1914-1918 Archives - Page 157 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Sidney Rex Lawson

Surname: Lawson

Other names: Sidney Rex

Locations in this story:
Morpeth, Northumberland
France & Flanders
Torreken Farm Cemetery No 1, Heuvelland, West Flandser
Cresswell Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Sidney Rex Lawson was born in December 1893 in Morpeth, Northumberland. He was the son of Thomas James Lawson, a house carpenter, and Mary Jane Lawson (née Kirkup). At the time of the 1911 Census, Sidney was working as a house carpenter and living at Cresswell Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland. He enlisted in Shaftesbury with the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 16466) and at the time of his death he held the rank of Sergeant. He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 18th June 1917 and was buried at Torreken Farm Cemetery No 1, Heuvelland, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. A.1). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial. He also appears as "E.Rex Lawson" and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother received his effects following his death as his sole legatee.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Gilbert John Maidment

Surname: Maidment

Other names: Gilbert John

Locations in this story:
St. Leonard's Church, Semley, Wiltshire
Jutland
Plymouth Naval Memorial
Oysters Cottages, Semley
Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Catherine's Churchyard, Sedgehill
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Gilbert John Maidment was born on 5th April, 1900 in Sedgehill, Wiltshire and baptised there on 17th June, 1900. He was the son of William Gilbert Maidment, a farm labourer, and Ellen Caroline Maidment (née Sheppard). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Oysters Cottages, Semley. He enlisted on 18th October 1915 as a Boy 1st Class in the Royal Navy (Service No. J//45254) and was posted to HMS Impregnable for training. He died at sea aboard HMS Indefatigable at the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916 at 16 years of age. His name appears on the Plymouth Naval Memorial (Panel 13). His ship was part of the first wave of the Battle Cruiser Fleet and was the third ship to be sunk that day with the loss of 1017 lives and only two survivors who themselves were taken prisoner. When his mother was notified of his death she was living at 53, St. Andrew's Yard, St. James Street, Shaftesbury. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. 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.

Gilbert's name was included on the Semley Baptist Chapel plaque, now in St. Leonard's Church, Semley. When his sister Rose Mary Maidment died in 1923 a memorial to Gilbert was inscribed on her headstone in St. Catherine's churchyard, Sedgehill:
GILBERT JOHN MAIDMENT WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN THE JUTLAND BATTLE MAY 31ST 1916.
HE WAS BOY 1ST CLASS IN THE ROYAL NAVY ON H.M.S. INDEFATIGABLE.
BORN APRIL 5TH 1900.
HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HOME AND COUNTRY

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Ernest John Foot

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Ann Symons

Surname: Foot

Other names: Ernest John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle, Somme, France
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Ernest John Foot was born on 9th June, 1892 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 10th July, 1892. He was the son of William Foot, a postman, and Sarah Emily Foot (nee Hoskings). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a cabinet maker and living at 50 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 238241). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 27th August 1918 whilst serving with 'B' Battery, 122nd Brigade, RFA, and was buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle, Somme, France (grave id. V.A.8). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Arthur Edwin Mayo

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Coldstream Guards /by Ann Symons

Surname: Mayo

Other names: Arthur Edwin

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial, Flanders
Layton Cottages, Layton Lane, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Arthur Edwin Mayo was born on 8th October, 1895 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 29th December,1895. He was the son of Edwin Mayo, a plumber, and Georgina Mayo (née Mullins). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a printer's apprentice and living at 2 Layton Cottages, Layton Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards (Service No. 17092). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was presumed killed in action on 17th September 1917 and as his body was not recovered his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Flanders (Panels 9 to 10). He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Inside St. James' Church his name also appears on the Roll of Honour and is commemorated on a Stations of the Cross plaque. His mother was eventually in receipt of a pension commencing at 3s. 6d. (17 1/2p) per week. Arthur's brother Ernest (b.1898) also served in the war, with the Machine Gun Corps.

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Ernest Mayo

Reginald Robert Foot

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

Surname: Foot

Other names: Reginald Robert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
Limerick Military Hospital, Ireland
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Dorset
France & Flanders
Ireland

Story:
Reginald Robert Foot was born in 1888 in Shaftesbury and baptised in St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Dorset, on 10th January, 1888. He was the son of Robert Foot, a tailor, and Annie Millicent Foot (nee Gould). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a carpenter and living at 42 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Service No. 39652) on 11th December, 1915 and put on Reserve. He was mobilized on 1st May, 1916, and posted to the 49th Battalion on 29th June, 1916, where he saw service in France & Flanders and later with the 3rd Battalion in Ireland. He was selected as a potential instructor on 2nd September, 1918, and promoted to Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 7th February 1919, whilst serving with the 3rd Battalion, of influenza and pneumonia at Limerick Military Hospital, Ireland, and was eventually buried south of the church in Holy Trinity Churchyard. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury .

