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As one of the first from the village to sign up, around October 1914 William Jarvis, the eldest son of Mr. W. Jarvis, of Quarry Hall, Lathbury, joined the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed air mechanic second class.

At the outbreak of war, Arthur Dorrill had rejoined the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry as a private. He took part in the earliest battles, and being wounded in the right arm in November 1914 was sent to Dublin for hospital treatment. Only a short while earlier, on October 21st his brother had been killed in action. He was Lance Corporal Walter Dorrill, of the 2nd Battalion, Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, to the widow of whom the following letter was sent by the Chief Constable of St. Helen’s Borough Police Force;

“On behalf of the Force and myself I beg to express our deep sympathy with you in your sad loss. Your husband joined this Force on 4th September, 1912, and throughout the whole of his service I always found him a most efficient, obliging, and reliable officer, who, had he lived, would undoubtedly have won promotion in the police service.”

(On Wednesday, February 5th 1941 his daughter, Gladys May Dorrill, would marry Jack Bavington, the son of Mr. Thomas Bavington, of Newport Pagnell, at Newport Pagnell parish church. Having long been employed by the local Co-op Society, Jack was a native of the town, and now being a member of the Forces was expecting to be shortly sent overseas. Gladys, the daughter of Mrs. Dorrill, of 22, Downs Road, Folkestone, was for 12 years on the staff of the Folkestone Co-op Society, but at the time of her marriage was employed as a clerk in the Rural Food Office at Newport Pagnell. She was given away by her uncle, Bert Dorrill, of London Road, Newport Pagnell, and after a small reception at 4, St. John Street, Newport Pagnell, the couple would leave for a honeymoon in Leicester.)

During the first week of July 1915 Mr. F. Stowe, of Lathbury, found a securely corked bottle in the River Ouse, midway between Lathbury and Tyringham. Inside was a note which read; “This bottle was put in the floods at Caldecote-street, Newport Pagnell, on the 29th April, 1908, at 11.43. Wonder where it will be found.” Underneath someone else had written that it had been recovered the next day by “S.A.B.,” but put back. In just over three years the bottle had travelled only about three miles.

(Serving with the 6th Battalion Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, in March 1915 Private Thomas Stowe, the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Stowe, had been promoted to lance corporal.)

On Tuesday, August 3rd 1915 a severe thunderstorm broke over the district. Shortly after noon there was a deluge for half an hour, and lightning struck a tree in Lathbury parish. In fact the frequent rains of the last few weeks had caused the farmers great alarm, due to the damage to the crops.

At a gathering of the Lathbury Boy Scouts, on Thursday evening, August 26th 1915 Miss Tidmarsh, the daughter of the rector, was presented with a silver pencil case. She was resigning to become a nurse in a military hospital, and the gift was in recognition of her keen interest in the movement, having been Assistant Scoutmistress for the past two years. In making the presentation Mr. William Trevor, of Lathbury Park, paid high tribute to her work.

During the third week of November 1915 two of the several Dorrill brothers, William and George, joined the Army Veterinary Corps. George would rise to the rank of sergeant, and after being demobilised would enter the building trade as a bricklayer, working in turn for Mr, Tarry, and Messrs. Mason and Compton and Sons. Then in his later working life he was employed in building and repair work on the farms of Messrs. Turney Bros at Lathbury and Quinton. A lifelong bachelor, he lived in the village for most of his life, and with gardening as his chief hobby he was often at work on his allotment. In 1944 he injured his head in an accident, and a year later as a result of a seizure, followed by an attack of neuritis, he retired from work. Shortly afterwards the illness took a more serious turn and he became a patient at Renny Lodge, where, aged 64, he died on Christmas Day 1947. The funeral took place at Lathbury Church on Tuesday afternoon, December 30th 1947, and among the mourners were his sisters and brothers.

(Leaving a widow and two daughters, a few years later on Friday, March 28th 1953 his brother Joe, who had been badly gassed in World War One, died aged 66 at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood. He had been the second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. Dorrill, of Lathbury, and for awhile was also employed in the building trade. Before leaving for Moulsoe he had lived in Mill Street, Newport Pagnell, and went to live for 19 years in London, where he was employed by Kodak. Like his brother, he had been a keen gardener.)

