Shaftesbury Friends War Memorials

War Memorials

Mampitts Cemetery WMO/213998

Caldwell Close, Allen Road WMO/283060

At the regimental Association Dinner, held at Hunters lodge in 2004, the then Brigadier formally announced the amalgamation of the Devon & Dorset’s into the Rifles Regiment, clearly not what the old soldiers wished for, the news gave the dinner a sombre note.
On discussing this with other community leaders Shaftesbury Mayor Lester Dibben suggested actions should be taken, under our Civic Roles to provide lasting memorials in our Towns to ensure the names of the old Regiments were recorded and honoured, there was general agreement this should be the case. 

Following this meeting the Mayor invited several community groups to a meeting in the Mayors Parlour, Shaftesbury Civic Society Mrs J Scott, British legion Wilf Redman, Brownies & Guides, Scouts, Devon & Dorset Cadets, Air Cadets, and Navy Cadets, Church leaders, Mrs R Caldwell, and Cllr Nigel Cook as chairman of the amenities committee. There was full agreement this should be undertaken, The British legion and Shaftesbury Civic Society both stated they could not get involved in the process to establish a war Memorial but would support any dedication ceremony should the proposal succeed.

Following this meeting the Mayor started a publicity drive to find support and raise funding to achieve this via the Mayors Charity, with great support from Nigel Cook and the other attendees over £11,000 and a considerable amount of donated help, including from local building supplier Nick Hardiman, Dorset County Council, came together for the Mampits war Memorial, all from small community donations including funds raised by Scouts, guides, Brownies, church collections and many other individual donations, including a metal fence from local blacksmith Mr Alan Whiffen, Digger by Mr Roland Stacey, a poem believed to be written by the mother of Rifleman Allen - a wonderful show of support.

The developer Persimmon Homes donated £5000 and labour with Melbury Stone donating at cost £150, three large pieces to mount the badges on at their site to the east of Shaftesbury.

By 2009 the funds were growing and following the amalgamation in 2007 The Mayor Lester Dibben and Mayoress Jayne Dibben presided over the Freedom of the Town ceremony for the Rifles, it was an Honour to carry this out with the reward of seeing the vast numbers who turned out to welcome them, this included in pride of place alongside the rifles Soldiers the Old Devon & Dorset’s Association Members. During this time names were established on the new estate, Allen Road, and Rifles Way, all to ensure our regiments are well known across the Town.

Local Stone Mason Harry Jonas constructed the two War memorials. Then in 2014 the dedication of the War Memorials took place hosted by the British Legion, at which Mr Bill Sherriff received an award from the Rifles for his undying support over many years. It is wonderful to see these War memorials in use every year, it is hoped that they will provide a constant link with the old regiments and the Soldiers they represent, we owe them so much. Our aims as a charity are to help educate new members of our community and the young people who will have ancestors who served.

Mayor & Mayoress Lester & Jayne Dibben 

Blacksmith Allan Whiffen

Funding raised from public donations

Expenditure