Selected Biographies

Deer, Arthur – Born: Stamford, Lincolnshire on 13.3.1891.[1] Parents: William Deer of Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire (Shoemaker) and Elizabeth [née Holmes].  Family Connections: Brother to William Deer of Long Melford [b1885], Ernest Robert Deer [b1893] and John Dowley Deer [b1897].  Home: 2 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire (1891), 6 Southwell Cottages, Vine Street, Stamford (1901), 47 High Street, Stamford (1911), 250 St George’s Road, Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire (1921), 119 Newland Avenue, Kingston-Upon-Hull (1939).  Occupation: Boot Repairer (1911 to 1939).  Married: Martha A. Hill in 1927.  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Arthur may have been conscripted as Pte.201906 with the Lincolnshire Regiment. If this assumption is correct then he later transferred as Sgt.637754 to the Labour Corps.[2]  Died: Beverley, Yorkshire in 1975.

Deer, Ernest Robert – Born: Stamford, Lincolnshire on 9.8.1893.[3]  Parents: William Deer of Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire (Shoemaker) and Elizabeth [née Holmes].  Family Connections: Brother to William Deer of Long Melford [b1885], Arthur Deer [b1891] and John Dowley Deer [b1897].  Home: 6 Southwell Cottages, Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire (1901), 47 High Street, Stamford (1911), 86 Granville Street, Peterborough, Northamptonshire (1921), Silk Willoughby, Lincolnshire (1939).  Occupation: Grocer’s Apprentice (1911), Boot Repairer (1921), Established Postman (1939).  Married: Sophie Maynard in 1923.  Service Record: Ernest was conscripted on 3.9.1916 as Dvr.235707 with 10^th Squadron Remounts, Army Service Corps, being posted to France from 22.4.1917 to 23.11.1917, and thereafter to Italy until the end of hostilities.  He re-enlisted in March 1919 as Dvr.T/2183, later ET/50554 with the Horse Transport section of the Royal Army Service Corps, receiving his discharge in December 1920 due to defective vision.[4]  Died: Sleaford, Lincolnshire in 1961.

Deer, John ‘Dowley’ – Born: Stamford, Lincolnshire on 13.9.1897.[5]  Parents: William Deer of Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire (Shoemaker) and Elizabeth [née Holmes].  Family Connections: Brother to William Deer of Long Melford [b1885], Arthur Deer [b1891] and Ernest Robert Deer [b1893].  Home: 6 Southwell Cottages, Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire (1901), 47 High Street, Stamford (1921), ‘Belmont’ Ryhall, Ketton, Rutland (1939).  Occupation: Boot and Shoe Repairer (1921 to 1939).  Married: Mabel Maud Pointer in 1937.   Service Record: Dowley was conscripted on 29.8.1916 as Pte.62779 with 4^th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment and placed on the Army Reserve until 19.5.1918.  In March 1919 he was transferred to 3^rd Battalion and attached to 161^st Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps at Tipperary in Ireland, receiving his discharge in the following November.[6]  Died: Stamford, Lincolnshire in 1946.

Deer, William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 25.6.1885.[7]  Parents: William Deer of Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire (Shoemaker) and Elizabeth [née Holmes].  Family Connections: Brother to Arthur Deer [b1891], Ernest Robert Deer [b1893] and John Dowley Deer [b1897].  Home: 2 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire (1891), 6 Southwell Cottages, Vine Street, Stamford (1901), Gypsy Caravan, Church Lane, Lullington, Isle of Axholme, Lincolnshire (1939).  Occupation: Bootmaker (1901), Land Worker and Dealer (1939). Service Record: William was conscripted on 31.10.1915 as AM2/12220 with the Royal Flying Corps, transferring to the Royal Air Force on 1.4.1918 and receiving his discharge in 1920.[8]

Notes – [1] 1939 Register. [2] Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [3] 1939 Register. [4] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363]. [5] 1939 Register. [6] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363]. [7] 1939 Register. [8] Royal Air Force Airmen Records, 1918-1940 [AIR 79/148].