During the night of Monday, March 27th 1916 and the early morning of Tuesday, March 28th 1916, a heavy fall of snow in the area was followed during the day by weather of the ‘wildest character.’ Accompanied by continuous snow a keen east wind blew, and because the telephone and telegraph wires had been brought down the whole district was isolated from the outside world. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and roads blocked, and at one farm at Lathbury 35 trees were blown down, with 10 fine elms in Lathbury Park suffering a similar fate.

Having been wounded in the back and arm by shrapnel, Private Victor Adkins, of the East Surrey Regiment, was sent from the Front in France to Taplow Hospital, where in May 1917 despite having contracted pneumonia and bronchitis he was making good progress. The youngest son of the late John Adkins, of Woad Farm, he went to the Western Front in November 1916, and, having seen much hard fighting, was attached to a bomb throwing section.

Having been previously wounded, in May 1917 Sapper John Bennett, of the Royal Engineers, underwent treatment in the 12th General Hospital, Rouen, for gunshot wounds to the knee and head. The son of Mr. and Mrs. George Bennett, he had joined the Northants. Regiment at the outbreak of the war, and was transferred to the Royal Engineers around May 1916. A Reservist when the war began, his brother, Private Thomas Bennett, of the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, had been wounded in the head and right arm on October 27th 1916, and subsequently underwent hospital treatment at Marseilles.

On Wednesday, July 4th 1917, the few men who were left in the parish, all of whom were now working from dawn to dusk, gave a pipe as a leaving present to the Reverend T. Tidmarsh. The following day the women of the parish gave a silver rose bowl to Mrs. Tidmarsh, and on July 12th 1917, at Lathbury Rectory by the instructions of the Reverend the firm of Stafford Rogers and A.W. Merry auctioned the surplus furniture and effects, to include a Chesterfield couch, a mahogany dining table, lawn mowers, and tennis nets. Then as the new incumbent, on Sunday, July 15th 1917 the Reverend E. Brereton took his first service at Lathbury. After a university education at Oxford he had been appointed as the vicar of Hollingwood, Manchester, in 1912, whilst as for his incumbency at Lathbury he seems to have adapted well to the rural lifestyle, for in June 1918 ‘goats in milk’ were for sale at the Rectory, ‘good milking strain, as also a Flemish Giant Doe, 10 months old.

On the late afternoon of Saturday, August 18th 1917, having fetched an observer from Bedford an aeroplane, on the return journey to Hounslow, appeared over Newport Pagnell flying extremely low. In the very windy conditions it seemed to be experiencing difficulties, and although at first the pilot seemed to contemplate landing in the park opposite the Gas Works, on gaining altitude he then flew in the direction of Bury Field, subsequently passing at low altitude over the public playing field. He next turned towards Lathbury where, hitting an air pocket, he lost control, with, to the horror of the hundreds of spectators, the machine spinning from 400 feet to crash into a large elm tree in the field of Mr. John Adkins. Completely wrecking the machine, the force of the collision broke off several large branches, and sustaining a bad cut on the jaw the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Frank Kelly, R.F.C., was rendered unconscious. However, the observer, Sergeant Kingston, from Bedford, escaped unhurt, apart from a severe shaking and a small cut on the head. In fact had the tree not checked the machine’s progress both occupants would have undoubtedly been killed. Being in the field at the time, Private Tom Dorrill, a Lathbury soldier, ran to help, and he was shortly joined by Mr. W. King, the stud groom at Lathbury Park, Mr. J. Jarvis, and Captain J. Robinson, the Adjutant of the Bucks Volunteers, who was a resident in the village. Quickly summoned by telephone, assisted by Nurse Dorothy Odell Dr. H. Wickham attended to Lieutenant Kelly, whilst Superintendent Dibben and members of the regular police and special constables, together with a detachment of Royal Engineers, formed a guard around the aeroplane to keep the crowds back. Soon an ambulance from Newport Pagnell Fire Station arrived, and Lieutenant Kelly was taken to the Newport Pagnell home of his father in law, Mr. G. Burgess. In fact Lieutenant Kelly was the son of a former pastor of the Congregational Church, Newport Pagnell, and at the outbreak of the war had joined the London Scottish. He later entered the Officers Training Corps, and on receiving a commission in the Royal West Kent Regiment saw active service in Salonika. He then transferred to the R.F.C., and having passed all his tests was due to go to France on the week end August 25th and 26th 1917. As for Sergeant Kingston, he also had local connections, for in the early days of the war he had trained with the Bucks Yeomanry at Olney. Following the crash, aircraft mechanics arrived in the early evening to dismantle the wrecked machine, and during the night Lieutenant Kelly regained consciousness on several occasions. Then for three nights Nurse Odell sat up with him, and Dr. Wickham was able to give a hopeful opinion of his recovery on Sunday morning.

