Herbert John Stacey

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Surname: Stacey
Other names: Herbert John
Other people in this story:
John Stacey
Unity Stacey (nee Elsworth)
Rose Jane Phillips
Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Herbert John Stacey was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 10 May 1886 the son of John Stacey and Unity Stacey (nee Elsworth). He lived all his life, apart from Military service, in the Motcombe area. He had married Rose Jane Phillips in Motcombe on 19 Feb 1912. At this time he was employed by the Great Western Railway as a Porter at Semley Station, Wiltshire. He was called up to the Territorials on 24 Aug 1914 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 29735). He served abroad, though it is not known where, eventually being promoted to Lance Corporal. Whilst in service he received gun shot wounds to the left leg and right arm as a result of which he was discharged as being no longer fit for duty on 28 Dec 1917 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 300785. He later also received the Victory and British War Medals. He died in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during 1936.

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Arthur William Smith

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Surname: Smith
Other names: Arthur William
Other people in this story:
Frederick Smith
Susannah Smith
Annie Lavinia Field
Locations in this story:
Luton, Bedfordshire
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire

Story:
Arthur William Smith was born in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, on 8 Sep 1890 the son of Frederick Smith and Susannah Smith. He spent his early life in the Luton, Bedfordshire, area. He had married Annie Lavinia Field in Luton during 1911 but had been boarding at an address in The Street, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, at the time of 1911 Census and presumably continued to lived there where he was employed as a Farm Labourer. The Motcombe Parish Magazine of May 1916 indicates he was serving with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment though no military record has been found. By the 1921 Census he had returned to 166 Dallow Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, where he was working as a Gas Stoker. By the 1939 Register he had moved along the road to 287 Dallow Road, Luton, still employed as a Gas Stoker. His death was recorded in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on 17 Mar 1971.

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Mark Edwards

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Surname: Edwards
Other names: Mark
Other people in this story:
Fred Edwards
Sarah Ann Edwards (nee Edwards)
Jane E. ?
Locations in this story:
Gillingham, Dorset
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset

Story:
Mark Edwards was born in Gillingham, Dorset, on 7 Jan 1880 and baptised there on 10 Jul 1880 the son of Fred Edwards and Sarah Ann Edwards (nee Edwards). He lived his early life in Gillingham, Dorset, until, by 1911, he had moved to 12 The Street, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where he lived with his wife, Jane E. Edwards (previous name unknown). According to the Motcombe Parish Newsletter of May 1916 he was serving with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment though no military records can be found. The 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he continued to live at 12 The Street, Motcombe, working as a House Painter, until his death was registered in Sturminster, Dorset, on 14 Jul 1952.

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John Miles

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Surname: Miles
Other names: John
Other people in this story:
Frederick Miles
Sophia Miles (nee Candy)
Violet May Gowan
Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Woolwich, London
Dartford, Kent
Constantinople, Turkey

Story:
John Miles was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9 Aug 1884 and baptised there on 7 Sep 1884 the son of Frederick Miles and Sophia Miles (nee Candy). He lived much of his early life at North End Lane, Motcombe. He married Violet May Gowan at St. Paul's Church, Woolwich, London, on 11 Oct 1911. He had enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 35099) eventually reaching the rank of Battery Sergeant Major. He had served in France and Flanders with the 14th Brigade from 23 Aug 1914. Following the end of the conflict he had been awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The is also an indication that he had been Mentioned in Dispatches. The 1921 Census shows him still serving in the army and based with the 10th Brigade (54th Battery) at Mashlak Camp, Constantinople, Turkey. The 1939 Register shows him living at 44 Tormount Road, Woolwich, London, described as an Armaments Inspector. His death was recorded in the Dartford, Kent, Registry during 1951,

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Arthur Charles J Grass

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Surname: Grass
Other names: Arthur Charles J
Other people in this story:
Archibald Arthur Grass
Mary Ann Grass (nee Helms)
Gertrude Victoria Harding
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales
Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales
Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, Wales
France & Flanders

