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In October 1914 the license of the Bell Inn was granted to Ernest Arthur Paybody, whose uncle had been the landlord for some years past. Having been a member of the Army Motor Reserve before the war, when this was disbanded in October 1914 Mr. J. Williams, of Emberton Lodge, volunteered to act as a chauffeur to the British Red Cross Society. He left to take up duty as a volunteer ambulance driver on the French battlefield on Thursday, October 16th, and when this service was merged with the R.A.S.C. he returned to England. In May 1915 he was given a commission in the Army Service Corps, to be stationed as a lieutenant at Lee, with the prospect of going to the front in about three weeks. He would be placed in command of the army’s only Water Tank Company, and in his subsequent service in France performed valuable work in dealing with poisoned wells. On Boxing Night 1914 a successful entertainment was given by the Misses Hulton Sams and their friends. Two plays, written at the Rectory, were performed, these being ‘A Night in the Trenches,’ a series of tableaux, in which Miss Sydney Hulton Sams took the principal part, and a farce, ‘Lancelot Shirker makes up his Mind,’ ‘shewing the development of a shirker into a Lancelot, the perfect knight.’ The other part of the programme was chiefly musical, with violin playing by Miss Betty Bowyer and singing by Miss Hilda Mynard, who joined with Miss Sydney Hulton Sams in amusing the audience with the duet ‘Haymaking’ and ‘Two little Cheeks.’ Mesdames Savory and Carson, and the two Misses Carson, caused laughter with their sketch of four appalling Highland pipers, and Miss Rickards performed some descriptive dancing. Miss S. Hulton Sams gave recitations, to include ‘His Queensland Girl,’ and ‘Playing the Game,’ and the evening came to a close with the singing of the National Anthem. The proceeds were for the Emberton Working Party for Soldiers and Sailors. In response to a stirring appeal by King Albert, a concert for the relief of the Belgians in their homeland took place in the Council School on Wednesday evening, January 6th 1915. This had been arranged by Mrs. Savory, who was foremost in such matters, and despite the unfavourable weather there was a good attendance. Lent by Mrs. J. Williams, large Union Jacks decorated each end of the hall, and the platform blazed with the colour of the national emblems of Britain, France, Belgium and Russia. Conducted by Mr. G. Sargeant, the Emberton Orchestra provided the music, with the singing of the Emberton Glee Class much appreciated. They had been trained by Mrs. Savory, and as a member Miss Savory also performed a solo. All the items were well received, and after the deduction of 10s 2d expenses Mrs. Savory was able to hand £3 to the Belgian Fund. Granted 48 hours leave, during the first week in January 1915 Lieutenant Commander Cecil Hulton Sams, serving aboard H.M.S. Defender, paid a hurried visit to his parents at the Rectory. Despite the weather, there was a full house at a concert in the Council schools on the evening of Wednesday, January 6th 1915. Featuring vocal and musical acts, this had been arranged by Mrs. Savory to raise funds for Belgians in their native land, for which King Albert had launched a stirring appeal. Flags for decoration had been lent by Mrs J Williams, and with large Union Jacks at each end the platform was ablaze with the colour of the national emblems of Britain, France, Belgium, and Russia. Music was provided by the Emberton Orchestra, and songs were sung by Miss Bertha Richens and Miss Savory. The event raised £3 10s 2d, and after expenses Mrs. Savory was able to give £3 to the Belgian Fund. By March 1915 the Reverend G.F. Sams had enrolled 19 men and youths into the Bucks Volunteer Defence Force. As for those now on military service, he was of the opinion that; “It is men of this type to whom we must look to bring us victoriously through the gigantic struggle in which we are now engaged, and the sad, bitter thought comes home to us that these are the very men who are now being cut off in their thousands, while the laggards and the degenerates are left behind to cumber the ground and to transmit their worthless characteristics to future generations.” By May 1915 every eligible man in Emberton had enlisted in the Forces, including four in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Lieutenant Frederick Hulton Sams, the eldest son of the Emberton rector, was killed in action on July 31st 1915, aged 33. Born at Emberton Rectory on November 23rd 1881, he was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he won the University feather weight boxing competitions in 1901, 1902, and 1904, during which years he also represented Cambridge against Oxford, winning each event. Ordained in September 1905, for 3 years he was curate at St Paul’s, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, and in 1908 joined the Bush Brotherhood, Queensland, Australia, where he worked tirelessly until July 1914. Unable to obtain an army chaplaincy, at the outbreak of war he enlisted as a private in the 3rd Beds., being subsequently promoted to Lance Corporal. Then in November he received a commission in the 6th Battallion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, and was ordered to the front in the last week of May 1915. It was whilst commanding his company that he fell at Hooge on July 31st. Popularly known as ‘The Fighting Parson,’ he had been well known in Emberton, where he was affectionately referred to as ‘Mr. Fred.’ With every household of the village represented, a memorial service, at which his sister presided at the organ, was held at 3p.m. in the parish church on Sunday, August 8th. On Tuesday, November 2nd 1915 Mr. and Mrs. William Mynard celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Mynard had been a bell ringer for 57 years, and clerk and sexton of the parish church for over 30 years. As one of the nursing sisters attached to the Olney Ambulance Division, at a demonstration of their skills, held in the British School of that town on the evening of Saturday, November 6th 1915, Nellie Brown, the daughter of the Emberton blacksmith, was presented with her certificate in First Aid. She would devote herself to nursing throughout the war, but her dedication took its toll, and after 3 years of suffering she died on July 2nd 1921. In Emberton parish church a brass plate was affixed to her memory. The schoolroom was crowded on Friday, December 10th 1915 for a concert in aid of Red Cross funds. Under the patronage of Major Grogan, the Beds. Yeomanry stationed in Emberton rendered invaluable help, with Sergeant MacLean and Trooper Tom Pollock not only providing much assistance but also contributing to the programme. Giving their support amongst others were the Reverend and Mrs. Sams, Mrs. Savory, the Misses Savory, and Mrs. Williams, and it was the latter and her husband who had kindly lent the stage. This had been erected without charge by Ernest Paybody, and two large portraits of the King and Queen were surrounded by Union Jacks. For her singing Miss Bertha Richens received many encores, and other performers included Miss Grace Middleton, of Newport Pagnell, and Mr. G. Sargent. The humorous elements were provided by Tom Pollock, who was encored for his ‘Harry Lauder’ songs, and with the occasion proving a great success £3 16s 6d was raised. In a military wedding, at Emberton church Trooper Tom Pollock, of the Beds. Yeomanry, of which a section was billeted in the village, married Miss Ella Louisa Atkins, of Bedford, on Friday, December 24th 1915. He was the youngest son of the late Mr. E. Pollock, and brother of David Pollock, L.D.S. of the Royal College of Surgeons. In fact Tom had followed the same profession, and being in practice as a dentist at Bedford, at the outbreak of war he volunteered as a surgeon dentist. For the wedding, at which the Reverend G. Sams officiated, the men of the Beds. Yeomanry turned out in full force under Lieutenant Damage, and after the ceremony formed up in two lines at the church entrance to make an arch of their whips. The couple left in the morning for a short honeymoon in the north. Having been married at Christ Church, Spitalfields, London, on Christmas Eve 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Clifton celebrated their golden wedding on Friday, December 24th 1915. Aged 73, for nearly 40 years Mr. Clifton, a native of Olney, had been employed by a London firm as an artificial stone maker, and being still active he supplemented his pension by working on Mr. Fairey’s Farm. Nee Miss Mynard, Mrs. Clifton had been born at Emberton, and was four years younger than her husband. A penny competition for judging the weight of two marrows, and calculating the number of seeds that each contained, took place at the Bell Inn during the Christmas holidays in 1915. Mr. John Lovell judged the exact weight of the marrow given by Charles Luck, whilst Mr. B. Wootten correctly guessed the number of seeds. The smaller marrow, given by Mr. W. Haynes, was judged by Mr. W. Andrews to weigh 10¼lbs, which proved to be only 4oz below the actual figure. Aged 42, on Tuesday, January 18th 1916 William Richens died at his home at Emberton. The funeral took place the following Saturday afternoon, and practically all the village was present. For 14 years he had been employed by Mr. L. Thompson, a grocer and provision dealer of Olney, and as chief assistant he was well respected for his genial and courteous manner. He had been taken ill in the autumn of 1915, and although he recovered he again succumbed at Christmas. Then under the care of Dr. Grindon he seemed to get better, until a relapse occurred. He was the main support of his widowed mother whose husband, for many years the gardener at the Rectory, had died suddenly about 4 years ago. At the outbreak of the war William had joined the Volunteers, and although he had to resign due to ill health he nevertheless served as a special constable. Being an expert in sweet pea culture, gardening was his chief hobby, and he had won many prizes with the blooms that he grew in his cottage garden. At the funeral, conducted by the Reverend G. Sams, the coffin was borne to the church on a hand hearse, preceded by representatives of the Bucks Constabulary and fellow members of the special constables. Among the mourners were his brother and sister Mr. A. Richens and Mrs. Holman, Mr. P. Richens, brother, Mrs. Sare sister, and Miss Bertha Richens, sister. A cycle race for ‘a trifling side bet’ took place between two young men of Emberton on Easter Monday, 1916. In proper racing outfit, watched by a few spectators Victor Howson and Jack Peto met at the clock tower before 6a.m., and as well as acting as the starter a motorcyclist acted as the pacemaker. On the outward journey through Prospect, Filgrave, Tyringham, and Lathbury the riders kept together, and even on the return via Sherington and Cross Albans Hill there was little between them. Then they descended the hill into Emberton neck and neck, but on turning the sharp corner leading into the main street Howson’s cycle skidded and collided with the other. Both riders fell heavily to the ground, and although Howson escaped unhurt, Peto’s arm was badly injured. Dr. F. Grindon was hastily summoned, and the casualty returned to his home after about an hour. On Thursday evening, April 13th 1916 a splendid concert was given at the Soldiers’ Recreation Room, at the Masonic Hall, Newport Pagnell, with Mrs. Savory of the Manor House, Emberton, having brought a party consisting of the Misses Savory, Miss Bertha Richens, and Mrs. Young. They were ably assisted by Oliver Critchard, Harry Colson, from Bedford, and Sapper Vezey, and, with Captain Stevens presiding, Miss W. Cotton and Mr. C. Kenneth Garratt opened the occasion with a piano duet. Singing four songs, Miss Bertha Richens was encored for ‘Sergeant of the line,’ as also ‘Bedouin love song,’ Mrs. Young, of Clifton Reynes, played two violin solos, and Captain Brett contributed the humorous song ‘I want to meet the Kaiser.’ The piano accompaniments were all played by Miss Savory and Mr. C. Kenneth Garratt. In June 1916 news arrived that Lieutenant J. Williams, who was serving in France with the Army Service Corps, had been awarded the M.C. Aged 29, on July 1st 1916 Private Frank West, of the Duke of Bedford’s Regiment, was killed in action in France. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William West, of Petsoe End, and having enlisted on May 3rd 1915 had been at the front for about 9 months. Before joining up he had worked for Tom Wait, a farmer of Hardmead. This was the second bereavement to befall Mr. & Mrs.West, for their younger son, Private Harry West, of the Northants. Regiment, was now presumed to have been killed in action, having been posted as missing since the battle of Aubers Ridge in May. Aged 26, he had been the second from the village to enlist, being formerly employed by Mr. A. Lyon, a farmer of the village. Mr. and Mrs. West were informed of this notification on the same day that they received the news of Frank’s death. During 1916 the men of the village voluntarily cared for the churchyard, which in April was a picture of beauty, with hyacinths and daffodils in bloom. The experiment of holding school lessons earlier, to enable children to help work on the land, was tried in the first half of 1916, but without success. For two days the pupils had assembled at 8a.m., and having after two and a half hours adjourned for dinner they returned to lessons at 11.30a.m. With lessons finishing at 2.30p.m., they were then free for the rest of the day, but because ‘there is no evidence that the children clamoured to occupy their spare time in land work,’ plus the fact that parents objected to the changed hours, the experiment was short lived. At the Newport Pagnell Divisional Petty Sessions, on Tuesday, September 5th 1916 a 20 year old labourer, of no fixed abode, was charged with being an absentee under the Military Service Act 1916. He had no papers, and police sergeant Honour said that he found the man in a caravan at Emberton. With costs he was fined £2 9s 2d, and handed over to a waiting military escort for conveyance to Oxford. Miss Bertha Richens ‘Is open to receive Pupils for SINGING AND VOICE PRODUCTION, and will visit Wolverton & Newport Pagnell weekly. Apply details Emberton House.’ A pupil of Victor Beigel, of London, as her first public appearance at Bedford she gave a song recital at the the Town Hall on the afternoon of Thursday, November 2nd 1916, and with wounded soldiers amongst the audience French songs were included. On Wednesday, November 6th 1916, at the monthly meeting of the Newport Pagnell Board of Guardians it was stated that Lieutenant J. Williams, the Guardian for Emberton, who was now on active service in France, had sent a cheque, saying “I expect you will now be making your annual collections for our old friends at the Union at Christmas. I enclose 20s with every possible good wish.” The announcement was greeted with loud applause. (He would return from the war as Lieutenant Colonel Williams M.C., and lived at Emberton for many years, holding numerous public offices. His daughter, Miss A. Williams, would win the British Ladies’ Cross Country Championship in 1926, she being one of the founders of the Essex Ladies’ Athletic Association. After a serious illness of several weeks, Lieutenant Colonel Williams died on Thursday, June 12th 1952 at 65, Warwick Avenue, Bedford, aged 81. The funeral took place at Emberton parish church, to the rector and churchwardens of which he left £100.) At Olney parish church, on the evening of Wednesday, April 4th 1917, as the fourth of a series of recitals Mr. J. Britton, the organist and choirmaster at Emberton church, played many excellent pieces. Also from Emberton, as the soloist Miss Bertha Richens beautifully sang several numbers, including Handel’s ‘Light of the World,’ and the event raised a total of £2 4s 6d for church expenses. Henry Carson, a schoolmaster, was fined 10s on August 6th 1917, for having failed to screen a light in the room that he occupied at Emberton Rectory. Police constable Barnett said that on the night in question at 10.40p.m. he saw an electric light issuing from a bedroom at the Rectory, and on investigation was told by the defendant, “I am staying here for a few weeks on a visit. I live in Brighton and the lighting restrictions are not in force there.” By permission of Mrs. Williams, an effort for the Red Cross working parties of the village was held in the gardens of Emberton Lodge on the afternoons of Wednesday and Thursday, August 8th and 9th 1917. Mrs. Williams, whose husband was on active service in Flanders, had also organised the event, having since the outbreak of the war taken a keen interest in the village charity organisations, and also the village war working parties, which were under the supervision of Mrs. Sams and Miss Guille. Heavy rain on the Wednesday caused the curtailment of the original plan, and so the outdoor attractions and amusements had to be postponed. Nevertheless, £12 was raised, and in the evening at a concert given in the drawing room Miss Williams, who provided the accompaniments, opened with a pianoforte solo. Miss Bertha Richens sang beautifully, Miss Elsie Sams played two violin solos, and Mr. Carson told amusing stories. A whist drive was also arranged, with the ladies prize won by Mrs. C. Stanton, of Emberton, and the gentlemen’s prize by Private Ross, a patient at the Newport Pagnell V.A.D. Hospital. On the following afternoon the fete was continued in better weather, although in the early evening heavy rain caused the assembly to shelter in Mrs. Williams house. Among the visitors to the fete were several wounded soldiers, and on display were a number of battlefield relics collected by Mr. J. Williams whilst on active service in France. In the evening a concert in the drawing room was well patronised, with the singing of Miss Richens, the violin solos of Miss Sams, and the piano pieces by Miss Williams, being much appreciated. In a whist drive Private Ross again won first prize, and in total the event raised £28 5s. His home being at Petsoe End, Private Alfred Tompkins, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in Flanders on September 21st 1917. He left a wife and 7 children, the eldest being 10, and the youngest 18 months. Enlisting in November 1916, he had only been in France for about 9 months, having before joining up worked on the Emberton farm of Mr. A. Lyon as stockman. He was a native of Olney, where his father was gardener to Mr Hipwell. During the second week of October 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Edmunds received news that two of their sons had been killed on the Western Front. Their eldest, 30 year old Private John Edmunds, of the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry, had died at the 41st Casualty Clearing Station on October 5th from gunshot wounds to the chest, shoulder, and neck. He had tried to join up at the outbreak of the war, but was rejected as being unfit. He then tried again six months later, and being posted to the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry received three months training in England, before being sent to France. Having seen much heavy fighting he was wounded on the Somme in August 1916, and after recovering from shrapnel injuries spent a short leave at Emberton, before returning to the front at Christmas. Having left school at 11, before the war he had been employed at Rectory Farm. His brother, Lance Corporal Willie Edmunds, who was the first to voluntarily enlist from Emberton, was presumed to have been killed in action in France on August 30th 1916, since from that date no further news had been received. Before joining up he was the gardener for Dr. F. Grindon at Olney. The youngest son, Albert, was serving in the Navy. At the Newport Pagnell Divisional Sessions, on Wednesday, March 