Cann from Melbury Hill

Henry John Ransom

Surname: Ransom
Other names: Henry John
Other people in this story:
James Ransom
Mary Hannah Ransom née Jeans
Violet Jane Gaskin Ransom née Roberts
Joseph Ransom
Locations in this story:
Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Greenwich, London
Mampitts Cottage, Shaftesbury
Cann Common, Shaftesbury

Story:
Henry John Ransom (sometimes spelt 'Ransome') was born at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 31st May 1874 and baptised at Cann, Shaftesbury, on 28th June 1874, the son of James Ransom and Mary Hannah Ransom (née Jeans).  He lived his early life in and around Cann. He went for work in the Greenwich, London, area and met and married Violet Jane Gaskin Roberts at St. John the Baptist Church, Greenwich, London, on 21st October 1907 and they went on to have one child.  He was back in Shaftesbury when he enlisted on 25th August 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 117595).  He served in France and Flanders from 3 Sep 1915 where, on 14th October 1917, he received gunshot wounds to his right arm and right thigh.  He was transferred to the Labour Corps on 10th February 1918 (Service No. 292865) and served as a Private with the 609th Agricultural Company.  He was discharged on 1 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.   The 1921 Census shows him living at Jasmine Cottage, Cann Common, Shaftesbury, working as a Ploughman for J. J. Brickell, (Farmer of East Melbury Farm). By the 1939 Register he had moved to Mampitts Cottage, (near Mampitts Farm),  Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was employed as a Carter.  He died in 1956 and was buried at The Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury on 21st January 1956.    His brother, Joseph Ransom(e), also served in the conflict with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

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Joseph Ransom

Richard Charles Sheppard Parsons

Surname: Parsons
Other names: Richard Charles Sheppard
Other people in this story:
Charles Parsons
Emily Parsons née Sheppard
Annie Elizabeth Parsons nee Clark
Locations in this story:
The Zeals, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mill Lane, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Chapel Cottage, Cann

Story:
Richard Charles Sheppard Parsons was born at The Zeals, Wiltshire, on 10th March 1889 and baptised at St. Martin's Church, The Zeals, on 14th May 1889, the son of Charles Parsons and Emily Parsons (née Sheppard). He lived his early life in The Zeals until 1901 when his family moved to 21 Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He married Annie Elizabeth Clark in Shaftesbury, Dorset, during 1912.  He enlisted and served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 307225).  It is not known in which area he served but was with both the 1/8th and 16th Battalions at times. On discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living in Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, working as a Bricklayer for A. Williams, Builder, Shaftesbury. The 1939 Register indicates he was still in Mill Lane, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, now described as a Builder's Labourer. He died on 15th January 1953 at Chapel Cottage, Cann. 

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Stanley Charles Hunt

Surname: Hunt
Other names: Stanley Charles
Other people in this story:
Charles Hunt
Sarah Hunt née Wilkins
Amy Sarah Hunt née King
Percy George Hunt
Locations in this story:
High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sherborne, Dorset

Story:
Stanley Charles Hunt was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 5th November 1889, the son of Charles Hunt (a Seedsman and Ironmonger) and Sarah Hunt (née Wilkins).  Apart from Military Service, Stanley lived all his life in Shaftesbury.   He married Amy Sarah King in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1915 and they went on to have one daughter.  Stanley enlisted and joined the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 29245), eventually becoming a Lance Corporal.  It is not know in which area he served but on his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 29 High Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Fruiterer and Greengrocer. By the 1939 Register the address was given as 12 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, still a Fruiterer and Greengrocer as well as a Special Constable. His death is recorded in the Sherborne, Dorset, Registry on 27th August 1973.   His brother, Percy George Hunt, also served in the conflict.

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Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury 1

Amos John Caudle

Surname: Caudle
Other names: Amos John
Other people in this story:
John Perkins Caudle
Martha Caudle née Crew
Ellen Mary Caudle née Bound
Locations in this story:
Sheffield, Yorkshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Yeovil, Somerset
Kingsman Lane, Shaftesbury

Story:
Amos John Caudle was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, on 16th August 1884, the son of John Perkins Caudle and Martha Caudle (née Crew).  Amos lived his early years in the Yorkshire area until, by 1911, he had moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was living at 3 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, and was working as a Grocer's Assistant.  He married Ellen Mary Bound in Shaftesbury on 18th August 1915 and they had one son. 