The first reunion of the ex soldiers of the village took place in the memorial hut on Saturday evening, February 5th 1921. In the absence of any parish effort for an official celebration, the ‘boys’ had organised their own welcome home which, with contributions being made by the relatives of the ex soldiers, took the form of a supper and smoking concert. The joints were splendidly cooked by Mrs. J. Dorrill, Mrs. W. Dorrill, Mrs. W. Wright, and Mrs. F. Stowe, with the three former ladies, plus Miss F. Dorrill, acting as waitresses. Much assistance was also given by Mr. Joseph Dorrill, six of whose sons had served in war. (During the first week in September 1917 he had also contributed to the war effort, when he dug up a potato in his garden weighing 2lbs 5½ozs.) At the concert Mr. Reg. Coales presided, and after supper Captain Stephen Trevor sang several humorous songs and told comic stories. He and Mr. G. Greenhall sang duets, and other members of the company also contributed, with Lady Olivia Trevor presiding at the piano.

LATHBURY PARK

Born in February 1856, William Trevor was the fifth child of Mr. Salisbury Rose Trevor, of Trowscoed Hall, Welshpool, Montgomeryshire. Educated at School House, Clifton College, where he played cricket with the School XI, and was a member of the Rugby Football XV, he subsequently went to Balliol College, Oxford, where, apart from being awarded his Rugby Blue, he gained a B.A. in 1879 and an M.A. in 1880. After leaving college he then taught for some years at various public schools, before taking up the coaching of Army pupils in Bedford. Then in 1886 on July 29th he married Emily, the daughter of Mr. William Millar, of South Heath, Hampstead, with the wedding being held at St. George’s, Hanover Square, London. In 1893 he and his wife came to Lathbury Park, where William would establish a successful college for the training of young gentlemen for an Army career. Pupils were specially prepared for the universities and the Woolwich, Sandhurst and Militia Competitive Examinations, and the rules stated that pupils had to dress for dinner, and could not leave the House after dinner in the evening without special permission. Within the 50 acres of grounds were lawn tennis courts, a cricket ground, a football ground, a gymnasium, a workshop, and a covered Spanish racquet court, and also to be enjoyed was excellent boating on the River Ouse. Each pupil had to bring four blankets, one rug, two pairs of sheets, two pillow cases, one large and two small towels - all plainly marked with their name - plus a complete list of their wardrobe, the articles of which had to be similarly marked. No pupil would be accepted without a good reference, and at the end of each term a report was made stating whether he had a good chance of passing the exam for which he was studying. Sadly this would be superfluous for a Mr. Chamberlain, one of the young pupils, for he drowned in an accident on Friday, May 19th 1905. His mother was a widow, and he was her only son. In 1908 the Right Reverend W.E. Symth, the Bishop of Lebombo, South Africa, stayed as a guest at the Rectory from October 1st to 3rd. Being the curate in charge of the parish from 1814 to 1838 (this being in the days of a non resident Rector, the Reverend James Meakins) his father had lived at the Mansion House, as the Park was then called, and, since this had been his birthplace, Mrs. Trevor was happy to show the Bishop over the house. However, there was a less happy occasion towards the end of 1911 when, having undergone an operation for appendicitis, Miss Daphne Trevor lay seriously ill at the house. In fact so as not to disturb her rest the church bells were silent at the turn of the year, but fortunately she would make good progress towards recovery, and in early 1913, assisted by her parents, organised a battalion of Boy Scouts in the village. For the raising of funds, with Mrs. Trevor presiding at the piano music and drama entertainments took place at Lathbury Park on Wednesday and Thursday, March 12th and 13th 1913. There were large audiences on each afternoon, and apart from singing her brother, Stephen, performed a whistling solo, and, with Daphne, performed in a play. By now Daphne had established ‘stag’ and ‘fox’ patrols, which she marshalled on Easter Sunday 1913 for a march, in their smart regulation uniforms, to the church, where the rector gave a special address. After the service Miss Trevor took her charge for a short route march, and on the following day Percy Sharp, the secretary of the North East Bucks Association of Boy Scouts, gave an instructional class, with the two patrols performing some exacting drills. During the afternoon, in the village drill hall Miss Trevor entertained the Scouts to tea, at which the ‘foxes’ prepared, and the ‘stags’ cleared the tables, and afterwards there was a route march and reconnoitring tactics. Miss Trevor next announced that a trail had been laid, and in the ensuing proceedings she and Miss Tidmarsh, the daughter of the rector, acted as the umpires. On Christmas Day 1913 through the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Trevor all the members of the local Boy Scouts, plus the women and children of the village, were entertained to tea, and from a brilliantly lit Christmas tree the Scouts each received games. They then formed a smart guard of honour with poles erect as Miss Trevor and Miss Tidmarsh distributed gifts of clothing and other useful articles to the women, and toys to the children. Gramophone selections were played by Mr. Tudor Trevor, and he was a pioneer of the movement, from having been the first Boy Scout in the village. To further encourage interest in the Lathbury troop, one Thursday afternoon in March 1914 Daphne and her mother arranged a first class concert at Lathbury Park. The event proved a great success, and, apart from appearing in a Scout play entitled ‘Winning a Recruit,’ her brother, Stephen, also gave one of his inimitable whistling solos. William Trevor had promised to provide the Lathbury Scouts with a miniature rifle range, whilst as for his own pupils many would pass into the ranks of the British Army as officers. In fact many were in the British Expeditionary Force in 1914, including General Rowlinson, one of William’s earliest pupils, who commanded an Army Corps in France. As also his butler, Arthur ‘Shelly’ Sheldon, at the outbreak of World War One William Trevor was too old for active service, but was tasked to buy horses on a large scale in London. On November 28th 1914 the Lathbury Scout troop took part in a demonstration of the practical side of Scout work, held in the Newport Pagnell Council Schools. Also involved was the Great Linford troop under Miss Mead, and with displays of physical drill, signalling, and ambulance work being performed, William, who was now a Justice of the Peace, acted as the inspecting officer. At the conclusion the Scouts formed up in two lines, and addressing them with a patriotic speech Mr. Trevor complimented their performance. However, during this, apparently due to the heat in the room, Scout H. Willet, of Great Linford, fainted and fell over, but first aid to his cut lip and injury above one eye was immediately administered by Miss Trevor and others, to no doubt include her mother, who was also present. Under the personal supervision of Miss Trevor the Lathbury troop would become one of the best in North Bucks, and would win a silver cup from being the finest in the district. Despite being above military age, at the outbreak of the First World War William Trevor had volunteered to serve either as a private or an officer with the Norfolk Yeomanry, but after the formation of the North Bucks Volunteer Battalion, in November 1914, he became involved in home defence, and as adjutant of the Bucks Volunteer Defence Corps on February 10th 1915 would write in an open letter to a local newspaper;

