1914-1918 Archives - Page 150 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Victor James Stacey

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

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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Thomas William Bennett

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

Surname: Bennett

Other names: Thomas William

Locations in this story:
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Vlamertiinghe Military Cemetery, Belgium
Ashcombe, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Church of St. Peter and Vincula, Tollard Royal
Southampton
Five Ways, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire

Story:
Thomas William Bennett was born in 1894 in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He was the son of Thomas Bennett, a Game Keeper, and Annie Bennett (née Witt). His siblings included Bertie Harold, Reginald George and Walter Sam, born in 1889, 1897, 1885, respectively, who all died in the war. In 1891 the family was living at Philps Cottage, Five Ways, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. At the time of the 1911 Census Thomas was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living in the family home at Ashcombe, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Southampton as a Private 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 29510). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action in Flanders on 10th September 1916 and was buried at Vlamertiinghe Military Cemetery in Belgium (grave id. IV.D.12).

He is remembered on war memorial inside the church at Berwick St. John. He is also remembered in Tollard Royal as "T.W. Bennett" on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village. Of the five Bennett brothers only one survived the war. Frederick Harry (b.1889) served in the Somerset Light Infantry and the Devonshire Regiment during the war. He had a successful career as a gamekeeper and died in 1968.

Images:

Walter Sam Bennett

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal West Kent Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Bennett

Other names: Walter Sam

Locations in this story:
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France
Ashcombe, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Farnham, Dorset
Poplar, London
Church of St. Peter and Vincula, Tollard Royal
Bromley, Kent
London
Medway, Kent
Five Ways, Donhead St. Mary

Story:
Walter Sam Bennett was born in 1885 in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He was the son of Thomas Bennett, a Game Keeper, and Annie Bennett (née Witt). His siblings included Bertie Harold, Reginald George and Thomas William, born in 1889, 1897, 1894, respectively, who all died in the war.

In 1891 the family was living at Philps Cottage, Five Ways, Donhead St. Mary and by 1901 had moved to Ashcombe, Tollard Royal,Wiltshire. Walter was working as a Gardener. In 1916 he married Ethel Flora Bennett in the Medway. Kent registration district. They lived in Farnham, Dorset, later moving to various addresses in London.

Walter enlisted in Bromley, Kent, as a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (Service No. G/10457). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. While attached to 'C' Company he was killed in action in Flanders, on 3rd July 1916, just a few weeks after his marriage. He was buried at Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France (grave id. VII.D.9).

His widow Ethel remarried in 1920, to George Casbolt and they lived in Poplar, London. Of the five Bennett brothers only one survived the war. Frederick Harry (b.1889) served in the Somerset Light Infantry and the Devonshire Regiment during the war. He had a successful career as a gamekeeper and died in 1968.

Walter is remembered on the memorial plaque inside the church at Berwick St. John. He is also remembered in Tollard Royal as "T.W. Bennett" on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village.

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Harry Edward Case

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

Surname: Case

Other names: Harry Edward

Locations in this story:
Minchington, Dorset
France & Flanders
Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, Roisel, Somme, France
Farnham, Dorset
St. John the Baptist Church, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Church of St. Peter and Vincula, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire
Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Story:
Harry Edward Case was born in 1900 in Minchington, Dorset. He was the son of Edward Downer Case, a Butcher, and Emily Nellie Case (née Elliott). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at Farnham, Dorset. He enlisted in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, as a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 20919). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 29th September 1918 and was buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, Roisel , Somme, France (grave id. I.K.13). He is remembered on the memorial plaque inside the church at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire.

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.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

George Follett

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Rifle Brigade /by Ann Symons

Surname: Follett

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Basingstoke, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Ramleh War Cemetery, Near Tel Aviv, Palestine
Easton Farm, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Winchester Training College, Winchester, Hampshire
Palestine

Story:
George Follett was born on 4th July, 1891, in Basingstoke, Hampshire. He was the son of William Follett, a Farmer, and Elizabeth Follett (née Franklin). At the time of 1911 Census the family were living at Easton Farm, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. George was single and was a student at Winchester Training College (a Teacher Training facility). He enlisted in the 23rd Battalion of The Royal Fusiliers (The Sportsman's Regiment) (Service Nos. 1493 then GS/47962). Whist with the Fusiliers he achieved the rank of Lance Sergeant. He transferred to the 6th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) where he was commissioned with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He served in France & Flanders, where he was wounded at Delville Wood, France. After his recovery in the UK he was posted to Palestine. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died whilst attached to the 1st/10th London Regiment on 19th September 1918 and was re-interred from a battlefield cemetery at Ramleh War Cemetery, Near Tel Aviv in Palestine (grave id. E.12). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial and on the Winchester Training College Chapel Rail. His brother, Horace James Follett, also served but survived the conflict.

Images:

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Alfred Joseph Hoys

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

Surname: Hoys

Other names: Alfred Joseph

Locations in this story:
Lee Green, Lewisham, Kent
France & Flanders
Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Near Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Stanford Hall, Westrill & Stanmore, Lutterworth, Leicestershire
London

Story:
Alfred Joseph Hoys was born in 1881 in Lee Green, Nr. Lewisham, Kent. He was the son of Alfred J. Hoys, a Bricklayer, and Jane Hoys (née Burt), a native of the Berwick St. John area. His mother died in 1885. At the time of the 1901 Census, he was single and working as a Footman to Alfred Verney-Cave, 5th Baron Braye, at Stanford Hall, Westrill & Stanmore, Lutterworth, Leicestershire. There is no record of him on the 1911 Census. He enlisted in London and joined the 7th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment (Service No. 19258). He served in France & Flanders and at the time of his death held the rank of Corporal. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 15th February 1916 and was buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Near Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. I.H.4). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives