1914-1918 Archives - Page 88 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Eustace Arthur Day

Surname: Day

Other names: Eustace Arthur

Locations in this story:
Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Christchurch, Hampshire
Woolwich, London
Bromley, Kent
Bournemouth, Hampshire

Story:
Eustace Arthur Day was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st May 1898, the son of Samuel James Day and Sarah Jane Day (née Holmes). He spent his early life with his family at 14 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 29th May 1916 and was mobilized on 17th July 1916, joining the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 18975). He served in France and Flanders with the 3rd Battalion from 2 Sep 1917. He was later with the 6th Battalion when reported wounded and missing on 21st March 1918. It was confirmed later that he had been taken prisoner of war. He was released and rejoined his Regiment on 25th August 1918 at the UK Depot. He underwent an medical inquiry and was declared no longer physically fit for service and discharged on 4 Feb 1919 with an 80% pension due to a gunshot wound in the left leg and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B111793. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows he was boarding at 54 Washington Avenue, Bournemouth, Hampshire, working as a Compositor for W W Ascott Victory Press. That same year he married Ruby Ellen Norris in Christchurch, Hampshire. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 118 Wood Hall Road, Woolwich, Kent, and was described as a Certified Accountant and Company Secretary as well as being an Air Raid Warden. He died in Bromley, Kent, on 20th July 1974.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Hubert George Sharp

Surname: Sharp

Other names: Hubert George

Locations in this story:
Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Butts Knap, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Larkhill, Wiltshire

Story:
Hubert George Sharp was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th March 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 8th April 1898, the son of George Sharp and Frances Sarah Sharp (née Weldon). He lived his early life with his family at 4 Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 18966). 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 he was living with his widowed mother (his father having died in 1918) now at 3 Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury, working for the 348th Company of the Army Service Corps as a Coach Trimmer at Larkhill, Wiltshire. He re-enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Royal Army Service Corps on 27th January 1923 for a period of four years (Service No. A/461218) but signed on for an indeterminate period after. He married Kathleen Helen Hounsell at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18th May 1937. By the time of the 1939 Register his wife was living at Butts Knap, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, but Hubert had transferred to the Royal Artillery (Service No. 748866) for service in the Second World War. He was eventually discharged as being no longer physically fit for further service on 18th March 1944. His death was recorded at the North Dorset Registry in 1983 and he was buried at the Shaftesbury Town Cemetery on 29 Jun 1983.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

George Farley Tucker

1st June 2020/in 1914-1918 Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Tucker

Other names: George Farley

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
George Farley Tucker was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3rd July 1890 and baptised at St. James' Church on 3rd August 1890, the son of Gideon Tucker and Mary Elizabeth Tucker (née Foot). He grew up in the family home at 25 St. James Street in Shaftesbury. He married Mabel Ethel Annie Brickell at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 23rd September 1916. He had enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (later Corporal) (Service No. 33038). He served in France and Flanders and whilst there was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After his discharge on 10 May 1919 he was also awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 31 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as a Motor Painter; his 1931 Kelly's Directory entry called him a coach and body builder and painter. He died in Shaftesbury on 22nd December 1967 and was buried at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 27th December 1967. Three of George's brothers served in the war: Sidney Wilfred (b.1894) with the Dorsetshire Regiment, Victor Douglas (b.1888) with the Machine Gun Corps and Howard (b. 1886) with the Army Service Corps.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Victor Douglas Tucker
Sidney Wilfred Tucker

Leonard Charles Imber

31st May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Imber

Other names: Leonard Charles

Locations in this story:
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Bergh Apton, Loddon, Norfolk
France & Flanders
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury
France & Flanders

