1914-1918 Archives - Page 154 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Henry Steel

Surname: Steel

Other names: Henry (Harry)

Locations in this story:
Bromley, Kent
France & Flanders
Thiepval Memorial, France
Ash Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury
Woodside, Surrey
Stroud Road, Croydon, Surrey

Story:
Henry Steel was born in 1894 in Bromley, Kent. He was the son of Edwin George Steel, a market gardener, and Elizabeth Mary Steel. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was living at Ash Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Croydon, Surrey, on 18th July 1915 as a Rifleman joining the 18th (Service) Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Service No. C//6415). At the time of his enlistment he gave his address as 16 Stroud Road, Woodside, Surrey. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 15th September 1916 and his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier & Face 13A and 13B). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

John Francis Joiner (Frank) Thompson

Surname: Thompson

Other names: John Francis Joiner (Frank)

Locations in this story:
St. Augustine's Church, Paddington, London
France & Flanders
Wandsworth Cemetery, Earlsfield, London
Melbury Street, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury
Hendon, Middlesex
Thomas Road, Islington, London
Hill View, Cann Common, Shaftesbury

Story:
John Francis Joiner Thompson (known by all as 'Frank') was born in 1887 in Hendon, Middlesex, and baptised on 27th November, 1887 at St. Augustine's Church, Paddington, London. He was the son of John and Jane Mary Thompson. His father had died prior to 1894 and his mother remarried in that year to Samson Trowbridge becoming the step brother of Ernest Trowbridge, Samson's son. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a labourer and living at 66 Thomas Road, Islington, London, whilst his mother lived at 4 Melbury Street, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, later moving to Hill View, Cann Common, Shaftesbury.

He enlisted in London as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Service No. 1188). He served in France & Flanders from 13 Aug 1914 and was eventually awarded the Victory, British War and 1914/15 Star medals. He died on 24th September 1915 having previously been wounded in battle and repatriated home. He was buried at Wandsworth Cemetery, Earlsfield, London. This cemetery was used by the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth. His name appears on the cemetery memorial (Screen Wall F.B.18.131) and he is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His step brother, Ernest Trowbridge, DCM, died during the conflict and is also remembered on the Cann War Memorial.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Ernest Trowbridge

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Trowbridge

Other names: Ernest

Locations in this story:
Okeforde Fitzpaine, Dorset
France & Flanders
Caudry British Cemetery, Cambrai, Nord, France
Crookham, Hampshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury
Hartley Whitney, Hampshire
Belturbet, Cavan, Ireland
Brighton, Sussex

Story:
Ernest Trowbridge was born in 1883 in Okeforde Fitzpaine, the son of Samson Trowbridge and Mary Amelia Trowbridge (nee Roberts). Regrettably his mother died in 1891 and his father went on to remarry Jane Mary Thompson (widow of John Thompson) in 1894 taking on her son, John Francis Joiner Thompson (generally known as Frank), as stepson and step-brother to Ernest. At sometime prior to the 1901 Census Ernest had enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 8358). Whilst serving in Ireland he met and married Kathleen (Catherine) Mary McGaharan in Belturbet, Cavan, Ireland, on 26 Feb 1905. There were five children of the marriage: two boys and three girls. At the time of the 1911 Census Ernest being a career soldier was living with his family in army accommodation near Crookham, Hampshire, and later moved to married quarters at the Artillery Barracks, Hartley Whitney. Hampshire. He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War, 1915 Star and Distinguished Conduct (DCM) medals finally holding the rank of Warrant Officer Class II. The citation for the DCM stated 'for conspicuous and consistent good work, notably with anti-aircraft guns'. He died at the 21st Casualty Clearing Station from pneumonia whilst serving with 'A' Battery, 158th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, as their Battery Sergeant Major on 27th November 1918 and was buried at Caudry British Cemetery, Near Cambrai, Nord, France, (grave id. II.D.28). His father had by then moved to Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Ernest is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury, near where his father was eventually interred at St. Rumbold's Church in 1931. By the 1921 Census his wife was living at 45 New Crescent Street, Brighton, Sussex, working for the Convent of the Sacred Heart,Brighton. It is also understood Kathleen had been taking a course in Midwifery as recorded on her military pension records. She did not remarry and died in Brighton General Hospital on 26 June 1970. Ernest's step-brother, Frank. also died in the conflict and his name also appears on the Cann War Memorial.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

William Frank White

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: White

Other names: William Frank

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Arras Memorial, France
Higher Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury

Story:
William Frank White was born in 1888 in Cann, Shaftesbury. He was the son of George White and Sarah White (née Lush). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a bricklayer and living in Higher Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury. His mother died in 1912 and his father in 1917. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 10th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 24763). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 25th March 1918 and his name appears on the Arras Memorial (Bay 6). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

William Conway

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 /by Ann Symons

Surname: Conway

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
The name of William Conway appears on the Roll of Honour in St. James' Church, Shaftesbury. So far it has not been possible to find details of his life in official records. We would be grateful to anyone who may be able to provide information that would help us identify him.

