Story:
Victor Coward was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 12 Sep 1897 and baptised there on 7 Oct 1897 the son of James Coward and Mary Jane Coward (nee Miles).  He spent his early life at The Street,  Motcombe.  He enlisted with the 1/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 3080 & 201287).   It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge on 1 Jul 1919 he was granted a limited pension due to contracting malaria during his service.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  At the 1921 Census he was living with his parents in Motcombe noted as 'single'.   He later moved for work at the Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, Dorset and set up home at 'Charlton', Jubilee Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole, Dorset.  His death was recorded in Wareham, Dorset, in 1927 following an explosion at the factory at the age of 30 years.  He was buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe.  (An apparent marriage to Louisa Mabel Squires on 2 May 1920 does not appear to fit the facts as currently known.) Victor's brothers Charles Edwin (b.1892) and Harold (b.1893) also served with the Dorsets during the war. Sadly Harold died in Mesopotamia in 1917.

Story:
Charles Edwin Coward was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 10 Feb 1892 and was baptised there on 24 Apr 1892 the son of James Coward and Mary Jane Coward (nee Miles).   He spent all his life except for Military Service in Motcombe, Dorset.  He enlisted and served with the 1/5th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 242120).  He later transferred to the 2/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200153) eventually being promoted to Acting Warrant Office Class II.  It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge on 2 Jul 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   At the time of the 1921 Census he was living in The Street, Motcombe, working as an Under Carter on Lord Stalbridges' estate.   Shortly after the Census he married Hilda Mabel Archer in Motcombe, Dorset, on 31 Jul 1921.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 40 The Street, Motcombe, Dorset, working as a Cutter and Dresser in a Bacon Factory as well as volunteering as an ARP Warden.  His died in Motcombe in 1971. Charles brothers Harold (b.1893) and Victor (b.1897) also served with the Dorsets during the war. Sadly Harold in Mesopotamia in 1917.

Story:
Levi John (known as Jack) Clark was born in Motcombe, Dorset, on 3 Mar 1887 and baptised there on 1 May 1887 the son of Charles Clark and Harriet Clark (nee Brickell).  He spent all his life mainly in Bittles Green, Motcombe, Dorset.  He enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 26442).    It is not known in which theatre of war he served but he was with the 2nd Battalion and on his discharge on 9 Mar 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   By the 1921 Census he was living with his widowed mother at Shorts Green Lane, Motcombe, working as a  Milk Separator Assistant at CSG Prideaux Ltd milk factory.  He married Ellen Rosina (Nellie) Mogg in Motcombe during 1926.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 17 The Street, Motcombe, Dorset, working as a Milk Factory Dairyman.  He died in Motcombe in 1960.

Story:
Harry Gerald Plowman  (known as Gerald) was born on the 9 Dec 1896 the son of Ada Plowman.  (No father has been named).   He lived most of his early life in the West Orchard area.   He had enlisted and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 14507)  and was attached over time to the 5th and 6th Battalions.    It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge on 19 Mar 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   By the 1921 Census he was living at West Orchard and working as a General Labourer at Lower Hartgrove Farm.  He married Lilian May Gawler in the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry area in 1927.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at The Avon, Benmoor Road, Poole, Dorset, working as a Bricklayer.  His death was recorded in Poole, Dorset, in 1959.