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.)

Story:
Joseph Henry Pitman was born in Motcome, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27 Aug 1880 and baptised there on 22 Sep 1880 the son of Walter Pitman, a carpenter, and Sarah Adelaide Pitman (nee Bugden).  Walter lived all his early life in Bittles Green, Motcombe, and later served with the 74th and 99th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery in India prior to WW1.  Sometime before the outbreak of war he emigrated to Australia where he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 5 Feb 1915 and joined the Australian Field Artillery as a Gunner (later Driver) (Service No. ES/58850) serving in Gallipoli and France & Flanders.  On 6 Sep 1919 he transferred to the Australian Service Corps (S/10000) and was classified as a Baker until his discharge on 7 Sep 1920 in England.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  He returned to Australia in 1921 and lived at Hillside, Foley Street, Muswellbrook, New South Wales.  He married Eileen Agatha Hogan in Mayfield, New South Wales, in 1929.   His death was recorded in 1963 and he was buried in Muswellbrook Cemetery on 23 Oct 1963.