Story:
Herbert Thomas Ralls was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 22 Sep 1885 the son of George Patrick Ralls, a Railway Clerk, and Mary Jane Ralls (nee Hayward).  He spent his early life in his parents home at The Porters Cottage, Railway Sidings, Semley.  Sometime after 1901 he had moved to Raynes Park, London where he was working as a Carpenter.  He married Elsie Frances Connors in Staines, Middlesex, in 1908.   He enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service on 3 Jul 1917 (having been in the Royal Navy Voluntary Reserve prior to this time (Service No. Y2990)) as a Rigger (Service No. F32657).  He was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918 as a Corporal Mechanic (Service No. 232657).  He was eventually discharged on 11 Apr 1919 and awarded the British War Medal.   The 1921 Census shows him living at 291 Haydon's Road, South Wimbledon, Surrey, working as a Carpenter and Joiner. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 27 Bierston Road, Wimbledon, Surrey, now described as a Joiner.  His death was recorded in the Surrey North Eastern Registry in 1959 and he was buried in Merton, Surrey, on 12 Mar 1959.

Story:
Reginald John Cowley was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 19 Aug 1896 and was baptised there on 20 Sep 1896 the son of John Cowley and Fannie Cowley (nee Feltham).  He lived with his parents in Fontmell Magna until the whole family emigrated to Canada in 1906 eventually settling down in Kent, Ontario, Canada.   Reginald enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 10 Jul 1918 as a Private (Service No. 3139275) and was attached to the West Ontario Regiment at the 1st Battalion Depot.  He only served in Canada and was finally discharged on 16 Jan 1919.  He married Hazel Whittington in Kent, Ontario, on 22 Nov 1924.  His death was recorded in Kent, Ontario, in 1982.

Story:
Robert Beale was born in Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9 Jan 1885 the son of Henry O. Stone Beale and Mehetabel Beale (nee Waygood).   He lived his early life in Compton Abbas until he enlisted in the Royal Navy on 6 Apr 1900 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, as a Boy (Class 2) (Service No. 209428).   He eventually rose to Able Seaman and served in many ships during his time his last sea service being on HMS Minatour which was on the Northern Patrol in 1914 and 1915.  He was discharged due to defective vision on 3 Feb 1916.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at Furzehill, Colehill, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a General Labourer. He married Ellen Emily Skinner on 9 Apr 1927 in Longfleet, Dorset.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 5 Greenclose, Wimborne, Dorset, working as a Labourer as well as a Volunteer ARP Warden.  His death was recorded on 1 Jan 1951 at Herrison Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, and he was buried at St. John the Evangelist Church, Wimborne, on 4 Jan 1951.

Story:
Harold Andrew Maidment was born on 6 Nov 1883 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 14 Jan 1884 the son of Charles Maidment and Anna Cordelia Maidment (nee Maidment).   By 1891 the family had moved to the Downton Area of Salisbury, Wiltshire.  Harold had enlisted on 27 Nov 1899 with the 3rd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 6136) and served in South Africa being awarded the South Africa Medal with 5 clasps.  He was discharged on 21 Aug 1902 but by the 30 Oct 1902 had re-enlisted and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 12863).  He served in Malta and Bermuda until placed on reserve on 26 Oct 1905.   He married Clara Rose Maidment (same surname) at St. Edmund's Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 2 Aug 1909 and they lived at Springfield, Downton Road, Salisbury, where Harold worked as a Postman.  He was embodied on 9 Aug 1914 and returned to service with the Royal Garrison Artillery and eventually discharged, having served the period of his engagement, on 5 Nov 1915.   He and his family had travelled to Canada during 1912 but the war intervened.  They then emigrated to Queensland, Australia, arriving there on 2 Jun 1917.  His death was recorded in Queensland on 4 May 1950. (NB. There is confusion over his christian names as he was registered officially as Harold Andrew but baptised as Andrew Harold. Thereafter his names were frequently given either way in various records.)