1914-1918 Archives - Page 87 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Ernest Edwin Dennis

Surname: Dennis

Other names: Ernest Edwin

Locations in this story:
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bemerton, Wiltshire
Hove, East Sussex
Glastonbury, Somerset
Blandford, Dorset
Bridport, Dorset

Story:
Ernest Edwin Dennis was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th September 1895, the son of Thomas Dennis and Emily Norton Dennis (née Barnes). He lived his early life at the family home at 31 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 19th January 1916 and joined the Royal Marines Artillery as a Private (Service No. RMA 1615/S). By 1918 he was serving aboard HMS Cyclopes II. On his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him boarding and working as an Outfitters Assistant at his employer's premises of Marshall & Co, Drapers, of Market Place, Blandford, Dorset. He married Amy Louisa Vickery at Bemerton, Wiltshire, on 28th May 1924 and later the 1931 Electors Register shows them living at 155 South Street, Bridport, Dorset. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 16 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, and was now described as a Master Tailor and Gents Outfitter. His death was recorded at the Hove, East Sussex, Registry in 1975.

Ernest's brother Samuel Thomas (b.1887) also served in the war, with the Royal Army Service Corps.

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Samuel Thomas Dennis
The National Archives

Albert James Lodge

2nd June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Lodge

Other names: Albert James

Locations in this story:
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Felixstowe, Suffolk
Scilly Isles
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Old Boundary Road, Cann, Shaftesbury
Filton, Bristol

Story:
Albert James Lodge was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th May 1894, the son of Charles Lodge and Sarah Ann Lodge (née Hunt). He lived his early life at 28 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on the 2nd August 1917 and joined the Royal Navy attached to the Royal Naval Air Service as an Air Mechanic Class 1 (Service No. F34975). He served at Felixstowe, Suffolk, until 31st March 1918 when he was transferred to the Royal Air Force with the same rank (Service No. 234795). He served with the 234th Squadron on the Scilly Isles until his discharge on 22nd March 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal. He married Rose Emily Hopkins in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1919 and they went on to have two children. The 1921 Census shows he had moved to 25 Brook Road, Filton, Bristol, where he worked as a Cabinet maker for the Bristol Aircraft Company. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 12 Pauls Dean Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, described as a Carpenter and Joiner. He had moved back to 12 Old Boundary Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, by the time of his death in the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 21st March 1954.

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Augustus James Bealing

2nd June 2020/in 1914-1918 85th Provisional Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bealing

Other names: Augustus James

Locations in this story:
Castle Cary, Somerset
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Dorset
Londonderry, Ireland
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Lower Blandford Road, Shaftesbury

Story:
Augustus James Bealing was born in Castle Cary, Somerset, on 11th October 1894, the son of Augustus James Bealing and Emma Jane Bealing (née Gray). By 1901 the family had moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset, and finally set up home at 25 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. Augustus attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from 1907 to 1910.

Augustus enlisted on 5th September 1912 with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 1671). He later joined the 85th Provisional Battalion (Service No. 200171) and served in Londonderry, Ireland, where he was promoted to Corporal. He was discharged on 22nd April 1919 having been granted a limited pension until 20 Nov 1920 due to knee problems caused during his service. No medal record can be found in this case. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents back at 25 Slaisbury Street, Shaftesbury, assisting his father in his photographic business. He married Kathleen Ethel Fowler in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1932. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Brynmawr, Lower Blandford Road, Cann, Shaftesbury, described as a Photographer. His death was recorded at 25 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, on 24th January 1977.

