Compton Abbas War Memorial

Ernest Rideout

Surname: Rideout
Other names: Ernest
Other people in this story:
Mark Rideout
Ellen Rideout née Adlem
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France
Compton Abbas
France & Flanders

Story:
Ernest Rideout was born in 1895 in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury. He was the son of Mark Rideout, a carter, and Ellen Rideout (née Adlem). At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a farm labourer and living at 3 Compton Abbas. He enlisted in Shaftesbury on 30th December, 1914, as a Private and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 12703). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and the 1914/1915 Star medals. He died on 12th April 1917 and his name appears on the Arras Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France (Bay 6). He is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury.  

Images:
  • Compton Abbas War Memorial

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

Victor Alfred Ryall

Surname: Ryall
Other names: Victor Alfred
Other people in this story:
William Ryall
Eleanor Ferdman Ryall née Goodman
Sydney John Ryall
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France
Compton Abbas
France & Flanders
Cann, Shaftesbury

Story:
Victor Alfred Ryall was born on 14th February, 1896 in Cann, Shaftesbury and was baptised there on 26th April, 1896. He was the son of William Ryall, a bricklayer journeyman, and Eleanor Ferdman Ryall (née Goodman). His brother Sydney John (b.1898) also served in the First World War, with the Dorsetshire Regiment. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a farm labourer and living at 15 Compton Abbas. He enlisted in Shaftesbury and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 11202). He later transferred to the 17th (County of London Battalion) (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) of the London Regiment (new Service No. 6085) and at the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 15th September 1916 and was buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France (grave id. XII.B.24). He is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury.  

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Sydney John Ryall
Cann War Memorial 01

Ernest Walter Holly

Surname: Holly
Other names: Ernest Walter
Other people in this story:
Mark Holly
Harriet Holly née Smith
Harry Percival Holly
Hubert John Holly
Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas
Cann Comon, Cann, Shaftesbury
Greece
Dedeagatch British Cemetery, Alexandroupolis, Greece

Story:
Ernest Walter Holly was born in 1895 in Melbury Abbas and baptised there on 8th December 1895. He was the son of Mark Holly, a farm labourer, and Harriet Holly (née Smith) and was one of a family of eleven children.  At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a farm labourer and living at Cann Common, Cann, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Driver in the Army Service Corps (Service No. T4/039638) and was a driver with the 798th Horse Transport Company. He served in Greece and was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  He died in Greece on 27th December 1918 and was buried at Dedeagatch British Cemetery, Alexandroupolis, Greece, (grave id. 69). The cemetery is associated with the No 31 Casualty Clearing Station. He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Ernest's brothers also served during the war: Harry Percival (b.1891) with the Royal Garrison Artillery and Herbert John (b.1892) with the Dorsetshire Regiment, the Devonshire Regiment and the Hampshire Regiment.

Images:
  • Names on Cann War Memorial
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Harry Percival Holly
Herbert John Holly
Names on Cann War Memorial

William Alford

Surname: Alford
Other names: William
Other people in this story:
James Alford
Hannah Alford née Pyke
Ernest John Alford
Kathleen Alford née Henry
James William Llewelyn Alford
Alice Mary Alford
William Alford
Locations in this story:
Boyne Cottage, Cann
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France
Cardiff, Wales

Story:
William Alford was born in 1890 in Cann, Shaftesbury. He was the son of James Alford, a farmer, and Hannah Alford (née Pyke). His siblings included Ernest John, born in 1883, who also died in the war. The family lived at Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as an agricultural labourer and living at Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury. He married Kathleen Henry in Cardiff during 1913 and there were two children of the marriage, James William Llewelyn Alford (b. 1913) and Alice Mary Alford (b. 1915). He enlisted in Cardiff as a Private in the 16th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment (Service No. 24045). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals.  He died on 31st March 1916 and was buried at the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France, (grave id. III.O.11). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Two of William's brothers served with the Royal Garrison Artillery in the war: Ernest John (b.1882), who sadly died in France in 1918 and Percy (b.1887) who died in 1925 as a result of tuberculosis contracted while in the army.

