 165 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Victor George Merrifield

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

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:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Leo Bennett Reeves
Walter William Reeves
Maurice Vernon Reeves

Frederick Rideout

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

Surname: Rideout

Other names: Frederick (Fred)

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Dorset
France & Flanders
Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Llanhilleth, Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales
Abertillery, Wales
Shaftesbury

Story:
Frederick Rideout (known as Fred) was born in 1884 in Fontmell Magna, and baptised there on 13th April, 1884. He was the son of Frederick Rideout, a Colliery Hewer, and Emily Rideout (née Sage). By 1901 the family had moved to Llanhilleth, Pontypool, Monmouthshire and Frederick was employed as a Coal Hewer Miner. Frederick married Frances Jane Matthews in Abertillery, Wales, in 1909. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was a Colliery Worker living at Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire, Wales. He enlisted at Shaftesbury as a Private with the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 5987). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals. He died on 13th October 1914 and his name appears on Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France (Panel 22 & 23). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His brother, George Rideout, also served but 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
George Rideout

Harold Martin Roberts

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

Surname: Roberts

Other names: Harold Martin

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Loos Memorial, Loos-en-Gohelle, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Blatchford Farm, Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Fulham, London

Story:
Harold Martin Roberts was born in 1899 in Semley, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 2nd July, 1899. He was the son of Edgar Eli Roberts, a farmer, and Bertha Mary Roberts (nee Richardson). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was a scholar and living at Blatchford Farm, Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted in Fulham, London, as a Private and joined the 10th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 40405). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 25th September 1918 and his name appears on the Loos Memorial, Loos-en-Gohelle, Nord Pas de Calais, France (Panel 22-25). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His brother, Thomas Edgar Roberts, also served in the conflict but survived.

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
Thomas Edgar Roberts

Sidney Shute

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

Surname: Shute

Other names: Sidney

Locations in this story:
Smith's Hole, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
France & Flanders
Thiepval Memorial, France
Dorchester
Rouen, France

Story:
Sidney Shute was born in 1898 in Fontmell Magna, Dorset, and baptised there on 13th January, 1899. He was the son of Henry Young Shute, a general labourer, and Anna Shute (nee Merefield). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at 41 Smith's Hole, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted in Dorchester on 20th March, 1915, and joined the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 13026) and at the time of his death held the rank of Lance Sergeant. He traveled to Rouen, France, on 29th September, 1916, and entered the battlefield on 16th October, 1916. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 11th January 1917 and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial in France (Pier and Face 7 B). He is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His brother, Henry Shute, also served in the conflict and survived albeit, discharged early, due to sickness.

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

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

Bertie John Bradley

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

Surname: Bradley

Other names: Bertie John

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:

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

Albert George Alner

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

Surname: Alner

Other names: Albert George

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:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Walter Mark Alner