1914-1918 Archives - Page 149 of 165 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Reginald George Littlecott

Surname: Reginald George

Other names: Littlecott

Locations in this story:
West Cholderton, Wiltshire
Chambrecy British Cemetery, Chambrecy, Champagne-Ardenne, France
Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
France
Warminster

Story:
Reginald George Littlecott was born on 30th March 1898, in West Cholderton, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 29th May 1898. He was the son of Henry Littlecott, a Shepherd, and Mary Jane Littlecot (née Tanner). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Warminster on 27th May 1916, and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 24612). He was posted to France on 1st May 1917, and at the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was reported missing and presumed killed on 31st May 1918 but his body was later located and buried eventually in the Collection of Graves, Chambrecy British War Cemetery, Chambrecy, Champagne-Ardenne, France (grave id. II.D.6), (See De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. His brother, Frank Tanner Littlecott, also served but survived the conflict.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Oliver Snooke

Surname: Snooke

Other names: Oliver

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France
Bishop's Fonthill, Wiltshire
Holloway, East Knoyle
Lonodn

Story:
Oliver Snooke was born in 1892 in East Knoyle and baptised there on 6th November, 1892. He was the son of Edward Wilberforce Snooke, a Bricklayer, and Alice Mary Snooke (nee Barnard). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Stable Helper and living at 64 Holloway, East Knoyle. He enlisted in London and joined the 12th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment (Service No. 5150). He served in France & Flanders and at the time of his death held the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 6th December 1916 and was buried at Philosophe British War Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Nord Pas de Calais, France (grave id. I.K.36). By the time of his death his parents had moved to The Lodge, Bishop's Fonthill, Wiltshire. He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. His brother, Dick Snook, also served but survived the conflict.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Edward Dewey Small

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Corps of Military Police /by Ann Symons

Surname: Small

Other names: Edward Dewey

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle
Salonika, Greece
Salonika (Lembet Road) Anglo-French Military Cemetery, Salonika, Greece
Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Swindon

Story:
Edward Dewey Small was born in 1892 in East Knoyle. He was the son of Thomas Small, a Farm Bailiff, and Elizabeth Ann Small (nee Dewey). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at 27 Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Swindon in the Mounted Branch of the Corps of Military Police (Service No. P/2005). He served in Greece and at the time of his death held the rank of acting Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 15th July 1916 and was buried at Salonika (Lembet Road) Anglo-French Military Cemetery, Salonika, Greece (grave id. 255). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. His father died in 1917 and his mother in 1924.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Ernest Tanswell

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Warwickshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Tanswell

Other names: Ernest

Locations in this story:
Rockbourne, Nr. Fordingbridge, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Upton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Gillingham, Dorset
Bedwelty, Monmouthshire

Story:
Ernest Tanswell was born in 1881 in Rockbourne, Nr. Fordingbridge, Hampshire and baptised there on 27th February, 1881. He was the son of John Tanswell, a Farm Labourer, and Emily Tanswell (nee Brockway). The family set up home in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, shortly after Ernest was born but by 1901 he had moved to Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, where he was boarding out and working as a colliery labourer. He returned to East Knoyle fairly soon after and married Sarah Jane Small on 27th July, 1902. By the 1911 Census they had two children - one boy and one girl - with a third girl arriving in 1913. At the time of the Census, he was working as a Labourer and living at Upton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Gillingham, Dorset, as a Private in the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 265044). He later transferred to the 1st/6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. (New Service No. 30509). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died of wounds on 13th October 1917 and was buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Nord Pas de Calais, France (grave id. VIII.I.52). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial.

Images:

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Robert Stanley Tanswell

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Tanswell

Other names: Robert Stanley

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Egypt
Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Ismalia, Egypt
Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Salisbury

Story:
Robert Stanley Tanswell was born on 5th September, 1894, in East Knoyle and baptised there on 7th October, 1894. He was the son of John Tanswell, a Farm Labourer, and Louisa Tanswell (nee Snook). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Labourer and living at Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Salisbury as a Private in the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. DM2/168978). He served in Egypt with the 303rd Mechanical Transport Company and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died as a result of an accident on 10th May 1917 and was buried at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Ismalia, Egypt (grave id. A. 145.). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. Of his brothers, Oliver David Tanswell, Henry Harold Tanswell and Charles Victor Tanswell served and survived the conflict.

