1914-1918 Archives - Page 150 of 165 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Edwin John Durrant

Surname: Durrant

Other names: Edwin John

Locations in this story:
Stourton Caundle, Dorset
France & Flanders
Merville Communal Cemetery, Merville, Pas de Calais, France
Shaftesbury Road, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
East Knoyle, Wiltshire

Story:
Edwin John Durrant was born in 1895 in Stourton Caundle, Dorset. He was the son of James Arthur Durrant, a carter on a farm, and Isabella Durrant (née Williams). His father died in 1907 and was buried at East Knoyle on 20th October, 1907. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Farm Labourer and living at Shaftesbury Road, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 1978). He later transferred to the 2nd/1st Bucks Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (New Service No. 5416). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War War medals. He died of wounds on 20th July 1916 and was buried at Merville Communal Cemetery, Merville, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. XI.A.37). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. His mother died in 1919. His brother, Sidney Frank Durrant, also served in the conflict but survived.

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James Frederick Alfred Fletcher

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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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

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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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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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Samuel Blandford

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

Surname: Blandford

Other names: Samuel

Locations in this story:
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Dardanelles
Pieta Military Cemetery, Triq id-Duluri, Malta
Charlton, Ludwell, Wiltshire
Malta
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Samuel Blandford was born in 1896 in Donhead St. Mary and baptised there on 5th July, 1896. He was the son of James Blandford, a Gamekeeper, and Bertha Blandford (née Turner). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Gamekeeper and living at Charlton, Ludwell, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st August, 1914, and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10289) and on 10th May, 1915 was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. He was posted to the Dardanelles area on 1st July, 1915, and, despite being fully inoculated in November, 1914, he died of Enteric Fever in a Military Hospital on Malta on 22nd September, 1915. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was buried at Pieta Military Cemetery, Triq id-Duluri, Malta (grave id. B.XIII.3). He is remembered on the war memorial at Ludwell.

Images:

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Robert Eric Griffiths

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) /by Ann Symons

Surname: Griffiths

Other names: Robert Eric

Locations in this story:
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery, London
Knoyle Street, East Knoyle
Chobham Road, Stratford, London
London
South Drive, Wokingham, Berkshire

Story:
Robert Eric Griffiths was born in 1896 in East Knoyle and baptised there on 26th January, 1896. He was the son of John Griffiths, a labourer, and Augusta Mary Griffiths (née Brockway). Robert lived most of his childhood with his grandmother, Sarah Brockway, a widow, at 15 Knoyle Street, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. His mother was employed as a parlour maid and living away from home. There is no record of the whereabouts of his father at this time. By the 1911 Census, Robert had moved away from East Knoyle and was living with his uncle, Joseph Fountain, at 61 Chobham Road, Stratford, London, where he was an apprentice tailor. He enlisted in London as a Private in the 10th Battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Surrey) Regiment (Service No. G/10059) and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died of an unknown cause in the UK on 13th April 1916 and was buried at Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery, London (grave id. Screen Wall G.B.18.136). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. (NB His parents were shown on the WGC Memoriam as living at St. Mary's Cottage, South Drive, Wokingham, Berkshire.)

Images:

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Edward William Broomfield

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Scots Guards, Sussex Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Broomfield

Other names: Edward William

Locations in this story:
Broomfield
France
Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Chichester

Story:
Edward William Broomfield was born in 1886 in Harbridge, Ringwood, Hampshire. He was the son of Harry Jesse Broomfield, a Gamekeeper, and Fanny Matilda Broomfield (née Cook). His siblings included Frederick John Robert, born in 1884, who also died in the war. At the time of enlistment Edward was single, working as a Gamekeeper and living in Melbury Abbas, Dorset. The family was living at the Grove Arms, Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, where his father was the licensee. Edward enlisted in Chichester and joined the 7th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment (Service No. G/2674). He served in British Expeditionary Force in France from 24 Jul 1915 and at the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was declared dead on 20th November 1917 and his name appears on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France (Panel 7). He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He is remembered on the war memorial at Ludwell. Edward's other siblings were also involved in the conflict: Arthur, Ernest, Walter James and Harry all served but survived as did Percy William Norman, the husband of his sister, Eva Theresa Rose.

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Albert John Harris

4th April 2017/in 1914-1918 Coldstream Guards /by Ann Symons

Surname: Harris

Other names: Albert John

Locations in this story:
Semley, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France
Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Salisbury

Story:
Albert John Harris was born in 1892 in Semley, Wiltshire. He was the son of Frederick George Frampton Harris, a Garden Labourer, and Emily Harris (née Burt). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Labourer and living at 2 Holloway, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Salisbury as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards (Service No. 10884). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals and clasp. He was killed in action on 16th September 1916 and was buried at Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France (grave id. XIII.L.2). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives