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On Thursday, January 14th 1915, the first prosecution in North Bucks under the Defence of the Realm Act took place at the Fenny Stratford Petty Sessions, when Amy Victoria Markham, a young woman of 13, Denmark Street, Fenny Stratford, was charged with having loitered on the Bedford branch of the L.&N.W.R at Bow Brickhill on the previous day. Giving evidence, Captain Herbert Hatfield Back, of the Norfolk National Reserve, stationed at Bletchley, said that he had seen her loitering on the railway in a manner contrary to the regulations of the Act, but in her defence the woman said that she only went on to the line to take something to one of the soldiers on duty. She hadn’t realised she was doing anything wrong, but was nevertheless bound over in the sum of £5, and put under the supervision of the lady probation officer for six months.

On Empire Day 1915, the village schoolchildren contributed 12s to the fund providing cigarettes, tobacco etc. for the soldiers. Being duly acknowledged, this was forwarded to the committee of the Overseas Fund, and Mr. W.E. Burton, the headmaster, subsequently received the following acknowledgment from a grateful soldier ‘somewhere in France;’ “Many thanks for the cigarettes and tobacco you so kindly sent me. Please accept my best wishes for your future health and success. Again thanking you for your gifts. Yours sincerely. H.E. Gates.”

On June 30th & July 4th 1915 severe storms caused considerable damage to the hills in all the Brickhills. At Bow Brickhill the highway was impassable and dangerous, and although road repairs were begun at once, the work was protracted due to the shortage of labour.

In September 1915 further details came to hand regarding the death of Sergeant William North, of the 8th West Yorks. Whilst serving in the Dardanelles he had been killed instantly when shot through the head. His four brothers were serving in the forces in France, and of these Private Tom North, having been slightly wounded, was now progressing favourably.

On Friday, January 21st 1916, under the Courts Emergency Powers Act, at Newport Pagnell County Court a Fenny Stratford butcher asked for leave to issue a warrant against Charles Stone, a labourer of Bow Brickhill, who owed him 10s 3d. In court Mrs. Stone said that with six in the family, and things being very dear, she could not afford to pay, to which the judge said that all judges in England now had to consider the rise in prices, and he had no wish to impose hardship. Mrs. Stone said that her husband was working short time and earned 19s a week, out of which 3s 6d in rent had to be paid. The judge ultimately accepted her offer to try and pay 1s a month, with the execution of the warrant to be suspended as long as the payments were kept up.

In March 1916, at the Rural District Tribunal a lady farmer, farming seven acres of pasture land, and two of arable, applied for military exemption for the only man that she employed. He was aged 22 and married, and although postponement for one month was granted, during that time she was instructed to look for a replacement.

In the first case of conscientious objection to be heard in the North Bucks courts, at the Newport Pagnell Local Tribunal, held on Tuesday, March 7th 1916, 24 year old Albert Frost, a grocer’s assistant from Bow Brickhill, in which village his father was a grocer and hawker, applied for absolute exemption from military service. Aged 24, single, and able bodied, he had not attested under the Derby Scheme, and said that “As a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation I cannot conscientiously take part in military service, nor in any employment necessitating the taking of the military oath, nor in the production of material the object of which is the taking of human life. War in our view involves a surrender of the Christian ideal and a denial of human brotherhood.” The chairman remarked “You don’t care for fighting,” but to this the man replied I don’t believe in fighting. The Military Representative, Captain Sir Everard Duncombe, then said; “I don’t know whether you have a sister alive, but take it that you have a sister; you were out and when you returned you found the Germans brutally assaulting your sister, what would you do.” The defendant replied that he would not kill them, and when Sir Everard enquired as to what he would do, the man said he would tell them to go out. Pressing the scenario, Sir Everard posed the possibility that they might not take any notice, to which came the reply, “Well I should trust in God that they would go out.” After another exchange, Sir Everard ventured “You wouldn’t do anything except to tell the Germans to go out. You would watch your sister being brutally assaulted, murdered and dismembered, and her parts thrown into the street and would not lift a hand to protect her?” The man repeated that he would tell them to stop, but to this Sir Everard retorted “God help you then, you blackguard.” (Serving in the Royal Bucks Hussars, Sir Everard, of Great Brickhill Manor, had been with his regiment in 1915 when it formed part of the Dardanelles and Gallipoli Expeditionary Force. In July 1916 he would be Aide de camp on staff of Brigadier General Matheson.) In further questioning, the applicant was asked about his religion, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and in reply said that they had meeting places at Cambridge and Oxford and other cities, but no place of worship in this district. Following further exchanges Sir Everard pointed out that “You see millions of men in arms to-day, and you say they are damned, whilst you, you miserable fellow, are trying to save yourself behind a plea of conscience and religion.” As to how he had become a member. the man said that someone had told him about the movement, and he had subsequently received some literature. However, his application was unanimously refused, to which he said that he would appeal, since “I would rather be crucified than deny the teaching of Jesus Christ, which is contrary to the teaching of war.”