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Frederick Miller

3rd February 2017/in 1914-1918 Kings Royal Rifle Corps /by Ann Symons

Surname: Miller

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
Whitfield, Northants
France & Flanders
Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension, Mesnil, Somme, France
Broad Street, Syresham, Brackley, Northants
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Frederick Miller was born in 1899 in Whitfield, Northants. He was the son of Frederick Nichols Miller, a Grocer, and Edith Miller (nee Hedges). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Broad Street, Syresham, Brackley, Northants. He enlisted in Coventry (giving Shaftesbury, Dorset, as his residence) as a Private in the 35th T.R. Battalion of the Dorsethsire Regiment (Service No. 31498). He later transferred as a Rifleman to the 1st Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (New Service No. 44994). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action on 1st April 1918 and buried at Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extn., Mesnil, Somme, France (grave id. II.C.14). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His personal effects were eventually sent to his father.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Harry Gray

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

Surname: Gray

Other names: Harry

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West Flanders, Belgium
St John's Hill, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Motcombe, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury

Story:
Harry Gray was born on 19 Feb 1898 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 28 Mar 1898. He was the son of John Thomas Gray, a carter, and Linda Louisa Gray (nee Jenkins). His siblings included Sidney Charles, (b.1890), who also died in the war and Frank (b. 1895) who served in the Royal Navy until his final discharge in 1945. At the time of the 1911 Census Harry was single and at school living in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, the family later moving to St. Johns Hill, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18971) but later transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (New Service No. 30809). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died of wounds on 16th August 1917 and was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West Flanders, Belgium (grave id. XVII.AA.12A). He is remembered on the Park Walk, Shaftesbury, the Enmore Green and St. James’ war memorials in Shaftesbury. His name also appears on the Motcombe War Memorial, the Roll of Honour inside St. James’ Church and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Frederick Charles George Morgan

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

Surname: Morgan

Other names: Frederick Charles George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Pozieres Memorial, Pozieres, Somme, France
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Frederick Charles George Morgan was born on 1st October, 1898 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 30th October,1898. He was the son of Charles John Morgan, a furnaceman, and Mary Ellen Morgan (née Mullens). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living at Enmore Green, Motcombe, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the Territorial Force on 13 Nov 1915, giving his address as 27 Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3689) but was discharged almost immediately as being underage on 16 Nov 1915. He re-enlisted in time and joined the 2nd Battalion of Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment (Service No. 38573). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He went missing and was presumed killed in action at the Somme, France, on 2nd April 1918 and his name appears on the Pozieres Memorial, Pozieres, Somme, France (Panels 56 & 57). He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His father eventually received a pension of 5s. (25p) per week. (Many of the records refer to Frederick with differing third christian names(either James or John) but his given address in Shaftesbury remain constant.)

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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Sidney Charles Gray

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

Surname: Gray

Other names: Sidney Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Mesopotamia
Basra War Memoria, Iraql
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Motcombe, Dorset

Story:
Sidney Charles Gray was born in 1890 in Shaftesbury and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 31st August, 1890. He was the son of John Gray, an agricultural labourer, and Linda Louisa Gray (nee Jenkins). His siblings included Harry, (b.1898), who also died in the war and Frank (b. 1895) who served in the Royal Navy until discharged in 1945. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Mason's Labourer and living in Enmore Green. He had enlisted as a Territorial Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 298) and was later called up for duty with the 1/4th Battalion (New Service No. 200156). He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory, British War and Territorial Forces War medals. He died on 28th September 1917 and his name appears on the Basra War Memorial, Iraq (Panel 22 & 63). He is remembered on the Park Walk, Enmore Green and St. James' war memorials in Shaftesbury. His name also appears on the Motcombe War Memorial, on the Roll of Honour inside St. James’ Church, on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives

Edwin George Mullins

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

Surname: Mullins

Other names: Edwin George

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Theipval Memorial, Somme
Butts Knap, Cann, Shaftesbury
Half Moon Inn, Cann
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury

Story:
Edwin George Mullins was born on 1st October, 1889 at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, and baptised at St Rumbolds Church, Cann, Shaftesbury on 3rd November, 1889. He was the son of George Richard Stephen Mullins, a Jobmaster, and Ellen Rosa Mullins (nee Gamlin). At the time of the 1911 Census Edwin was boarding at the Half Moon Inn, Cann, Shaftesbury working as a cab driver. He enlisted in Shaftesbury on 31 Aug 1914 and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 10354). He remained the the UK until posted to the Balkans Region on 1 Jul 1915 and was involved in the Gallipoli campaign following which his unit was transferred to the Somme Region in France on 3 Jul 1916 by then Edwin held the rank of Lance Corporal. He went missing and was presumed killed in action on 26th September 1916 his name appearing on the Theipval Memorial, Somme, France (Pier & Face 7 B). He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Of his brothers, Frank Mullins also served but survived. (There is correspondence on his military record that shows his brother, Harry Mullins, had received his medals unbeknown to his mother. One wonders if the matter was resolved in the family!)

Images:

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives