Laurence Digby

Surname: Digby
Other names: Laurence
Other people in this story:
Sidney William Digby
Lettie Digby née Lavis
Louisa Mary Agnes Sparham Rowse Etheridge
John Kenneth Digby
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Elham Kent
Arras, Flanders
Newton Abbot, Devon
Goland, St. Austell, Cornwall
Ashford, Kent

Story:
Laurence Digby was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd January 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 28th February 1898, the son of Sidney William Digby and Lettie Digby (née Lavis). He spent his early years with his family at 35 High Street, Shaftesbury, where his father was in business as an ironmonger.  His father died on 31  Jan 1914 and the remaining family moved to 1 Belle Vue Terrace, Victoria Street, Shaftesbury.  Laurence had enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. P141655) and in time had been promoted to Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 19 Jun 1918 with the 1st Battalion which rank was confirmed on 19 Dec 1916.  There is a pension record showing that he had been discharged due to Heart Palpitations and Defective Eyesight due to the effects of Mustard Gas.  It has subsequently been learnt that 6 officers (including Laurence) and 104 men had been subject to a gas attack near Arras, France, on 14 Apr 1918. Regrettably no medal records can be found but he would certainly have received at least the Victory and British War Medals.  He resigned his commission on 5 Jan 1920.   By the 1921 Census he was boarding at 10 High Street, Ashford, Kent, described as an Engineer and Contractor on his own account.   He married Louisa Mary Agnes Sparham Rowse Etheridge,  a widow, in Elham, Kent, during 1922.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at The Moorings, Goland, St. Austell, Cornwall, and was described as a Fisherman (Summer).  His death was recorded in St. Austell, Cornwall, in 1963.  His brother, John Kenneth Digby, also served and remained in the Army following the end of the war.   (Information on some of the Military period details have been kindly supplied by a former Volunteer at The Keep, Dorchester, based on Dorsetshire Regiment diaries.)

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William John Farris

Surname: Farris
Other names: William John
Other people in this story:
Charles Farris
Celia Jane Hoskins Farris née Mayo
Olive Rachel Farris née Hanney
Locations in this story:
Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France
Russia
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

Story:
William John Farris was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd June 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 3rd July 1898, the son of Charles Farris and Celia Jane Hoskins Farris (née Mayo).  He lived his early life with the family at 17 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury.   William enlisted on 2nd June 1916 and served with, in succession, the Dorsetshire Regiment, the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport Reserve), the Essex Regiment (Service No. 39586) and the Yorkshire Regiment (Service No. 33829).  He became in time a Lance Corporal and during his time served in France as well as a short period after the armistice in Russia.  He was discharged on 3rd July 1919, being physically unfit to serve due to debility and defective vision.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  By the 1921 Census he was living in Victoria Street, Shaftesbury described as an Engineer working to John Farris & Sons (the local foundry).  He married Olive Rachel Hanney in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, in 1923.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 19 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as an Agricultural Engineer (Works Manager) as well as being a volunteer with the local Fire Brigade.  He died in Shaftesbury on 1st October 1975.

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Victoria Street

Percival Stewart Morgan

Surname: Morgan
Other names: Percival Stewart
Other people in this story:
George Morgan
Emily Morgan née Brockway
Jessie Mary Morgan née Brockway
Sidney Charles Morgan
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ambala, Punjab, India
Frizinghall, Yorkshire
Finchley, London, N3
Hendon, Middlesex
Bradford, Yorkshire

Story:
Percival Stewart Morgan was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 10th November 1887 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 4th December 1887, the son of George Morgan and Emily Morgan (née Brockway).  He lived most of his early life at the family home at 7 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury.  (NB. Victoria Street was formerly called Malthouse Lane (see 1881 Census).  By the time of the 1911 Census, Percival had enlisted with the 1st Dragoon Guards (The Kings) as a Shoeing Smith (Service No. D/902).  He was based at Ambala, Punjab, India.  He was eventually discharged on 16th December 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914 Star (his medal record shows he was not eligible for the 1915 Clasp).  He married Jessie Mary Brockway at St. Margarets Church, Frizinghall, Yorkshire, on 26th March 1921 and by the Census of that year they were boarding at 41 Alexandria Street, Bradford, Yorkshire, where Percival was working as a Blacksmith.  The 1939 Electoral  Register shows him living at 192 Regents Park Road, Finchley, London, N.3. yet his entry in the 1939 Register is still officially closed.  His death was registered at the Hendon, Middlesex, Registry on 8th November 1954 and his funeral carried out on 13 Nov 1954. Percival's brother Sidney Charles (b.1885) also served in the war, with the Dorsetshire Regiment and the Royal Engineers.

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  • Victoria Street

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Sidney Charles Morgan
Victoria Street

Eli Frederick Miles

Surname: Miles
Other names: Eli Frederick
Other people in this story:
Eli Miles
Bessie Eliza Miles née Wilmott
Violet Olive Miles née Henbest
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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  • Victoria Street

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George Reginald Belbin

Surname: Belbin
Other names: George Reginald
Other people in this story:
Harry Belbin
Elizabeth Belbin née Tucker
Frederick Belbin
Charles Belbin
William John Belbin
Bessie May Gulliford
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

Surname: Butt
Other names: Albert Edward
Other people in this story:
Henry Butt
Emma Jane Butt née Lydford
Henry (Harry) Charles Butt
Frederick Arthur Butt
Reggie Butt
Ida Rose Golding
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

Surname: Lemon
Other names: Charles
Other people in this story:
George Thomas Lemon
Eliza Lemon née Dibben
Florence Mabel Lemon née Foyle
Samuel Lemon
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
Tanyard Lane, St. James

Frederick Frank Hillier

Surname: Hillier
Other names: Frederick Frank
Other people in this story:
Robert Hillier
Blanche Elizabeth Lucy Hillier née Stainer
Bessie Violet Mary Gurd née Taylor
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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Frederick William Stacey

Surname: Stacey
Other names: Frederick William
Other people in this story:
Joseph Stacey
Alice Stacey née Dummer
Gladys May Stacey née Imber
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 Williams 1

Reginald Charles Williams

Surname: Williams
Other names: Reginald Charles
Other people in this story:
Albert Williams
Emily Charlotte Williams née Hiscock
Muriel Louise Williams née Gutsell
Percy Williams
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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  • Reginald Williams 2
  • Williams family

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Percy Williams
The National Archives