6th 1918 Beatrice Sams was summoned for not screening a light inside her house at Emberton. The offence had occurred on February 24th 1918, and police constable Barnett said that at 11.45 p.m. he had seen a light issuing from the window of a bedroom occupied by the defendant. The window and shutters were both open, until he called her attention to this. She had been previously cautioned by the Special Constabulary, and a fine of £1 was imposed, with a penalty of 14 days in default. At the Newport Pagnell County Court, on March 28th 1918 the case was heard of George Lett, a farm labourer, versus T. Hensman, a farmer of Emberton. Mr. Lett had lost the sight of his right eye due to a piece of chaff, and an agreement to pay £70 had been referred to the judge. A subsequent offer of £80 was accepted. The news was received in May 1918 that on April 18th twenty one year old Private Victor Howson, of the Royal Field Artillery, attached to a Siege Battery, had died of wounds in the 4th Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in France. The youngest son of Mrs. Sarah Howson, before joining up he had been employed by Messrs. A. Gudgin and Co. at their Olney flour mills. His brother Thomas had served in the Remount Department from the outbreak of the war, but after 9 months in Camberwell Hospital had been discharged, following the amputation of his right foot. A whist drive had been arranged by Mrs. Williams, of Emberton Lodge, for Wednesday, July 10th 1918, but due to the weather this had to be postponed until the next day. However, even then the conditions were unfavourable, and so instead of the Lodge gardens the event was held in the Council schools. For raising monies for the Soldiers’ Parcel Fund a couple of chickens, given by Mr. C. Quenby, were won by Mrs. Fairey and Mrs. Savory, whilst a flower pot and cushion given by Mrs. Williams were won by Mr. T. Fairey and Madame Carstiaera. The event raised a total of £14 10s 6d. In July 1918 a gardener was needed by Mrs. Williams for The Lodge. On the flood gates of the River Ouse at Olney, some boys were playing on the afternoon of Saturday, August 31st 1918 when one of their number, a lad named Perkins, fell in. Here the water was about 14 feet deep, and he would have undoubtedly been swept away by the current had not his cries for help been heard by Frank Lett, a dairyman of Emberton. Having been passing along the road by the bridges, he rushed to the spot and jumped in fully dressed to rescue the boy, who soon recovered and then walked home. For a permanent position, in September 1918 two men were required for faggoting. Persons interested were to apply to J. Brain, Emberton woods. With half muffled peals being rung on the bells before and after, on Saturday afternoon, March 8th 1919, a special service took place in Emberton parish church. This was to dedicate a beautiful memorial to the 17 men from the village who fell in the war, and, having been erected by the families of the deceased, the unveiling was performed by the Bishop of Buckingham, the Right Reverend E. Shaw, who from the chancel step read the names of the fallen. With a verse from the Book of Revelations inscribed on the marble base, the memorial took the form of an English alabaster angel, and during the proceedings Miss Bertha Richens sang the anthem solo ‘And God shall wipe away all tears,’ with Miss Elsie Sams presiding at the organ. On Peace Day, July 19th 1919, despite the weather the events were carried off successfully. Having paraded the village, the schoolchildren marched to Mr. Fairey’s field, where a programme of sports had been arranged principally by Mr. T. Hensman and Mr. C. Stanton, but due to the rain the public tea, which by permission of the rector and Mrs. Sams was to have been on the Rectory Lawn, had to be held in the schools, where, with much assistance having been given by the farmers, the ladies of the village splendidly looked after the large company of guests. A dance took place in the evening, with piano music by Miss York, and for awhile violin music by Miss Sams.
With nearly £130 raised, this being the result of the generous contributions from all classes in the village, it was possible to provide a permanent war memorial after the war. Affixed to the clock tower this took the form of a tablet, upon which, with the names of the 18 fallen centrally placed in gold letters, was inscribed in two columns the names of all those who had served in the Forces. The memorial scheme also involved the repair and cleaning of the clock in the tower, with the flagstaff to be painted and the tower renovations completed. Mr. T. Hensman was chairman and secretary of the Memorial Committee Association, and involved with him were Mrs. Sams, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Savory, Mrs. Hensman, Miss J. York, and Messrs. T. Fairey, R. Paybody, C. Quenby, A. Lyon, and Jacob Lovell. On the afternoon of Sunday, January 25th 1920 the tablet was unveiled by Mr. Walter Carlile, O.B.E., and nearly all the