“SIR, The Lord Lieutenant of Bucks has decided to raise a County Regiment of three Battalions, each one thousand strong, for Home Defence.

The political area of North Bucks is to provide one Battalion, of which Lt. Col. W.G. Bowyer, D.L., has been appointed Commandant. Only able-bodied men can enrol in the battalion, who for age, or some other genuine reason, cannot enlist in any of His Majesty’s existing Forces. It is hoped that a Section of from twelve to twenty men may be raised in most parishes. A town of the size and importance of Newport Pagnell ought to furnish at least a half-company of one hundred and twenty-five men.

Such men, when taught to move about in military formation and to shoot straight, ought to be a valuable asset for the defence of the country, in the absence of better men who are at the Front. In case of invasion, which is always a possibility, these Volunteers, from their intimate knowledge of the locality in which they live, and their ability to dig and to shoot, ought to be able to check raiding parties and effectively harass the enemy. It is only fair that we “Stay-at-homes” should organise ourselves, to the best of our abilities, to defend our own homes.

At any rate, by this scheme every man is given the opportunity of joining His Majesty’s Fighting Forces and doing his bit in defence of his home. Any able-bodied man who refuses to join any part of His Majesty’s Forces, when he is given the opportunity of doing so, will be deservedly punished by the lashes of his own conscience and the contempt of all real men.

There will be a meeting in the Masonic Hall next Monday, Feb. 15th, at 8.15p.m., when Col. Bowyer and I will explain the scheme in detail and answer any questions that anybody may care to ask.

It is much to be hoped that all the able-bodied men who are left in Newport Pagnell will make it their duty to attend.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

W.M. TREVOR (Adjutant).

Lathbury Park, Feb. 10.”

