Story:
Harold Fred White was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2 Oct 1897 and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 24 Oct 1897 the son of Charles White, an Engine Fitter, and Emily Lila White (nee Rolls).  He lived his early life in St. James Street, Shaftesbury, until by 1916 he had moved to Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales, to work as a Miner.  He had enlisted on the 28 Jan 1916 but was not embodied until 1 May 1918 joining the Reserve Battalion of the Welsh Guards as a Guardsman (Service No. 5242).  He trained as a Lewis Gunner but remained in the UK throughout his service and was discharged on 10 Jan 1919.  There are no medal records in this case.  His marriage to Elizabeth Sage was recorded in Pontypridd during 1920.  He traveled to New Jersey, USA, from Southampton, Hampshire, in 1923 where he applied for and gained naturalization on 25 Jul 1923.  He completed US Army Draft papers on 15 Feb 1942 where he gave his address as 70 North Willow Street, Montclair, Essex, New Jersey but there is no evidence that he actually served in WW2.   His death was recorded in New Jersey, USA, on 5 Jul 1984.

Story:
Stephen Charles Sharp (see notes below) was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 10 Apr 1896 (see notes below) and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 16 Aug 1896 the son of Frederick William Sharp (see notes below) and Bessie Albertina Sharp (nee Denbeigh).  He lived his early life in French Mill Lane, Cann, until by 1911 the family had moved to Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset.   His marriage to Rose May Bartlett was registered in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during 1915.  He had enlisted with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 25034).  He served with the 11th General Service Battalion but it is not known in which theatre of war he actually served in but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents-in-law at 178 Mount Pleasant Road, Ebbw Vale, working as a General Labourer. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 11 Church Street, Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales, still described as a General Labourer.  His death was recorded at the Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, Registry on 8 Apr 1958. (Notes:  (1) The name has been frequently spelt as 'Sharpe' but as he and his father before him were both registered as 'Sharp' this has been used.  (2) The 1939 Register gives a differing date of birth but the Parish Register is clear on this point. (3) His christian names have also been reversed in later records thus his birth name order has been used.)

Story:
Eldon Tichborne Hunt was born in Manston, Dorset, on 13 Nov 1876 and baptised there on 18 Apr 1878 the son of Harry Hunt, a Farmer, and Elizabeth Eleanor Hunt (nee Marshall).  He lived his early life in Manston and later East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset.   His father died in 1903. He married Amelia Lily Tarrant in Droxford, Hampshire, during 1907 and by 1911 was farming at Manston Farm, Manston, Dorset.   He had served in the Territorial Units of both the Hampshire Yeomanry and, from the 12 May 1910, the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 464).  He had attended the usual annual training camps rising to the rank of Corporal.  He was embodied on 5 Aug 1914 and appointed a Sergeant.  He served in the UK only and was finally discharged on 27 May 1916 having served his full time.  He had been awarded the Yeomanry Long Service Medal but no other medal records can be found.  The 1921 Census now shows him living and farming at Northwood Farm, Manston and, by the time of the 1939 Register he had moved again to Oyles Mill Farm, Iwerne Minster, Dorset, still described as a Farmer as well as being a Volunteer ARP Warden.  He had moved to Holyrood House, Shaftesbury, Dorset, by the time of his death on 23 Feb 1963.

Story:
Percy Edwin Fisher was born in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 27 Apr 1887 and baptised there on 29 May 1887 the son of Edwin Fisher, a carpenter, and Ellen Fisher (nee Bartlett).   He lived his early life at Barkers Hill, Donhead St. Andrew, until by 1911, he was recorded visiting in Battersea, London, described as a Footman.  He had enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12344).  He served in France and Flanders with the 7th Battalion from 21 Sep 1915 and, following his discharge on 22 Apr 1919, was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  He also had a pension granted as a result of contracting malaria during his service but this ceased after 9 Sep 1920.  The 1921 Census show him boarding at 41 Westbourne Street, Pimlico, London, SW1, working as a Butler in private service. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living. still single, at 39 Bolingbroke Road, Hammersmith, London, described as a Butler & Valet (unemployed).   His death was recorded in the Westminster, London, Registry during 1957.

Story:
Theodore Bridge Stainer was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 9 Apr 1897 and baptised there on 16 May 1897 the son of Walter George Stainer, a Foreman Platelayer, and Mary Emma Stainer (nee Pavitt).  He spent his life locally in North End Lane, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and later at Church Green, Semley, Wiltshire.   He had enlisted and joined the Princess Charlotte of Wales (Royal Berkshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 29159).  He was later transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 97082) as he had suffered from varicose veins which had been aggravated by his service.  It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge on 13 Oct 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War Medals plus a limited pension ending in early 1921.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at The Green, Semley, noted as Unemployed. By the time of the 1939 Register he was still living at Church Green, Semley, Wiltshire, now described as a Garage Proprietor (Motors).  He remained single throughout his life and finally moved to The Lodge, Fovant, Wiltshire, where he died on 23 Jan 1975.  One of his brothers, Walter Vernon Stainer, had been killed in action but another, Percy George Stainer, had served and survived the conflict.