Granddaughter speaks out about Weymouth's William Squibb

His story was passed on to us by his granddaughter Ruth Hoadley, who lives in Preston and is typical of the hardship and bravery of the time.

George lived in the last of the terraced houses opposite the Ship Inn on the Ridgeway and was the last stonemason employed by the Great Western Railway. He was also a member of the reserves - the equivalent of the Territorial Army - and the father of seven children.

Although the family was poor by today's standard - their rent was half a crown a week - they worked hard and were close-knit.

William was in the 1st Battalion Dorset Regiment and before he was called up into active service one of his details was to escort German prisoners of war down Ridgeway Hill.

Mrs Hoadley said: “The prisoners complained of being thirsty, so as they were close to granddad's home he took them up the rough track and sat them on the ground outside.

“My granny brought out buckets of water for them and was met by jeering neighbours who didn't approve of her being kind to the enemy.

“She bravely faced them with the words 'They are all some mother's son'.”

William was finally called up in March 1917, despite the Government's assurance that fathers of large families would not see active service.

He died of wounds just three weeks later, on April 16, 1917, aged 37, near the French village of Foreste.

The Upwey Parish News reported his death in sombre style: 'It was with great regret that the village heard the news that Mr Squibb had fallen in the great battle of the advance in France.

'Living in the Bincombe houses on Ridgeway Hill, the family is not properly speaking in Upwey parish, so his name does not appear on our Roll of Honour, but it must always remain an honoured memory in the village.

'He was one of the older men who belonged to the National reserve, responded to the call of their country as soon as war broke out, being used at first for Home Service only.

'But when the age was put up he joined the 4th Dorsets and was soon in the fighting line. At the time of his death he had seen a good deal of service.

'He believed very firmly that God would answer the prayers of his wife and family by bringing him safe through. But the answer for them too has been that the cup may not pass away from them unless they drink it, and we ask God that they learn to say with their redeemer 'thy will be done' and that His angel from Heaven will strengthen them through their agony'.

It was poor consolation for William's widow.

Mrs Hoadley said: “Granny was heart-broken and with no social services to help bring up her children, she took in sewing which she did by the light of the fire as there was no electricity in those days.

“My dad remembered sitting up with her late at night in case the thread came out of the needle so he could re-thread it for her as his eyes were better.

“After the war, the Government offered to take widows to see the graves of their husbands, but granny said 'If I saw his grave I would die of grief, and I have seven children to bring up'.”

In 1988 Mrs Hoadley's parents went on pilgrimage with the British Legion. Her father found the journey very moving and kept a diary. On the day they visited his father's grave he wrote: '8.30am. Our first stop was at Foreste and we soon found Granddad Squibb's grave in the village cemetery. It was quite small but very well kept, as it was a communal cemetery it did not have a record book.

“We laid our sprays of poppies, provided by the Royal British legion, on behalf of our family, and photos were taken with the standard bearer.

'We found the graves of the other men from the Dorset regiment nearby, a Harrison, who we think might have been a Preston man, Lugg, Downer and Marshall. We felt so grateful to be at this special ceremony and were very proud of 'our' standard bearer.'

Mrs Hoadley added: “It was the story of an ordinary Dorset man who had never picked up a gun; sent to fight in a war he probably didn't understand, a gentle man who loved his family, who would never see them grow up. Maybe he really believed this would be 'the war to end all wars'.

“A vain hope.”