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.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 9 Melbourne Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, and later by the time of the 1939 Register at 'Hillcrest', 25 Hill View Road, Ensburgh Park, Bournemouth, Dorset, working as a Collector of Gas Accounts and Water Rates for the Bournemouth Gas & Water Company.  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.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents ar Thickthorn Farm, Long Critchell, Dorset, where he assisted his father of the farm. Later that year 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 shrapnel 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 his last address being shown as 'Uplands', Gaunts Common, Wimborne, Dorset. 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.

Story:
Jasper Hopkins London was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 30 Jun 1894 and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 26 Aug 1894 the son of Charles Lill London and Mary Ann London (nee Mills).  He lived his early life at 3 Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury, and later in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.  He had enlisted on the 3 Jan 1916 and was embodied on 5 Jul 1916 joining the Mounted Military Police as a Lance Corporal (Service No. P-2114).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He married Olive Millicent Hulbert in Swindon, Wiltshire, in 1918 but regrettably she died in 1923 - the year that coincides with the birth of a son.   The 1921 Census had shown him boarding at a Hotel at 174 High Street, Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales, where he was carrying out duties as a Police Constable. Jasper remarried Edith Ellen Franklin Maidment in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1925.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Lightgate, Bridgewater, Somerset, working as a Chauffeur/Gardener.  He died at Westonzoyland, Somerset, on 28 Nov 1991 and was buried at local parish church of St. Mary's. His brothers, Charles Lill London (Junior) and Frederick George London, also served in the conflict.  All their names appear on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.