Story:
Arthur Charles J. Grass was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2 Jan 1897 the son of Archibald Arthur Grass and Mary Ann Grass (nee Helms). By 1901 the family had moved to Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, but by 1911 they had returned to Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Arthur had moved to Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales, prior to his marriage to Gertrude Victoria Harding in Monmouth on 16 Feb 1915. He was described as a Collier. He had enlisted and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. W/3705). He had served in France and Flanders from 24 Dec 1915 and on his eventual discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. By the 1921 Census he was living at 13 Gaan Street, Cumtillery, Bedwellty, Monmouthshire. The 1939 Register then shows he had moved to 7 Bryn Morgan Terrace, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, where he was described as a Colliery Working Foreman. He retired from the the Mining Industry in 1962 as announced in the local press. He died in the Bedwellty area during 1965.

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Austin Stacey

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Surname: Stacey
Other names: Austin
Other people in this story:
Samuel Stacey
Caroline Stacey (nee Elsworth)
Jessie Flora Sangers
Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
South Africa
India
Canterbury, Kent
Folkestone, Kent

Story:
Austin Stacey was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 11 Dec 1879 the son of Samuel Stacey and Caroline Stacey (nee Elsworth). He lived much of his early life in Shorts Green Lane, Motcombe. He had enlisted on 1 Jan 1898 with the 3rd Dragoon Guards Regiment as a Private (Service No. D/14121). He served in South Africa and India being awarded both the Queen's South Africa and King's South Africa Medals with clasps. He was discharged to the Reserves from 30 Oct 1905 to final discharge on 31 Dec 1909. Having returned to Motcombe where he was employed as an Estate Woodman he at some time after 1911 had re-enlisted joining the 2nd Dragoons becoming a Corporal (Service No. GS/12007). He married Jessie Flora Sangers in Canterbury, Kent, during 1916. Following the end of the conflict he was discharged and awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows him living at 26 Norley Street, Canterbury, Kent, where he was working as a civilian Barrack Labourer for the Royal Army Service Corps. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 17 Royal Military Avenue, Folkestone, Kent, where he was still described as a Barrack Labourer. His death was recorded in Folkestone, Kent, during 1957.

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Ernest William Hatch

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Surname: Hatch
Other names: Ernest William
Other people in this story:
Albert Hatch
Mary Ann Hatch (nee Penny)
Hannah Jane Comlay
Ethel Bartley
Arthur Frank Hatch
Locations in this story:
Gillingham, Dorset
Motcombe, Dorset
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Jutland
Southsea, Hampshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Portchester, Hampshire
Cosham, Hampshire

Story:
Ernest William Hatch was born in Gillingham, Dorset, on 20 Jan 1882 the son of Albert Hatch and Mary Ann Hatch (nee Penny). He lived some of his early life at Bittles Green, Motcombe, Dorset. He had enlisted as a Boy (2nd Class) with the Royal Navy (Service No. 199374) on 20 Jan 1900. He had married Hannah Jane Comlay in Portsmouth, Hampshire, during 1906. At the outbreak of war he had been serving aboard HMS King George V, a Dreadnought Battleship, and was at the Battle of Jutland. He served on various other ships during his time in the service rising to the rank of Chief Petty Office. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals, the 1914/15 Star as well as the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. By the 1921 Census he was on shore duties and living with his wife at 56 Telephone Road, Southsea, Hampshire. He was pensioned off from service on 7 Dec 1922. Regrettably his wife died during 1925 and he went on to re-marry Ethel Bartley in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during 1927. By the 1939 Register he was living at Edward Grove, Portchester, Hampshire, working as a General Labourer. He died in the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Hampshire, on 4 Jan 1963. His brother, Arthur Frank Hatch, had also served in the forces during the conflict.

