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.

Story:
Bertram Joseph Mansfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 11 Jun 1877 the son of Thomas John Mansfield (a local Watchmaker and Jeweller) and Ellen Mansfield (nee Andrew).  He spent all his early life in Shaftesbury with some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School which he left in 1894.  By 1901 he had moved to Hampstead, London, where he was working as a Clerk. His father died in 1904. He married Maude Alice Jessie Murphy at St. John the Evangelist Church, Hammersmith, Middlesex, on 18 Apr 1910.  He had enlisted with the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) as a Territorial with the rank of Rifleman (Service No. 175).  When he was mobilized at the outset of war he joined the 18th Battalion (Service No. 200162) and served abroad from 5 Jan 1916 though it is not known in which area.  On his discharge, sometime after 2 Nov 1919, he was awarded the British War Medal only as well as a lifetime pension.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 'Aysgarth', Somerton Road, Cricklewood, Middlesex, working as a Railway Accounts Clerk with the Railway Clearing House. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 31 Cowslip Hill, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, described as a Retired Railway Clearing House Clerk.  He died in Letchworth on 25 Oct 1965.