Story:
Hugh Grant Lankey was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 14 Apr 1899 the son of Frederick Lankey and Annie Lankey (nee Grant).  He lived his early life in West Street, Fontmell Magna.  He had enlisted and joined the Royal Fusiliers as a Private (Service No. GS/76651).  He served in France and Flanders with the 23rd and 26th Companies finally transferring to the 10th Company on 25 Jul 1918.  On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   At the time of his discharge his parents had moved to Victoria Road, Ferndown, Dorset, and later, by the 1921 Census, to West Moors, West Parley, Dorset, where Hugh had lived, working as a Fitter, until he married Muriel Gertrude Horsey in Hampreston, Dorset, on 16 Feb 1930.  By the time of the 1939 Register his wife and child were living at 'Fontmell', 559 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, but there was no mention of Hugh.  He could possibly have been back in the forces at that time.  His death was recorded on 3 Feb 1974 in the Poole, Dorset, Registry and his last address accords with the 1939 Register.  His brother, Charles Lankey, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Percy George Gatehouse was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8 Sep 1886 the son of James Howe Gatehouse and Mary Gatehouse (nee Farmer).  He lived his early life at Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury, until the family move to Milton on Stour, Gillingham, Dorset, and later to Peasemarsh, Gillingham.  Percy had enlisted with the 12th (The Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers as a Private (Service No. L/5940).  He was later promoted to Lance Corporal and transferred to the Corps of Lancers (Service No. L/13022).   He served in France and Flanders from 15 Aug 1914 and at some time was reported to be an 'unofficial' Prisoner of War being held in Germany per a Red Cross report at the time.  He was discharged on 21 Sep 1919 but apparently re-enlisted immediately with Service No. L/19695.  He had been awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  He had married Florence Mabel Janes at the Parish Church, Gillingham, on 10 Apr 1917.  By the 1921 Census he had obviously left the Army and was living in The Wyke, Gillingham, Dorset, working as a Railway Delivery Agent's Carman. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Wavering Lane, Wyke, Gillingham, working as a General Labourer.  He died in Gillingham in 1982 and was buried there on 21 Apr 1982.  Four of his brothers, Charles Howe, Sidney Herbert, Ernest Edward and Thomas William, all served and survived the conflict whilst his nephew, Victor Stokes, who lived with the family, died.  The remaining brother, Walter John, is purported to have served but no reliable military record can be found.

Story:
Percy John Wareham was born in Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24 Mar 1892 the son of Charles Wareham and Susannah Wareham (nee Brown).  He lived his early life in Watery lane, Iwerne Minster.  He had moved away from home by 1915 and married Gwendoline Margaret Scourfield in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales, on 20 Dec 1915.   He had enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps as a Driver (Aircraftsman 3) on 11 May 1917 (Service No. 80761).  He became part of the Royal Air Force from 1 Apr 1918 and served in various squadrons throughout the UK.  He was discharged on 30 Apr 1920 and qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census gives his address as 17 John Street, Carmarthen, where he worked as a Motor Driver for a brewery. By the time of the 1939 Register he had move to 10 Chapel Street, Carmarthen, Wales, still described as a Brewery Motor Lorry Driver.   His death was recorded in Carmarthen on 14 Nov 1960.   His name appears on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster.

Percy's brother Alfred William (b.1889) also served in the war, with the Royal West Kent Regiment.

Story:
Sidney Roberts was born in Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on the 23 Jul 1887 the son of Henry Roberts and Elizabeth Roberts (nee Jackson).  He lived most of his early life in Watery Lane, Iwerne Minster, becoming a Blacksmith.  He had enlisted in the Royal Marines as a Private on 23 Jan 1917 (Service No. 2684).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served in or if he qualified for any medals.   He married Henrietta Harriet Rapson Gillett in Blandford St. Mary, Dorset, on 3 Sep 1918.  The 1921 Census shows him living in Red Lion Yard, Sralbridge, Dorset, working as a Blacksmith on his own account. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 2 Westminster Cottages, The Rings, Stalbridge, Dorset, working as a Shoeing Smith.   He died in the General Hospital, Yeovil, Somerset, on 20 Jun 1957 and was buried at Stalbridge on 25 Jun 1957.  His name appears on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster.

Story:
Alfred James Rabbets was born in Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9 Dec 1881 the son of Abel Rabbets and Emma Jane Rabbets (nee Tuffin).  Alfred spent his early life in Iwerne Minster.  He married Alice Newhall in the Tonbridge, Kent, Registry area in 1910.  By 1911 he was living at Hawkwell Place, Pembury, Kent.  He had enlisted with the Army Service Corps as a Driver (Service No. 287411).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but his Medal Index Card does not indicate any Medals being awarded.  Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show he was living at 8 Wickham Road, Beckenham, Kent, described, in 1921, as a Motor Driver and, in 1939, as a Garage Proprietor.   At the time of his death on 18 Jun 1954 his address was given as 33 Braemore Gardens, West Wickham, Kent.  His brother, George Rabbets, also served in the conflict and both their names appear on a Roll of Honour privately published in Iwerne Minster.