William John Dunster was born in Uffculme, Devon, at the beginning of 1894. The older of two children, his parents were Robert and Mary Dunster. Robert was a carter and farm labourer, but when William left school, he found work on the railways. By the time of the 1911 census, the family had moved to Milverton in Somerset, and William was employed as an engine cleaner at the station in Taunton.

William had always had a keen interest in the army, and joined the Somerset Light Infantry early in 1914. His full service records are not available, but he was assigned to the 1st Battalion and, when hostilities were declared, he was dispatched to France.

On 26th August 1914, with the heroic men of his Regiment, he leaped over the trench amid a hail of bullets: a terrible gunshot wound laid him low, and he was taken prisoner by the Germans. For two years he remained in the hands of his captors, and endured all those sufferings and privations which our brave men have to bear in Germany.

[In 1916] he was removed to Switzerland Then all was done that could be done to save a young soldier’s life – the skill of the doctor, the comfort of the hospital, the care of the nurse – but unfortunately his constitution had been undermined.

In December 1916, by the kindness of [the secretary of the Prisoners of War Society] Mrs Walsh, he was enabled to see his mother, who paid him a visit, and this for a time revived him wonderfully.

Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 26th June 1918

By the spring of 1918, Corporal Dunster had been medically evacuated to England, and was admitted to a military hospital in Southampton. This gave Robert and Mary the chance to see their son again, and Mary remained at her son’s side until he passed away on 19th June 1918. He was 23 years of age.

William John Dunster was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Bartholomew’s Church in the village of Oake, where his family were living.

---