1914-1918 Archives - Page 149 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Cecil Herbert Riggs

Surname: Riggs

Other names: Cecil Herbert

Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
Battle of Jutland
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Tinkley Cottages, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Church of St. Peter and Vincula , Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire

Story:
Cecil Herbert Riggs was born on 29th September 1893 in Farnham, Dorset. (NB Second name shown as 'Herb' on GRO Index but 'Herbert' used generally afterwards.) He was the son of John Riggs, a Gardener, and Fanny Riggs (née Raymond). His siblings included John Dennis, born in 1888, who also died in the war. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living with his brother, John Dennis Riggs, in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. His parents lived at 25 Tinkley Cottages, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. In 1913 he enlisted on 8th October, 1913, and joined the Royal Navy (Service No. K.20795 (PO)). He commenced his service at HMS Victory Training Unit and later was posted to HMS Albermarle where he qualified as a Stoker 1st Class. He returned to HMS Victory for a period before joining the crew of HMS Queen Mary. He died when the ship was sunk at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916. His name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 19) and the memorial plaque inside the church at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals.

He is also remembered in Tollard Royal, on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village.

Source: Photographs of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial taken by Richard Lunn.

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John Dennis Riggs

Names on Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial 03

George Charles Puig

Surname: Puig

Other names: George Charles

Locations in this story:
Marylebone, Middlesex
Balkans
Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece
Carlisle Street, Marylebone, London
Bournemouth
Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Gussage St. Michael, Wiltshire
Salisbury
Overway, Donhead St. Andrew
Salonika

Story:
George Charles Puig was born on 14th October, 1890, in Marylebone, Middlesex, and baptised at St. Barnabas Church, Marylebone, on 4th January, 1891. He was the son of Henry Puig, a House Painter, and Jane Ann Puig (née Barker). At the time of the 1901 Census the family was living at 65 Carlisle Street, Marylebone, London. By 1911 the family had moved to Gussage St. Michael, Wiltshire though George does not appear on the census at that time.

George enlisted in Salisbury (giving Bournemouth as his residence), and joined the 854th Horse Transport Company of the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. TS/9451). His rank was Private (Shoe Smith). He served in the Balkans and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in Salonika on 24th October 1918 and was buried at Mikra British War Cemetery, Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, Greece (grave id. 1890). This cemetery was used to re-inter personnel from other smaller graves sites in the area. By this time his parents had moved to Overway, Donhead St. Andrew and George is remembered on the Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial. His father died in 1920. His brother, William Henry Puig, also served and survived.

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William Henry Puig

Victor James Stacey

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Stacey

Other names: Victor James

Locations in this story:
Alderholt, Dorset
France & Flanders
Mondicourt Communal Cemetery, Near Arras, Pas de Calais, France
Hinton St. Mary, Dorset
Baydon Hill, Baydon Street, Aldbourne, Wiltshire
Delden, Gelderland, Netherlands
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Hursley, Hampshire
Warlincourt, France

Story:
Victor James Stacey was born on 13th January, 1888, in Delden, Gelderland, Netherlands and baptised in Alderholt, Wiltshire, on 6th May, 1888. He was the son of Thomas (Tom) Stacey, a Game Keeper, and Sarah Ann Stacey (nee Foster). (NB The records show Victor variously as 'James'; 'Victor James' and 'James Victor'. The Military records give his name as 'Victor James' as he was baptised.) At the time of the 1911 Census his family were living in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. Victor was boarding with his brother at Baydon Hill, Baydon Street, Aldbourne, Wiltshire, where he worked as a Builder's Labourer. Shortly after the Census his father died in that year. On 2nd April, 1916 he married Ethel Mona King and they lived in Hinton St. Mary, Dorset. He enlisted at Hursley, Hampshire, as a Private in the 146th Company of the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. T4/124982), later he joined the 17th Divisional Company. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died at Warlincourt, France, on 21st August 1916 and was buried near the north-west corner of Mondicourt Communal Cemetery, Near Arras, Pas de Calais, France. He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial. His brother, George Francis Arthur Stacey, also served but survived.

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Names on Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial 02

Alfred George Simmons

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Simmons

Other names: Alfred George

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Andrew
Mesopotamia
Shaikh Saad Old Cemetery Memorial at the Amara War Cemetery, Iraq
Wardour Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Salisbury

Story:
Alfred (Fred) George Simmons was born on 5th May, 1893 in Donhead St. Andrew, and baptised there on 1st July, 1894. He was the son of Anna Maria Simmons, who was single at the time. No father is recorded. She later married Tom Dyer in 1904. At the time of the 1911 Census Fred was single, working as a Gardener's Help and living in Wardour Lane, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Salisbury (mistakenly under the name 'Frederick') as a Private and joined the 5th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 22786). He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 9th April 1917 and his name appears on the Shaikh Saad Old Cemetery Memorial at Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. He is remembered on the Donhead St. Andrew War Memorial.

