Story:
Frederick John Best was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1879 and baptised there on 3 Aug 1879 the son of John Best and Sarah Jane Best (nee Wareham).   He lived for a short time only in Compton Abbas before his family moved to, firstly, to Wimborne, Dorset and then to Bishopstone, Wiltshire.  Frederick enlisted on 4 Apr 1899 with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 5943) but was dsicovered to be under age at the time and was discharged. He re-enlisted with the same Regiment on 13 Jun 1899 once eligible and joined the 3rd Battalion serving in South Africa where he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal (3 Clasps) and the King's South Africa Medal (1 Clasp).  On returning to the UK he met and married Martha Morris in Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales, on 27 Dec 1906.  He was placed on reserve in 1911 and took up the position of Postman in Carmarthen, Wales.  He was mobilized on 5 Aug 1914 and joined the 2nd Battalion (Service No. 5339) in France and Flanders and in time was promoted to Lance Corporal.  During 1917 he received Gun Shot Wounds and was discharged on 20 Sep 1917 as being physically unfit for further service.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 134031 as well as the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914 Star.  His death was recorded on 29 Jun 1923 in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire

Story:
Edwin Charles Conway was born in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, in 1884 the son of Robert Conway and Eliza Ann Conway (nee Raymond).   He lived all his life in the Minchington, Farnham, Dorset, area.  He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment on 8 Sep 1914 and was attached to the 6th Battalion as a Private (Service No. 10693).  His service was however cut short as he was discharged on 29 Oct 1914 for medical reasons.  Had he remained in the Army his Battalion had been decimated in battle in later months in a number of areas.  He married Beatrice Mary Raymond in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 4 Dec 1922.  His death was recorded at the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1935.  His brother, Robert Michael Conway, also served and survived the conflict.

Story:
Harold John Perrett was born in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 1 Oct 1891 and baptised there on 29 Dec 1891 the son of Samuel Perrett and Emma Perrett (nee Burden).  He lived his very early life at Higher Bridmore, Berwick St. John, until the family moved, firstly, to Odstock, Wiltshire and then to Arlesford, Hampshire.  Harold married Edith May Noble in Winchester, Hampshire, in 1917 just prior to his enlistment on 6 Mar 1917 in the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman (Service No. J68213).  He was transferred to the Naval Reserve on 12 Apr 1917 to become a deckhand on a civilian ship.  He remained on the Royal Naval Reserve until 11 Nov 1930.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Violet Hill, South Lynch, Winchester, Hampshire, working as a Stockman on a farm.  His death was recorded in Winchester during 1983.

Story:
Ernest Alphaeus Large was born in Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, the son of Arthur Robert Large, the local Schoolmaster, and Emily Large (nee Jobbins).  He lived his very early life at Curfew Cottage, Berwick St. John, until, by 1891, the family had moved to Longhope, Gloucestershire, and then, by 1901, to Wood Green, Middlesex.  Ernest married Miriam Harlick in Edmonton, Middlesex, during 1909.  He emigrated to Canada and settled down in Toronto, Ontario, working as a Grocery Clerk during 1912.   He had enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 30 Apr 1916 and joined the 208th Battalion (Service No. 249501) rising to the rank of Acting Sergeant.  He was sent to the UK and worked at the Canadian Base Camp at Whitley Camp, Godalming, Surrey, in the Orderly Room.  Whilst serving he contracted diptheria and was hospitalized at Shorncliffe Military Hospital, Kent, from 21 Dec 1918 to 5 Apr 1919.  He was eventually returned to Canada and discharged on 18 Aug 1919.  He immediately re-enlisted and served with the 110th Regiment until he was finally discharged on 30 Jun 1920 due to defective vision.  There is no medal record but he would have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  By 1921 he was living at 355 Greenwood Avenue, Toronto, Canada, working as a Grocery Salesman.  His death was recorded in Toronto on 6 Aug 1958.