A Dorset army medic risked being shot to return his brother’s personal belongings home

Frampton resident Edward - or Ted, as he was known - was an Army medic in the First World War, stationed at the Western Front.

He and his two brothers William and George had left their family home near Dorchester to sign up for combat.

Ted and William headed to Europe, while George headed south to Africa.

Shirley said: “Ted was at the Battle of Amiens near Chipilly Ridge and was bringing in casualties when he found William, his youngest brother dead on the battlefield.

“He took some of Bill's personal possessions to send home to his mother Emma, but in doing so he risked being shot for 'stealing from the dead' - even though the items belonged to his brother.”

Before the war Ted was a psychiatric nurse and after signing up with the Dorset Regiment, he served with the 55th Field Ambulance at the Front.

He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery, which was later embellished with a bar, although no one in Shirley's family has been able to find out what he did to win the awards.

On returning home, Ted worked at the Herrison asylum where his wife Lily worked in the laundry.

His mother Emma was seen as the village matriarch of Frampton and his father George worked on the nearby Sheraton Estate.

Shirley said: “We have been over the France a couple of times to visit my great uncle's grave, but we aren't sure exactly where he died because of the way the Front Line moved forwards and back.

“My great-grandmother never recovered from his death and my grandfather never spoke about the story or his time as a soldier.

“He ended up a sergeant, but he never once said 'I want you to know about such and such…'.”