1914-1918 Archives - Page 83 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Eli Frederick Miles

Surname: Miles

Other names: Eli Frederick

Locations in this story:
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Eltham, Woolwich, London

Story:
Eli Frederick Miles was born in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration area on 30th July 1896, the son of Eli Miles and Bessie Eliza Miles (née Wilmott). His family had moved to 5 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, by 1911. Eli enlisted on 22nd July 1912 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Class III (Service No. J/19087). He served on many ships over his period of service and progressed through the ranks to become a Petty Office. For his service in the war he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. Towards the end of his engagement on 1st October 1926 he was further awarded the Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He had married Violet Olive Henbest at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 1st January 1920. By the time of the 1939 Register his wife and family were living at 487 Sidcup Road, Eltham, Woolwich, London. Eli himself had re-enlisted in the Royal Navy on 7th January 1929 and continued in service as a Chief Petty Officer Instructor until demobilized on 10th September 1945. He died in Eltham on 3rd September 1973.

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George Reginald Belbin

Surname: Belbin

Other names: George Reginald

Locations in this story:
Blandford, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Egypt
Yeovil, Somerset

Story:
George Reginald Belbin was born in Blandford, Dorset, in 1893 and baptised there on 15th October 1893, the son of Harry Belbin and Elizabeth Belbin (née Tucker). The family had moved to 11 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, by 1901. George enlisted on 26th January 1917 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 136147). He served in Egypt with the 10th Mountain Howitzer Battery and whilst there suffered shell splinter wounds to the neck as well having nasal problems which were aggravated by his service conditions, as a result of which, he was awarded a short lived 10% pension. He was discharged on 24th April 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. He had given 4 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, on the 1918 Absent Voters List. He had married Bessie May (or Mary) Gullimore in Shaftesbury on 18 Jan 1917 just prior to his enlistment. By the 1921 Census he was living apparently apart from his wife at 4 Coronation Buildings, Yeovil, Somerset, described as an out of work Crane Driver and it was to this address his pension was made out. His wife meanwhile was living at 4 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, with two children. Regrettably George died in Shaftesbury during 1929 and was buried in the Town Cemetery on 17 Jun 1929. Of George's brothers', Charles Belbin and William John Belbin both lost their lives whereas Frederick Belbin survived the conflict.

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Frederick Belbin
The National Archives

Albert Edward Butt

6th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Butt

Other names: Albert Edward

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Albert Edward Butt was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th October 1896 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 29th November 1896, the son of Henry Butt and Emma Jane Butt (née Lydford). He lived most of his early life at the family home at 82 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted and joined the 1st/4th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 3850 & 201800). He served in France and Flanders and on his discharge on 2 May 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living back at 82 St. James Street with his,by then, widowed mother working as a Farm Labourer. He married Ida Rose Golding in Bournemouth, Hampshire, during 1934. The 1939 Register shows him at 441A Wimbourne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, now working as a Builders General Labourer. His death was recorded in Bournemouth in 1967. Albert's brothers, Henry (Harry) Charles Butt, Frederick Arthur Butt and Reggie Butt all served in the conflict but were all killed or died as a result.

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Frederick Arthur Butt
Reggie Butt
Henry Charles Butt

Charles Lemon

6th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lemon

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
West Knoyle, Wiltshire
Blandford, Dorset
France & Flanders
Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richbourg-L'Avoue, Pas de Calais, France
Wilton, Wiltshire

Story:
Charles Lemon was born at East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1886, the son of George Thomas Lemon and Eliza Lemon (née Dibben). He lived his early life in and around East Orchard. He married Florence Mabel Foyle in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1911 and they had two daughters. On his marriage he moved to West Hill Cottage, West Knoyle, Wiltshire. Charles enlisted at Blandford, Dorset, and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 14795). Whilst serving with the 35th Heavy Battery in France and Flanders he died, according to the reports, 'of apoplexy whilst on active service' on 20th February 1916. He was buried at the Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-l'Avoue, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, (Grave ref: III.D.15). His parents had died prior to his death and his wife had moved to Wilton, Wiltshire, with her brother. No other memorial has been identified in this case. Charles's older brother, Samuel, also served in the conflict but survived.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Samuel Lemon

Frederick Frank Hillier

5th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hillier

Other names: Frederick Frank

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset

Story:
Frederick Frank Hillier was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd August 1888 and baptised at St. James' Church on 2nd September 1888, the son of Robert Hillier and Blanche Elizabeth Lucy Hillier (née Stainer). Frederick lived his early life at 6 Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 183702). It is not know in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge he was awarded the British War Medal only which would indicate he served solely in the UK. His father had died in 1918 and, by the 1921 Census, he was living with his widowed mother at 63 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Bricklayer. He married widow Bessie Violet Mary Gurd (neeTaylor) in Shaftesbury on 3rd August 1926 and by the 1939 Register they was living at 10 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, Frederick still described as a Bricklayer. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1963 and he was buried at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 6 Apr 1963.