village residents were present, as well as many from Olney. However, the Reverend G. Sams, the rector, was unfortunately not able to take part, for on his way to take the morning church service he had fallen over. His injuries were not serious, but his doctor had nevertheless advised him to stay in all day. With the tablet covered by a Union Jack, and at the base of the tower a wreath of laurels, on which a card was worded ‘In ever fond memory of the fallen, and in honour to those who fought in the Great War,’ the proceedings began with the singing of ‘O God, our help in ages past,’ lead by the junior members of the church choir under Mr. J.W. Britton. During his address Mr. T. Hensman said that after the placing of the alabaster angel in the church he thought something more should be done to honour those who had served, and he consequently called a meeting of the parishioners to consider the provision of a public memorial. Several schemes were duly suggested, whilst as for the contributions these had all been voluntary, with not a canvas for even a penny. Of the village population of 450, he said 70 had joined the Forces and 18 had fallen, and after announcing those who had gained medals he asked, on behalf of the committee, Mr. Carlile as the Deputy Lieutenant of the county, to unveil the tablet. Duly obliging, in his speech Mr. Carlile said that it was an honour to perform the task for such a loyal and brave village, and of the verses on the memorial he said that these had been approved by Rudyard Kipling, who had written to the rector saying “Do not alter any of your words; they are perfect.” (In 1916 a poem by the Reverend Sams had appeared in the Spectator.) THE STORY OF FRED STANTON Having been a well known footballer in the district, Fred Stanton, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stanton, of Emberton post office, joined Kitchener’s Army at the age of 18½, and in September 1914 was amongst those sent to Oxford for a medical. He soon proved to have the makings of a fine soldier, but in March 1915 had to be sent home suffering from a dangerous illness. Yet he soon recovered, and prior to leaving for the Front was chosen as a member of the regimental bayonet team, which achieved second place in the Brigade final. In fact he was regarded as the smartest man with the bayonet in the 6th Oxon and Bucks, whilst as an athlete and footballer he had few, if any, equals in the Olney and Newport Pagnell districts. In September 1915 whilst serving in Flanders with the 6th Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry he was promoted to lance corporal on the battlefield, and in a letter written on the 30th of that month wrote to his father; In another letter that month he says; “We are now away back behind the firing line in our rest billets for a day or two to pull ourselves together prior to another turn in the trenches, so I find it a good opportunity to let you know a few of our experiences during the last fortnight. No doubt the papers at home have been full of the glorious exploits of our “little army” out here. Yes, it was glorious and fine to know that we can not only hold Mr. Fritz back but beat him, yes, beat him as we did that Saturday morning. Perhaps you have no idea what a battle is like, so I will try and explain as well as I can what we “Tommies” went through. Friday night we were told that next morning a big attack was to take place, and we were to get as much rest as possible. Well, you can guess sleep was out of the question for everyone was too full of what the morning would bring forth. Five o’clock in the morning; a hurried breakfast; then “stand to.” Five forty-five all was peaceful and quiet, there might not have been a war on, everything was so calm. Then suddenly all was turned into a perfect hell. Ay! hell is not the word for it. A mine was exploded which shook the earth for miles around. Then the guns. Oh, those “coal boxes” and “Jack Johnsons;” shall I ever forget it? I think not. Personally I thank my lucky stars I am alive to write this. It seemed well nigh impossible to live in that tornado, but all the boys stuck to their guns manfully and proved to Fritz that his impression of “Kitchener’s contemptible little army” was quite wrong. The people of England might well be proud of the sons they have sent out to uphold our nation’s traditions; for no one who has not been through it can know what “Tommy” has to go through. Nerves are all done with; one goes mad with the excitement of it all. Pals drop at your side, but still we go on, for duty does not allow us to notice such things. When all is over and calmed down we realise how near to eternity we have been, and rightly and fervently thank God for our preservation. The second shell we had over us killed our platoon officer. That was a bad start, for how we all loved him. Yes, I say, loved him. No man could have been held in higher esteem by his men than Mr. Whitlock. That alone put the “wind” up us for a minute or two, but we still had our duty