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In December 1914 a highly successful rummage sale was held in the schoolroom in aid of the Daily Telegraph Belgian Relief Fund. Practically everyone in the village had contributed donations, or items for sale, and with Mr. P.C. Gambell, from Newport Pagnell, giving his services as auctioneer, £11 1s was raised.

Regarding support for the British born wife of an interned alien, in December 1914 an application came before the Board of Guardians. The woman now resided in the village, and it was resolved to make a weekly payment of 8s, according to the scale that operated in such cases in this country. However, a comment was made that the Germans should pay! Aged about 30, the woman was anxious to find work, but her Austrian nationality was against her.

In February 1915 Mrs. T. Beckett received a letter from her son. Serving at the front with the King’s Royal Rifles he had seen much trench action, and was promoted to corporal on the battlefield. In his letter he said that he was now having a rest, and getting eggs for breakfast.

Regarding Mrs. Langthaler, the woman living in the village who was English, but the wife of an interned Austrian alien, her case came before the Board of Guardians on Wednesday, February 2nd 1916. Said to be aged 32, she had no family and although she had written many letters seeking employment she had received no replies. Even her efforts at the Labour Exchange at Bletchley had proved of no avail, and in a letter she wrote “It seems to me useless to try and it is a waste of stamps.” In corroboration, the Women’s Committee reported that during the past month efforts both by herself and others had been made to find her employment, but without (except one uncertainty) no success. Only one of the four railway companies had replied, and only one letter had been received from the registry offices applied to. Even a chocolate factory at Bedford had refused, for although she had been interviewed it seemed that the name was the problem. However, Mr. Moss, the relieving officer for the Fenny Stratford District, said that she had refused a place at 4s a week all found, but nevertheless the Board decided to continue her relief for another month.

Having died aged 45, on the afternoon of Monday, May 27th 1916 at Great Woolstone church the funeral was held of John Sharman, a well known and respected agriculturalist. Of a jovial and happy disposition, he had been the owner of Manor Farm, Little Woolstone, but this he had to let due to failing health about 2 years before, after which he lived almost in retirement. He was buried in a grave adjoining that of his brother, Edwin.

At the meeting of the Newport Pagnell Rural District Council, on Wednesday, August 16th 1916 it was reported that ‘a woman living in the village, who was the wife of an interned alien,’ had written informing the Board of Guardians that she was unable to get employment. She had written to one of the Chaplains at the Chapel Royal, through whose influence she hoped to obtain a position, but it was remarked that as long as she was being given relief she would not work. In fact one member said that the relief should be stopped, but this was not seconded, it being pointed out that the money was allowed by the Government. In fact in May 1915 it had been increased from 8s to 9s 3d.

At the meeting of the Newport Pagnell Board of Guardians, on Wednesday, April 25th 1917 Mr. Moss, the relieving officer for the Fenny Stratford District, referred to the expenditure of removing a Great Woolstone man to Stone Asylum. The man had 13s, and having allowed him 1s Mr. Moss kept the balance. He therefore asked for instructions as to whether this should go to the wife, or be used to defray the costs of removal, which, if the wife had been a little more sympathetic, was an eventuality that he thought would not have been necessary. It was then remarked that the wife was expecting the 12s, but to loud laughter the Reverend H. Smith said that having lived with the man for 40 years she deserved the V.C.

At the Newport Pagnell Divisional Petty Sessions, on Wednesday, March 6th 1918 a carter of Simpson was summoned for driving without reins at Great Woolstone, and a carter of Bow Brickhill was summoned for a similar offence. In evidence Superintendent Dibben said that on the afternoon of February 21st 1918, whilst returning from Fenny Stratford he encountered the two loaded timber carriages at Great Woolstone, both of which were being drawn by two horses in tandem. The drivers were riding on the vehicles, and when he stopped the wagons he found that whilst the shaft horses were fitted with reins, the leading horses were not under control, as there were no reins on the off side. A fine of 7s 6d was imposed on each driver.