(On May 4th 1916 Walter Carlile, the Military Representative, would send a letter to the editor of a local newspaper;

“SIR, - In your last issue a Mr. Richardson at the Board of Guardians accused the Military Representative of Newport Pagnell Rural District of calling a claimant a blackguard.

I am the Military representative of this area and I deny the accusation absolutely. The Chairman and all the members of the Tribunal will bear witness that never at any time have I entered into personalities with claimants or others concerned.

During my absence for three weeks from illness a friend very kindly acted for me and took over all responsibility of proving and contesting claims before the Tribunal.

To criticise a body of men who are carrying out a difficult and very distasteful labour, justly and well, to the best of their ability, for patriotic reasons only, is not only silly but harmful.

Adverse comments are expected from the disloyal and feebleminded, but men in responsible positions should refrain from speaking without a full knowledge of their subject, and then only to help and not hinder the favourable prosecution of the War.

Yours truly,

WALTER CARLILE,
(Military Representative).

Gayhurst,
 May 4, 1916.”

(The editor inserted “The statement objected to by Mr. Richardson was made by the gentleman deputising for Mr. Carlile at the Newport Pagnell Local Tribunal on Tuesday, March 7.”)

On Friday and Saturday, April 7th and 8th 1916, the Bucks County Tribunal, sitting at the Bletchley Petty Sessions Rooms, heard appeals lodged by those men who had been refused military exemption by the Local Tribunals. Regarding Albert Frost, whom the Local Tribunal considered to be sheltering behind conscientious objections not held before the war, the applicant was closely questioned about his religious beliefs, during which he admitted that he had previously been a church goer. Now he was a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and in their view war involved a surrender of the Christian ideal and a denial of human brotherhood. “I put it to you,” said Lieutenant Sydenham, “that your conscience and the war broke out at one and the same time,” to which when pressed for an answer the appellant claimed that he could not remember when he had first subscribed to the Fellowship. To this Lieutenant Sydenham demanded a more definite reply, and ultimately the man admitted that it was not until February 1916 that he had paid his first subscription. It was then suggested by a member of the Committee that “The reason you would not give the date was because you were afraid the Tribunal would say you had not joined far enough back.” The application for exemption was dismissed.

In a letter in April 1916 to a local paper, a reader made his feelings about conscientious objectors clearly known; “Oh, these canting hypocrites! I cannot make out how the Local Tribunal can tolerate such humbugs. The recent case of the Bow Brickhill individual is about the most miserable thing I have heard for some time. Some of these specimens have only just found out that they have a conscience and a religion, now that their own precious skins are in danger of being scratched. And I suppose they call themselves British!”

