1914-1918 Archives - Page 97 of 162 - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Frederick Mansfield

Surname: Mansfield

Other names: Frederick

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster, Dorset
Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Frederick Mansfield was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2nd August 1875 and baptised there on 29th August 1875, the son of Thomas James Mansfield (a watchmaker and jeweler) and Ellen Mansfield (née Andrew). He lived all his life, apart from Naval Service, in Shaftesbury. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 29th October 1891 and in time had served on more than fifteen ships of the line. He held the rank of Leading Seaman. On his discharge on 27th June 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. The 1921 Electoral Roll shows him living in Alcester Cottage, Shaftesbury, with his widowed mother but by the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 3 Grove Villas, Magdalene Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still single and employed as a Schools Attendance Officer. His death was recorded in the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1954 and he was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 5 Jun 1954.

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The National Archives

John Crofts

Surname: Crofts

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Mere, Wiltshire
St. James, Shaftesbury
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Story:
John Crofts was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th January 1898 and baptised at St. James' Church on 23rd January 1898, the son of George Arthur Crofts and Lavinia Crofts (née Parsons). Apart from Military Service, John spent the whole of his life in the St. James area of Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 22nd May 1916 and joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 2368). He served some of his time in France and Flanders and on discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the time of the 1921 Census he was living with his widowed father (his mother having died in on 19 Jul 1919) in a cottage near the Manor House, St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Groom. He married Ellen Jane Rose at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd January 1932. They went on to have two children. The 1939 Register indicates that he had moved to 12 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, employed as a Builder's Labourer. His death was registered in 1966 at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry and he was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 17 Sep 1966.

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Herbert Charles Burlton

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorset Yeomanry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Burlton

Other names: Herbert Charles

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Watford, Hertfordshire
East Finchley, London
Billericay, Essex
Dorchester, Dorset
Sixpenny Handley, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Cottage Green, Alcester, Shaftesbury

Story:
Herbert Charles Burlton was born at the Union Workhouse, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th August 1881 and baptised at St. James' Church on 16th September 1881, the son of William James Burlton, the Master of the Workhouse, and Elizabeth Burlton (née Meaden). Following the death of his father in 1888, Herbert was sent to the London Orphan Asylum, Watford, Hertfordshire, but by 1911 was back with his mother at Cottage Green, Alcester, Shaftesbury, where she had set herself up as a poultry farmer. He enlisted and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry attached to the Corps of Hussars as a Private (Service No. 230597). It is not known where he served but on discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Ida Mary Kidd at All Saints, East Finchley, London, on 21st February 1920 and they had one son. The 1921 Census shows him living with his in-laws at 'The Limes', Bracken Mount, Billericay, Essex, described as a Poultry Farmer. The 1939 Register indicates he was at the same address but now described as a Smallholder. He died in Dorchester, Dorset, on 1st February 1966 and was later buried at St. Mary's Church, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, having moved there previously to live at Fir Tree Cottage, Sixpenny Handley.

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Douglas Charles Weldon

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Weldon

Other names: Douglas Charles

Locations in this story:
Round House, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Pine Cottages, St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Douglas Charles Weldon was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th November 1887 and baptised at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury, on 25th December 1887, the son of Charles Weldon and Harriet Madonna Louisa Weldon (née Roberts). He lived all his early life with his family at the Round House (or Toll House), Cann, Shaftesbury. He enlisted with the 4th Reserve Battalion and later with the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 202999). It is not known where he served during the conflict but on discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He had married Emily Pickford in Shaftesbury in 1917 and they had one son. By the 1921 Census he was living at 1 Pine Cottages, St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Cowman and by the 1939 Register was living at the same address and now employed as a General Labourer. His death was recorded at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1964 and he was buried at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 28 Nov 1964.

Three of Douglas's brothers also served in the war: Edgar Reginald, Montague Wyndham and Victor Stanley.

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Frederick John Gray

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Garrison Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: Frederick John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Frederick John Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26th July 1882 and was not baptised until 29th May 1883 at Holy Trinity Church, the son of Alfred Gray and Elizabeth Jane Gray (née Toomer). Apart from Military Service he spent all his life in and around Shaftesbury. He married Elizabeth Fry in Shaftesbury in 1910. He enlisted and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 203668). It is thought he served in the UK only at the Base Camp. On discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. By the 1921 Census he was living at 19 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, working on his own account as a Fishmonger. Regrettably he died in Shaftesbury in 1935.

Frederick's brother Jasper James (b.1871) also served in the war, with the Royal Army Service Corps.

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Jasper James Gray

Frederick George Thomas Alford

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Wiltshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alford

Other names: Frederick George Thomas

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Parchim, Hamburg, Germany
Salisbury, Wiltshire
St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury
Mainvault, Mons
St. James, Shaftesbury
Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury
Hong Kong

Story:
Frederick George Thomas Alford (known as 'Fred') was born in Shaftesbury on 8th October 1897 and baptised at St. James' Church on 31st October 1897, the son of Samuel George Alford and Eliza Jane Alford (née Oborne). At the time of his baptism the family were living in Tanyard Lane, but by 1901, they had moved to French Mill Lane. In the 1911 Census Frederick was living with his grandfather, also called Samuel Alford, at 15 St. James Street. Frederick enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 23666). He served with both the 1st and 2nd Battalions in France and Flanders but was captured near 'Vault, (thought to be Mainvault, Nr. Mons) on 24th March 1918 and spent time in the Prisoner of War camp at Parchim, near Hamburg in Germany. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He remained in the Army and at the time of the 1921 Census was based at the HQ China Command in Hong Kong. On his return to the UK he married Violet Irene Bessie Stacey at Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1925. By the 1939 Register he was living at 'Inglenook', St. John's Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Fish Merchant (Retired). He died on 6th September 1982 per the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry and was buried on 10th September 1982. It is noted both his father, Samuel George Alford, and his brother, Thomas Henry Alford, served in the war albeit Thomas joined the Royal Navy right at the end of the conflict.

