1914-1918 Archives - Page 89 of 164 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Harold John Belbin

Surname: Belbin

Other names: Harold John

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

Story:
Harold John Belbin was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd August 1892, 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 with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service Nos. 2462 & 200789) rising to the rank of Sergeant. It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge on 24 Apr 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal. He married Florence Mabel Emma Wesker at St. Nicholas Church, Guildford, Surrey, on 19th June 1920. The 1921 Census shows he lived with his parents in Shaftesbury working as a Tinsmith. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 11 Worplesdon Road, Guildford, Surrey, and was working as an Ironmonger's Workshopman as well as being an ARP Warden. He died in Farnham, Surrey, on 17th April 1965. His brothers, Frederick Percy Walter Belbin and Arthur Mervin Belbin, also served in the conflict.

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Frederick Percy Walter
Arthur Mervin Belbin
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Frederick Percy Walter Belbin

Surname: Belbin

Other names: Frederick Percy Walter

Locations in this story:
High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Freemantle, Southampton, Hampshire
France & Flanders
Aldrington, Sussex
Southwick, Brighton, Sussex
Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Story:
Frederick Percy Walter Belbin was born in Shaftesbury on 15th April 1890, the son of John Belbin and Clementine Amelia Belbin (née Maidment). He lived his early life with the family at 63 High Street, Shaftesbury. By 1911 he had moved to Freemantle, Southampton, Hampshire, where he was boarding and working as a Carpenter and Joiner. He enlisted and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private (Service No. 65085). He served in France and Flanders and, whilst there, suffered gun shot wounds to the Right Leg for which he eventually received a small pension. He was discharged on 25th March 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. (NB No 1921 Census record could be found.) He married Louisa Mabel Mitford Wagstaff at St. Philip's Church, Aldrington, Sussex, on 18 Feb 1922 and they went on to have one daughter. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 86 Southwick Road, Southwick, Brighton, Sussex, working as a Carpenter and Joiner. His death was recorded in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, on 25th August 1975. Frederick's brothers, Harold John Belbin and Arthur Mervin Belbin, also served in the conflict.

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Arthur Mervin Belbin
Harold John Belbin

Ernest William Case

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

Surname: Case

Other names: Ernest William

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
West Indies
Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Osborne, Whippingham, Isle of Wight, Hampshire
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Petersfield, Hampshire
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Guys Marsh Farm, Shaftesbury

Story:
Ernest William Case was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th March 1880 and baptised at St. James' Church on 2nd May 1880, the son of Henry George Case and Emily Jane Case (née Dean). He lived his early life at Guys Marsh Farm, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where his father was the Farmer. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 20 Jul 1899 (Service No. 342812) and served at various establishments and ships during his service. He married Elsie Clara Gatehouse at Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 18th August 1906. He rose to the rank of Shipwright Class 1 and, by 1911, was serving at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Whippingham, Isle of Wight, Hampshire. At the outbreak of war he joined HMS Leviathan, a Drake Class armoured cruiser, which was the Flagship of the North American and West Indies Station. He was discharged with pension on 21st July 1921 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. At the time the 1921 Census shows he was visiting at 56 All Saints Road, Landport, Portsmouth, described as a Shipwright (RN) and his wife meanwhile was living with her parents and their daughter in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living alone at 56 Abingdon Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, and was described as a Carpenter. His death was recorded at the Petersfield, Hampshire, Registry on 9th October 1954.

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Thomas Lionel Hull

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

Surname: Hull

Other names: Thomas Lionel

Locations in this story:
Stoke St. Mary, Somerset
High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Weymouth, Dorset
Poole, Dorset

Story:
Thomas Lionel Hull was born in Stoke St. Mary, Somerset, on 12th September 1884 and baptised there on 2nd November 1884, the son of Wareham Hull and Ann Hull (née Tapp). He spent his early years with his family in Stoke St. Mary before eventually arriving by 1911 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, boarding and working at 45 High Street, Shaftesbury, as an assistant ironmonger. He enlisted and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 75477). He rose to the rank of Sergeant and served in France and Flanders with the 324th Siege Battery. Whilst there he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was discharged on 3rd June 1919 and further awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census show he was boarding at 3 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, still working as an Ironmonger's Assistant for H. Hirst, Ironmongers, Shaftesbury. He married Olive Oxford in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District in 1930. By the time of the 1939 Register he had been in business since 1931 as an Ironmonger at 35 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. His was eventually living in Poole, Dorset, but his death was recorded at the Weymouth, Dorset, Registry on 10th Oct 1970.

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William Dennis Allum

24th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Allum

Other names: William Dennis

Locations in this story:
Westbourne, Sussex
West Dean, Chichester, Sussex
Cranleigh, Surrey
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Coppice Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
William Dennis Allum's birth was registered in Westbourne, Sussex, on 24th November 1896 and he was baptised at West Dean, Chichester, Sussex, on 7th January 1897, the son of William Cook Allum and Mary Ann Allum. He lived his very early life in West Dean before moving to Cranleigh, Surrey, prior to enlistment during the First World War. He enlisted on 8 Dec 1915 and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 25825). He is known to have served abroad but but not actually where. One of his records refers to him as a Lance Corporal but this is not reflected on his medal record. He was discharged on 31st May 1919 and granted a limited pension due to having contracted malaria and dysentry whilst on service and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B223055. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals. (His address on the Absent Voters Lists of 1918 and 1919 was shown as 9 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and his names were reversed to 'Dennis William' but his Service No. and Unit were correct.) The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at 9 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, working with his father as a Jeweller's Assistant. He married Gladys Maud Gough at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 18 Jun 1924 and they went on to have two children. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 41 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and described as a Watch and Clock Repairer. He died in Shaftesbury on 2nd July 1951 and was buried at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 5 Jul 1951.

