Commonwealth War Graves Commission Burials at Shaftesbury Holy Trinity Churchyard
Research by Richard Smith into the lives and deaths of the CWGC War Casualties buried in Shaftesbury.
Burials from CWGC at Shaftesbury Holy Trinity Churchyard
ALNER Sidney William Private No. 28329 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment.
Born in Shaftesbury on 25th January 1899 son of Sidney William Alner, a
grocery porter, and his wife Ellen Mary Case. In 1911 the family were
living at 14 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. Army records show Sidney died of war
wounds at Farnham, Surrey on 19th November 1918 aged just 19, and was
buried back at Shaftesbury.
COLE William Thomas 2nd Lieutenant No. F 61323 Royal Air Force
Born in Blandford, Dorset on 22nd April 1898 son of John Eaton Cole, a Bank
Manager, and his wife Caroline Jessie Atkinson. He enlisted on 19th May
1918, but on the night of 23rd October 1918 he was flying Avro No. E3598
from 189 Training Squadron (Night Flying) when his plane went into a spin
and flew into the ground killing William and his passenger. He was aged 20
and buried back at Shaftesbury, although his parents were then living at
The Bank House, High Street, Gillingham, Dorset. His probate to his father
granted on 15th September 1919 was for £122 0s 8d
FOOT Reginald Robert Lance Corporal No. 39652 Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Born in Shaftesbury in January 1888, son of Robert Foot, a tailor, and his
wife Annie Millicent Gould. In 1911 he was working as a carpenter / joiner,
and had been in the Territorial Army for 12 months before he enlisted on
11th December 1915, but died of influenza and pneumonia at Limerick
Military Hospital, Ireland on 7th February 1919, aged 31 and was buried
back at Shaftesbury. His parents were living at 42 Salisbury Street,
Shaftesbury.
KING Charles Stephen Gunner No. 116267 Royal Garrison Artillery Clearing Office
Born in Gillingham, Dorset on 18th October 1888 son of Stephen King, a
railway worker with L and S W R Co., and his wife Virtue Hanks who died in
1893. His father then married Emily Ann Chapple at Sutton Bingham, Dorset
in August 1897. In 1911 his father and step mother were living in Wyke,
Gillingham, Dorset. Charles had married Bessie Imber at Shaftesbury in
October 1909, and he was also working for L and S W R Co. He enlisted on
11th December 1915 but was wounded in action on 17th August 1917 and, on
26th August 1917, was transferred back to England on Hospital ship St.
Andrew. He died on 15th September of his wounds aged 28 and was buried back
at Shaftesbury. His widow Bessie was living at 5 Layton Lane,
Shaftesbury.
March 2025
Richard Smith
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