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The National Archives

Frederick William Stacey

5th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Norfolk Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stacey

Other names: Frederick William

Locations in this story:
Midhurst. Sussex
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Frederick William Stacey was born in Midhurst, Sussex, on 26th May 1895, the son of Joseph Stacey and Alice Stacey (née Dummer). The Census of 1911 shows the family now living in French Mill Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Frederick had joined the Territorial Force of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 1541) he was then transferred to the 1st/4th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment (Service No. 204756) being promoted in time to Sergeant. He was transferred back to the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200164). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal. He married Gladys May Imber at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th September 1920 and by the 1921 Census they were living with her parents at 8 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, with Frederick working as a Tailor with the local firm of Pryce & Barriber. By the Electoral Register of 1922 they had moved to their own home at 33 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, where they were also noted on the 1939 Register with Frederick now described as a Master Tailor. His death was recorded at Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 21st December 1985.

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Reginald Charles Williams

5th June 2020/in 1914-1918 London Rifles /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Williams

Other names: Reginald Charles

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Reginald Charles Williams was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th April 1894 and baptised at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 18th July 1894, the son of Albert Williams and Emily Charlotte Williams (née Hiscock). He lived his early life at the family home in Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the 9th Battalion of the London Rifles as a Private (Service Nos. 5015 & 391856). 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 Muriel Louise Gutsell in Shaftesbury in 1920 and by the 1921 Census had set up home at 1 Church Lane, Shaftesbury, he working as a Builder with his father. By the time of the 1939 Register they were living at 29A High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where Reginald was now a Builder on his own account. His death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry on 30th June 1968. His brother, Percy Williams, also served in the conflict.

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Percy Williams
The National Archives

Percy Williams

5th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Williams

Other names: Percy

Locations in this story:
Tanyard Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Somme, France
Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury

Story:
Percy Williams was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th April 1898 and baptised at St. James Church on 14th August 1898, the son of Albert Williams and Emily Charlotte Williams (née Hiscock). He spent all his early life in the Shaftesbury area apart from Military Service mainly at the family home in Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No.80512). He is known to have joined the 130th Field Ambulance at Morlancourt, Somme, France, on 7th July 1916 and for a short time assisted the 131st Field Ambulance when the 38th (Welsh) Division fought at the Battle of Marmetz Wood during the 1st Battle of the Somme. On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was living with his married sister at 95 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Bricklayer for his Builder father. He married Florence Annie Taylor in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1925 and by the time of the 1939 Register they were living at 7 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Builder. He died in Shaftesbury on 7th October 1978. His brother, Reginald Charles Williams, also served in the conflict.

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Reginald Charles Williams

Frederick George Saunders

5th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Army Service Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Saunders

Other names: Frederick George

Locations in this story:
Wareham, Dorset
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hammersmith, London
Wimbledon, Surrey

Story:
Frederick George Saunders was born in Wareham, Dorset on 25th October 1885 and baptised there on 31st January 1886 the son of Henry Saunders and Jane Saunders (née Legg). He spent his early years in Wareham but, by 1911, had moved to 20 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He married Ethel Kate Munday on 25 Dec 1915 in Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the Army Service Corps rising to the rank of Sergeant (Service No. M2/150045). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He returned to Shaftesbury living at 94 St. James Street but by the 1921 Census he had moved to 28 Palmerston Road, Wimbledon, Surrey, where he was described as a Motor Mechanic and the 1939 Register shows he had moved to 23 Anley Road, Hammersmith, London, and was working as an Engine Fitter. No record of his death has been found.

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The National Archives

Harold Stephen Munday

5th June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Hampshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Munday

Other names: Harold Stephen

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Harold Stephen Munday was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13th November 1891 and baptised at St. James Church on 20th December 1891, the son of Arthur Stephen Munday and Eliza Wright Munday (née Gray). He lived all his early life at the family home at 94 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 25791). He later transferred to the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 0363). It is not known in which theatre of war he served but following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents back at 94 St. James Street but shortly afterwards he married Ruby Lilian Pond at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 29th September 1921. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 73 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was working as a Painter. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1962.

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The National Archives