A "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which Augustus served and the year and term in which he left school. His name is also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war, which is now in the archive at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1910
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

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Shastonian

Howard Jesse Trowbridge

2nd June 2020/in 1914-1918 Machine Gun Corps, Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Trowbridge

Other names: Howard Jesse

Locations in this story:
Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Southgate, Middlesex
Bristol
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
Angel Lane, Shaftesbury
Stoke Newington, Middlesex

Story:
Howard Jesse Trowbridge was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5th October 1889, the son of John Trowbridge and Huldah Maria Trowbridge (nee Gage). He lived his early life in the St. James area of Shaftesbury. By 1911 his address was given as The Cedars, Angel Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the 1st/3rd Battalion of the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry (Royal Bucks Hussars) as a Private (Service No. 1667). He served in France & Flanders from 21 Apr 1915 and was later transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps (Service No.165850) where he was promoted to Corporal. He was discharged on 22nd February 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He gave his address on the Absent Voters List of 1918 and 1919 as 17A Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He married Hilda May Grenyer in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1920 and they went on to have two children. The 1921 Census shows him living at 66 Fairholt Road, Stoke Newington, Middlesex, working as a Buyer for the Children's Clothing Department of James Bros (Holloway Road) Ltd, Drapery Store. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 149 Hedge Lane, Southgate, Middlesex, now described as a Divisional Secretary (Children's Homes and Orphanages later the National Children's Homes). His death was recorded at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, on 5th September 1967.

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John Cox

2nd June 2020/in 1914-1918 Hussars, Royal Tank Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Cox

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bangalore, India
Transvaal, South Africa
France & Flanders
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
John Cox was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1876, the son of Isaac Cox and Sarah Cox (née Lilly). He lived his early life in Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 9th October 1899 and joined the Corps of Hussars as a Private (Service Nos. 4216 & 47445). He served in Bangalore, India and Transvaal, South Africa where he was awarded a total of six campaign medals and various clasps. He married Lottie Camelia Wright in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District in 1904. During the First World War he served in France & Flanders where, in due time, he was promoted to Corporal and transferred to the Royal Tank Corps (Service No. A/N 536301). At the time of the Absent Voters List of 1918 he gave his address as 16 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was eventually discharged with a pension on 21st March 1922 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. It is noted that his medals were forwarded in 1923 to 62 Frampton Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, and he died in Gloucester during 1931.

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Frederick Charles Long

2nd June 2020/in 1914-1918 Norfolk Regiment, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment) /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Long

Other names: Frederick Charles

Locations in this story:
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset

Story:
Frederick Charles Long was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th April 1899, the son of Clarence Long and Martha Long (née Young). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in Shaftesbury and was a pupil at Shaftesbury Grammar School. He enlisted with the 15th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment as a Private (Service No. 37397) later transferring to the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters) (Service No. 103236). 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 he had returned to the family home at 15 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, and the 1939 Register shows he was still living there, single and working as a Grocer's Invoice Clerk at Stratton & Sons of Shaftesbury. He eventually married Daphne May Styles in the Sturminster, Dorset, Registration area in 1955. In 1979 he produced "Tales of Old Shaftesbury" which provides a wealth of information about the town for local historians. He died in Shaftesbury on 2nd Aug 1985.

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Alfred Hillier

2nd June 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Machine Gun Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hillier

Other names: Alfred

Locations in this story:
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kurdistan
Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex

Story:
Alfred Hillier was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 24th August 1894, the son of George Hillier (Watchmaker) and Sarah Annie Hillier (née Aldridge). He lived most of his early life at the family home at 12 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. His mother died in 1897 and his father re-married Matilda M. Wright in 1901. Alfred enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 1538 & 8/3604). In time he rose to the rank of Sergeant. He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 62074) and, when on service in Kurdistan, with the 130th Company, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal which was Gazetted on 12th February 1920. Following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal though it is noted that the medals were returned to the issuing office on 6 Mar 1923. He has not been found on the 1921 Census and the last local address per the Electoral Roll of 1923 was still 12 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He had been employed as a watchmaker's assistant. His death was recorded in Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex, on 10th August 1972. He remained single all his life. Alfred's brothers Harold Sydney, Reginald George, Bertram Edgar and Clarence Fred Hillier also served in the war and survived the conflict.

