IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF EAST STOKE
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 – 1918
THANK MY GOD UPON EVERY
REMEMBRANCE OF YOU
ALL RESEARCH ON THIS PAGE IS COPYRIGHT OF DORSETWW1.CO.UK.
WALTER COBB
236978 Able Seaman Walter John Cobb HM Submarine C31. Walter was born on 11th February 1889 in East Stoke. He was a pre war Sailor in the Royal Navy, having joined as a Boy in July 1906. He was posted to HM Submarine C31 in September 1914. Walter was Killed in Action on 7th January 1915, aged 27, when HM Submarine C31 struck a mine off the Belgian coast. All 16 members of the crew were killed. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. The CWGC lists “Son of Robert Cobb, of East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset; husband of Mary Milne (formerly Cobb), of Stourpaine, Blandford, Dorset”. His brother is also commemorated on the East Stoke War Memorial, see next entry.
RICHARD COBB
215722 Able Seaman Richard George Cobb HM Submarine E6. Richard was born on 6th February 1885 in East Stoke. He was a pre war Sailor in the Royal Navy, having joined as a Boy in July 1901. In January 1911, he married Ellen Sarah Trevett at Puddletown. He was posted to HM Submarine E6 in February 1913. Richard was Killed in Action on 26th December 1915 when HM Submarine E6 struck a mine in the North Sea, off Harwich. All 31 members of the crew were killed. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. His brother is also commemorated on the East Stoke War Memorial, see previous entry.
RALPH TWISDEN BUTLER
Clerk (Acting Assistant Paymaster) Ralph Twisden Butler HMS Hampshire. Ralph was born on 21st November 1896 at Seaview, Isle of Wight. He was a pre war officer in the Royal Navy, having joined in July 1913. His father was the Reverend at East Stoke, residing in the Rectory. Ralph was Killed in Action on 5th June 1916 when HMS Hampshire struck a mine and sunk off the Orkney Islands. HMS Hampshire was taking Lord Kitchener on a secret voyage to Russia, and he too went down with the ship. His body was recovered and is buried in Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery. His brother is also commemorated on the East Stoke War Memorial, see next entry.
ARMAR SOMERSET BUTLER
Lieut Armar Somerset Butler South Lancashire Regiment, Attached 7 Bn Wiltshire Regiment and 47 Squadron Royal Flying Corps. Armar was born on 2nd October 1893 at Seaview, Isle of Wight. His father was the Reverend at East Stoke, residing in the Rectory. He was commissioned into the Army in November 1914. Whilst serving with the 7th Wiltshires, Armar was severely wounded, and upon recovery he volunteering and was subsequently attached to the Royal Flying Corps as an Observer. With 6 weeks, Armar was Killed in Action on 16th October 1917 when his aircraft stalled near the ground and the resulting fire on impact caused the bombs on-board to explode. He was 24 years old and is buried in Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston. The CWGC lists “Son of the Rev. Pierce Butler and Daisy (his wife), of Winterslow Rectory, Salisbury, Wilts. Nephew of Maj. James Armar Butler, known to history as The Hero of Silistria. Born at Nettleston, Isle of Wight”. His brother is also commemorated on the East Stoke War Memorial, see previous entry.
WALTER DOREY
20050 Pte Walter George Dorey No.1 Supernumerary Company, 4 Bn Dorset Regiment. Walter had been a career soldier, having originally enlisted in the Dorset Regiment with the number 3305 at Dorchester in October 1891. He served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, before being discharged from the Army in 1903. In April 1903, he married Agnes Julia Pitman at Chaldon Herring. He re-enlisted for the Great War at Dorchester in September 1914. He was employed as a Prison Guard at a Prisoner of War Camp, possibly in Dorchester. Walter was discharged from the Army as medically unfit on 3rd December 1915. He died of heart disease and tuberculous of the lung on the 6th December 1915. He is buried in East Stoke (St. Mary) Churchyard.
WILLIAM WILLS
26729 Pte William Wills 28 Coy Machine Gun Corps, formerly 15581 Pte Dorset Regiment. William was born in Keysworth and resided in East Stoke. He enlisted for the Great War in Dorchester, he had previously worked as a Miller. William was Killed in Action on 18th July 1916, aged 22. He has no known grave and is now commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing on the Somme. The CWGC lists “Son of Mrs. Ellen Toms, of Child’s Hill, High Wood, East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset”.
WILLIAM BISHOP
36482 Cpl William Bishop 11 Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 12998 South Wales Borderers. William was born in East Stoke and resided in Ashstead. He enlisted for the Great War in Newport, Monmouthshire. William was Killed in Action on 3rd May 1917, aged 42. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. The CWGC lists “Son of the late George Bishop”.
ERNEST BROOKS
41229 L/Cpl Ernest Brooks 12 Bn Somerset Light Infantry, formerly 3951 Pte Dorset Regiment. Ernest was born in Trent and resided at Binnegar, East Stoke. He married Helen Joan and they had two daughters together. He enlisted for the Great War in Wareham. Ernest was Killed in Action on the 2nd September 1918, aged 34. His remains were not located until 1919, when they were buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension. The CWGC lists “Son of Charles and Hannah Brooks, of Trent, Sherborne; husband of Helen J. Brooks, of Woolland, Blandford, Dorset”.
CHARLES JOHN HARDY
49978 Pte Charles John Hardy 1 Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers, formerly 1701 Royal West Surrey Regiment. Charles was born and resided in East Stoke. He enlisted for the Great War in Guildford. Charles was Killed in Action on 2nd September 1918. He is buried in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery.
CHARLES ALBERT THORPE
82936 Fitter Cpl Charles Albert Messeder Thorpe A Battery 79 Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Charles was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He enlisted for the Great War in Bournemouth and had previously worked as an Engineer. Charles was Killed in Action on 21st October 1918. He is buried in Neuvilly Communal Cemetery Extension. The CWGC lists “Son of Clothilde Thorpe of Manchester, and the late Charles Messeder Thorpe; husband of Annetta Rose Thorpe, of The School House, East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset”.
Dorset in the Great War 