Printed sources:
"The Alford Family of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset", Gold Hill Museum Archives.

Images:
  • Cann War Memorial
  • Cann War Memorial
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Ernest John Alford
Percy Thomas Alford
Cann War Memorial

Arthur Victor Robert Brickell

Surname: Brickell
Other names: Arthur Victor Robert
Other people in this story:
James Brickell
Lucy Elizabeth Brickell née Andrews
Charles Henry Brickell
Locations in this story:
Butt's Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme, France
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Arthur Victor Robert Brickell (always known as Victor) was born in 1896 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 28th June, 1896. He was the son of James Brickell, a gardener, and Lucy Elizabeth Brickell (née Andrews). Unfortunately his father died in 1901.  At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as an errand boy for Stratton, Sons & Mead (Grocers) of Shaftesbury, Dorset, and living at Butt's Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury.    He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 7th Battalion and later the 10th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Service No. 28387). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He died on 27th March 1917 of bronco-pneumonia and dysentry and was buried at Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme, France (grave id. VI.E.46). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.  His name also appears on the Roll of Honour of his former employers, Stratton, Sons & Mead of Shaftesbury. Victor's brother Charles Henry also served in the war, with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Images:
  • Names on Cann War Memorial
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Charles Henry Brickell
Cann War Memorial

Ernest John Alford

Surname: Alford
Other names: Ernest John
Other people in this story:
James Alford
Hannah Alford née Pyke
William Alford
Percy Thomas Alford
Locations in this story:
Cann
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Pozieres, Somme, France
Foxhill, Wanboro, Wiltshire
Plymouth, Devon
St. Rumbold's Church, Cann
Somme, France

Story:
Ernest John Alford was born on 9th December 1882 and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann on 9th January 1883. He was the son of James Alford, a farmer, and Hannah Alford (née Pyke). In 1891 the family were living at 5 Butts Knapp, Cann. They were still living there in 1901 and Ernest was employed as a general labourer working on a farm. By 1911 the family had moved to Boyne Cottage, Cann, Shaftesbury, but Ernest had left the family home. When he enlisted at the Citadel, Plymouth as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 73193) he indicated his address as Foxhill, Wanboro, Wiltshire employed as a Gardener and still single. He was posted to the 250th Siege Battery on 7th October 1916 transferring later to the 122nd Siege Battery on 30th July 1917. He served in France and family records show that he was wounded there on 14th June 1917, but recovered to resume his duties. The official record states that he 'died on or since 21st March 1918' on the Somme. At the time of his death his parents were living at The Tollhouse, Cann, Shaftesbury. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and is commemorated on The Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France (Panel 10). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

His siblings included William (b.1890) who sadly died while serving in France in 1918 and Percy Thomas (b.1887) who died in 1925 as the result of contracting tuberculosis while in the army.

Printed sources:
"The Alford Family of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset", Gold Hill Museum Archives.

Images:
  • Names on Cann War Memorial
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
William Alford
Percy Thomas Alford
Cann War Memorial

Bertram George Brown

Surname: Brown
Other names: Bertrand "Bertram" George
Other people in this story:
Samuel Brown
Clara Brown née Moore
Obery Archibald Brown
Frederick Sheppard
Frederick Brown
Cyril Brown
William Thomas Brown
Harry Brown
Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Hamburg Cemetery, Germany
Pamphill Dairy, Wimborne, Dorset
Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Bertram Brown was born in 1895 in Cann and his name was registered as "Bertrand George Brown". He was the son of Samuel Brown, a miller's labourer, and Clara Brown (née Moore) who died in 1899. The family lived at Cann Common, Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1911 Census he had left home and had become known as "Bertram". He was single, working as a dairyman on a farm, Pamphill Dairy, Wimborne and was living at the home of the owner, Frederick Sheppard.

He enlisted in Dorchester as a Rifleman in the 1st Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles Corps (Service No. 11140). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and British War medals. He died as a Prisoner of War on 4th April 1915 in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. In 1923 his body was transferred to Hamburg Cemetery (grave id. I.G.9). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury. His father, Samuel, sadly died in 1917 leaving Bertram's brother Frederick as his representative.

