1914-1918 Archives - Page 151 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Walter Sam Bennett

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.

Images:

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

Harry Edward Case

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:

Links to related web content / sources:
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:

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

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

George Arthur Jeffery

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Australian Imperial Force /by Ann Symons

Surname: Jeffery

Other names: George Arthur

Locations in this story:
France & Flanders
Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France
Court Farm, Higher Berry, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Coronation Villa, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbourne, Australia
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Tel El Kebir, Egypt
Marseilles, France
Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia

Story:
George Arthur Jeffery was born in 1894 in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. He was the son of George Jeffery, a Farmer, and Ellen Jeffery (née Pardy). At the time the family were living at Court Farm, Higher Berry, Donhead St. Mary. George's father died in 1904. George attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1905 until April 1910. At the time of the 1911 Census George was single, working as a grocer's apprentice and living with his mother at 1 Coronation Villa, Shaftesbury. On 4th July, 1912 George emigrated on the SS Orama sailing from London to Melbourne, Australia. He settled in Sydney, New South Wales, and found employment with the NSW Government Railways as a tram cleaner in the North Sydney Tramway Depot. On enlistment he gave his occupation as Engineer's Assistant.

He enlisted in Liverpool, NSW, on 3rd July, 1915 as a Private with the 4th Battalion of the Australian Infantry (Australian Imperial Force) (Service No. 2850). He joined his Battalion in Tel El Kebir, Egypt, on 21st January, 1916 eventually transferring to the 56th Battalion on 19th February, 1916. Later he sailed from Alexandria and eventually arrived in Marseilles on 29th June, 1916. On 3rd December 1916 he was killed by an enemy shell while serving in a front line trench on the Somme. His name appears on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France. His mother died within a month or two of George's death in early 1917. It appeared his employers were not advised of his death and they wrote on 21st May, 1920, asking when he would return to work. There is no copy of the Military reply. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial and the memorial at Shaftesbury School.

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 George 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 to the left of George's name, indicating that he had died, although the person compiling the list seemed a little unsure. The name above is that of J.G. Jeffery, who was referred to as Guy when he was at school, and it is known that he survived the war. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum. George's brother, Henry, also served in the conflict and survived.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, February 1917
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:

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

Herbert William Joyce

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

Surname: Joyce

Other names: Herbert William

Locations in this story:
Dardanelles
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey
Gallipoli, Turkey
Shaftesbury
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire

Story:
Herbert William Joyce was born in 1895 in Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey and was baptised there at St. Jude's Church on 24th November 1895. He was the son of William John Joyce, a Cowman, and Elizabeth Annie Joyce (née Dennis). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Domestic Hall Boy and living with his parents in Englefield Green. He enlisted at Shaftesbury on 25th August, 1914 as a Private and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10108) and was presumably living in the area at the time. He served in the Dardanelles and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 9th August 1915 and his name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 136 to 139). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.

Images:

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

Walter Charles Compton

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

Surname: Compton

Other names: Walter Charles

Locations in this story:
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Salford, Lancashire
St. Mary's Church, Michelmersh, Hampshire
Chalkpit, Broadchalke, Wiltshire
Romsey, Hampshire
Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Story:
Walter Charles Compton was born in 1889 in Alvediston and baptised there on 6th October, 1889. He was the son of Edgar Compton, a Farm Labourer, and Sarah Ann Compton (née Coombes). In 1913 he married Ida Isabell Mabey in Romsey, Hampshire. They had two sons, Leonard (born 1914) and Ronald (born 1915). At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a Shepherd and living at Chalkpit, Broadchalke, Wiltshire.

Walter enlisted in Trowbridge as a Private in the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 201621) and was posted to the U.K. Depot. He died at home on 19th March 1919 in Salford, Lancashire and was buried in St. Mary's churchyard, Michelmersh, near Romsey. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

In 1924 his widow Ida married William E. Yeates and they had one daughter, Christine. Sadly her son Leonard died in 1925, aged 11, and her husband died in 1929, aged 58. Her other son, Ronald, died in 1939, aged 23. Thus by the time of the 1939 Register, Ida was left living with her only daughter in Michelmersh.

Images:

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

John Lawrence

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

Surname: Lawrence

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Sedgehill, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, France
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
South Cheriton, Somerset
East Knoyle, Wiltshire

Story:
John Lawrence was born in 1895 in Sedgehill, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 19th January 1896. He was the son of William Lawrence, a Groom, and Bessie Lawrence (née Lampard). John's mother died in 1905 and was buried at East Knoyle on 10th February 1905. By the 1911 Census, John was working as a Labourer and boarding at Pauelines Farm at South Cheriton, Somerset, whilst his father lived at 'Warthogs', Semley, Wiltshire. At the time of his enlistment at Shaftesbury on the 13th January 1915, he was single and was living at Upton Cottage, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12795). He served in France & Flanders from 18th June, 1915 and moved from one Company to another within the Regiment but ended up with the 6th Battalion - where he had started. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 8th July 1916 and was buried at Dantzig Alley British War Cemetery, Mametz in France (grave id. IX.L.7). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial. His half brother, Frederick Harold Lampard (who later changed his surname to Lawrence) also served in the conflict and survived (For story of Frederick see under Frederick Harold Lawrence.)

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

George Grace

30th March 2017/in 1914-1918 Machine Gun Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Grace

Other names: George

Locations in this story:
Shrewton, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Englefontaine British Cemetery, Nord, France
Crook Hill, Alvediston, Wiltshire
Tilshead, Wiltshire

Story:
George Grace was born in 1899 in Shrewton, Wiltshire and was baptised in Tilshead, Wiltshire on 10th September, 1899. He was the son of George and Ellen Grace (nee Merritt). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and living at Crook Hill, Alvediston, Wiltshire. He enlisted at Alvediston in the 17th Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) (Service No. 134718). He served in France & Flanders and at the time of his death on 4th November 1918 held the rank of Lance Corporal. He was buried at Englefontaine British Cemetery, Nord, France (grave id. D37). He is remembered on the Alvediston War Memorial.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Reginald John Leah

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

Surname: Leah

Other names: Reginald John

Locations in this story:
Mottisfont, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Wailly Orchard Cemetery, Wailly, Pas de Calais, France
Hewelsfield Street, Briavels, Gloucester
Chettle, Dorset
Woodlands, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Hewelsfield, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

Story:
Reginald John Leah was born in 1894 in Mottisfont, Hampshire. He was the son of Humphrey Leah, a Game Keeper, and Selina Leah (née Smith). At the time of the 1911 Census they were living in Chettle, Dorset. Reginald was single, working as a Game Keeper and was a boarder at Woodlands, Berwick St. John. He enlisted on 26th August 1914 at Shaftesbury as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10101). At the time of enlistment he had been living at Hewelsfield, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He was killed in action on 20th July 1916 and was buried at Wailly Orchard Cemetery, Wailly, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. I.F.1). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial. His father died in 1918.

Images:

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