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Harold Sidney Hillier
The National Archives

Stanley Frank Humphries

2nd June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Naval Division /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Humphries

Other names: Stanley Frank

Locations in this story:
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bridport, Dorset
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Carlton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Story:
Stanley Frank Humphries was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd May 1896, the son of Samuel Humphries and Mary Humphries (née Young). He lived his early life at the family home at 10 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. By 1911 he had moved to live with his brother in Bridport, Dorset, where he had employment as an Ironmonger's Apprentice. He enlisted and joined the 2nd Reserve Battalion of the Royal Naval Division as an Able Seaman (Service No. R/798). This Unit was similar to the marines but designed for those who were not needed for service at sea; they could be used for fortifying and guarding Naval establishments. His address from the Absent Voters List of 1918 was still 10 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. He was eventually discharged on 14th December 1919 with a time limited pension due to chest trouble attributable to his service. He was awarded the British War Medal. On his discharge he moved to Nottinghamshire and there married Alice Louisa Courtis in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, in the latter part of 1919. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 10 Conway Crescent, Carlton, Nottingham, and was working as a Post Office Inspector (Engineering). For his services to the Post Office he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal on 29 Mar 1957. He died in Carlton, Nottingham, on 3rd October 1971.

Stanley's brother Reginald Charles (b.1889) also served in the war, with the Royal Engineers.

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Reginald Charles Humphries
The National Archives

Wilfred Henry Thorne

1st June 2020/in 1914-1918 Hampshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Thorne

Other names: Wilfred Henry

Locations in this story:
Broad Chalk, Wiltshire
Sheep Lane, East Knoyle, Wiltshire
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
India
Afghanistan
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Wilfred Henry Thorne was born in Broad Chalk, Wiltshire, on 1st February 1898, the son of Charles Stephen Thorne and Agnes Charlotte Thorne (née Stephens). By 1901 he was living in Sheep Lane, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, and by 1911, in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted with the Hampshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 40065). He served on the North West Frontier in India and was eventually discharged on 8th December 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal and the India General Service (Afghanistan) Medal. He also received a limited pension due to contracting malaria whilst serving which ended on 22 Jun 1921. His address on the Absent Voters List for 1918 was 5 Layton Villas, Layton Lane, Shaftesbury. No 1921 Census record could be found. He married Ellen Hibberd in Salisbury, Wiltshire, during 1931. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 15 Trinity Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, and was working as a Gardener. His death was recorded in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1984. Of Wilfred's brothers, Walter Charles (b.1895) also served in the war but sadly died at Gallipoli in 1915 while serving with the Royal Irish Regiment and Cecil Bernard Longman Thorne served and survived the conflict.

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Walter Charles Thorne

Edgar Charles Toogood

1st June 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Toogood

Other names: Edgar Charles

Locations in this story:
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Hounslow, Middlesex
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Yeovil, Somerset

Story:
Edgar Charles Toogood was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd December 1899 and baptised at St. John's Church on 14th January 1900, the son of Albert Charles Toogood and Selina Maud Toogood (née Munday). He lived his early life at The Bartons, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the Royal Navy (Royal Naval Air Service) on 25th January 1918 (Service No. F47909) but only remained with them until 31st March 1918 when he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force (as from 1st April 1918) as an Aircraftsman Class 2 (Service No 247909) employed as a Rib Fitter (Aero). It is not known in which theatre he served but he was discharged on 7th May 1919 and awarded the British War medal only. The 1921 Census shows he was living with his parents at 4 Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury, was working as a Rib Maker for Petters Aircraft Works, Yeovil, Somerset. His marriage to Doris Gertrude Branson was recorded at the Sturminster Newton, Dorset, Registry in 1926. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 13 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was working as a Painter and Decorator. He died in Hounslow, Middlesex, on 1st April 1975 whilst living at 24 Lyncroft Gardens, Hounslow.

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