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Arthur Frank Hatch

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Surname: Hatch
Other names: Arthur Frank
Other people in this story:
Albert Hatch
Mary Ann Hatch (nee Penny)
Elizabeth Sarah Francis
Ernest William Hatch
Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
Arthur Frank Hatch was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15 Mar 1894 the son of Albert Hatch and Mary Ann Hatch (nee Penny). He lived his early life in Bittles Green, Motcombe. He married Elizabeth Sarah Francis in Gillingham, Dorset, on 16 Nov 1914 whist apparently on leave. He had enlisted with, initially, the Reserves (Service No. 6719) eventually being placed with the 4th Dragoon Guards as a Private. He had served from 16 Aug 1914 in France and Flanders before being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 20 Apr 1917 (Service No. 39815). He was discharged on 9 May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 Census shows him living at Culvers, Gillingham, Dorset, working as a Cowman on Culvers Farm. By the 1939 Register he had moved to 15 Addison Terrace, Gillingham, Dorset, where he was described as a General Labourer. He died in Gillingham during 1965 and was buried there on 13 Nov 1965. His brother, Ernest William Hatch, had served in the Royal Navy during the conflict.

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King Lionel Lear

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Surname: Lear
Other names: King Lionel
Other people in this story:
Thomas Lear
Emma Lear (nee Bastable)
Loftus Harold Lear
Richard John Humphrey Lear
Ivy Gladys Lear
Locations in this story:
Kington Magna, Dorset
Egypt
Mitchell, Rooty Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Penrith City, New South Wales, Australia

Story:
King Lionel Lear was born in Kington Magna, Dorset, during 1897 and baptised there on 7 Nov 1897 the son of Thomas Lear and Emma Lear (nee Bastable). He spent all his early life at Nylands Farm, Kington Magna. He had enlisted with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1007). He had served in Egypt from 23 Apr 1915 during which time he had been awarded the Military Medal. His unit was absorbed in time with the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230353). He was discharged on 13 Mar 1919 and further awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. By the 1921 Census he was living with his father at Nylands Farm where he was employed as a Cowman. On the 3 Aug 1922 he set sail for Australia aboard the SS Suevic. It is known he married at some time after arrival as the 1949 Electoral Register shows him living at Mitchell, Booty Hill, New South Wales, Australia, with his wife, Ivy Gladys Lear. He died on 14 Feb 1958 and was buried at St. Mary's General Cemetery, Penrith City, New South Wales, Australia. His brothers, Loftus Harold Lear and Richard John Humphrey Lear, also served in the conflict.

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Richard John Humphrey Lear

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Surname: Lear
Other names: Richard John Humphrey
Other people in this story:
Thomas Lear
Emma Lear (nee Bastable)
King Lionel Lear
Loftus Harold Lear
Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kington Magna, Dorset
Malmsbury, Wiltshire
Victoria, Australia
Swindon, Wiltshire
Stratton Street, London, SW
Egypt

Story:
Richard John Humphrey Lear (aka John) was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8 Apr 1894 the son of Thomas Lear and Emma Lear (nee Bastable). His family moved to Nylands Farm, Kington Magna, Dorset, sometime prior to 1901. He had enlisted with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 548). He served with the 1/1 Battalion in the Egyptian Theatre from 23 Apr 1915 during which time his unit was absorbed into the Corps of Hussars (Service No. H230035). He was discharged on 20 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals along with the 1915 Star. The 1921 Census shows he had returned to Nylands Farm where he was working for his father as a Swine Herdsman. During the period between 1928 to 1930 he had travelled to Victoria, Australia, where his brother had emigrated to but Richard had returned to the UK and, by the 1939 Register, was living at 23 Gaston Road, Malmsbury, Wiltshire, where he was employed as an Aero Engine Fitter's Mate. He remained single throughout his life. His death was registered at the Swindon, Wiltshire, Registry despite him dying on 28 Feb 1969 whilst at the Stratton Residential Club, Stratton Street, London, SW. His brothers, King Lionel Lear and Loftus Harold Lear, also served in the conflict.

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