1914-1918 Archives - Page 41 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

James Bewley Hitchings

20th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hitchings

Other names: James Bewley

Locations in this story:
Cleverton, Wiltshire
Wardour, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bournemouth, Hampshire

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.

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George William Beaumleigh Cheater

20th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Cheater

Other names: George William Beaumleigh

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kings College, London
Charing Cross, London
Droxford, Hampshire
Brighton, Sussex

Story:
George William Beaumleigh Cheater was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9 Jul 1893 and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 27 Aug 1893 the son of Albert William Cheater (a Tailor) and Mary Sarah Cheater (nee Tuffin). He lived most of his early life with his parents at 48 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, and received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School. On leaving school he went on to study medicine at Kings College, London, and at Charing Cross Hospital, London, where he gained many distinctions for which his old school were justly proud. Following the outbreak of WW1 he had enlisted with the Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve being gazetted as a Surgeon Sub Lieutenant on 13 Apr 1918. According to the Roll of Service (Medical), published after the war, he had served on ships in the Northern Patrol in particular HMS Harebell, an Archusa Class convoy sloop. On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He married Lillian Maud Hawes in Droxford, Hampshire, on11 Aug 1923. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Peacock Lodge, Peacock Lane, Brighton, Sussex, described as a Physician. In fact his honours were listed later as MRCS; LRCP; MB; BSc (London - Hons). Regrettably he died in Brighton on 31 Jan 1940.

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Frederick Victor Oborne

19th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Oborne

Other names: Frederick Victor

Locations in this story:
Hound, Hampshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Nigeria
Kensington, London
Old Risbygate, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
Sandhurst

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.

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Charles William James Barnes

19th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Barnes

Other names: Charles William James

Locations in this story:
Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Dinton, Wiltshire

Story:
Charles William James Barnes was born at Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31 Oct 1899 the son of Charles Henry Barnes and Laura Ethel Barnes (nee Spencer). He lived his early life at Gummers Farm, Twyford, and received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset. The school records indicate that by 1918 he had enlisted with the Somerset Light Infantry but regrettably no Military Record can be found except for a likely record of Charles W. J. Barnes serving with the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No 31493) and being awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census show him back with his parents at Gummers farm where he was assisting his father. He married Christine May Burrow in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, area in 1927. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Mill Farm, Tisbury Row, Tisbury, Wiltshire, described as a Farmer. He had retired to 'Honysuckle Mead', Dinton, Wiltshire, where he died on 5 Jan 1989.

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William Henry Ainsworth

15th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Ainsworth

Other names: William Henry

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Dean, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders

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.

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George William Clarke

15th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Clarke

Other names: George William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex
Southampton, Hampshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
George William Clarke was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 May 1900 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 1 Sep 1901 the son of Thomas William Clarke (Grocer) and Lilian Mary Clarke (nee Figgins). He lived nearly all his life in Shaftesbury not least at the family Grocer's shop at 56 High Street. He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, on leaving which he enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps as a Boy on 29 Nov 1917 (Service No. 158027). On achieving the age of 18 he was made a Private Class 2 in the, by now, Royal Air Force on 29 May 1918. He was promoted to Sergeant and posted to Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, Cadet Wing for instruction in aviation on 14 Sep 1918. He was discharged on 17 Apr 1919 and resumed his employment in his father's business as evidenced in the 1921 Census. He married Winifred Ware Piper in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 May 1937 and by the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 7 Grosvenor Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Grocer and also a Volunteer ARP Warden. His death was recorded in Southampton, Hampshire, on 13 May 1968.

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Ian Cunningham Eaton

14th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Eaton

Other names: Ian Cunningham

Locations in this story:
Weymouth, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Pasadena, California, USA
San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California, USA
Nevada, USA

Story:
Ian Cunningham Eaton was born in Weymouth, Dorset, on 17 Feb, 1900 and baptised at Radipole, Weymouth, Dorset, on 24 Mar 1900 the son of Arthur Frederick Eaton and Mary Jane Eaton (nee McCrie). He had attended as a Boarder at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for some of his education. He had joined the Royal Air Force towards the end of the conflict but there are no other military records available. By 1919 he had emigrated to Pasadena, California, USA, He had married Violette Randall sometime after arriving in America but this ended in divorce. He went on to remarry Blanche Irene Dunn in Nevada, USA, on 2 Nov 1940. He had also been registered on the WW2 USA Military draft which indicates he was then living in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, USA. His death was recorded on 1 Jun 1974.

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Edward George Heard Maidman

14th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Maidman

Other names: Edward George Heard

Locations in this story:
Edinburgh, Scotland
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Wareham, Dorset
Bledlow Ridge, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Story:
Edward George Heard Maidman was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 1 Jan 1900 the son of Edward Charles Henry Maidman and Alice Elizabeth Maidman (nee Heard). He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and the School records indicate that he served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 7th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. No other military records have been found.

The 1921 Census shows him visiting relations at 'Westkirk' Chapel Road, Poole, Dorset, but he appears on a list of Old Boys living in London or suburbs in the February 1922 edition of the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine. He married Marjorie Evelyn Mercer in Poole, Dorset, on 22 Feb 1922. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 'St. Christopher', Sandy Lane, Wareham, Dorset, working as a Laboratory Assistant. His death was recorded in Bledlow Ridge, High Wycombe, Bucks, on 26 Jun 1963.

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Victor Edward Duffett

14th October 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Duffett

Other names: Victor Edward

Locations in this story:
Ibberton, Blandford, Dorset
East Stour, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Wimborne, Dorset
Amesbury, Wiltshire
Ferndown, Dorset

Story:
Victor Edward Duffett was born in Ibberton, Blandford, Dorset, on 8 Aug 1905 the son of Edward Samuel Duffett and Elizabeth Kate Duffett (nee Creed). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents at Cole Street Farm, East Stour, Dorset. He had attended at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and the School records indicate that he had joined the Royal Navy (Wireless Section). There are no other military records. By the 1921 Census he had returned to his home at Cole Street Farm, East Stour, where he was assisting his father on the farm. He married Gwendoline Isabel Joy in Wimborne, Dorset, on 17 Apr 1933. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Rolleston Manor Farm, Amesbury, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Foreman. His death was recorded in Farnham, Dorset, on 3 Jan 2000.

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John Massey Fuller

20th September 2021/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Fuller

Other names: John Massey

Locations in this story:
Bournemouth, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Exmouth, Devon

Story:
John Massey Fuller was born in Bournemouth, Hampshire, on 22 Jan 1900 and baptised there on 7 Apr 1900 the son of William James Fuller, an Analytical Chemist, and Valerie Fuller (née Thompson). He lived his early life in the Bournemouth area except for a period of education from 1913 to 1917 at Shaftesbury Grammar School. "Jack" represented the school at football and at the Inter School sports, becoming the school's "Champion Athlete" in 1917. As a member of the school's cadet force he rose to the rank of Quarter-Master Sergeant and in 1917 won the school Shooting Cup.

In July 1917 he passed the Civil Service examination for entry into the Royal Marines and on 1st Sep received his first commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He remained in the Royal Marines, gradually being promoted to his final rank of Colonel just prior to his discharge due to ill health on 4 Jan 1946. He had received the Victory and British War Medals as well as WW2 General Service Medals. In 1925 he was seconded to the Royal Air Force and he gained his 'wings' following which he flew off of aircraft carriers for a time. He achieved the nickname of 'Crash' which might have described his exploits in the air. There is no indication that he married but he died in Exmouth, Devon, on 24 Aug 1966.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, February 1917
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1917
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1917

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Shastonian