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Edwin William Dare

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Dare

Other names: Edwin William

Locations in this story:
Crown Hotel, High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mediterranean Area
Sturminster, Dorset
Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury
India

Story:
Edwin (sometimes called Edward) William Dare was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset on 15th June 1896, the son of William Edward Dare and Pearl Dare (née Daubney). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Shaftesbury area. Much of his early life was living at the Crown Hotel, 40 High Street, Shaftesbury, where his father was the proprietor. He enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the Dorsetshire Regiment on 5th September 1912 as a Private (Service No. 1669) and attended one annual camp before being embodied on 4th August 1914. He was posted to India initially with the 4th Battalion on 9 Oct 1914 and later to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 3 Nov 1916 during which time he contracted malaria. He transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps on 29 Mar 1918 serving at the 31st British Military Hospital. Following his discharge on 26th March 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the Territorial Forces War Medal. He was also granted a small pension until 1923 as a result of the debility caused by his earlier problem with malaria. The 1921 Census shows him still living at The Crown Hotel assisting his father with the business. He married Agnes Catherine Marsh in Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1927 and by 1931 had moved to 49 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, where he was Registered in 1939 working as a Driver Mechanic (Heavy Goods). His death was recorded on the 23 Sep, 1969 at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry, and he was later buried at the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 27 Sep 1969.

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Ralph Pearson

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry, East Yorkshire Regiment, King’s African Rifles /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Pearson

Other names: Ralph

Locations in this story:
Halifax, Yorkshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire
Egypt
Sculcoates, Yorkshire
Poole, Dorset

Story:
Ralph Pearson was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, on 3rd January 1891 and baptised at St. James Church, Halifax, on 25th January 1891, the son of Joseph Wild Pearson and Annie Pearson (née Barker). (Ralph's mother died in 1904 and his father re-married a Sarah Hitchens in Halifax in 1905.) Ralph lived his early life in Halifax until, by 1911, the family had moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset and had taken over an existing Bookseller, Printer and Stationers business at 11 High Street, Shaftesbury. Ralph was assisting in the business when he enlisted with the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No.1170). He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 24 May 1917 and joined the 2nd/4th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment and, on further promotion to Lieutenant, joined the 4th Battalion of the King's African Rifles. He had served in the Egyptian Theatre from 10 Nov 1915 and on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.

He had married Dorothy Maud Rowell in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, in 1917 and they went on to have two children. The 1921 Census indicates that he was living at Hornsea House, Hornsea Parade, Holderness Road, Sculcoates, Yorkshire, where he worked as a Stationer's Assistant in Hull. By 1927 he had returned to 11 High Street, Shaftesbury, where he was also Registered in 1939 as a Printer and Stationer. His death was recorded in the Poole, Dorset, Registry in 1963. His brother John (b.1898) also served in the conflict, with the Royal Engineers.

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John Pearson

Maurice George Watts

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Somerset Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Watts

Other names: Maurice George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cowes, Isle of Wight, Hampshire

Story:
Maurice George Watts was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 21st September 1898, the son of Harry Gilbert George Watts and Rose Katherine Watts (nee Highman). He spent all his early life in and around Shaftesbury and, for a period, at the Ship Inn, 1 High Street, Shaftesbury, where his father was the licensee. He enlisted with the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 55020) later transferring to the 2/4th battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 30144). He was discharged on 17th February 1920 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living back at the Ship Inn, Shaftesbury, working as a Tailor's Apprentice for Pryce & Barrible, Sporting Tailors of Shaftesbury. He married Doris Louise Olive Payton on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, in 1930. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Capri, Bellevue Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, and was described as the Manager and Cutter of a Naval Tailor as well as being a Special Constable. He died on the Isle of Wight in 1973.

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Charles Lill London

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: London

Other names: Charles Lill

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury
St. Rumbold Road, Shaftesbury
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Charles Lill London was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th August 1897 and baptised at St. James Church on 3rd October 1897 the son of Charles Lill London and Mary Ann London (née Mills). He lived all his life, apart from Military Service, in the Shaftesbury area. He enlisted on 10th December 1915 but was not mobilized until 15th March 1917 when he joined Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 212668). He served with the 19th/67th Brigade though it is not known in which theatre of war. The Absent Voters List of 1918 gives his then address as 19 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury. On his discharge in 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, working at the Grosvenor Hotel, Shaftesbury as a Chauffeur. He married Laura Noble in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1929. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 6 St. Rumbold Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Taxi Driver. His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1969 and after his funeral at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, was buried in the Town Cemetery on 9th December 1969. Charles' brothers, Frederick Henry London and Jasper Hopkins London, also served in the conflict. All their names appear on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.

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Frederick George London
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Rebbick Leonard Wright

20th May 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Navy /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wright

Other names: Rebbick Leonard

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Jutland
Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire

Story:
Rebbick Leonard Wright (Registered as Rebbeck but various spellings used throughout his life) was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15th July 1890, the son of Sylvester Wallace Wright and Laura Wright (née Young). He lived some of his early life at the Half Moon Inn where his father was the licensee. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 22nd February 1912 with the eventual rank of Cook Class 1 (Service No. L3369). He served initially on HMS Warrior and later on HMS Conqueror, an Orion Class Dreadnought Battleship, at the Battle of Jutland. He was discharged on 5th December 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 census record has not been found but in 1920 he was registered in the Electoral Roll at 18 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. He married Emily Weaver in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, in 1923. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 69 Wellsted Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, and was working as a Joiner's Labourer. His death was recorded in Kingston-upon-Hull on 22nd July 1964. His brother, Maurice William Wright, also served in the conflict.

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Maurice William Wright
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