At the Fenny Stratford Police Court, on Thursday, April 27th 1916 Albert Frost, of Bow Brickhill, was charged with having failed to present himself at 10a.m. the previous day at Bletchley, as required under the Military Service Act. Major F. Dalrymple, Recruiting Officer, said that a notice for him to report on April 26th had been sent on April 12th, and in consequence of his non compliance police constable Marsh had called at 6.30p.m on that date at the man’s home. There the defendant admitted having received the notice, but said “I have a conscientious objection to serving in the Army.” The Court fined him £2, to be deducted from his soldier’s pay, and he was handed over to a waiting military escort, for transport to Oxford.

The Local Appeal Tribunal for the Newport Pagnell Rural District was held on Friday, May 12th 1916, and at the opening mention was made of the objection, raised by a member at the last meeting of the Newport Pagnell Board of Guardians, to the deputy military representative having called a Bow Brickhill conscientious objector, Albert Frost, a blackguard. The applicant had been called a blackguard not because he was a conscientious objector, but because he had said he would not defend his sister against the Germans, but a member of the Tribunal said that the case was one of the worst that could come before any appeal authority. Another member said he knew the man well, and he was not a blackguard but a true conscientious objector, but to this the Military Representative remarked that “His objection commenced at Christmas.” In response the member said “All his life,” to which the Military Representative replied “That was not the evidence.”

At the Fenny Stratford Magistrates Court, on Thursday, December 14th 1916 Elsie Hartwell, of Bow Brickhill, whose father was secretary of the local Foresters Court, was summoned for having on September 20th damaged certain property at Bow Brickhill, belonging to the Duke of Bedford. This was namely heather to the value of 5s, and the location had been Bow Brickhill heath, across which ran a private road near to the reservoir. Along the left hand side of this road, going down from Bow Brickhill, the Duke of Bedford had caused beds of a special type of heather to be planted, and since when in bloom the white flower of this species was a great attraction to the public, the Duke was anxious that this enhancement should not be ruined by people gathering the plant. Giving evidence, police constable Hyde said that when he saw the defendant and four others plucking the white heather he went to investigate, and found that they had quite an amount. Saying they hadn’t realised they were in error, the four expressed regret and gave up their heather, but Miss Hartwell refused to comply, and, saying it was a wild plant and therefore she had every right to gather it, put hers behind her back, with the words “If you want it you will have to take it away.” In her defence the solicitor said she had not picked the heather on the Duke’s property, but had picked six pieces growing on the public road leading to Woburn, whilst for his part police constable Hyde said that he saw the persons picking the cultivated white heather from the beds on the private road across the heath. In court, Francis Mitchell, the forester on the Woburn Estate, said that picking the white heather would kill it in time, and in view of the value it needed protection. The defendant said that she had only picked the mauve heather beside the public road, and that the police constable’s story was untrue, and confirming this version Mrs. Lily Hall, of Bedford, said that she had been with Elsie at the time. After retiring the Bench found the defendant not guilty, and the case was dismissed. However, any further instances would be severely dealt with, and the advice was given that more distinctive signs should be erected.

(In January 1923 the Duke of Bedford would kindly allow loppings of fallen timber in the woods near the church to be cleared away on payment of 6d per household. Most of the villagers would take advantage of this offer.)

On Friday, January 12th 1917, Lieutenant J. McFarlane, from the Bletchley Recruiting Office, represented the military at the Fenny Stratford Police Court when Albert Frost, of Bow Brickhill, a conscientious objector, was charged in custody with being an absentee from the Forces. The defendant, saying he conscientiously objected to all forms of military service, pleaded not guilty. Police constable Hedges said that at 8p.m. the previous evening he had seen the man at his father’s house at Bow Brickhill, and there told him that he had orders to arrest him. In reply Frost said “All right,” and was brought to the police station. Giving evidence, Lieutenant McFarlane said that on December 16th an ‘action’ was issued to the prisoner to report and join up, but this he failed to do. Mr. Bramley asked if the man had been rejected by the military medical authorities, to which Lieutenant McFarlane said he had been classed in B1 Reserve, and, since this was a category in which men were not immediately required, he had been told to go home until called. Inspector Callaway said that the man had been fined 40s last April at that court for a similar charge, and that the money had been paid. Of that occasion, the prisoner said he had been taken to Oxford, where having demanded a medical re-examination he was afterwards offered some papers, but refused to accept them. In reply to Mr. Bramley he confirmed that he had received notice to join up but he had paid no attention to that nor a letter from the Bletchley Recruiting Officer. In further evidence, Lieutenant McFarlane said the man had appealed to the Local Military Service Tribunal and also to the Area Tribunal, and both had decided that he was not a bona fide conscientious objector. Saying he would rather face the death sentence than do any military service, the prisoner was fined 40s and handed over to a waiting military escort, which took him the same day to Oxford. Yet he didn’t remain there for long, for the following morning he left by train and was driven from Bletchley to Bow Brickhill. However, with a telephone message having been sent ‘a man in blue’ was waiting for him, and he was taken back to the police station.

