Maurice Vernon Reeves

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Surname: Reeves
Other names: Maurice Vernon
Other people in this story:
Walter William Reeves
Emily Reeves (nee Bennett)
Rose Matilda Smith
Leo Bennett Reeves
Cecil John Reeves
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.  The 1921 Census shows him living with an uncle at his bakery business at Hambro Road, Portland, Dorset, as Journeyman Baker. 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 had moved to 18 King William Street, Bedminster, Bristol, by the time of his death on 2 May 1984.  

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

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Surname: Andrews
Other names: Gerald John James
Other people in this story:
Edwin Walter Andrews
Lucy Beatrice Andrews née Day
Ruby Ada Andrews née Lear
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

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Surname: Miles
Other names: Ernest Edward
Other people in this story:
Ernest Edward Miles (senior)
Harriet Rebecca Miles (nee Nottle)
Everard Joseph Miles
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).  His father died in 1900 and 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).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother in Fontmell Magna without any occupation being recorded. 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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Everard Joseph Miles

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Surname: Miles
Other names: Everard Joseph
Other people in this story:
Ernest Edward Miles
Harriet Rebecca Miles (nee Nottle)
Martha Doris Ivy Taulbut
Ernest Edward Miles (junior)
Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Fareham, Hampshire
Gosport, Hampshire

Story:
Everard Joseph Miles was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 Nov 1894 and baptised at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, on 30 Dec 1894 the son of Ernest Edward Miles and Harriet Rebecca Miles (nee Nottle).  He spent his early life in the area and by 1901 was living at the Dairy House, North Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He had enlisted and joined the 4th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's) as a Private (Service No. D.6804).  He later transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery (Service No. 101919).  He served in France and Flanders from 13 Oct 1914 and was eventually discharged on 3 Jun 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  He had married Martha Doris Ivy Taulbut at St. Peter & Paul's Church, Fareham, Hampshire, on 27 Jul 1917.  The 1921 Census shows him lodging at 2 Gordon Road, Fareham, Hampshire, working as a Stoker for the Fareham Urban District Council. On the 2 Apr 1925 he re-enlisted and joined the Royal Tank Corps as a Trooper (Service No. 388248) on a two year engagement which came to an end on 1 Apr 1927. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 7 Coleno Road, Fareham, Hampshire, described as a Skilled Labourer in the Royal Navy Mine Depot.  His death was recorded in Gosport, Hampshire, in 1972.   His brother, Ernest Edward Miles (junior), also served in the conflict.

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Frederick James White

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Surname: White
Other names: Frederick James
Other people in this story:
Emanuel George White
Edith White (nee Dinham)
Ernest Henry White
Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sutton Waldron, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset
Weymouth, Dorset
Cardiff, Wales

Story:
Frederick James White was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1890 and baptised there on 13 Jul 1890 the son of Emanuel George White and Edith White (nee Dinham).  He lived his early life in Fontmell Magna and later in Sutton Waldron, Shaftesbury, Dorset.    He enlisted on 3 Sep 1914 and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 265645) and later transferred to the Rifle Brigade (Service No. 211836).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was discharged as being physically unfit for further service due to Melancholia on 10 Dec 1918 being granted the Silver War Badge No. B59242.  The recommendation was that he needed treatment in a mental facility.  He was granted a pension as his condition was attributable to his service.   He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  Initially he was admitted to the Cardif City Mental Hospital and later spent time in Weymouth, Dorset. His death was recorded at the Dorchester, Dorset, Registry in 1921.  His brother, Ernest Henry White, served in the Royal Navy and also survived.

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Charles Lankey

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Surname: Lankey
Other names: Charles
Other people in this story:
Frederick Lankey
Annie Lankey (nee Grant)
Margaret Louise Walsh
Hugh Grant Lankey
Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Southampton, Hampshire
Valeartier, Quebec, Canada
France & Flanders
Brant, Ontario, Canada
Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Story:
Charles Lankey was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20 Dec 1895 the son of Frederick Lankey and Annie Lankey (nee Grant).  He spent his early life in West Street, Fontmell Magna, until he emigrated to Quebec, Canada, leaving from Southampton, Hampshire, on the SS Ascania on 12 Jun 1913.  He was described at the time as a Gardener.  He enlisted on the 22 Sep 1914 at Valeartier, Quebec, and joined the 12th Reserve Battalion and later the 4th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry as a Private (Service No. 11596).  He was sent to France and Flanders where he received gunshot wounds on 2 May 1915 which were sufficiently severe that he was repatriated to the UK and spent time at the 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.  He was eventually declared unfit for further service and discharged back to Canada on 20 Aug 1916.   He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.   He married Margaret Louise Walsh on 19 Nov 1929 in Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada.   His death was recorded in 1962 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, and there is a local press obituary dated 7 Feb 1962.  His brother, Hugh Grant Lankey, also served in the conflict.

