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Harry Bertram Davis Weare was born in Gillingham, Dorset, on 10 Mar 1898 the son of Harry Weare (a Baker and Confectioner) and Edith Louisa Weare (nee Davis).  He lived most of his early life in Newbury Street, Gillingham.  He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He enlisted on 27 Feb 1917 and joined the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force from 1st Apr 1918) as a Baker (Service No. 63098).  He served  with both the 244th and 117th Squadrons and was in France and Flanders between 14 Nov 1917 and 17 Apr 1918.  On his discharge on 7 May 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He married Olive Wathen Dingle in Exeter, Devon, on 4 May 1931.  Regrettably Olive died in 1932 around the time of their daughter's birth.  By the time of the 1939 Register Harry was living at 64 Fore Street, Brixham, Devon, working as a Bread and Cake Baker as well as being a Volunteer Special Constable.  He married for a second time to Mollie M. Mcmanus in Totnes, Devon in 1952.  He died in Newton Abbot, Devon, on 29 Oct 1962.

Story:
Victor William Noel Bowles was born in Lytchett Minster, Dorchester, Dorset, on 25 Dec 1897 the son of William Thomas Bowles and Constance Helena Bowles (nee Harlock).  He lived his early life at the Police Station, Fordington, Dorchester, Dorset, where his father was stationed.  By 1911 he was living at the Police Station, Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where his father had been promoted to Superintendent.  Victor had attended at Shaftesbury Grammar School for part of his education.   He enlisted on 6 Dec 1916 and joined the Royal Flying Corps (Royal Air Force from 1 Apr 1918) (Service No. 50619) as a Telegraphist with the final rank of Air Mechanic Class 2.  He served in France and Flanders with the 7th Squadron from 27 Mar 1917 to 27 Jun 1919 being finally discharged on 30 Jul 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him boarding at 150 Alma Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire, (the home of the Batt famiily) described as a Sorting Clerk and Telephonist with the General Post Office. He married Winifred Kate Batt in Christchurch, Hampshire, in 1923.  He was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Traffic with the London Telephone Service in 1927 and by the 1939 Register was residing at 35 Sidney Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, now as Superintendent of Traffic.  He died on 12 Aug 1991 where his address was recorded as 91 Alvandi Gardens, Herbert Road, New Milton, Hampshire.

Story:
Robert Charles Withers was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 8 Jul 1893 and baptised at St. Edmund's Church, Salisbury, on 29 Oct 1893 the son of Walter Seward Withers and Jane Hudson Withers (nee Bain).  He lived his early life in Salisbury until by 1901 the family had moved to Goodworth Clatford, Hampshire.  Robert received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, which he left in 1907.  He had enlisted with the 18th Battalion of the London Regiment eventually holding the rank of Colour Sergeant (Service No. 2428).  He was at sometime transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Service No. 52197).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He had married Hilda Buxton at Holy Trinity Church, Upper Tulse Hill, London, on 21 Oct 1916.  Regrettably his wife died in Wandsworth, London, during 1920 and by the 1921 Census he was living at 4 St. Mark's Crescesnt, St. Pancras, Middlesex, described as a Commercial Traveller - Confectionery. By the time of the 1939 Register he at 67 Tasman Road, Lambeth, London, now described as a Representative for an Instrument Maker as well as a volunteer ARP Stretcher Bearer.  His death was recorded at the Battersea, London, Registry, in 1959.   Of his brothers, Richard Seward Withers, also served in the conflict and survived whilst Walter Seward Withers, who had no apparent association with Shaftesbury, was killed in action.

Story:
Harry Churchill Smith was born in Colehill, Dorset, on 21 Mar 1894 and baptised at Wimborne Minster, Dorset, on 5 Oct 1894 the son of Thomas Smith and Sarah Lower Smith (nee May).  He lived all his short life in the Wimborne Minster area except for part of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, which he left in 1910.  He had enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 689) but later was integrated into the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230110).  He served in the Egyptian theatre of war during which time he had suffered from malaria. He was eventually discharged on 22 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal. At the time of the 1921 Census he was living at Barnsley Farm, Pamphill, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, working as a Farmer.   He died on 30 Mar 1925 and was buried at Wimborne Minster Cemetery, Dorset, on 2 Apr 1925. An inquest followed his death where it was indicated that he had died as a result of injuries caused by a shotgun being accidentally discharged on nearby farmland. The jury returned a verdict of 'accidental death'.

Story:
Maurice Tom Ridout was born in Stour Row, Dorset, in 1887 and baptised there on 1 Jan 1888 the son of William James Ridout and Mary Ridout (nee Coombs).  He lived his early life in the Stour Row area and received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, which he left in 1902.  By 1911 he was living with his parents at Maperton, Wincanton, Somerset.   He had enlisted on 28 Mar 1907 with the Territorial Force of the North Somerset Imperial Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 972).  On embodiment on 5 Aug 1914 he was promoted to Corporal and served in France & Flanders taking part in battles as Loos and Ypres, both in Belgium.  He was discharged on 1 Apr 1916 as his military undertaking had expired.  He was ultimately awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star. He died under tragic circumstances following an accident with a machine saw at Home Farm, Maperton, which resulted in the later amputation of his arm. He survived a few days but eventually died on the 9 May 1917 and was later buried at Maperton, Somerset.