(At a meeting of the Newport Pagnell Board of Guardians, in May 1917 it would be reported that a young man ‘from a village near to Fenny Stratford,’ who had been taken into the army against his will, had been admitted as a patient into the county asylum. One member commented, “The Army have done him to death and sent him to the Asylum. It is a scandalous shame,” and it would be resolved to seek payment for the man’s maintenance from the War Office.)

Including musical items, a social evening arranged by the single members took place at the Aylesbury Street Primitive Methodist Chapel, Fenny Stratford, on Tuesday, February 13th 1917, to say farewell to the very popular Mr. Antliffe Edward Burton, A.V.C.M. (Associate of the Victoria College of Music.) He had been called to the colours to join the Cyclist Section of the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars, at Ipswich, and at the conclusion of the occasion was presented with a handsome wristlet radium watch, in appreciation of his services as organist and choirmaster. Yet all too soon he would become the subject of another farewell, for, aged 18 years and 8 months, he died on March 29th 1917 in the military hospital at Ipswich, from spotted fever. The news, telegraphed through by the military authorities at Ipswich, came as a great shock to his parents, for in his last letter he had said that he was quite well. In fact it had been on Tuesday night that he had complained of feeling ill, and after medical attention (a delay having been caused by there being another private named Burton in the regiment) he was confined to the military hospital on Wednesday night. An operation was performed, but tragically he failed to recover from the anaesthetic. The only son of Mr. William Burton, the schoolmaster at Bow Brickhill, before joining up he had been a student teacher at Bow Brickhill Council Schools, and had recently passed the Oxford Local Examination. He was buried in the village churchyard, with a service to his memory conducted at the Aylesbury Street Primitive Methodist Chapel on Sunday morning, April 15th 1917.

(There would be further sorrow for the family a few months later, when official notice was received that his uncle, Colour Sergeant Major T. Burton, of the Leicestershire Regiment, had been killed in France during the fighting in September 1916.)

In March 1917, at the Local Tribunal for the Newport Pagnell Rural District the military was represented in force, by the presence of Captain L.H. Green, the chief recruiting officer for Bucks, Lieutenant Lowry Porter, the military representative to the County Appeal Committee, Mr. W. Carlile, the military representative to the local Appeal Tribunal, Mr. R.F. Neave, the County Tribunal Representative, and Lieutenant Walker, the Substitution Officer. Regarding Bow Brickhill, a man aged 32, married with three children, had been passed A1, but asked for absolute exemption since he was the only one carrying on a milk round in the village, and also had charge of a neighbours cows and young stock. Additionally he helped his father on his farm, and was the only man in the village with a horse available to hire for carrying purposes. In other tasks he assisted the smallholders and allotment holders in the cultivation of their plots, and with the village now being without a train service people were glad of his carrying business. Having considered all this, Mr. Carlile said “My position is this. If you make his exemption so that he can do no other work except work on the land I am prepared to accept it. Otherwise I shall have to appeal. The man has told us he has time to carry parcels and do a regular carrying business. That is not a certified occupation, and he must not do it. I press for the condition that his whole time be devoted to land cultivation. He has plenty of land, and he must give up his other business altogether.” Three months was duly allowed on this condition, which was then extended at the next assessment.

