1914-1918 Archives - Page 61 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Lucius George Gibbs

25th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gibbs

Other names: Lucius George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Yeovil, Dorset
Gillingham, Dorset
India
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Lucius George Gibbs was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3 Jun 1882 and baptised at St. James Church on 2 Jul 1882 the son of Edwin George Gibbs and Mary Gibbs (nee Matthews). He lived most of his early life at Blynefield Farm, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset. By 1901 he was boarding in Yeovil, Somerset, whilst employed as an Apprentice Mechanical Engineer. He volunteered for the Territorial Force of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 14 Dec 1896 (Service No. 22) and attended the regular annual training camps thereafter. By the time of the outbreak of WW1 he held the rank of Sergeant. He was embodied on 4 Aug 1914 and on 26 Sep 1914 was promoted to Lance Sergeant. He served for a period in India where, in due time, he was again promoted to Lance Colour Sergeant and served with the 1/4th Battalion. He returned to the UK on 18 Nov 1915 and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant with the 13th (Reserve) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was discharged on 8 May 1919 whilst holding the rank of Acting Captain. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He had married Marjorie Mary Burnell at the Parish Church, Gillingham, Dorset, on 25 Jan 1916. He became the Gillingham, Dorset, Relieving Officer and Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. Regrettably his wife died in 1932 and by the 1939 Register he was living at Butts Knap, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He died in Shaftesbury on 31 Aug 1949 and was buried at St. Rumbolds Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3 Sep 1949. His sister, Ada Prudence, had served with the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment as a Nurse during the war and his brothers, Alwin Thomas Gibbs, Walter Matthews Gibbs DCM, and Claude Victor Gibbs, served in the conflict, Claude had been a Prisoner of War for some of the time.

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Montague William George Wareham

25th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wareham

Other names: Montague William George

Locations in this story:
Horton, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Auckland, New Zealand

Story:
Montague William George Wareham was born in Horton, Dorset, on 5 May 1895 and baptised there on 30 Jun 1895 the son of George Wareham and Emily Wareham (nee Sturgess). By 1911 he had moved to Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where he was living with his step father. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 25 Aug 1911 as a Boy Class 2 (Service No. J13694). He rose to the rank of Able Seaman and served in various ships and shore establishments during his service eventually being discharged on 30 Sep 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. Shortly after his discharge he emigrated to New Zealand where he married Louisa Victoria De Carle at North Head, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand, on 20 May 1922. He remained in Auckland for the rest of his life and died there on 20 Jul 1968 and was buried in the Purewa Cemetery, Auckland, on 23 Jul 1968.

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Sidney Stanley Merefield

25th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Merefield

Other names: Sidney Stanley

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset
New Forest, Hampshire

Story:
Sidney Stanley Merefield was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23 Sep 1899 the son of Frederick Merefield and Mary Ellen Merefield (nee Gray). He lived his early life at 3 North Street, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 01054 & 40114). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He married Kathleen Mary Bealing in Ashmore, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28 May 1928. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 1 North Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a General Labourer at a Waterworks. His death was recorded in the New Forest, Hampshire, Registry in 1984. His brother, Bertie Merefield, also served in the conflict.

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Thomas Chick

25th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Chick

Other names: Thomas

Locations in this story:
Hemyock, Devon
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Liverpool
Quebec, Canada
Heath, Alberta, Canada
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Story:
Thomas Chick was born in Hemyock, Devon, on 22 Apr 1888 the son of Thomas Edward Chick and Sarah Ann Chick (nee Clist). He lived his early life in Devon until, by 1911, his family had moved to Blandfords Farm, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Thomas had found employment as a Carpenter and Wheelwright, He emigrated from Liverpool on the SS Lake Champlain and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 7 May 1912. He lived in Heath, Alberta, Canada, where he was described as a Farmer. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 12 Nov 1917 as a Private (Service No. 211287). It is not known in which theatre of war he served or if any medals were awarded. He died on 25 Oct 1930 and was buried in the Edmonton, Alberta, Cemetery on 27 Oct 1930. (NB There is some evidence that he had married Lily Jackson in Alberta in 1927 but no definitive evidence has been found).

Thomas' brother Benjamin George (b.1896) also served in the war, with the Dorset Yeomanry and the Royal Engineers.

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Benjamin George Chick

Ernest Henry White

25th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: White

Other names: Ernest Henry

Locations in this story:
Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Finsbury, London
Weymouth, Dorset

Story:
Ernest Henry White was born in Hindon, Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 2 Apr 1886 and baptised there on 2 May 1886 the son of Emanuel George White and Edith White (nee Dinham). He lived his early life from at least 1891 in South Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 11 Apr 1902 as a Boy Class 2 (Service No. 220351). He served in various ships and shore establishments in his time reaching the rank of Able Seaman. His principal service was on HMS Neptune, a Dreadnought Battleship, from 31 Aug 1912 through to 29 May 1918, during which time he took part in the Battle of Jutland. He served throughout WW1 and was eventually discharged on 19 May 1919 with a pension. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 417 St. John Street, Finsbury, London, working as a Porter in a Stores Department. He died in the Weymouth & District Hospital, Weymouth, Dorset, on 2 Jun 1959. His brother, Frederick James White, also served in the conflict. (NB It is thought Ernest had married but no definitive record can be found.)