In March 1915 all the men who were left in the village attended a meeting at Lathbury Park, where as Chairman of the Parish Mr. Trevor set before them the means whereby they would be able to defend their homes in an emergency. In fact by now nearly twenty men and youths of the village had joined the Bucks Volunteer Defence Corps, and during the third week in March they had their first instruction in drill in which, despite his duties as Adjutant for the North Bucks district, they would be instructed by Mr. William Trevor. As for Mrs. Trevor and Miss Trevor, who in January 1915 had placed on the church door a Roll of Honour, which she had illuminated in patriotic colours, they became members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment for Tyringham and district, organised in April 1915. Mr. W.T. Knight, the superintendent of the Olney Ambulance Division, gave his services as an instructor to the weekly class of ladies, and Dr. C. Bailey, of Newport Pagnell, fulfilled the role of surgeon. Whilst William was involved in home defence, his cousin, Captain Lanoe Hawker, of the Royal Engineers and Royal Flying Corps, was making headlines at the Front, being awarded the Victoria Cross for an act of conspicuous bravery on July 25th 1915. As the official account read;

“When flying alone he attacked three German aeroplanes in succession. The first managed eventually to escape, the second was driven to ground damaged, and the third, which he attacked at a height of about 10,000 ft. was driven to earth in our lines, the pilot and observer being killed. The personal bravery shown by this officer was of the very highest order, as the enemy’s aircraft were armed with machine guns, and all carried a passenger as well as the pilot.”