In March 1917 the Belgian family who had been residing at ‘Hollydale’ since the autumn of 1914, as guests of the village, left to live in Bedford. There the eldest son had been employed in munitions work for some while, and now a position had been offered to his father.

In July 1917 William Claridge, a baker of Bow Brickhill, was summoned for not keeping a register of aliens lodged at his house. Police constable Stevens said that on July 16th he went to the defendant’s house and found that two Russians had been lodging there. No register had been kept, and with a great influx of aliens coming into the district from London there was an obvious danger. The fact was that persons who would not normally take in lodgers saw these aliens wandering about in the village and offered to put them up, but omitting to keep a register. A fine of 7s 6d was imposed.

(In the same month Lizzie Smith was also summoned, regarding two Russians and an Austrian.)

On October 30th 1919 Captain Gerald Knight, R.A.F., died at 82, Eaton Square, from an illness caused as the result of the cruelty and privations that he suffered while a prisoner of war in Germany. The grandson of the Reverend Robert Knight (a former rector of Bow Brickhill, who in June 1914 had accepted the living of Southleigh St. Lawrence, Colyton, East Devon) he had been gazetted to the 3rd Devons in 1914, and saw much service in the trenches in France. He then joined the Royal Flying Corps as an observer and later obtained his pilot’s certificate. In the autumn of 1916 he was shot down while bombing over the German lines and taken prisoner, but at his third attempt he escaped and successfully made his way back to England. Regarding his experiences he attended a private interview with the King, and his book, ‘Brother Bosche,’ details his wartime experience.

Prepared by the lady committee members of the War Memorial Fund, a sale of work took place in the Council Schools on Wednesday, January 1st 1921. Mrs. Shepherd had provided the materials, and many non committee village ladies helped to make these into garments and fancy articles for the sale. The schoolroom was crowded, and the various stalls were all loaded with miscellaneous goods given not only by the residents of Bow Brickhill, but also Fenny Stratford and Woburn Sands. Teas and refreshments were provided, and competitions were held. In the evening the other schoolroom was crowded for a concert arranged by Mrs. Collins. Among the performers Miss Rowland played a piano solo, and Mr. L. Bushell, from Fenny Stratford, contributed two songs. Two amusing sketches were also performed, including ‘The Advertisement’ by Mrs. Louis Jones’ party from Little Brickhill. The total proceeds would amount to £55, and in addition 23s had been raised by a collection at a football match on Boxing Day.

On the afternoon of Saturday, March 22nd 1921 the unveiling and dedication of the war memorial took place. With Mr. W. Burton as the chairman, and Mrs. Collins as the secretary, throughout the war a small committee had raised funds to send comforts to the men on active service, as well as a large parcel at Christmas, and after the signing of the Armistice the committee decided to raise funds for a war memorial. With many additional people involved, the site chosen was a piece of the green at the corner of the Woburn Sands road, with the memorial, at a cost of some £130, being a pillar of Portland stone surmounted by a cross. In the presence of almost every parishioner, as well as many residents from the local neighbourhood, the Duke of Bedford unveiled the memorial, on which was inscribed the names of the fallen, and the 53 men from the village who had joined up. Taking part in the service were the Reverend R. Rees (Wesleyan Methodist, Woburn Sands), the Reverend J. Wilson (Congregational, Newport Pagnell), who wore the uniform of an Army chaplain, and Mr. F. Maslin (Evangelist, Newport Pagnell). The dedication was performed by the rector of the parish, the Reverend S. Barmby, and after the singing of the hymn ‘For all the Saints,’ and the Benediction by the Reverend Rees, two buglers sounded the Last Post. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthem, which brought the ceremony to a close. Of the many floral tributes, that from the ex servicemen of the village was worded ‘To the proud and lasting memory of our brave brothers, who gave their lives for their King and Country during the recent war.