By 1915 thousands of young men had enlisted in the armed forces.

For many it was seen as a great adventure, a chance to visit foreign lands, as well as to fight for their country.

Bournemouth Echo:

Between 1915 and 1917 the Bournemouth Visitors’ Directory and the Poole and Dorset Herald published portrait pictures of soldiers and sailors from local families who were serving in the war. Families were much larger then, so it was not uncommon for several brothers to have joined up, usually in different regiments. Often these items were cut out and kept by families as momentums.

Mrs Mary Knight of Poole has one such article on her father, Walter Bennett and his six brothers from Branksome in Poole, giving details of their military service. The cutting is undated but is probably printed in the summer or autumn of 1915. Walter, 28, had already served four years with the Dragoon Guards before the war, and was invalided out. He rejoined the Royal Engineers in September 1914, and served in France from May 1915.

William, 27, of the Dorset Royal Engineers ‘was in all the fighting from Mons to the Somme, and was wounded three times’. After an operation for appendicitis, he was ‘put on home service’, ‘but volunteered again for active service and was sent to Salonica’.

Fred, 25, served six years in the Dragoon Guards, was twice wounded and was invalided out for shell shock. He rejoined the London Scottish.

‘Albert, 23, joined the R.R.C., shortly before the war, went out to France in February 1915 and was still there, though fighting in France has been varied by service in Salonica’.

George was twice wounded and was still serving with 3rd Dorset M.G.C. Harry, 17, and Arthur, 14, were sailors serving on the training ship Arethusa and HMS Lord Clive. Mary is not certain if they all survived the war.