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George Lewis Henry Lathey

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Surname: Lathey
Other names: George Lewis Henry
Other people in this story:
William Lathey
Harriet Lathey (nee Burbidge)
Ethel Mary Durrant
Locations in this story:
Loders, Bridport, Dorset
India
Egypt
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mudford, Yeovil, Somerset

Story:
George Lewis Henry Lathey was born in Loders, Bridport, Dorset, on 8 Dec 1871 the son of William Lathey and Harriet Lathey (nee Burbidge).   He lived his early life in Loders, Bridport.  He enlisted with the 9th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment on the 1 Oct 1889 as a Private (Service No. 2938).  He served in India and Egypt until he was transferred to the 85th Training Reserve (Service No. TR/8/8071).  He was discharged on 31 Mar 1902 being unfit for further service and awarded a pension for life after twelve and a half years in the army.   He married Ethel Mary Durrant at Halstock, Dorset, on 28 Dec 1908.  By 1911 he was living at 43 Smith's Hole, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as an Estate Labourer.  At the outbreak of WW1 he re-enlisted and rejoined the Dorsetshire Regiment and served in the UK only rising to the rank of Acting Sergeant (Service No. 12441).  He was again found unfit to continue in service and was discharged on 26 Oct 1917 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 253060.  There are no other medal records.  The 1921 Census shows him living still in Fontmell Magna working as an Agricultural Labourer. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 30 Hill View, Mudford, Yeovil, Somerset, working as a Labourer.  He died in Yeovil on 23 Nov 1955.

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Gabriel Adrian Langdon

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Surname: Langdon
Other names: Gabriel Adrian
Other people in this story:
Joseph Langdon
Elizabeth Langdon (nee Druce)
Lillian Maude Latimer
Rose King
Locations in this story:
Chiselborough, Somerset
New Forest, Hampshire
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Yeovil. Somerset
Christchurch, Hampshire

Story:
Gabriel Adrian Langdon was born in Chiselborough, Somerset, on 14 Dec 1875 the son of Joseph Langdon and Elizabeth Langdon (nee Druce).  He lived his early life in Chiselborough.  He married Lillian Maude Latimer in the Christchurch, Hampshire, Registry area in 1895.  Regrettably his wife died in 1898.    He went on to re-marry Rose King in the New Forest, Hampshire, area in 1899.  By 1911 he had moved to West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, having found employment as an Estate Carpenter.   He enlisted on 3 Jan 1915 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1287).  He was later attached to the Corps of Hussars (Service No. H/230568).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was discharged on 29 Jan 1917 being no longer physically fit for service due to Hydrocephalus & Varicose Veins.  There is no record of any medals being awarded but he was issued with the Silver War Badge No. 326427.  By the 1921 Census he was living at 36 Southville, Yeovil, Somerset, described as a Carpenter and Wheelwright on his own account. His death was recorded at the Yeovil, Somerset, Registry in 1925.

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Harry Lawrence

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Surname: Lawrence
Other names: Harry
Other people in this story:
Thomas Lawrence
Jessie Grace Lawrence (nee Bown)
Rose Davis
Frederick Lawrence
Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Spaxton, Bridgewater, Somerset
Burnham on Sea, Somerset

Story:
Harry Lawrence was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 Sep 1884 and baptised there on 9 Nov 1884 the son of Thomas Lawrence and Jessie Grace Lawrence (nee Bown).  He lived his early life in Lurmer Street, Fontmell Magna.  He married Rose Davis at Spaxton, Bridgewater, Somerset, on 6 Jun 1910 and they set up home at Burnham on Sea, Somerset.  He enlisted and joined the Middlesex Regiment as a Private (Service No. 7713).  He was later transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 465800).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   The 1921 Census shows him living at Boxley Cottage, Love lane, Burnham on Sea, Somerset, working as a Gardener. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 2 South Street, Burnham on Sea, Somerset, working as a Greenkeeper and Gardener.   His death was recorded in 1956.  His brother, Frederick Lawrence, also served in the conflict.

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Frederick Lawrence

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Surname: Lawrence
Other names: Frederick
Other people in this story:
Thomas Lawrence
Jessie Grace Lawrence (nee Bown)
Jessie Hinton
Harry Lawrence
Locations in this story:
Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Romsey, Hampshire
Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Chard, Somerset
Merriot, Somerset

Story:
Frederick Lawrence (also know as 'Fred') was born on 6 Aug 1892 in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 17 Oct 1899 the son of Thomas Lawrence and Jessie Grace Lawrence (nee Bown).   Frederick's father had died before he was born on 15 May 1892.  Frederick lived his early life in Lurmer Street, Fontmell Magna.   He enlisted and served with the 1/6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 242862).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  By the 1921 Census he was living with his mother in Fontmill Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Baker Maker and Salesman.  He married Jessie Hinton in Romsey, Hampshire, in 1928.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Woodford House, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, working as a Master Baker.  His death was recorded at the Chard, Somerset, Registry on 8 Jun 1946 and he was buried at All Saint's Church, Merriott, Somerset, on 11 Jun 1946.  His brother, Harry Lawrence, also served in the conflict.

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