Story:
John Edward Primrose Strange was born in the Weymouth, Dorset, Registry area in 1895 and baptised at St. John's Church, Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, on 25 Aug 1895 the son of Edward Frank Strange and Mary Clarke Strange (nee Wishart).   The family had moved to St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands, by 1901 then in 1903 they moved to 5 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where they were in business.   John enlisted on 8 Dec 1915 and joined the Cyclists Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 2085 & 29607).  He served in France and Flanders variously with the 9th, 2/9th and 2nd Battalions.  On 27 Jul 1916 he received a high explosive wound to the face with a complicated fracture to the lower jaw.  He was repatriated to the UK on 22 Oct 1916 and finally discharged as unfit for further service on 5 Jun 1918.  He received the Silver War Badge No. 397218 and later was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He married Alice Elizabeth Magdalene Hellyar at St. Merrys Church, St. Columb, Cornwall, on 24 Apr 1928.  Unfortunately he died on 4 Apr 1934 in Launceston, Cornwall.  His widow eventually remarried Frederick Price Sharwood in 1941.   John's brother, Stuart Menzies Frank Strange, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Walter James Arnold was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22 May 1884 and baptised at St. James Church on 22 Jun 1884 the son of Philip Arnold and Ellen Arnold (nee Woodford).  The family lived in St. Johns Hill, Shaftesbury, until by 1891 they had moved to North Bradley, Trowbridge, Somerset.   Walter married Ellen Barrows in Charing, near West Ashford, Kent, on 1 Oct 1913.   He enlisted on 10 Dec 1915 and was mobilized on 7 Jun 1916 and joined the 15th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 315526).  During his service he had a number of transfers namely Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 18492); the 17th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No. 54473); the 11th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 48392) and finally the Worcestershire Regiment (Service Nos. 56372 & 70750).   During this time he served in France and Flanders (where he was wounded) and Egypt.  He was discharged on 3 Dec 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. The 1921 Census shows he was living at 21 Edward Terrace, Chislehurst, Kent, working as a Private Gardener. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Mountfield, Camden Park Road, Chislehurst, Kent, where he was still working as a Gardener.   His death was registered in Bromley, Kent, on 15 Nov 1966 and was buried in Greenwich, London, on 22 Nov 1966.

Story:
James Brickell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4 Aug 1880 and baptised at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, Dorset, on 7 Nov 1880.  The family lived in New Buildings, Enmore Green for a time before moving to Littledown, Shaftesbury.    He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment on 13 Jun 1898 (Service No. 5730) and served in South Africa gaining four campaign medals and was discharged on 29 Oct 1910 having completed his period of engagement.   He had re-enlisted on 27 Aug 1914 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3/7519).   However he was discharged on 17 Oct 1914 as he was not physically fit for service.   He married Mary Pitcher in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in 1916.   The 1921 Census shows he was living at Barfreston, Eastry, Nr. Dover, Kent, working as a Mine Hewer. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Everleaze Farm, Tincleton, Dorchester, Dorset, working as a Domestic Gardener.   He died in 1957 and was buried at Tincleton on 20 Jul 1957.  James's brothers, Alfred Brickell and Frederick Brickell, also served in the conflict though Frederick was killed in action.

Story:
Arthur William Gough was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, on 30 Aug 1880 the son of Elizabeth Annie Gough (no father named).  Elizabeth eventually married an Albert Smith.  By 1891 Arthur was living in Bruton, Somerset.   He enlisted on 12 Oct 1896 and joined the Army Service Corps (Service No. S/22425) and served in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and South Africa being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal as well as various campaign medals.  He married Emily Jane Chant at the Wincanton Registry Office, Wincanton, Somerset, on 19 Dec 1905.  At the outbreak of WW1 he served in France and Flanders where he was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal and was eventually promoted to Staff Quartermaster Sergeant (Warrant Officer Class II).  Following the Armistice he also served in Germany.  He was eventually discharged on full pension on 17 Sep 1919 and was further awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914 /1915 Star.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 11 Green Lane Avenue, Hersham, Surrey, working as a Jobbing Gardener.  He died on 6 May 1952 and was buried at St. Peters Church, Hersham, Surrey, on 10 May 1952.

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.