Story:
Richard Merrick was born in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, on 9 Jun 1877 the son of Richard Merrick and Hannah Merrick.  He lived his early life in Much Wenlock until by 1901 he was boarding as a Servant at the Stables attached to Harford House, Manton, Rutland.  He then moved to Dorset and a marriage to Rose Vincent was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1902.  He worked as a Groom and lived at The Corner, Child Okeford, Dorset, until he moved for a few years to 14 Loyal Cottage, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset.   He enlisted on 9 Jan 1918 and joined the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 3 (Service No. 118142).  When the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 Apr 1918 he became a Private 2 and was working with the 2nd Balloon Squadron wholly based in the UK.  He was discharged to the reserves on 8 Mar 1919 and finally demobilized on 30 Nov 1920.  No medal record can be found but he would have qualified for the British War Medal at least.   By the 1921 Census he had returned to 14 Loyal Cottage, Motcombe, working as a Groom. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Melrose Cottage, Catsfield Road, Fareham, Hampshire, working as a Gardener.  He died in the Gosport, Hampshire, Registry area in 1963.

Story:
Herbert Scott Trowbridge was born in Willesden, Middlesex, on 24 Mar 1891 the son of William Harry Trowbridge and Catherine (Carrie) Trowbridge (nee Barringer).   His father died in 1894 and his mother returned to Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, her birth town, and remarried Frederick W. Redout and resided with him and her children at the Post Office and Shop, Enmore Green.  In 1914 Herbert travelled to the USA and took up residence in Old Westbury, Long Island, New York, USA, working as a Butler.   He passed over the border into Canada arriving in Toronto, Ontario, and enlisted on 22 Jun 1917 and joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 528204).  He departed for England on 20 Nov 1917 having served all of his time in the UK but mainly at the Shorncliffe Army Base Hospital, Kent, - known as 'a suburb of Toronto'!  He returned to Canada and was demobilized on 2 Oct 1919 and returned to his employment in New York.   No medal records have been found but he would have qualified for at least the British War Medal.  He returned to England on 18 Apr 1920 and went on to marry Ada Wilson at All Saints Church, Benhilton, Epsom, Surrey, in that year.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 291 High Street, Sutton, Surrey, described as a Newsagent, Tobacconist and Confectioner.   His death was recorded in Sutton in 1957.   His brother, Charles Henry Trowbridge, had also served in the conflict with the Royal Engineers.

Story:
Thomas (aka Tom) Lane was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28 Feb 1881 and baptised there on 8 May 1881 the son of John Lane and Maria Lane (nee Alner).   He lived all his life apart from Military Service in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.  He married Elizabeth Suter in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, on 15 Aug 1905.  He enlisted on 7 Jun 1916 and was mobilized on 26 Feb 1917 joining the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 240504).  He served with the Road Construction Unit in France and Flanders  (New Service No. WR25166).   He was discharged on 20 Jun 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  Both the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show he was still living in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a County Council Road Lengthman.   He later moved to 2 Well Lane, Enmore Green, and died at the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 3 May 1961.

Story:
Frank Leonard Cooper was born in Dallinghoo, Suffolk, on 19 Oct 1880 the son of Amos Cooper and Mary Cooper (nee Fuller).  He lived his early life with his parents at the Post office, Dallinghoo, until by 1901 he had moved to the Isle of Thanet, Kent, as an Assistant School Master.  His father had died during 1906. He married Eva Laurie Mott at St. Andrews Church, South Shoebury, Essex, on 12 Apr 1909.  By 1911 he had moved to Hill View, Brinscombe Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, having taken up a post as a School Master.  The Absent Voters List of 1918 & 1919 indicate that he was still residing in Cann, Shaftesbury, and serving with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as an Assistant Quartermaster Sergeant (Service No. 202054).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served nor are any medal records readily available.   The fact that he served was also recorded on the National Union of Teachers Roll of Honour.  The 1921 Census hsows him boarding in St. John's Hill, Wareham, Dorset, described as an Elementary School Teacher. By the time of the 1939 Register he was in the same occupattion and living at 50 North Street, Wareham, Dorset. He was also a Volunteer ARP Warden.   He died in Wareham, Dorset, on 14 Mar 1966 and buried at Lady St. Mary Church, Wareham.