to do, and believe me, Fritz paid very dearly for the loss of our gallant officer. Shells came over; I say came, it would be more appropriate to say they rained over us. There was no slackening in the fire, and for hours we could not see five yards in front of us for the smoke and powder from these fiends. Try and realise what it was like. From peaceful moments we were plunged in torrents of blood. The sights of the wounded were in some cases ghastly. But how those brave chaps bore their suffering. No writer could let his pencil speak of the simple, heroic way they bore their burden. The first thing a wounded chap asks for is a fag; if he gets one he is comfortable. And now while all this is going on what is “Tommy” doing? Why, pumping lead into old Fritz as hard as he can pump, and the cheerfulness he displays through this living hell is amazing. Jokes are given and taken freely. Thoughts of home fly through one’s minds. Then one chap is heard to yell out, “I wonder how those slackers at home would feel in this lot?” Yes, “Tommy” does not appreciate the slacker - who does? If they who are staying at home only knew what is thought about them when their help is needed most, I am afraid they would hide themselves never to be seen again. Well, I am straying far from my subject. The order comes along “Steady up, boys!” and the firing gradually grows less. The point of attack has been taken. What news! We are winning. This the result of our little efforts and the other regiments on right and left. “They have got over, lads!” comes along, and then we all know that for all our trouble, success and a glorious victory has been gained. In time everything cools down, and one goes on with the daily duty of trench warfare. We came out of the trenches the following Tuesday. What a night. The communication trench we had to come through was up to our knees in water practically the whole way. The expressions of some of the boys at being forced to take a mudbath would not, I fear, be good reading matter. Eventually we arrived at our billet, wet through and forced to sleep in our wet clothes, but morning brought forth just the same old smiling lot of boys. We had been through a rough weekend, but everyone knew in his heart that the little part he had played and is playing is nearing the end of this gigantic struggle.” Of the sacrifice and the efforts of the men at the Front the villagers were well aware, and the Christmas presents they sent to the troops were much appreciated, as revealed in this letter by Lance Corporal Stanton to the editor of a local newspaper; “British Expeditionary Force, Dec. 17, ‘15. Dear Sir. As one of the many Emberton soldiers at the front I can only express my deep appreciation of the kindness and thoughtfulness of the people of Emberton for the splendid efforts they are making for our comfort and welfare. The parcel which I received contained just those things that are welcomed by “Tommy.” It was a collection of delicacies to please even the most fastidious. I am sure that if all the Emberton boys serving their country received a parcel similar to the one I had, then their delight would be unbounded, for I can assure you that luxuries of such a kind are always done full justice to at the Front. Once again I thank you all very much indeed for the gift. You may be interested to know that our Battalion is stationed in a fine old French village which bears plenty of evidence of the havoc caused by war. Here you can see houses and streets battered terribly by shot and shell. In many cases the villagers have taken a hasty retreat, leaving a lot of their goods and chattels behind them. Undoubtedly the most wonderful but sad sight of all is the damage done to the ancient church, which is a fine old structure. Large holes have been made by shells passing through it and out into the graveyard. It seems that even the dead must have their slumbers disturbed, for shells have wrought considerable havoc. It is also a curious sight to see barbed wire entanglements in front of the houses, whilst evidence of German occupation of the village is shown by the various loop-holed houses. Still Fritz did not stay here long - only a few days - for the English and French were pressing him sorely, and he was forced, according to the story of the natives, to retire in a somewhat disorderly manner. We have been experiencing wretched weather of late and the trenches are up to the waist in water, together with a clinging and affectionate kind of mud, which is much more loving than a brother. If anybody disbelieves this story about the quality of French mud they should just try it for themselves and I‘ll guarantee they will jolly soon agree, for it takes a deuced long time to get anything like clean. I think this is all the news this time. Yours truly, LCE.