One of his brothers, Obery Archibald (b.1891) also died in the war on 19th March 1917 while serving with the East Kent Regiment in France. Three other brothers also served in the war: Harry (b.1885), William Thomas (b.1888) and Cyril (b.1894)

Images:
  • Cann War Memorial 01
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Obery Archibald Brown
Cyril Brown
William Thomas Brown
Harry Brown
Cann War Memorial

John Chown

Surname: Chown
Other names: John
Other people in this story:
Samuel Chown
Mary Ann (Annie) Chown née Rogers
Lucy Chown née Hayward
John William Chown
Percy George Chown
Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Motcombe, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury
Devizes, Wiltshire
Le Touret Memorial, Le Touret, Pas de Calais, France

Story:
John Chown was born in 1888 in Shaftesbury. He was the son of Samuel Chown, a carpenter, and mary Ann (Annie) Chown (née Rogers). At the time of the 1911 Census the family were living at Cann Common, Cann, Shaftesbury, though John was not recorded. He married Lucy Hayward in Shaftesbury in 1914. He enlisted in Devizes as a Private in the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 7612). He joined the 1st Battalion and served in France and Flanders.  He died on 31st October 1914 and his name appears on Le Touret Memorial, Le Touret, Pas de Calais, France (Panel 33 & 34). At the time his wife Lucy was living in Enmore Green and their son, John William, was born on 7th May 1915. Lucy did not remarry and at the time of the 1939 Register she was living with her son at Hill Crescent, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. John Chown was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star (clasp) medals. He is remembered on the War Memorials at Motcombe, Enmore Green and Cann, Shaftesbury. John's brother, Percy George Chown, also served but survived the conflict albeit he had been discharged early due to being medically unfit.  

Images:
  • Names on Cann War Memorial
  • Names on Enmore Green War Memorial
  • Enmore Green War Memorial 03
  • Enmore Green War Memorial 02
  • Motcombe War Memorial 4
  • Motcombe War Memorial 2
  • Motcombe War Memorial 02
  • Motcombe War Memorial 03
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Names on Cann War Memorial

Ernest Edwin Fisher

Surname: Fisher
Other names: Ernest Edwin
Other people in this story:
Edwin Fisher or Rideout
Elizabeth Rideout
Locations in this story:
Hardings Lane, Melbury Abbas, Dorset
France & Flanders
Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, Pas-de-Calais, France
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury

Story:
Ernest Edwin Fisher was born in 1895 in Melbury Abbas, Dorset. He was the son of Edwin Fisher or Rideout, a stonemason, and Elizabeth Rideout. His mother, Elizabeth, died in 1896. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, living in Hardings Lane, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Shaftesbury in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14506) and joined the 6th Battalion. He served in France and Flanders and at the time of his death held the rank of Corporal.  He died of wounds on 13th April 1917 and was buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, Pas-de-Calais, France (grave id. III.J.6). This cemetery was opened in February 1917 for use by the 8th Casualty Clearing Station and is associated with battles around Arras. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals and is remembered as "Edwin Fisher" on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Images:
  • Cann War Memorial 01
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

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

Robert Fowles

Surname: Fowles
Other names: Robert
Other people in this story:
Charles Fowles
Caroline Sarah Fowles née Hunt
Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Boyne Dairy, Cann, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders
Tyne Cot Memorial, France
Southampton, Hampshire

Story:
Robert Fowles was born in 1896 in Cann. He was the son of Charles Fowles, a dairy farmer, and Caroline Sarah Fowles (née Hunt). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living and working on his father's farm, Boyne Dairy, Cann, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Southampton as a Private in the Royal Army Service Corps (Service No. T/38882). He later transferred to the 2nd Battalion  of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Service No. 42469). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  He died on 29th November 1917 and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial in France (Panel 70 to 72). He is remembered on the Cann War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Images:
  • Cann War Memorial
  • Unveiling of Cann War Memorial

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