Images:

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

Harold Coward

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Coward

Other names: Harold

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Mesopotamia
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Al-Russafa, Baghdad, Iraq
Motcombe
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Harold Coward was born in 1893 in Motcombe and baptised there on 12th November, 1893. He was the son of James Coward, a Farm Labourer, and Mary Jane Coward (née Miles). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Factory Hand and living at 38 Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 1/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200168). It is possible that he served prior to that time in the territorial force as he had another Service Number, 1553, on the medal rolls. He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in Mesopotamia on 24th Jul 1917 and was buried at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Al-Russafa, Baghdad, Iraq (grave id. XII.A.3). He is remembered on the St. James' and Motcombe War Memorials and on the Roll of Honour in St. James' Church, Shaftesbury.

Harold's brothers Charles Edwin (b.1892) and Victor (b.1897) also served with the Dorsets in the war, but survived the conflict.

Images:

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Charles Edwin Coward
Victor Coward

Tom Lowther

13th February 2017/in 1914-1918 /by Ann Symons

Surname: Lowther

Other names: Tom

Locations in this story:
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury

Story:
The name of Tom Lowther appears on the Roll of Honour in St. James' Church, Shaftesbury. So far it has not been possible to find details of his life in official records. We would be grateful to anyone who may be able to provide information that would help us identify him.

Images:

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

William George Newton

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 London Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Newton

Other names: William George

Locations in this story:
Bossingham, Hampshire
Mesopotamia
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William George Newton was born in 1895 in Broughton, Hampshire. He was the son of George Newton, a feeding cake agent, and Mary Jane Newton (nee Jewell). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a butcher's apprentice and living at Clonmell, 5 Belle Vue Terrace, Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He had enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 1670) until his unit was absorbed into the 1/4th Battalion and his Service No. changed to 200033. He served in Mespotamia attached to the Labour Corps and achieved the rank of Acting Warrant Officer Class 2. (Family records show he was also later attached to the Arab and Kurdish Levies).

He was discharged on 27 Aug 1919. He is then shown, on Military Records, to have died on 18 Aug 1920 in Mesopotamia (though the Probate Records show 1921). His mother had applied for a pension but there is no evidence that one was granted. He had been awarded the Territorial War Force Medal as well as the Victory and British War Medals. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. No record of any War Grave can be found for him at this time or if he is remembered elsewhere. His brother, Daniel Henry Newton, also served in the conflict and survived.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Leslie Reginald Wightman

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Northumberland Fusiliers /by Ann Symons

Surname: Wightman

Other names: Leslie Reginald

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sains-les-Marquion British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Derby Road, North End, Portsmouth, Hants
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Sunderland
St. Jude's Church, Portsea, Portsmouth

Story:
Leslie Reginald Wightman was born 0n 3rd August, 1890 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 5th October, 1890. He was the son of James John Wightman, a commercial traveller, and Agnes Emma Wightman (nee Johnson) - Agnes was from Shaftesbury. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a clerk salesman and living at 52 Derby Road, North End, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Leslie appeared before a Military Tribunal claiming exemption from Military Service but this was refused in February, 1916. On 25th April, 1916 he married Winifred Mary Cripps by licence at St. Jude's Church, Portsea, Portsmouth. He is described in the Register as a "Commercial Traveller, now Sapper, R.E." Up until this time he had been employed by Carr & Co, Biscuit Manufacturer of Sunderland. Leslie's father died in 1916 in Portsmouth. Leslie had enlisted in Portsmouth as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers (Service No. 2798). He transferred firstly to the 25th Battalion and later to the 8th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Service No. 47062) and is shown on all records as a Lance Corporal except on the WGC records. He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action in France on 27th September 1918 whilst serving with the 25th Company of the 8th Battalion and was buried at Sains-les-Marquion British War Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. I.C.23). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His wife was in receipt of his financial effects in due course and his mother, Agnes, was granted a pension. His wife went on to remarry a Henry Cleeve in Fareham, Hampshire, in 1920. There were no children of either marriage.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Alfred Parsons

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Ann Symons

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Alfred

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Long Cross, Enmore Green
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. James Street, Shaftesbury
Dorchester
Portland, Dorset
Kempston, Bedfordshire

Story:
Alfred Parsons was born on 29 Aug 1873 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 19th October, 1873. He was the son of George Pmarsons, a railway carman, and Emily Parsons (née Wright). His siblings included Charles, born in 1882, and Sidney George, born in 1890, both of whom died in the war. The family lived at Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. On 26th March, 1894 he married Emily Kate Gray. They had five children: three sons and two daughters. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a coal carter and living at 78 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Dorchester on 24th August, 1914, as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 3/7475) he later transferred to the 1st HS Garrison Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment (Service No. 34574). He served on home duties in view of his age at Portland, Dorset. On 5th April, 1917 he had a heart attack whilst on guard duty and went through a process of assessment for future military duty. He was assessed as unfit for further duty on 25th April, 1917 and eventually discharged on 22nd June 1917. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. (No record of the Silver War Badge was found). He regrettably died in early September 1917, and was buried in St. James' Churchyard on 14 Sep 1917, but this is not recorded as a war grave by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials and on the Roll of Honour in St. James’ Church, Shaftesbury. His widow was awarded initially a pension of 27s. 6d. (£1.37p.) per week and, by 1920, was living in Kempston, Bedfordshire, and died there in 1940. His widow was awarded a pension initially of 27s. 6d (£1.37p.) per week.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Charles Parsons
Sidney George Parsons