1914-1918 Archives - Page 155 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Reginald Stanley White

Surname: White

Other names: Reginald Stanley

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Simla, India
Delhi Memorial (India Gate)
Byron Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Mary's Church, Teddington, Middlesex

Story:
Reginald Stanley White was born in 1880 in Shaftesbury and baptised at the Parish Church there on 11th April, 1880. He was the son of James Augustus White, a Tailor & Outfitter, and Mary Ann Bennett White (née Norton). "Stanley", as he was known, attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from January 1892 to April 1896. On leaving school he entered the Post Office in Feb 1899. His mother died in 1904. On 6th February, 1907, he married Gertrude Dorothy Belton at St. Mary's Church, Teddington, Middlesex, and in 1908 a son, Reginald Cedric Belton White, was born. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was a Post Office Worker and living at 49 Byron Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. He enlisted as a Sapper in the 17th Division, Signal Company, of the Royal Engineers (Service No. 182011). He served in Simla, India, as a telegraphist and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. On 25th June 1919 he died of enteric fever at Simla, India, and was buried at Tank Cemetery No. 54. His name also appears on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate) (Face 1). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His wife, who remained a widow throughout her life thereafter, was in receipt of his financial effects as well as an initial pension of £1. 16s. 8d. (£1.88p.) per week. As a former pupil his name appears as "S.White" on the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury 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 Stanley's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum. Printed Sources: Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1919

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Shastonian

William George Newton

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.

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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.

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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.

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Charles Parsons
Sidney George Parsons

Herbert Stephen Wright

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

Surname: Wright

Other names: Herbert Stephen

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Motcombe, Dorset
St. John's Church, Enmore Green

Story:
Herbert Stephen Wright was born in 1899 in Shaftesbury. He was the son of James William Wright, a horse dealer's groom, and Emily Wright (née Love). His father died on 20th September, 1907. The family had lived at 72 St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. At the time of the 1911 Census he was at school yet working as an errand boy and living in Enmore Green. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 2/7th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regt (Service No. 35211). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 13th April 1918 and was buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (grave id. IX.B.14). He is remembered on the Park Walk, Enmore Green and St. James’ war memorials in Shaftesbury and on the Motcombe War Memorial. He also appears on the Roll of Honour in St. James’ Church and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. There is also a record that he is remembered on his father's grave in St. John's Churchyard, Enmore Green. His brother, Harry Frederick Wright, also served but survived the conflict.

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Charles Parsons

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France
Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Charles Parsons was born in 1882 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 4th June 1882. He was the son of George Parsons, a railway carman, and Emily Parsons (nee Wright). His siblings included Alfred, born in 1873, and Sidney George, born in 1890, both of whom died in the war. His parents lived at Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury in 1911. He enlisted as a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 16888) but later transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (New Service No. 31773). He served in France and Flanders where he was killed in action on 23rd April, 1917 and he has no known grave. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. His name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France (Bay 6). He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials. He also appears on the Roll of Honour in St. James’ Church and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother was in receipt of a pension which covered both Charles and Sidney George.

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Alfred Parsons
Sidney George Parsons

Thomas William Wright

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Ann Symons

Surname: Wright

Other names: Thomas William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin, Nord, France
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. James, Shaftesbury,
Tan Yard, St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
William Thomas Wright was born in 1899 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James's Church, Shaftesbury, on 30th July, 1899. He was the son of Henry (Harry) Wright, a "Groom to Horse Dealer", and Eliza Wright (nee Foot). The family lived at 7 Tan Yard, St. James, Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at 72 St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. (Service No. 41253). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 30th June 1918 and was buried at Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin, Nord, France (grave id. I.BB.14). He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials. He also appears on the Roll of Honour inside St. James’ Church and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother was granted a pension of 5s. (25p.) per week.

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Sidney George Parsons

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

Surname: Parsons

Other names: Sidney George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
R. E. Farm Cemetery, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium
Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
Sidney George Parsons was born in 1890 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 7th December, 1890. He was the son of George Parsons, a railway carman, and Emily Parsons (née Wright). His siblings included Alfred, born in 1873, and Charles, born in 1882, both of whom died in the war. No record has been found of Sidney in the 1911 Census but the family lived at Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, at the time. He enlisted in Gillingham, Dorset, as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 3/6588). He served in France and Flanders where he was killed in action in Belgium. He was killed in action on 3rd December 1914 and was buried at R. E. Farm Cemetery, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. III.C.6). He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914 Star. He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials. His name also appears on the Roll of Honour inside St. James’ Church and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother was granted a pension which covered both Sidney George and Charles Parsons.

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Charles Parsons
Alfred Parsons

Philip James Young

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

Surname: Young

Other names: Philip James

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Fontaine-Au-Bois Communal Cemetery, Nord, France
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Philip James Young was born in 1889 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was the son of Henry Young, an engine smith, and Martha Young (née Critchell). At the time of the 1891 Census the family were living at 26 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. By 1911 Philip himself had moved to Windsor and was boarding out whilst working as a grocer's shop assistant. He enlisted back in Shaftesbury as a Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 16112) and later transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (Service No.33667) where he was promoted to Lance Corporal. He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 28th October 1918 and was buried at Fontaine-Au-Bois Communal Cemetery, Nord, France (grave id. D.10). The inscription on the Park Walk War Memorial, Shaftesbury, gives his middle initial as "S" but all available information indicates that his middle name was James. His name also appears on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Philip's brother Austin Henry (b.1885) served in the war with the Dorsetshire Regiment. On his discharge he applied to the War Graves Commission to be employed as a gardener's labourer in the graveyards in France. By the 1939 Register he was back in Shaftesbury and noted as 'incapacitated'.

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Austin Henry Young

Joseph Henry Powell

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

Surname: Powell

Other names: Joseph Henry

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Egypt
Gaza War Cemetery
High Street, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
London
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Palmerston Road, Bournemouth
Chesterfield Gardens, Harringay, Tottenham, Middlesex

Story:
Joseph Henry Powell was born in 1879 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury on 9th September, 1879. He was the son of Francis Powell, a draper, and Rosa Powell (née Whitby) living at 28 High Street, Shaftesbury. He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from April 1888 to August 1896. After leaving school he entered a firm of Chartered Accountants as a clerk and by 1901 boarded out at 30 Palmerston Road, Bournemouth. Both Joseph's parents died in 1909. By the 1911 Census he had moved to live with his brother, Ralph, at 75 Chesterfield Gardens, Harringay, Tottenham, Middlesex, still working as an Accountant's Clerk. Both of his parents had died in 1909 and were both buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard.

Joseph enlisted in Harringay in 1915 and joined the 11th (County of London) Battalion, Finsbury Rifles (Service No 4074). This Unit was renamed the London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles) and he was given a new Service Number 451613. He served in the Egyptian Theatre and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. He was killed in action at Gaza whilst with the 1st/11th Battalion of his Unit on 2nd November 1917. He was buried at Gaza War Cemetery (grave id. XIV.A.15). He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals and is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His name also appears on the Shaftesbury Grammar School memorial in Shaftesbury School. Joseph's brother Hugh Eric Powell served in the war and survived.

Frederick's name was included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. An asterix can be seen next to Joseph's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1918

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Shastonian