-CORPL. F. STANTON.” In October 1916, again on the battlefield he was promoted to sergeant, and with his leadership qualities having been recognised he was sent to England to study for a commission. In fact it was during this period that in late April 1917, on his 21st birthday, he was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal at a large parade of troops at Reading. The award had been for having under heavy fire rallied his section and not only stormed and captured an enemy trench, but, with his comrades, taken nearly 200 Germans prisoner. He was highly complimented by the Brigade Commander and the Commanding Officer of the Battalion, and when the details of his heroic actions were read out a staff officer, pointing to the medal offered his hearty congratulations and said “You won that by fighting.” Then in the London Gazette on Tuesday, May 1st 1917 it was announced that he had been awarded the Croix de Guerre, for carrying a French officer to safety under fire. Meanwhile, at Emberton his mother was also in line for an award, for at an effort for the Red Cross working parties of the village, held in the gardens of Emberton Lodge on the afternoons of Wednesday and Thursday, August 8th and 9th 1917, she won the ladies prize at a whist drive. In October 1917 Sergeant Stanton completed his course of instruction at a cadet school, and, having passed his examinations with high honours, was gazetted to a second lieutenancy in the Royal Flying Corps. Thus it was now with this rank that on Tuesday afternoon, November 27th 1917 at a large parade of troops at Kingsthorpe Hollow, Northampton, he was presented with the Croix de Guerre. Some 1,300 troops from the King’s Royal Rifle and the Training Reserve were paraded in square formation, with the medal pinned to Second Lieutenant Stanton’s breast by the General Officer Commanding Northampton troops. As on the battlefield, his exploits in the air would be as equally courageous, as shown in July 1918 by the official record of one of his exploits; “Lieut. F.C. Stanton, pilot, dived on a Pfalz, but five others got on his tail. These were engaged by his observer (2nd Lieutenant C.J. Tolman), who fired 400 rounds in all. One of the enemy aircraft fell tail first, and then sideways out of control. Lieut. Stanton fired a good burst at a Pfalz Scout, which fell in a series of stalls and spins and side falls, and crashed to earth south of -------. On returning to the lines Lieut. Stanton dived on a D.F.W. two-seater, and after a good burst, enemy aircraft emitted a volume of smoke, nose dived, and was seen to crash S.E. of -------. ” As for his own words, he wrote to his parents; “I went over the lines on Saturday with another officer looking for trouble as usual. We had penetrated over the enemy’s territory some distance when we met five to seven Hun planes. We had a good scrap, but weren’t quite sure of the damage we did. I set about one hard and fast, and when I had put a good burst of shot into him, he did a sharp turn and dived as hard as ever he could into the clouds. After I had settled him I went for another who was busy pumping bullets all around me, and after a short scrap he evidently thought it best to clear out of it. So you see they get rare hidings over their own ground.” During his flying service he would even be recommended for the V.C., but although for awhile after the war he continued his flying career, he eventually left the service, but retained the right to use the title of Lieutenant. He then took a smallholding at Emberton, and on February 7th 1928 at St. Matthew’s Church, Ashford, Middlesex, married Miss Dorothy May Olive, the third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Olive, of Dudley House, Ashford Common. With the marriage service being of a quiet nature, Fred Olive, the brother of the bride, was best man, and afterwards a reception was held for 45 guests at the home of the bride. The couple received some 50 wedding presents, and after a honeymoon tour of the south coast they returned to Emberton to take up residence at Clay’s Farm. Now with three grandchildren to dote on, in the first week of June 1952 Lieutenant Stanton’s parents celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary at Four Views, Petsoe End, Emberton, their newly constructed bungalow which, built in the same field, had replaced the Swiss Cottage that Mr. Stanton had bought at an Ideal Homes Exhibition. Mr. Stanton, known to all as Charlie, was now aged 78 but nevertheless he still maintained a garden of over 40 poles. Born at Litchborough, Northants., it was there on June 3rd 1895 that he had married Miss Kate Dunkley, and with she being a native of the village it would be at Emberton that they lived for over 50 years. For 25 years Mr. Stanton had worked for the Reverend G.F. Sams as firstly a groom and then chauffeur, during which in early 1915 he volunteered to be a driver to the Red Cross, but later he spent 26 years as the village postman, until illness caused him to retire around 1948. As for Mrs. Stanton, who was two years younger than her husband, replete in her old straw hat for 30 years she would be the sub postmistress at Emberton.
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