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Samuel George Alford
The National Archives

Samuel George Alford

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Engineers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Alford

Other names: Samuel George

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
King's Arms Inn, Shaftesbury

Story:
Samuel George Alford was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1875 and baptised there on 27th February 1875, the son of Samuel George Alford and Martha Alford (née Hillier). Samuel lived most of his life, apart from military service, in and around Shaftesbury. At one time he was living at the Kings Arms Inn where his father was the licensee. He married Eliza Jane Oborne in 1895 in Shaftesbury and they went on to have seven children. Samuel joined the Royal Engineers (Service No. 168964) and at one time was with the 'A' Company Railway Troop. No medal records have been found in this case. The 1921 Census shows he was living at 33a St. James Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Fish Hawker. Regrettably he died in 1932 in Shaftesbury, and was buried at St. James Church on 21 Sep 1932. It is noted that his sons, Frederick George Thomas Alford, also served in the war, with the Wiltshire Regiment, and spent time as a Prisoner of War in Germany and Thomas Henry Alford joined the Royal Navy towards the end of the war and served until 1931.

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Frederick George Thomas Alford

William John Gray

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Gray

Other names: William John

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Sturminster, Dorset
Enmore Green, Shaftesbury
Laundry Lane, Shaftesbury
Christies Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
William John Gray was born on 19th December 1895 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of George Henry Shefford Gray and Elizabeth (Bessie) Jane Gray (née Rideout). Apart from military service, William lived all his life in and around Shaftesbury. On 6th May 1915 he enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 14503) and in time achieved the rank of Sergeant. He served with the 5th and 6th Battalions in France and Flanders and was awarded the Military Medal. He was demobilized on 15th March 1919 and on 20th August was presented with his Military Medal at Shaftesbury Town Hall. In 1921 he received the Victory and British War medals. He married Bessie Phillips Elsworth in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd November 1925 and they went on to have six children. By the time of the 1939 Register, William was living at 9 Laundry Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Cowman. William and Bessie were living in Christies Lane in Shaftesbury at the time of his death on 31st December 1967. The death was recorded in 1968 at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry and he was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 4 Jan 1968. William's brothers Stanley Gray and Percy Rideout also served in the conflict.

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Joseph Isaac Jesse

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Field Artillery /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Jesse

Other names: Joseph Isaac

Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Lyndhurst, Hampshire
Islington, Middlesex
France & Flanders
Crosby, Merseyside
Liverpool

Story:
Joseph Isaac Jesse was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1895 and was baptised at Lyndhurst, Hampshire, on 4th March 1898, the son of William Sidney Jesse and Ada Jesse (née Rideout). The family had moved following the death of Joseph's father in 1910, to Wiverley Lodge, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, where his mother was the Gatekeeper. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver (Service No 58589) and served with them in France and Flanders from 25 Aug 1915. On discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. On his discharge he joined the Merchant Navy and signed on as a Steward on the RMS Olympic on 17 Mar 1919 - the vessel was the sister ship of the ill-fated Titanic. He remained in the Merchant Service throughout WW2 being involved in the Atlantic Convoys. He remained single until 1948 when he married Sophia M. (surname unknown) in Islington, Middlesex. In 1964 he married for a second time, in Crosby, Merseyside, to Lilian M. Ashton. His death was recorded in Liverpool North Registration District in 1969.

Joseph's brother Gilbert James also served in the war, but sadly died in 1917 while serving with the Hampshire Regiment in France.

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Gilbert James Jesse
The National Archives

William Sims

27th April 2020/in 1914-1918 Dorsetshire Regiment, Lancashire Fusiliers /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Sims

Other names: William

Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Germany
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Story:
William (Billy) Sims was born on 20th December 1892 in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there in St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, on 26th February 1893, the son of Edwin Sims and Emily Sims (née Gray), a local family. William (known as Billy in the family) lived all his life, apart from the military service, in and around Cann and Shaftesbury, Dorset. He married Emily Ellen Burden at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 23rd November 1914 and they went on to have a large family.

William enlisted on 5th June 1916, joining the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 24155), serving in France and Flanders. After the Armistice he transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers (Service No. 53044), serving in Germany and becoming 'Batman' to an officer.

Billy was finally demobilized on 15th November 1919. During his time in the army he had received a gunshot wound to his left hand and was now awarded a small short-lived pension due to his injury. He was also awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows that he was living at 20 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, working as a Grocer's Assistant for J. S. Cheater & Co, (Bakers) of 38 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1939 Register his address was given as 17 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, now working as a radio mechanic and salesman as well as volunteering as an ARP Warden. He died in Shaftesbury on 15th November 1979 and was buried at St. James Church on 20 Nov 1979.

Billy's brother Frank also served in the war, with the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Army Service Corps.

Source: Photograph of William Sims provided by Dave Hardiman.

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Frank Sims