Story:
Sidney James Maidment was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16 Oct 1893 the son of Edward Maidment and Lydia Maidment (nee Fish).  He lived his early life in the Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, area.  By 1915 he had moved to Old Kent Road, London, S.E. and enlisted from there on 6 May 1915 and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver (Service No. L/20984).  He served in France and Flanders with the 162 Brigade and was discharged on 17 Jun 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  Though he had used the Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, address for the Absent Voter List in 1918/1919 on discharge he gave his address then as 4 Cannings Road, Walthamstow, London, E.17. but on resuming civilian life the 1921 Census shows he was living at 139 Sumner Road, Peckham, Camberwell, London, working as a Stores Assistant with the South Metropolitan Gas Company.  He had married Kate Alice Douglas at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Walthamstow, on 8 Jun 1920.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 3 Elcot Avenue, Camberwell, London, working as a Gas Works Checker.  No reliable record of his death has yet been found.   His brother, Charles Maidment, also served in the conflict.

Story:
William John King was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3 May 1874 the son of Alfred King and Ann King (nee Kerton).  He spent his early life at Elm Hill, Motcombe.  He had enlisted on 31 Dec 1895 and joined the Royal Marines (Service No. RM5763) and in 1911 was stationed in Portsmouth, Dorset.  He was at one time was a Gunner serving aboard HMS Ringdove.  It is not known in which other theatre's of war he served in and there are no other records of his service available including medal records though he was have qualified for at least the Victory and British War Medals and possibly the 1914/15 Star.  By the 1921 Census, following his discharge, he was back living with his widowed mother at 60 Elm Hill, Motcombe, and shown as 'Out of Work' though he had a Naval pension.   His death was recorded at the Shaftesbury, Dorset, Registry in 1936 and he was buried at Gillingham, Dorset, on 18 Nov 1936.

Story:
Reginald Watson Inkpen was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Feb 1878 and baptised there on 6 Mar 1878 the son of Edwin Thomas Inkpen (one time Innkeeper of the Royal Oak) and Mary Ann Inkpen (nee Clack).  He had enlisted with the Imperial Yeomanry on 11 Jan 1900 as a Private (Service No. 5350) and served with the 26th Company in South Africa from 2 Mar 1900 until 17 Jun 1901 following which he requested his discharge with effect from 18 Jul 1901.  For his service he had been awarded the South Africa Medal with three clasps. He continued his life in Motcombe except by 1911 he was working and boarding as an Ostler at a hotel in Gillingham, Dorset.  He re-enlisted and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver (Service Nos. 23077 & 202832).  At a later stage he transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 643738) until his discharge on 9 Mar 1919.  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals plus being awarded a small pension due to having contracted malaria during his service. The Census of 1921 shows him living with his parents at 33 Bittles Green, Motcombe, working as a Gardener for Lord Stalbridge.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Norfolk Cottage, Shorts Green Lane, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Private Gardener.  He remained single all his life his death being recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1941 and buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe on 31 Oct 1941.  His brother, Rufus William Inkpen, had also served in the conflict with the Royal Navy.

Story:
Charles Hayward (nicknamed 'Wayward' Hayward) was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31 Mar 1898 the son of John Hayward and Lucy Jane Hayward (nee Gray).  He lived most of his life in Enmore Green.  He enlisted and joined the 3rd (Reserve) Garrison Battalion of the Royal Welch (Welsh) Fusiliers as a Private (Service No. 87743).  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 Census of 1921 he was living with his widowed mother in Enmore Green and his occupation was shown as a Miner albeit not working. He married Elsie May Penny in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1927.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living adjacent to 1 The Bartons, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Builder's Labourer.  His wife died aged 47 years in 1943 and was buried at St. John's Church, Enmore Green, but no reliable record of Charles' death can be found.  

Story:
James Foot was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 19 May 1890 the son of Erastus Foot and Amelia Foot (nee Foot).  He lived most of his life apart from Military Service in and around Shaftesbury and Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.  He had enlisted prior to 1911 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 248240) and was still in service at the time of the 1919 Absent Voters List.  No other military information has been found in his case.   Following his discharge the 1921 Census shows he was living in as an employee of a retired Indian Army Colonel and residing at Godstone Court, Godstone, Surrey.  He later returned to the Shaftesbury area and married Elizabeth Victoria Lane at Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7 Feb 1923.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Breach Cottage, Breach Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Postman.  He died in 1945 and was buried at Enmore Green on 10 Jan 1945.  His brothers, Archie Job Foot and Albert Thomas Foot, also served in the conflict.