Story:
Percy Edwin John Fletcher was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 25 Mar 1896 and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26 Apr 1896 the son of William Fletcher and Charlotte Ann Fletcher (nee Watts).  He spent his early life with his parents at Higher Coombe, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, until he enlisted with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 192).  He served in France and Flanders from 15 Dec 1915 with 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 204222) and later the 4th Battalion.  He had during his time received a gun shot wound to his right foot for which he eventually received a pension.  He was discharged on 19 Feb 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.   The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Higher Coombe working asa Farm Worker. Later that same year he married Dorothy Ellen Collins in Salisbury, Wiltshire.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was recorded at 27 Holland Road, Exeter, Devon, working as a Tea Salesman.  His death was recorded at his home in Exeter on 10 May 1973.  Of his brothers, Sidney Frank Fletcher was killed in action and William Henry Fletcher and Victor Reginald Fletcher both served and survived.

Story:
Frederick Hubert Biddiscombe was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 9 Dec 1881 and baptised there at the Birdbush Independent Chapel on 13 Jan 1882 the son of Henry Biddiscombe and Emma Foot Biddiscombe (nee Smart).  He spent his early life in Ludwell until, by 1901, he was boarding in Blandford, Dorset, working as a Tailor.  He married Margaret Wilhelmina Shannon in Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, on 21 Aug 1907 and by 1911 was living with his parents-in-law in Donhead St. Andrew.  He enlisted with the Royal Navy on 30 Oct 1916 as an Air Mechanic (Service No. F22987) serving with the Royal Naval Air Service based in the Scilly Isles.  At the time he was transferred on the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918 he was an Acting Air Mechanic Class 2 working as a Aero Rigger.  His new Service No. with the RAF became 222987.  He was discharged on 22 Mar 1919 and qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  His address was then given as Park Gates, Donhead St. Mary. Wiltshire.   By the 1921 Census, and later in the 1939 Register, he was recorded living at 11 Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, working as a Builder and Government Contractor.  He died in the Samborne Hospital, Warminster, Wiltshire, on 3 May 1957.   Of his brothers, Arthur James Biddiscombe died whilst serving and Ernest John Biddiscombe served and survived.

Story:
Henry George Gatehouse was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 14 Nov 1891 and baptised there at the Birdbush Independent Chapel on 13 Dec 1891 the son of William Henry Gatehouse and Clara Madonna Gatehouse (nee Gray).  He spent his early life in Ludwell until he enlisted in the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 8 Sep 1909 for a period of 12 years (Service No. J34860).  He served in various ships, including aboard HMS Canada at the Battle of Jutland, eventually rising in rank from Ordinary Seaman to Leading Seaman.  He remained in the Royal Navy serving latterly in a submarine No. K15 until his engagement ran out on 7 Sep 1921. He was visiting his family in Ludwell at the time of the 1921 Census.   He had been awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.   He married Mable Clementina Hart in the Shaftesbury, Dorset, Registry area during 1935.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Lower Leigh Farm, Leigh Lane, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, working as a Dairy Farmer.  His death was recorded at the Poole, Dorset, Registry in 1977.  His father and seven other brothers all served in the conflict and details of their service can be found by following the link below.

Story:
Reginald John Gatehouse was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 10 Apr 1889 and baptised at the Birdbush Independent Chapel on 13 May 1889 the son of William Henry Gatehouse and Clara Madonna Gatehouse (nee Gray).  He spent his early life in Ludwell until by 1911 he was boarding in Southampton, Hampshire.   He enlisted with the Royal Engineers on 2 Feb 1914 as a Sapper (Service No. 25960).  At the outbreak of was he was sent to France and Flanders on 5 Oct 1914 attached to the 54th Field Company later becoming a Lance Corporal.  (A fuller account of his experiences can be found on 'The Lives of the Great War 1914-1918' website).  He was wounded in action and eventually discharged as being unfit for further duty on 9 Aug 1916.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 193799 as well as the Victory and British War Medals together with the 1914/15 Star.  He had married Agnes Annie Newport at the Parish Church, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 11 Sep 1915.  The 1921 Census shows he was living at 'Irene', Hursley Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, working as an Insurance Agent for the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Wight View, Dudsbury, Nr. Ferndown, Dorset, working as a Carpenter as well as being a Volunteer Police War Reservist.  He died on 14 Nov 1959 and was buried at West Parley, Dorset, on 18 Nov 1959.   His father and seven other brothers also served in the conflict and details of their service can be found in the link below.

Story:
Percy Gray Gatehouse was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 5 Sep 1885 and baptised at the Independent Chapel there on 4 Oct 1885 the son of William Henry Gatehouse and Clara Madonna Gatehouse (nee Gray).  He lived his early life in Ludwell until by 1901 he had moved to live at the Racing Stables in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, working as a Stablehand.  By 1911 he had joined the Cavalry of the Line (12th Lancers) as a Private (Service No. 12L/5940).  His Service No. was later changed to L/13022 when he was posted to France on 15 Aug 1914.  He took part in the Seige of Maubeuge, France, where the German forces beseiged the Entrenched Camp of Maubeuge from 24 Aug 1914 to 7 Sept 1914 when the British Forces capitulated.  Percy, along with 32962 other soldiers, was taken prisoner of war and spent the rest of his time at a POW Camp in Ebersdorf bei Cheminitz, Germany.  At the time of his release on 21 Sep 1919 he decided to re-enlist although no dates have been found when he finally left the Army.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914 Star.  He married Clara May Hardiman at St. Saviours Church, Paddington, London, on 14 Aug 1920.  At the time he was still serving as a Soldier.  His address on the Electoral Roll for 1927 was 81 Sutherland Avenue, Maida Vale, London.  He died on 23 Aug 1963 and was buried at the Kensington & Chelsea, London, Cemetery on 28 Aug 1963. His father and seven of his brothers also served in the conflict and details of their service can found on the link below.