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FROM THE CONTEMPORARY LOCAL NEWSPAPERS OF NORTH BUCKS (BUCKS STANDARD, NORTH BUCKS TIMES, WOLVERTON EXPRESS)
With today’s internet a wealth of official information is available regarding those who served.
In an age before local radio and television, families often allowed letters to be published in the local press from their loved ones on active service.
However, for their descendants the letters reveal a more personal aspect, graphically describing the experience of the people and providing an insight into their personalities.

B.S. 1915 May 22nd

Aged 23, Private Arthur Wright, of the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, was killed in action on Wednesday, April 28th. Born in Chicheley, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wright, of The Lane, and having before the war been employed at Wolverton Carriage Works, he was the first from the village to volunteer for military service. He enlisted at Northampton in early August, and when sent from there to Devonport was transferred to the East Surreys. On March 6th he then went to the front, where he displayed great bravery and courage under fire. His death was conveyed by an unknown comrade, who forwarded the dead soldier’s watch and letters to his sister, whose address was found on a letter written by Private Wright before going into battle. The sister contacted the Reverend U. Easson, Vicar of Chicheley, and last Friday whilst in London Mrs. Easson called at the War Office, where the sad news was confirmed. However, details as to the location and engagement in which Private Wright lost his life were unknown. A keen village sportsman, he was also a staunch and devoted churchman, who for many years had sung in the choir, and been a cross-bearer. He had also belonged to the bellringers’ band, and in fact as a mark of respect they wished to ring a muffled peal. Yet by the request of the bereaved this was not done, although on Wednesday an impressive service took place in the church, with many of the villagers present.


B.S. 1915 Oct. 16th

On Monday, Mrs. Thomas Rogers, of Brickyard Cottages, Chicheley, received official notification that, probably destined for Alexandria, on September 29th her husband, Private Thomas Rogers, of the 1/4th Northants. Regiment, died of wounds aboard the hospital ship ‘Glenart Castle.’ The last letter she received from him was written on September 20th, stating that he was in the trenches, with the only complaint being a scarcity of water. When the war broke out he was employed by Mr. Bazeley, at Eakley Lanes, Stoke Goldington, as horsekeeper, and despite having a wife and six children to support, he readily volunteered his services. Having left England on July 28th, he landed at the Dardanelles on August 15th.


B.S. 1916 July 29th

Interesting souvenirs of the war from France have just been received by Miss Winifred Hopkins, of New Cottages, Chicheley. They have been sent by Private R. Lawson, of the Durham Light Infantry, attached to the 24th General Field Hospital, and consist of a postcard with the flags of the Allies worked in silk colours. Under this is a smaller card which carries 'A kiss from France,' and in the corner is a very pretty French scene. Also sent was an embroidered silk handkerchief with the French flag and the words 'Souvenir de France.' In a letter to Miss Hopkins, Private Lawson says that it is a long time since he was in the trenches. His regiment was being shelled very heavily in the neighbourhood of Loos, and in running to take cover he collided with the branches of a tree and so injured his eyes that he was unable to undergo any further service in the firing line. Consequently he was transferred from the Durhams to the R.A.M.C. He thanks Miss Hopkins for an egg he received, on which her name was written, whilst on an egg received by a private in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers was the name of Florrie Wright, a pupil at Chicheley school. He is recovering from wounds received in action, and has sent her a letter of thanks.


B.S. 1916 Aug. 19th

The Army Council have sent a letter of condolence to Mrs. W. Brown (widow of Charles Brown) of Chicheley, following the death in action in France of her fourth son, Private Reginald Brown, of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was killed on July 31st, and would have been 26 years of age had he lived until last Friday. Private Brown was the first of Chicheley’s band of patriots to volunteer for service when the war broke out, at which time he was employed in the stables at Chicheley Hall. Having been at the front for 17 months he had seen much hard fighting, and his last letter to his mother was written on the eve of his death. He was much respected in his native village, and was formerly a member of the church choir and also a bellringer.


B.S. 1918 Nov. 23rd

Private Vasey Clarke, of the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, died on November 12th at the No. 1 South African General Hospital, France, as a result of wounds received in action on September 18th. Aged 19, he was the third son of John and Eliza Clarke, of Chicheley Hall, who received a letter from the Matron of the Hospital stating;
“He will have written you himself and told you how much better he was and that he was coming home. We actually got him ready to leave, and then a lot of them who were going had to be cancelled, he being one. We now think the disappointment must have upset him as he at once got worse and commenced vomiting. He had had several of these vomiting attacks before, but they had yielded to treatment. But nothing we did stopped the vomiting - even champagne did him no good. Everything possible was done for him. He was always so good and patient, and when feeling fairly well was very bright. … He will be buried in the Military Cemetery here at 9.15 on Thursday morning.”

Private Clarke was aged 19, and had joined the army in June 1917, when he was posted to the Training Reserves. Later he was posted to the Somerset Light Infantry, and went to the Western Front on April 3rd 1918. Subsequently he was transferred to the 5th Royal Berkshire Regiment, and was in all the severe fighting until he was wounded on September 18th, when a shell burst - killing a comrade on either side of him - badly fractured his right thigh. He was subsequently admitted to the No. 1 South African General Hospital on September 21st, and, bearing the various operations to his leg very well, seemed to be making good progress. In fact he had written several cheerful letters up to November 7th, but on the 12th his parents then received a telegram conveying the official news that he had died of wounds on November 12th. Born in Milton Ernest, before enlisting, he was, as was his father, in the employ of Lady Farrar, of Chicheley Hall.


ALSO AVAILABLE IN BOOK FORM AS ‘LETTERS FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR’ FROM WWW. LULU.COM,
PRODUCED WITH THE INVALUABLE EXPERTISE OF ALAN KAY & ZENA DAN.