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St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John 01

Frederick William Stretch

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Stretch

Other names: Frederick William

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium
Bridmore Gate Cottages, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Hooks Hill, Berwick St. John
Winton, Hampshire
Devizes, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick William Stretch was born on 16th October, 1894 in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He was the son of Mary Stretch, a domestic servant. No father is recorded on the birth certificate. He lived with his mother at the home of her parents, John Stretch and Anne Stretch at Hooks Hill, Berwick St. John. Eventually his mother married Harry Smith about 1897/1899 (no marriage record has been found) but Frederick stayed with his grandparents. His mother, Mary, lived in Winton, Hampshire. At the time of the 1911 Census Frederick was single, working as a Farm Carter and living at Bridmore Gate Cottages, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He enlisted at Devizes, Wiltshire, as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 18741). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 27th August 1915 and his name appears on Memorial 18, Union Street Graveyard 1 at Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium. He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

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Robert Bishop Slade

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force /by Ann Symons

Surname: Slade

Other names: Robert Bishop

Locations in this story:
Shawbury Aerodrome, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Aston Upthorpe, Wallingford, Berkshire
Park Gate Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Shaftesbury
Brook Hill, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire
Shorncliff
Oxford
Canada

Story:
Robert Bishop Slade was born on 30th June, 1892 in Aston Upthorp, Wallingford, Berkshire. He was the son of Leonard Gillot Slade, a Farmer, and Maria Slade (nee Bishop). The family lived at Brook Hill, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and living at Park Gate Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Shaftesbury. In February, 1911 he sailed for Canada. He enlisted in the 28th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Service No. 73837) on 23rd October, 1914 as a Private. He sailed to England on the SS Northland on 29th May, 1915, and then on to France by the 17th September,1915. On 30th October, 1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. on 21st January, 1917 he was transferred to Shorncliff and then on to Oxford where he joined the School of Military Aeronautics on 12th April, 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force on 23rd May, 1917, which date coincided with his discharge from the Canadian Infantry. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died at Shawbury Aerodrome, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on 23rd July 1918, following a flying accident when attacked by enemy aircraft. He was buried in the All Saints Churchyard at Aston Upthorpe, Wallingford and is remembered on Wiltshire Roll of Honour. His brother, Brian Benjamin Slade, had enlisted on 21 Dec 1914 but was discharged shortly after on medical grounds.

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Frederick Sweeting

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Sweeting

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
High Easter, Essex
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial, Flanders
Chalk Cottage, High Easter, Essex
Rushmore Park, Wiltshire
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Church of St. Peter and Vincula, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Vine Cottage, London Road, Bolney, Cuckfield, Sussex

Story:
Frederick Sweeting was born in 1880 in High Easter, Essex. He was the son of William Sweeting, an Agricultural Labourer, and Sophia Sweeting (nee Mead). The 1901 Census shows him boarding at Vine Cottage, London Road, Bolney, Cuckfield, Sussex, where he was employed as an Under Gamekeeper. On 4th February, 1905, he married Florence Maria Fairs and lived with his parents at High Easter, Essex. They had three children: two sons and a daughter. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a gamekeeper and living at Chalk Cottage, High Easter, Essex. On 11th December, 1915, he enlisted in Blandford, Dorset, as a Gunner in the 275th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 91617). His enlistment papers recorded his address as Rushmore Park, Wiltshire, and his occupation as gamekeeper. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 29th September 1917 and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 6 to 7 and 162). Following his death his widow Florence married a Mr. Lattamore and continued to live at Rushmore Park. Frederick is remembered on the memorial inside the church at Berwick St. John.

He is also remembered in Tollard Royal, on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour to the "men of Tollard Royal and Rushmore" inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village.

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William Herbert Waterman

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Waterman

Other names: William Herbert

Locations in this story:
Romsey, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Loker Churchyard, Nr. Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium
Stratford Sub Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Salisbury

Story:
William Herbert Waterman was born in 1892 in Romsey, Hampshire. He was the son of Henry (Harry) Waterman, a Farm Labourer, and Annie Jane Waterman (nee Phillips). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Shepherd and living at Stratford Sub Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Salisbury as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 11077). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. When he died on 27th February 1915, he had been attached to 'A# Company and treated at the No. 7 Field Ambulance, Loker. He was buried at Loker Churchyard, Nr. Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. II.F.9). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

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Harry Charles Weeks

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Weeks

Other names: Harry Charles

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John
France & Flanders
Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extn.
Luke Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Devizes, Wiltshire

Story:
Harry Charles Weeks was born in 1888 in Berwick St. John. He was the son of Mary Emma Weeks, a laundress - there is no father on the baptismal record. His mother married Frank Jacob in 1907 - they had one child, a half brother to Harry. At the time of the 1911 Census Harry was single, working as a Shepherd and living with his uncle in Luke Street, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Devizes, Wiltshire, as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 18740) and he served in France & Flanders. He was awarded the British War, Victory and 15 Star medals. He died on 24th August 1916 and was buried at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension (grave id. VII.D.53). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

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Jehu Charles Weeks

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Weeks

Other names: Jehu Charles

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John
France & Flanders
Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery, Somme, France
The Cross, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury

Story:
Jehu Charles Weeks was born in 1894 in Berwick St. John. He was the son of Charles Weeks, a Farmer, and Sarah Ann Weeks (nee Sangen). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was a Farm Worker and living at The Cross, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 7th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 17051). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 7th October 1918 whilst attached to the 'B' Company of the Regiment and was buried at Templeux-Le-Guerard British War Cemetery, Somme, France (grave id. I.J.9). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

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