Images:

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James Frederick Alfred Fletcher

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Fletcher

Other names: James Frederick Alfred

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Romsey, Hampshire
Farley Chamberlayne, Hampshire

Story:
James Frederick Alfred Fletcher was born in 1895 in East Knoyle and baptised there on 5th January, 1896. He was the son of Henry Fletcher, a General Labourer, and Amy Elizabeth Fletcher (née Chalke). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Shepherd on the Clouds Estate and living at Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Salisbury, giving Romsey, Hampshire as his address, and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 21254). He served in France & Flanders and at the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died of wounds on 28th April 1917 and was buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Nord Pas de Calais, France (grave id. I.C.23). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial as well as the memorial in St John's Church, Farley Chamberlayne, Hampshire, near to where his parents had moved.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Percy Albert Aish

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Aish

Other names: Percy Albert

Locations in this story:
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery
Home Farm, Charlton, Ludwell, Wiltshire
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Palestine
Agagia, Egypt
St. Mary's Church, Sherborne
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Percy Albert Aish was born in 1893 in the registration district of Tisbury and baptised at Donhead St Mary on 1st Oct 1893. He was the son of Albert Aish, a farmer, and Ann Aish (née Pike). Percy attended Shaftesbury Grammar School between 1907 and 1909. After leaving school he became a farmer with his father. In the 1911 Census Albert and Ann were living at Home Farm, Charlton, Ludwell, Wiltshire, but Percy was not listed.

He enlisted at Charlton and joined the 1st Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry with service No. 559. In time he transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Corps of Hussars (Service no. 230040) and went to Egypt on 23 Apr 1915, taking part in the Battle of Agagia and the Palestine campaign. At the time of his death he held the rank of Corporal. While at Alexandria he caught a fever and died on 23rd October 1918 in No.19 General Hospital. He was buried at the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria (grave id. E.56). He was awarded the Victory, British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He is remembered on the War Memorial at Ludwell and on the memorial at Shaftesbury School. His name also appears on the memorial to the Comrades of the Queens Own Dorset Yeomanry in St. Mary's Church, Sherborne.

A "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which Percy served and the date and term in which he left school. 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 Percy's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1919
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:

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Shastonian

Gerald Sidney Forward

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 South Wales Borderers /by Ann Symons

Surname: Forward

Other names: Gerald Sidney

Locations in this story:
Zeals, Wiltshire
Farnham, Surrey
St Mary's Church, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
White Cross, Zeals, Wiltshire
Colchester Military Hospital , Essex
Aldershot, Hampshire
Shaftesbury
East Knoyle, Wiltshire

Story:
Gerald Sidney Forward was born in Zeals, Wiltshire, on 18th July, 1889, and baptised there on 29th August 1889. He was the son of Sidney Forward, a carpenter, and Lucy Forward (nee Matthews). Lucy died in the same period as Gerald's birth possibly due to complications and by 1911 his father had remarried and moved to Aldershot, Hampshire. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was living at White Cross, Zeals, Wiltshire. His father, Sidney, died in 1914 in the Farnham, Surrey area.

On 30th July, 1916 Gerald married Bertha Mallett at St. Mary's Church, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the Suffolk Regiment (Service No. 5710). He later transferred to the 52nd Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (New Service No. 4/64728). He died from unknown causes at Colchester Military Hospital, Essex, on 10th November 1918 and was buried in the cemetery extension at St Mary's Church, East Knoyle, Wiltshire (grave id. 240). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. A search of the Medal Index has failed to find if any medals were issued in his name.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Arthur James Biddiscombe

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Welsh Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Biddiscombe

Other names: Arthur James

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders
Salisbury Road, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Cardiff
Pembroke Dock Barracks, Pembroke, Wales

Story:
Arthur James Biddiscombe was born in 1877 in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 26th August, 1877. He was the son of Henry Biddiscombe, a Builder, and Emma Foot Biddiscombe (née Smart). At the time of the 1911 Census his parents were living in Salisbury Road, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. Arthur had by this time enlisted in Cardiff and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Welch Regiment (Service No. 8116) and the 1911 Census shows him based at Pembroke Dock Barracks, Pembroke, Wales. At the time of his death he held the rank of Lance Corporal. He served in France & Flanders from 1 Sep 1914 but was presumed dead on 6 Nov 1914. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914 Star and clasp. His name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, (Panel 37). He is also remembered on the War Memorial at Ludwell as well as in the Welsh Book of Remembrance. Arthur's brother Ernest John (b.1879) also served in the war, with the Royal Engineers. Their father died in 1915 and their mother in 1922.

Images:

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Ernest John Biddiscombe

William Thomas Fricker

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Berkshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Fricker

Other names: William Thomas

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Thiepval Memorial, France
Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Devizes, Wiltshire

Story:
William Thomas Fricker was born in 1889 in East Knoyle. He was the son of James Fricker, a Gardener, and Annie Fricker (née Read). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Milton, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Devizes, Wiltshire, as a Private in the 5th Battalion of Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment (Service No. 23678). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was missing and presumed killed in action on 19th October 1916 and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier & Face 11 D.). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. His brother, Alfred Henry Fricker, also served in the conflict and survived.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives