Story:
Robert Thomas Alderman was born in Stanton St. Bernard, Near Devizes, Wiltshire, on 30 Mar 1891 and baptised there on 22 Jun 1891 the son of Thomas Alderman, a Carrier, and Eliza Gray Alderman (nee Morrell).  He spent his early life in Stanton St. Bernard until by 1909 he emigrated to Canada and settled down in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.   He enlisted on 20 Jan 1915 with the 50th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a Private (Service No. 434342).  (This number was changed in the records from time to time but was finally given as 34342.)  He transferred to the 10th Battalion and was sent to France in Oct 1915.  He was wounded in the thigh at Ypres, Belgium, in Jun 1916 and was sent for treatment in the UK.  On his return to duty he was engaged in an action at Passchendaele, Belgium, where he received gunshot wounds to his right leg on 17 Nov 1917.  He was again repatriated to the UK and went from hospital to hospital over a number of months as well as convalescence leave.  During this time he was given permission to marry and on 29 Jun 1918 married Florence Annie Chamberlain in Iwerne Minster, Dorset.  (His parents had moved to Iwerne Minster prior to 1911).  He was eventually discharged from the army on 18 Feb 1919 as being medically unfit for further duty and qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  He and his wife then returned to Canada and the 1921 Census  shows them living at 215 18th Street West, Calgary, Alberta, and Robert is working as Carpenter for the Canadian Pacific Railroad.  He died on 15 Oct 1969 and was buried in the Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary.  His gravestone gives his military details despite his early discharge in 1919.  His name also appears on a privately produced Roll of Honour for those who served from Iwerne Minster, Dorset.

Story:
Sidney Ainsworth Waller was born in Fulham, London, on 16 Jan 1890 the son of Robert Ainsworth Waller.  (There is some doubt as to who his mother was and this requires further investigation.)  He lived at various place in his early years including Saxmundham, Suffolk, (with an Uncle), Portsmouth, Hampshire, and Lambeth, London, where he obtained employment as a Footman. He married Amy Lavinia Coaker at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Dec 1914.  He had enlisted and joined the Machine Gun Corps as a Private (Service No. 57384).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge on 29 Sep 1919 he held the rank of Acting Corporal and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 23 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Baker's Roundman.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1944.  His name appeared on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.

Story:
William John Stacey was born in Bournemouth, Dorset, on 2 Jul 1886 the son of Uriah Stacey, originally from Shaftesbury, Dorset, and Emma Stacey (nee Wareham).  He spent his early life in Kinson, Dorset and later on Branksome, Dorset, until he married Bertha Ellen Brockway at the Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2 Aug 1911 and set up home at 3 Barton Hill, Shaftesbury.  He enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps on 2 Jan 1917 as Private (Service No. 52593).  He was automatically transferred to the Royal Air Force on it's formation on 1 Apr 1918 and held the rank of Acting Corporal (Fitter).  He was discharged on 14 Feb 1919 having qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 'Hillcrest', 25 Hill View Road, Ensburgh Park, Bournemouth, Dorset, working as a Gas Company Collector.  His death was recorded in Bournemouth on 25 Jan 1981.

Story:
Frederick John Meaden (commonly known as John) was born in Okeford Fitzpaine on 12 May 1894 and baptised there on 9 Sep 1894 the son of Albert Henry Meaden and Martha Meaden (nee Rose).   He lived his early life in Okeford Fitzpaine and Tarrant Gunville, Dorset.  By 1911 his family had move to 97 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He enlisted with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 786).   He served from 23 Apr 1915 in the Egyptian Theatre and possibly at Gallipoli, Turkey.  His unit became part of the Corps of Hussars with a change of Service No. to 220174.  He was discharged on 5 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  He married Violet Elizabeth Belbin in Tarrant Gunville, Dorset, on 28 Sep 1921.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Gorcombe Farm, Charlton Marshall, Dorset, described as a Dairy Farmer.  He died at Gorcombe Farm on 18 Nov 1974. Of his three brothers, Edwin Arthur Meaden was killed in action whilst Bertie Meaden and Walter Frank Meaden survived the conflict.  All their names appeared on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.

Story:
Bertie Meaden was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 2 Jan 1890 the son of Albert Henry Meaden, a Farmer, and Martha Meaden (nee Rose).  He lived all his early life in both Okeford Fitzpaine and Tarrant Gunville, Dorset, until by 1911 the family had moved to st. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  During this time Bertie had joined the Territorial Unit of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry and served for a three year period.  Sometime after 1911 he had emigrated to Western Australia and it was there he had enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 21 Oct 1916 as a Private (Service No. 3182).  He was attached to the 8th Company of the 48th Battalion and arrived back in the UK on 16 Feb 1917 on his way to France & Flanders with the rank of Corporal.  He was seriously wounded at Passchendaele, Belgium, on 4 Jun 1917 receiving injuries to his left thigh and right knee which were described as 'severe'.  He was eventually repatriated to the UK and admitted to the War Hospital, Epsom, Surrey.  He was finally discharged in the UK as being medically unfit for further service on 1 Apr 1919 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. A14474 as well as qualifying for the Victory and British War Medals.  Having decided to remain in the UK he had gone on to marry Louisa Fletcher at St. Mary's Church, Tarrant Gunville, Dorset, on 23 Apr 1919.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at The Drum Inn, Primrose Hill, Wimborne, Dorset, described as a Farmer and Innkeeper.  His died in Wimborne on 2 Jul 1975. He had three brothers who also served, Edwin Arthur Meaden (who died of wounds), as well as Frederick John Meaden and Walter Frank Meaden, (who both survived).  All their names were on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James's Church, Shaftesbury, Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.