Harold Bowditch

1895 - 1985  (90 years)

• Name	Harold Bowditch
  Birth	3 Apr 1895	Melbury Osmond, Dorset, England   [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1901	Twinmills, Evershot, Dorset, England   [2, 5]
  	Age: 5y
  Census	2 Apr 1911	Evershot, Dorset, England   [6, 7]
  	Age: 16y
  Ancestor Count	14
  Occupation	2 Apr 1911	Evershot, Dorset, England   [6, 7]
  	Horseman on Farm
  Occupation	Aug 1914  [8]
  	Groom
  Occupation	From 14 Sep 1914 to 24 Jan 1919  [8]
  	Soldier
  	Age: 20y 5m
  	After intially joining with the 1st Dorset Yeomanry. From 28th January 1917 he served as a Machine Gunner with the Machine Gun corps, as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. WikiPedia has the following to say about the 1st Dorset Yeomany " In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split in August and September 1914 into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line regiments. 1/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry The 1st Line regiment was mobilised in August 1914 and attached to the 1st South Western Mounted Brigade. In September 1914, It was transferred to the 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade, 2nd Mounted Division. In 1915, it was deployed overseas to Egypt, then onwards to participate in the Dardanelles campaign, where it served as dismounted troops and was involved in the Battle of Gallipoli, the Battle of Sari Bair and the Battle of Scimitar Hill. After the evacuation of Gallipoli, it returned to Egypt in January 1916 and became part of the 6th Mounted Brigade, an independent brigade that was involved in the Action of Agagia in February 1916. At this battle, the retreating Senussi were attacked by the Dorset Yeomanry with drawn swords across open ground. Under fire, the Yeomanry lost half their horses, and about a third of their men and officers were casualties (58 of the 184 who took part). Colonel Soutar, leading the regiment in this charge, had his horse shot from under him and was knocked unconscious. When he came to, he found himself alone amongst a group of the enemy. He drew his revolver, shot several, and took the Turkish leader Jaffir Pasha prisoner." It's quite possible Harold was involved in that charge. His discharge papers issued in January 1919 state he was Sober, reliable, intellegent, a hard workers and a good man with horses.
  Residence	2 Jun 1919	Martock, Somerset   [8, 9]
  Death	May 1985	Dorset,England   [4, 10]
  	Address: North Dorset Registration District
  Person ID	I364	Taubman Family Tree
  Last Modified	21 Sep 2018

  
  

  Father	William John Bowditch,   b. 13 Nov 1856, Woodsford, Dorset, England d. Between Apr 1911 and 2 Aug 1918 (Age 54 years)
  Mother	Sarah Brine,   b. 13 Dec 1859, Stockwood, Dorset, England d. 2 Aug 1918, Evershot, Dorset, England (Age 58 years)
  Marriage	13 Dec 1877	Stockwood, Dorset, England   [11, 12, 13]
  	William made his mark, while Sarah signed the register. The marriage was witnessed by John Brine and Ellen Bowditch.
  Family ID	F47	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

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  Birth - 3 Apr 1895 - Melbury Osmond, Dorset, England Census - Age: 5y - 1901 - Twinmills, Evershot, Dorset, England Census - Age: 16y - 2 Apr 1911 - Evershot, Dorset, England Occupation - Horseman on Farm - 2 Apr 1911 - Evershot, Dorset, England Residence - 2 Jun 1919 - Martock, Somerset Death - Address: North Dorset Registration District - May 1985 - Dorset,England  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  "A Good Man with Horses" [8]

  
  

• Sources

  [S930] . [S74] Census 1901 RG13_Pc-2009_Fo-36_Pg-11 William Bowditch, 74. [S25] GRO Index, Birth Q2 Apr-May-Jun 1895 Beaminster 5a 347, 25. [S25] GRO Index, Death May 1985 North Dorset 23 529, 25. [S1054] . [S936] . [S324] Census 1911 Evershot, Dorset, England RG14/12/4/52, (RG14/12/4/52), 324. [S320] Military Service Records - Harold Bowditch, 320. [S1073] . [S939] . [S899] . [S39] Marriage Certificate : William Bowditch & Sarah Brine, 39. [S720] Marriage Stockwood Parish 1877 William Bowditch and Sarah Brine.