St. James' War Memorial

Charles John Blake

Surname: Blake
Other names: Charles John
Other people in this story:
Charles Blake
Edith Amy Blake née Sampson
Locations in this story:
Manswood, Moor Critchel, Nr. Wimborne, Dorset
France & Flanders
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
Cliff Cottage, Alcester, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Charles John Blake was born in 1898 in Manswood, Moor Critchel, Nr.Wimborne, Dorset. He was the son of Charles Blake, a gardener, and Edith Amy Blake (née Sampson). At the time of the 1911 Census, he was living at Cliff Cottage, Alcester, Shaftesbury. He enlisted as a Private with the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18972) but later transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (New Service No. 30810). He served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 28th July 1917 and his name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres (Panel 21). 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.

Images:
  • Names on Park Walk War Memorial 1
  • Park Walk War Memorial 2
  • Park Walk War Memorial 1
  • St. James' Roll of Honour
  • Names on St. James' War Memorial 1
  • Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 3
  • Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 1

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Park Walk War Memorial 3

Charles Brickell

Surname: Brickell
Other names: Charles
Other people in this story:
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
The name of Charles Brickell appears on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's 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 the only outstanding casualty on the memorial.

Images:
  • Names on Park Walk War Memorial 1
  • Park Walk War Memorial 2
  • Park Walk War Memorial 1
  • Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 3
  • Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 2
  • Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 1

Links to related web content / sources:
Percy John Brown headstone, Compton Abbas

Percy John Brown

Surname: Brown
Other names: Percy John
Other people in this story:
George Brown
Arabella Ann Brown née Roberts
Locations in this story:
Sturminster Newton
St. Marys Church, Compton Abbas
Lydlinch, Sturminster Newton
Aldershot
Prystock Far, Twyford, Dorset
Stock Gayland, Dorset

Story:
Percy John Brown was born on 25th April, 1897 in Lydlinch, Sturminster, and baptised at Stock Gayland Church on 6th June 1897. He was the son of George Brown, a cowman, and Arabella Ann Brown (née Roberts). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was a scholar and living at Lydlinch, Sturminster Newton.

On 11th December 1915 he enlisted at Sturminster Newton as a Private and joined 'B' Squadron of 19th Royal Hussars (Queen Alexandra's Own) (Service No. 29867). He was posted to France on 22nd October 1916, where he received gunshot wounds in the right shoulder on 8th August, 1918. He was eventually posted back to Aldershot on 13th March, 1919 and was declared unfit for further military service and discharged on 28th March, 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died at Prystock Farm Twyford, Dorset, on 28th July 1919 and was buried in St. Mary's Churchyard, Compton Abbas. His grave has an official War Graves Commission stone and he is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial.

Images:
  • Compton Abbas War Memorial
  • Percy John Brown headstone, Compton Abbas

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

Frank Dibben

Surname: Dibben
Other names: Frank
Other people in this story:
Alfred Dibben
Sarah Ann Dibben nee Rideout
Claude Dibben
Charlie Dibben
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
Twyford, Compton Abbas
France & Flanders
Compton Abbas, Dorset
East Orchard, Dorset

Story:
Frank Dibben was born in 1891 at Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury. He was the son of Alfred Dibben, a farm labourer, and Sarah Ann Dibben (nee Rideout). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, was working as a farm labourer and living at 45 Twyford, Compton Abbas. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 11282). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 16th February 1916 and his name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres (Panel 37). He is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury and on the memorial window in St. Thomas's Church, East Orchard.  His brothers, Claude Dibben and Charlie Dibben, also served in the conflict but survived.

Images:
  • St.Thomas Church East Orchard 1
  • St.Thomas Church East Orchard 2
  • St.Thomas Church East Orchard 3

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

David Charles Fox

Surname: Fox
Other names: David Charles
Other people in this story:
John Fox
Sarah Jane Fox née Creed
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Compton Abbas
France & Flanders
Wimborne, Dorset

Story:
David Charles Fox was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, on 4th April, 1893. He was the son of John Fox, a shepherd, and Sarah Jane Fox (née Creed). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a shepherd and living at 8 Compton Abbas. He enlisted in Wimborne, Dorset, as a Private in the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 9960) but transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps (Service No. 46817). He served with the 58th Field Ambulance in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 10th April 1918 and his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (Panel 160). 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

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