Story:
John Frank Brooks was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7 Sep 1899 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 8 Oct 1899 the son of George Brooks, a Blacksmith, and Ellen Beatrice Brooks (nee Pond).   Apart from later life and Military service he lived with his family at 4 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury.  He had enlisted on 24 Sep 1917 and joined the Royal Naval Air Service (Service No. F38771).  He was transferred to the Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918 with the rank of Air Mechanic Class 2 (Service No. 238771).  He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 2 Dec 1919.  Regrettably by the time of the 1939 Register he was a patient in the Herrison Mental Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset.  He died at the Hospital in 1960 and was buried in Charminster, Dorset, Cemetery on 4 Aug 1960.

Story:
Edwin John Cox was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21 Aug 1896 the son of James Edwin Cox, a sawyer, and Esther Cox (nee Kelly).   The family had moved to Hampshire by the 1901 Census and Edwin eventually obtained employment as a Houseboy in East Cholderton, Amport, Andover, Hampshire, by 1911.   He enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service on 8 Mar 1918 (Service No. F51902) but transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force on 31 Mar 1918 as an Air Mechanic Class 2 (Engine Fitter) (Service No. 252006).  He was discharged on 8 May 1919.  He married Florence Mabel Nepper in Horsham, Sussex, in 1927.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 13 Lime Avenue, Horsham, Sussex, working as a Gas Works Fitter.  His death was recorded in Horsham on 29 Apr 1949.

Story:
Sidney Elijah Lambert (Rev) was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 19 Sep 1886 the son of Edwin Charles Lambert, an Under Butler at Motcombe House, and Elizabeth Lambert (nee Young).  He lived his very early life at The Lodge, Motcombe eventually moving to Henstridge, Somerset, and later Glastonbury, Somerset.  He emigrated to Canada arriving there on 30 Aug 1913.  He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 19 Jun 1915 joining the 50th Infantry Battalion as a Private (Service No. 435398).  He was sent to France and Flanders and whilst there had suffered severe gunshot wounds to his left leg in Sep 1916 at Ypres, Belgium.  Despite treatment at various military hospitals in the UK and elsewhere he had his leg amputated on 26 Feb 1917.  He was fitted with an artificial limb on 15 Nov 1917 and returned to duty at a Military Hospital as a Captain in the Chaplains Department as he had apparently been studying for the Ministry in the Methodist Church following his arrival in Canada.   He qualified for the Victory and British War Medals on his discharge on 28 Jun 1920 though no record can be found.   He had married Irene Pearl Courtice in York, Ontario, Canada, on 30 Mar 1920.   He became President of the War Amputations of Canada Association and on his death on 5 May 1971 in Toronto, Canada, glowing tributes were paid to him in the press.

Story:
James Alford was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8 Sep 1896 the son of Sidney Herbert Alford, a carpenter, and Clara Jane Alford (nee Marshall).  He lived all his early life in Motcombe Street, Motcombe.  He enlisted on 9 Sep 1914 with the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1064).  He served with his unit in Egypt until on 23 Aug 1918 he was transferred to the Royal Air Force as an Air Mechanic Class 2 (Service No. 408856) He worked as a Blacksmith on seaplanes. He was eventually discharged on 10 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  His marriage to Florence Rosalie Legg was recorded in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1920.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Furzelease Farm, Tisbury Row, Tisbury, Wiltshire, working as a Blacksmith as well as a volunteer ARP Warden.  No record of his death has been found to date.  Of his brothers, Herbert Alford and Bertie Alford, served and survived the conflict.

Story:
Arthur Enos Harris was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 30 Aug 1894 and baptised there on 30 Sep 1894 the son of Sydney John Harris and Sarah Ann Harris (nee Doggrell).  He lived his early life at Knap Hill, Motcombe and later at Guests Farm, Motcombe, where his father farmed.   Some time prior to the outbreak of war he had gone to British Columbia, Canada, where he eventually enlisted on 6 Nov 1914 with the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a Private (Service No. 77241).  He was sent to France and Flanders and joined the 88th Regiment (Victoria Fusiliers).  He received severe wounds to his right arm and right leg from a howitzer gun shell when in battle at Messines, Belgium, on 27 Aug 1915. He was hospitalized in France then sent to various medical facilities in the UK from where he was eventually repatriated back to Canada on 1 Sep 1916.  He was subjected to many medical reports and operations being eventually discharged on 24 Apr 1919.   He would have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star but this is not recorded.  At some time shortly after he returned to the UK and married Kathleen Victoria Courtney Hull in 1928.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was still living at Guests Farm, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Dairy Farmer.  His death was recorded in Motcombe on 4 Dec 1953.   His brother, Berkeley William Harris, also served for a short period with the Royal Air Force.