Amos enlisted on 2nd December 1915 but was not embodied until 31st May 1917 when he joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 239630).  He served in France & Flanders on 27th November 1917 where he transferred to the 4th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment as Private (Service No. 56698).  On 15th July 1918 he was further transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 573057) during this time he was working at PoW Camps in France where German prisoners were held.  He was discharged on 16th October 1919 and, though no medal record can be found, his Service papers show he was entitled to the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 census he was living at 7 Mustons Lane, Shaftesbury, working as a Carpet and Hardware Stores Assistant for Stratton, Sons & Mead of Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 4 Kingsman Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Hardware and Furnishing Manager.  His death was recorded at the Yeovil, Somerset, Registry in 1953.

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Victor Thomas Burden

Surname: Burden
Other names: Victor Thomas
Other people in this story:
James John Rideout Burden
Sarah Ann Burden née Elliott
Annie Emily Burden née Hawkins
William Ernest Burden
Albert Edward Burden
James John Burden
Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Salonika
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
East Knoyle, Wiltshire

Story:
Victor Thomas Burden was born in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 16th November 1887 and baptised at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 18th December 1887, the son of James John Rideout Burden and Sarah Ann Burden (née Elliott).  Victor spent all his early life in Guy's Marsh, Shaftesbury.  He enlisted on 27th November 1915 but, before he was mobilized, married Annie Emily Hawkins at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 27th December 1915. They went on to have three children. Victor was eventually mobilized on 29th February 1916 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 65016).  He served initially inn Salonika but mainly in France and Flanders with the 166th, 201st and 196th heavy batteries where he suffered back troubles and was eventually discharged as being unfit for further service on 17th January 1919.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as a small short-lived pension.  The 1921 Census shows he was living at Leigh Farm Cottage, East Knoyle, Wiltshire, working as a Farm Labourer. Regrettably his wife died in 1928. By the 1939 Register he had moved to a cottage at Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and working as a Public Works Contractor's Labourer. He died at Hartgrove in 1970. Victor's brothers William Ernest Burden, James John Burden and Albert Edward Burden, also served in the conflict and all their names appeared on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James' Church Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.

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William Ernest Burden
St. James, Shaftesbury 2

Richard Stacey

Surname: Stacey
Other names: Richard
Other people in this story:
Richard Stacey
Elizabeth Stacey née Arnold
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset
St. James, Shaftesbury

Story:
Richard Stacey was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 6th July 1874 and baptised at St. Peter's Church on 6th August 1874, the son of Richard Stacey and Elizabeth Stacey (née Arnold). Apart from his Military Service he lived all his life in the St. James/Alcester area of Shaftesbury.  He enlisted and joined the 642nd Labour Company of the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 190323). There are no evident medal records in this case. By the 1921 Census he was living at 50 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Labourer. By 1931 he was living in the Men's Almshouses, Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, and, by the 1939 Register, had moved to the Public Assistance Institute, Alcester House, Alcester, Shaftesbury, where he was described as single and an Inmate (General Labourer Retired). His death is recorded at the Dorchester, Dorset, Registry in 1944.

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Thomas Fooks Oliver

Surname: Oliver
Other names: Thomas Fooks
Other people in this story:
Henry John Oliver
Elizabeth Mary Oliver née Hussey
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Tisbury, Wiltshire
France & Flanders
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Motcombe Street, Shaftesbury

Story:
Thomas Fooks Oliver was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th August 1886 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 7th November 1886, the son of Henry John Oliver and Elizabeth Mary Oliver (née Hussey).  He lived his early life in Shaftesbury until 1901 when he was boarding in Tisbury, Wiltshire, whilst apprenticed to a hairdresser.  He had returned to Shaftesbury by 1911 to work on his own account as a Hairdresser.  He enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 65010).  He served in France and Flanders during which time he was gassed.  He was discharged on 6th September 1919 and received a short-term limited pension for his disability.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  By the Electoral Roll of 1921 he was living in Tanyard Lane, Shaftesbury, but by the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 48 Motcombe Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, single and still working as a Hairdresser.  His death is recorded in the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry in 1952 and he was buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe, on 16 Dec 1952.

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Frederick Mansfield

Surname: Mansfield
Other names: Frederick
Other people in this story:
Thomas James Mansfield
Ellen Mansfield née Andrew
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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John Crofts

Surname: Crofts
Other names: John
Other people in this story:
George Arthur Crofts
Lavinia Crofts née Parsons
Ellen Jane Crofts née Rose
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

Surname: Burlton
Other names: Herbert Charles
Other people in this story:
William James Burlton
Elizabeth Burlton (née Meaden)
Ida Mary Burton née Kidd
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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