Story:
George Thomas Parsons was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20 Jan 1900 and baptised there on 16 Feb 1900 the son of John Parsons (a Farmer and Builder) and Emily Catherine Parsons (nee Watts).  He spent his early life with his family in and around Motcombe Street, Motcombe.  He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School for some of his education.  According to school records he had enlisted in the Royal Engineers but no Military record has been found at this time. The 1921 Census shows him boarding at 2 Furlong Road, Islington, London, working as a Motor Mechanic. He appears on a list of Old Boys living in London or suburbs in the February 1922 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine and married Phyllis Mary Halsey-Macer in the St. Pancras area, London, in 1924.   By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 60 Rolls Hill, Frome, Somerset, described as a Transport Maintenance Engineer.  His wife, Phyllis, died in 1962 by which time he had moved to 60 Rolls Hill, Frome, Somerset. He apparently re-married Marjorie Maud Peplow in Frome in the latter part of 1962. He died in Frome, Somerset, on 24 Jun 1967 and his wife, Marjorie, was later granted probate of his will.

George's brother Arthur John (b.1898) also served in the war and sadly died in 1919 of wounds received in France while with the Gloucestershire Regiment.

Story:
James Bewley Hitchings was born on 16 Mar 1899 in Cleverton, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 28 May 1899 the son of Frank Hitchings (a Farmer) and Lucy Anna Hitchings (nee Bewley).  He lived most of his early years in Cleverton until by 1911 the family had moved to Westfield Farm, Wardour, Tisbury, Wiltshire.  James received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  According to the school records he had enlisted and joined the Royal Field Artillery although no military records have been found at this time.   The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at Westfield Farm where he was assisting his father on the farm. He married Alice Powell in Bournemouth, Hampshire, in 1936 and by the time of the 1939 Register was living at 38 Eusbury Drive, Bournemouth, Hampshire, working as a Lorry Driver (General Haulage).  His death was recorded in Bournemouth during 1986.

Story:
Frederick Victor Oborne was born in Hound, Hampshire, on 8 Feb 1900 the son of Frederick Sidney John Oborne and Lilla Blanche Oborne (nee Hallett).  Frederick's father was a Clerk of Works and Surveyor with the Royal Engineers and had been born in Shaftesbury, Dorset.  Frederick had received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School following which he spent time the the Royal Military College in Sandhurst.  He had served in with the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Lieutenant at one time being posted to Nigeria.  He had married Elizabeth Mary Ursula Helyar in Kensington, London, in 1933.  By the time of the 1939 Register Frederick was based at the Gibraltar Barracks, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, whilst his wife was in married quarters at Old Risbygate, Bury St. Edmunds.  By progression he rose in rank to Major by the end of WW2.  His death was recorded in Bury St. Edmunds on 12 Feb 1989.

Story:
William Henry Ainsworth was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 2 Jan 1880 and baptised at the Parish Church in Gussage St. Andrew, Dorset, on 29 Feb 1880 the son of Henry Ainsworth and Ann Ainsworth (nee Webb).  He lived his early life in the Sixpenny Handley area though after his father's death in 1887, he had moved to Dean, Sixpenny Handley.   By the 1911 Census he was boarding out in Salisbury, Wiltshire, working as a Domestic Gardening Assistant.  He married Minnie Vera Dicks in Salisbury on 4 Mar 1914 and they set up home at 37 Park Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire.  William enlisted on the 18 Sep 1916 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 5925) serving in France and Flanders from 16 Jun 1917 until the 14 Aug 1917 only.  He was transferred to the 69th Battalion and given a new Service No. 301657.  At some point he was again transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 588543).  On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show he was still living at his old address in Park Street, Salisbury and working as a Public Works Contractor's Labourer.  His death was recorded in Salisbury in 1962.