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Clarence Reginald Still

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Still

Other names: Clarence Reginald

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St Georges, Hanover Square, London
France & Flanders
Luton Bedfordshire

Story:
Clarence Reginald Still was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13 Nov 1876 the son of Tom Still and Ellen Still (nee West). He lived his early life in Fontmell Magna. His marriage to Edith Kate Flower was recorded in Chelsea, London, Registry in 1900 and they had set up home by 1901 at 54 Gresham Street, St. George Hanover Square, London. Clarence was working as a Domestic Coachman. He enlisted and served with the Army Service Corps as Private (Service No. M2/074713). He served in France and Flanders and was discharged on 28 Apr 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He moved to Bedfordshire and by the time of the 1939 Register was living at 15 Kingsway. Luton, Bedfordshire, working as a Bus Driver. His death was recorded in Luton on 23 Mar 1950. His brothers, Archibald Arthur Still and Stanley Charles Still, also served in the conflict.

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Archibald Arthur Still
Stanley Charles Still

Henry Shute

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Shute

Other names: Henry

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Birmingham, Warwickshire
Flanders

Story:
Henry Shute was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 25 Feb 1890 and baptised there on 6 Apr 1890 the son of Henry Young Shute and Anna Shute (nee Merefield). He lived his early life at 41 Smiths Hole, Fontmell Magna. His marriage to Mary L. Bird was registered in Birmingham, Warwickshire, in 1912. He enlisted on 20 Sep 1915 and served with the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. M2/180986). He had obviously served abroad because he was discharged on 19 Apr 1919 with a small pension being no longer fit for service due to malaria. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Silver War Badge No. 277782. His address at the time of discharge was 45 North Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire, and he was still residing there at the time of the 1939 Register working as a Doctor's Chauffeur. His death was recorded in Birmingham in 1958. His brother, Sidney Shute, had also served but had died in Flanders.

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Maurice Vernon Reeves

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Reeves

Other names: Maurice Vernon

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Portland, Dorset
Bedminster, Bristol

Story:
Maurice Vernon Reeves was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21 Apr 1897 and baptised there on 18 Jul 1897 the son of Walter William Reeves and Emily Reeves (nee Bennett). He lived his early life at 54 West Street, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted on 22 Oct 1915 and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 74262). He served abroad but it is not known where. He was discharged on 12 Apr 1917 due to being medically unfit as a result of VHD (Heart Disease) attributable to his service conditions. He received a limited pension and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Silver War Badge No. 164132. He married Rose Matilda Smith at Fontmell Magna on 16 Mar 1927. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 1 St Paul's Road, Portland, Dorset, described as a Baker and Grocer. He died on 2 May 1984 at Bedminster, Bristol.

Maurice's father and two of his brothers, Leo Bennett Reeves and Cecil John Reeves, served in the conflict though Cecil died whilst serving.

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Walter William Reeves
Cecil John Reeves
Leo Bennett Reeves

Gerald John James Andrews

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry, Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Andrews

Other names: Gerald John James

Locations in this story:
Marnull, Dorset
Tarrant Keynston, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Woolcotts Farm, Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury
Palestine
Egypt
Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset

Story:
Gerald John James Andrews was born in Marnull, Dorset, on 2nd July 1894 and baptised there on 12 Aug 1894 the son of Edwin Walter Andrews and Lucy Beatrice Andrews (née Day). He lived his early life at Dairy House, Tarrant Keynston, Dorset. He enlisted as a Territorial on 9th February 1911 and joined the 'C' Squadron of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry (Service No. 508). He attended regular annual training camps but was embodied at the outbreak of WW1 on 5th August 1914 eventually becoming a Corporal. He was discharged having completed his service time with his unit on 8th February 1916 but he re-enlisted and joined the Royal Engineers as a Driver (Service No. 152684). (His family have advised that he had sent postcards from the Palestine/Egyptian area whilst serving with the Royal Engineers and was en route returning to the UK during Apr 1919.) On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. By the 1921 Census he was living with his parents at a farm near Hartgrove, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, helping his father on the farm. He married Ruby Ada Lear at Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th Aug 1929. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Woolcotts Farm, Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died in Blandford Hospital, Blandford, Dorset, on 21st January 1966 and was buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe.

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The National Archives

Ernest Edward Miles

24th September 2020/in 1914-1918 /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Miles

Other names: Ernest Edward

Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset

Story:
Ernest Edward Miles was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1900 and baptised there on 9 Sep 1900 the son of Ernest Edward Miles (senior) and Harriet Rebecca Miles (nee Nottle). He spent his early life at The Dairy House, North Street, Fontmell Magna. He enlisted and joined the Army Service Corps (Service No. M2/153195). He rose to the rank of Acting Staff Sergeant. It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. By 1937 he was a patient in the Dorset Mental Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, where he died in 1939. His brother, Everard James Miles, also served in the conflict.

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