Story:
Leonard Charles Imber was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7th August 1896, the son of John Imber, a Postman, and Elizabeth Ann Imber (née Lodder). He grew up in the family home at 2 Layton Lane in Shaftesbury. His mother died in 1900 and his father in 1912. Like his father before him he became a Postman in Jan 1913. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 128398). He was posted to France & Flanders where he was with the 31 Division Ammunition Column when he was awarded the Military Medal. At the time of his discharge he was with the Y/31 Trench Mortar Battery and was further awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows he was living at 2 Layton Lane with his brother-in-law and working as a Postman at Shaftesbury Post Office. He married Ethel Grace White Annis at St. Peter and St Paul's Church, Bergh Apton, Loddon, Norfolk, on 17th May 1923. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 57 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still a Postman. His death was recorded in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20th March 1981 and he was buried in the churchyard of St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 25th Mar 1981. Leonard's brothers, Bertie Howard, was killed in action serving with the Dorsetshire Regiment whereas Sidney William Imber served and survived.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Bertie Howard Imber
The National Archives

Charles Roberts

31st May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Roberts

Other names: Charles

Locations in this story:
Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Abertillery, Monmouthshire, South Wales
France & Flanders
Poole, Dorset
Portland, Dorset
Leith, Scotland

Story:
Charles Roberts was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1888, the son of James Roberts and Emma Jane Roberts (née Lane). He grew up in the family home at 13 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury albeit his mother had died in 1894 and his father in 1918. By 1911 he was boarding at 30 Alma Street, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, working in the mines as a Timberman (Underground). He enlisted and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 47976). He served in France and Flanders with the 213th Siege Battery and following his discharge on 16th January 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. His address on the 1918 Absent Voters List had been given as 1 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He had moved to Poole, Dorset, by the 1921 Census living at 17 High Street working as a General Labourer for Poole Town Council. He was living with his parents-in-law having married their daughter Caroline Roberts (same surname) in 1919. He died in Leith Hospital, Leith, Scotland, in 1944 and was brought back to Dorset for burial at Portland on 3 Feb 1944.

Two of Charles' brothers also served in the war, James (b.1879) with the Dorsetshire Regiment and George (b.1887) with the South Wales Borderers and the Monmouthshire Regiment.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
James Roberts
George Roberts
The National Archives

Francis Herbert Stainer

31st May 2020/in 1914-1918 Coldstream Guards /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Stainer

Other names: Francis Herbert

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lyme Regis, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Bridport, Dorset
France & Flanders
Endell Street Military Hospital, London, WC

Story:
Francis Herbert (known as Herbert for most of his life) Stainer was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20th June 1891, the son of Francis Henry Stainer and Sarah Jane Stainer (née Mayo). He spent most of his early life with his family at 6 Laundry Lane, Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 16 Nov 1915 and joined the Coldstream Guards as a Private (Service No. 17290). He married Amy Lilian Isaacs in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd July 1916 and they went on to have four children. He served in France & Flanders from 27 Aug 1916 with the 2nd Battalion where he received gunshot wounds to the face and shoulder on 1 Aug 1917. He was returned to the UK on 9 Aug 1917 and spent time at the Endell Street Military Hospital, London, WC, receiving treatment. Following his discharge on 7 Feb 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. Prior to his military service he had been employed as a Grocer's Assistant at Stratton and Son, Shaftesbury, but on leaving the services he became a Police Constable based, by the 1921 Census, at the Police House, Poole, Dorset. The 1939 Register shows he had been posted and was living at 5 Windsor Terrace, Lyme Regis, Dorset. His death is recorded at the Bridport, Dorset, Registry in 1968 and he was buried at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 27 Nov 1968.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Herbert Clarence Rutter

31st May 2020/in 1914-1918 Merchant Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Rutter

Other names: Herbert Clarence

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sidcot School, Winscombe, Somerset
Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury

Story:
Herbert Clarence Rutter was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th October 1889, the son of John Kingsley Rutter, a Solicitor, and Emily Mary Rutter (née Bray). He lived his very early life at Belmont House, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until, by 1901, he had become a pupil/boarder at Sidcot School, Winscombe, Somerset. During the First World War he served as a Merchant Seaman (No. 55220) aboard the S.S. Raven as an Engineer 1st Class. Merchant Seamen were entitled to the Victory and British War medals but no record can be currently found in this case. The 1921 Census shows he was living with his parents at Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Mercantile Marine Engineer with the General Steam Navigation Co. Herbert married Beatrice Annie White in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1933. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at The Bungalow, Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as the Chief Officer of the Shaftesbury Fire Brigade as well as the Gas Precautions Instructor for the ARP. His death was recorded on 2nd September 1961 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. His brother, William Farley Rutter, volunteered for the Friends Ambulance Unit during the war.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
William Farley Rutter
The National Archives

