Story:
Fred Warren was born in Monkton Deverill, Wiltshire, on 18 Dec 1896 and baptised there on 17 Jan 1897 the son of William Warren and Annie Lydia Warren (nee Butcher).  He spent all his life, apart from Military Service, at Knoyle Down Farm, Hindon, East Knoyle, Wiltshire.   He enlisted on 9 Dec 1915 and was placed on reserve until mobilized on 30 May 1916 when he joined the Machine Gun Corps as a Gunner (Service No. 38545).    He was sent for training to the Bisley, Surrey, Training Centre and was later posted to France and Flanders on 14 May 1917 with 16th Company, 'F' Battalion.    He was transferred to the newly formed Tank Corps on 6 Aug 1917 (Service No. 201135) serving at the School of Gunnery.   He was eventually discharged on 22 Feb 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He returned to the family farm in Hindon and by the time of the 1939 Register he was described as a Farmer (assisting his father) and still single.  His death was registered in Mere, Wiltshire, on 1 Dec 1963.

Story:
Herbert Neville Usher was born in East Lulworth, Dorset, on 9 Jul 1899 and baptised there on 9 Aug 1899 the son of Rev. Robert Usher and Alice Mabel Usher (nee Edwards).  He spent his early life in East Lulworth and East Knoyle, Wiltshire, until by 1911 the family had moved to Oborne, Sherborne, Dorset.  Herbert had enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment becoming a 2nd Lieutenant.  On 4th Nov 1918 he had acted with conspicuous gallantry at Sambre Canal, Oise, France, and was awarded the Military Cross for his actions.  On his discharge he was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows his was living with his parents at the Fovant Rectory, Fovant, Wiltshire. He left for South Africa during 1926 and apart from infrequent visits to the UK remained there until he retired as an Estate Manager and Planter.  He had married Cicely May Cockerton at Blantyre Cathedral, Malawi, Africa, on 16 Apr 1929 and, following her death in 1957, went on to remarry Ada Mary Cockerton in South Africa on 18 Feb 1960.  About this time he returned to the UK and lived near Stafford, Staffordshire, until his death there on 10 Feb 1977.  Of his brothers, Robert Howell Craster Usher, had served but later died in a flying accident in 1924 whilst Christopher Lancelot Usher had died of wounds in France during 1918.

Story:
Robert Howell Craster, Usher was born at East Lulworth, Dorset, on 8 Oct 1896 and baptised there on 15 Nov 1896 the son of Rev. Robert Usher and Alice Mabel Usher (nee Edwards). By 1901 his father had transferred to East Knoyle, Wiltshire, where young Robert spent his early years.  By 1911 his father had become Vicar at Netherbury, Beaminster, Dorset.   Robert (jnr.) had enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment and received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion.  He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and served as a Flying Officer with the 27th Squadron in France and Flanders on 15 Jun 1916.  He was wounded in the leg and foot whilst flying on 30 Jul 1916 and for his actions that day was awarded the Military Cross on 25 Aug 1916.  He returned to the UK as a Temporary Captain working as an Equipment Officer in which capacity he proved successful and was further awarded the Air Force Cross on 2 Nov 1918.  He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He remained in the Royal Air Force and was posted to Northolt, Uxbridge, Middlesex, during 1923 although the 1921 Census shows he was at RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire, for a short while.  He was killed on 5 Jun 1924 whilst flying at Northolt where his aircraft broke up in the air during a test flight.  He was later buried in the Churchyard at Fovant, Wiltshire, where his father was the local vicar.  Of Robert's brothers, Christopher Lancelot Usher, was killed during the war whilst Herbert Neville Usher served and survived. (A fuller summary of his life is available on-line)

Story:
Cecil Bernard Longman Thorne was born in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, on 16 Aug 1900 and baptised there on 30 Sep 1900 the son of Charles Stephen Thorne and Agnes Charlotte Thorne (nee Stevens).  He spent his early life in Broad Chalk and East Knoyle, Wiltshire, until by 1911 the family had moved to Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He had enlisted with the Royal Marines Artillery as a Private (Service No. 216705).  On his discharge he was awarded the British War Medal only..  He had emigrated to New Zealand and by 1935 was living at 49 Cook Street, Auckland, New Zealand, working as a Labourer.  He died at the Sunset Home, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, on 7 May 1978 and was buried at the Walkumete Cemetery, Auckland, om 9 May 1978.  Of his brothers, Walter Charles Thorne, was killed in action whilst Wilfred Henry Thorne served and survived the conflict.

Story:
Albert Edward Stickland was born in Bishops Caundle, Dorset, on 30 Mar 1885 and baptised there on 10 May 1885 the son of John Stickland and Mary Anne Stickland (nee Laver). He lived his early life in Brown Street, Bishops Caundle and later at Summerleaze, East Knoyle, Wiltshire.   By 1911 the family had moved to Oborne, Sherborne, Dorset.  Albert had enlisted on 18 Nov 1915 with the Scots Guards as a Guardsman (Service No. 14801).  He had joined the 1st Battalion in France and Flanders where, on 23 Aug 1918, he had received shell wounds to his right leg and shoulder as well as gas poisoning on 17 Aug 1918.  He was repatriated to the UK mainly due to the effects of gas poisoning on 23 Sep 1918 and finally discharged on 11 Feb 1919.   He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shws him living with his widowed mother (his father having died in 1912) at 3 Simons Road, Sherborne, Dorset, working as a Dairy Worker for South Western Dairies Co Ltd. His marriage to Ethel May Sheldrick was registered in Sherborne, Dorset, during 1926.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was still living at 3 Simon Road, Sherborne, Dorset, working as a General Labourer in a Glove Factory.  His death was recorded in Sherborne during 1947.   His brother, Charles Laver Stickland, also served during the conflict.