William Farley Rutter

31st May 2020/in 1914-1918 Friends Ambulance Unit /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Rutter

Other names: William Farley

Locations in this story:
St. Rumbolds Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sidcot School, Winscombe, Somerset
Evesham, Worcestershire
Warminster, Wiltshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Barnstable, Devon

Story:
William Farley Rutter was born on 9th January 1888 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of John Kingsley Rutter, a Solicitor, and Emily Mary Rutter (née Bray). He lived his very early life at Belmont House, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, until, by 1901, he had become a pupil boarder at Sidcot School, Winscombe, Somerset.

During the First World War he served as a volunteer at the Headquarters of the Friends Ambulance Unit from 29th November 1915 to 3rd February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Hester Elizabeth Fox in Evesham, Worcestershire, on 14th June 1921 shortly after the 1921 Census shows he was visiting and staying in a boarding house at Homecroft, Oakleigh Road, Barnstable, Devon, (likely he was on honeymoon!). By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 6 St. Rumbolds Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as a Solicitor and Town Clerk. His death was recorded at the Warminster, Wiltshire, Registry in 1991. William's brother, Herbert Clarence Rutter, served as a Merchant Seaman during the war.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Herbert Clarence Rutter

William John Bench

30th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Bench

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
Alvediston, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery, Gibralter
Alcester, Shaftesbury

Story:
William John Bench was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 10th June 1882 and was baptised at Alvediston, Wiltshire, on 19th November 1882, the son of William John Bench and Elizabeth Ann Bench (nee Belbin). He spent much of his early life in and around Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire with his mother, as his father had died in 1886. His mother remarried and William lived for a time with his step-father but eventually joined the Royal Navy on 10th June 1899 (Service No. 192728). He served in many ships and establishments throughout his service and achieved the rank of Petty Officer. He died whilst still serving on HMS Cormorant at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gibraltar, on 24th February 1920. He was buried at the Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery (Grave Ref: E. 4678) as recorded on the War Graves Commission site. He had been awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.

William's mother had died in the Public Institution, Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset, (Previously the Workhouse) in 1913. His Electoral Registration in 1918 was 63 High Street, Shaftesbury, the home of her brother, John Belbin. He remained single throughout his life.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Arthur Mervin Belbin

30th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Belbin

Other names: Arthur Mervin

Locations in this story:
High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Blandford, Dorset
Guildford, Surrey

Story:
Arthur Mervin Belbin was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th April 1897, the son of John Belbin and Clementine Amelia Belbin (née Maidment). He lived his early life with the family at 63 High Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted originally with the Territorial Force of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private on 14th November 1915 (Service No. 3679). He was promptly discharged a day later on 15th November 1915 on the grounds he was unlikely to make an efficient soldier and there was some doubt about his age. He tried again and re-enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps on 25th April 1916 (Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) (Service No. 26798). He rose to the rank of Corporal Mechanic with 204 Squadron. It is not known where be served but he was discharged on 28th March 1919. He qualified for the Victory and British War medals but no record can be found. By the 1921 Census he was living with his parents at the family home in Shaftesbury working as a Carpenter. He married Elsie Maud Wingfield in Blandford, Dorset, in 1922 and they had three children. By the 1939 Register he was living at 18 Woodside Road, Guildford, Surrey, and was described as a Registered Master Builder. It is not known why his marriage ended but he re-married, to Rosa Guti, in Guildford, Surrey in 1948. He died in St. Luke's Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, on 12th June 1964 and his funeral was held at the United Reform Church, Shaftesbury. His brothers, Frederick Percy Walter Belbin and Harold John Belbin, also served in the conflict.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Frederick Percy Walter Belbin
Harold John Belbin
The National Archives