In fact he had been previously awarded the D.S.O. on April 19th 1915, for dropping bombs on the German airship shed at Gontrode, from an altitude of only 200 feet. Apart from the Germans, there were now other pests to deal with, and in August 1915 William promised the lads of the village twopence for each wasp nest that they took to him. In fact during the season he had already destroyed twelve nests himself, all of which were within half a mile of Lathbury Park. There was sad news in September 1915, when news arrived that Sergeant J. Gillam had been killed in action on the 26th. He was the son of Mr. J. Gillam, the licensee of The Black Horse, at Winslow, who had formerly been the stud groom at Lathbury Park. A sensation occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, January 27th 1916, when the body of 50 year old James Higham, a tutor at Lathbury Park, was recovered from the River Ouse near Sherington Bridge. He had left his apartments at Mrs. Wright’s, 9, High Street, Newport Pagnell, on Sunday night but had not returned, and on the Tuesday Mr. Trevor reported his disappearance to the police, who, together with the special constables, then began a search. In consequence, on Thursday afternoon Sergeant Roberts and special constable J. Clare found a walking stick and cap on the river bank, 150 yards from Sherington bridge, in the direction of Tyringham, and a few yards lower down special constable E. Dant noticed something protruding above the water. This he reported to his colleagues, and by linking hands they brought the object to the bank with a long stick. The object was found to be the body of the deceased, which had a handkerchief gag and another handkerchief tied tightly about the neck, around which was attached a 7lb dumbbell. Affixed to a gold chain, the hunter watch of the deceased had stopped at 8.13, and in his pockets were found six handkerchiefs, 10s 6d in silver, 2½d in coppers, and two 10s notes. Also discovered was a letter from the East India Railway Company, acknowledging receipt of a letter which referred to some deferred shares. Ancient architecture having been his life long study, Mr. Higham had been an expert in heraldry, and in Newport Pagnell he was held in high esteem for his work to benefit the town. As a tutor at Lathbury Park he had been trusted and respected by the principal, William Trevor, and as joint honorary secretaries for the Newport Pagnell polling district, he and Mr. J. Short had worked tirelessly in securing recruits for the army. As a humorous entertainer Mr. Higham had been renowned in local concert circles, and had acted as the honorary assistant coach in all the operas staged by the Newport Pagnell Operatic Company. With no financial worries the reason for his premeditated suicide seemed a mystery, and at the inquest, held at Newport Pagnell Police Station on Friday, January 28th 1916, Mr. Trevor said that the deceased had been a learned and brilliant man, and a tutor at his school for 12 years. Whilst he had not employed him regularly since last September, he had engaged him for periodic work, and after Christmas he seemed perfectly cheerful, being “an easy going chap.” Indeed, on January 16th he had spent the evening with Mr. Trevor, who said that he could offer him two days work a week, at £1 a day. This was satisfactorily agreed, and Mr. Trevor later repeated a previous offer of permanent work, subsequent to which during the last week he had been at the school for three days instead of two. Giving evidence, Mrs. Elizabeth Wright, with whom the deceased had lodged for 12 years, said that he had never complained of pain or depression until about 12 months ago. As for his evidence, Mr. E. Danley, a Newport Pagnell solicitor, said that Mr. Higham, when consulting him for about three weeks on business matters, had mentioned that he was very depressed about the illness of his sister. She was suffering from cancer, and his elder brother was a chronic invalid. Continuing, Mr. Danley said that when he had seen Mr. Higham on Saturday he asked where he was going, but the reply, “I don’t know where I am going,” seemed distinctly strange. Mr. A. Marshall, a tobacconist of Newport Pagnell, said that as one of his customers Mr. Higham had called at the shop at about 9.15p.m. on Saturday. This was to pay his account, although the late hour seemed rather strange. Dr. Wickham gave evidence that the body had been in the water for three or four hours, and concluding the case the jury returned a verdict of suicide. At the Newport Pagnell Petty Sessions, on Wednesday, February 25th 1916 four students of the college at Lathbury Park were charged with, contrary to the Defence of the Realm Act, having amused themselves one dark January evening by flying a large box kite, to which they had attached two flash lights. However, only two of the accused appeared, since the others had gone up for their exams. Giving evidence, Jack Dunbabin, of 10, Spring Gardens, Newport Pagnell, a student at Wolverton Secondary School, said that being connected with the Boy Scouts he was in Lathbury Park at about 6.30p.m. on the evening of January 27th, and saw about six youths flying a kite. Saying they had been unable to tie the lamps to the kite, they asked Jack to oblige, after which the kite was flown to a significant height. Joseph Dorrill, a horse-keeper of Lathbury, said that on the night of the 27th whilst at home he was called out by his wife to see a light moving in the air. As for Superintendent Pearce, he said that whilst motoring to Olney on February 4th he saw a large box kite being flown in Lathbury parish, and he subsequently directed police constable Barnett to make inquiries and take possession of it. The police constable duly saw the four defendants, and when questioned about the kite incident on January 27th they admitted their involvement, revealing that two of their number each had a flashlight, and that another had bought the kite (to which a mile of string was attached) for £3 5s. The Superintendent then reported the incident to the ‘Competent Military Authority,’ and by their instruction proceedings were taken. However, despite this being a time of Zeppelin scares the Bench imposed a lenient sentence, with the defendants each being fined £2 10s, plus 2s expenses. The kite and flashlights were confiscated. (Also at the Sessions, for burning farm rubbish without permission of the Competent Military Authority - this being contrary to D.O.R.A. - a farmer of Calverton was fined 21s and 5s costs.) On Easter Monday 1916 Mr. R. Uthwatt and Mr. Hirsch were the umpires at a combined field day. This involved the local Boy Scouts, and of the 49 members of all ranks who were on parade, the Lathbury troop was under the command of Miss Trevor, the Chicheley troop under Miss Easson and Mr. Alister Easson, and the Great Linford troop under Miss Mead and Miss Hedges. Defending a position between the two, the Lathbury troop was tasked with preventing the Chicheley and Linford troops, known as the “Allies”, from joining forces between the Tyringham and Sherington bridges, but unfortunately half of the Lathbury troop, including Miss Muriel Farrar, of Chicheley Hall, who was attached to the group, were captured early in the proceedings. Then by surrounding the other half the Allies secured a great victory. However, the umpires had been quite unkind in their treatment of the Lathbury Scoutmistress and one of her squad, for although the pair had secured a fine observation post on top of a straw stack, from where to command a good view of the allied force movements, they found themselves stranded when the umpires noticed the ladder and removed it. However, peace was eventually restored - and everyone had a picnic! More successfully, in May 1916 the Lathbury Troop of Boy Scouts began collecting waste newspapers etc. for the benefit of the Prince of Wales’ National Relief Fund, and, with these being collected from door to door once a week, details could be obtained from Patrol Leader Jack Dunbabin, of 10, Spring Gardens, Newport Pagnell. In July 1916 came tragic news regarding 38 year old Major J.F. Graham, R.F.A. He had been killed in action in Flanders, and there was much sorrow in Newport Pagnell where he had been well known, since his father, Robert Graham, M.A., T.C.D., Dublin University, had taught mathematics, physics etc. for some years as a master at Lathbury Park. Around the beginning of September 1916 William Trevor was gazetted to the army rank of Major, with command of the 3rd North Bucks Battalion of the Bucks Volunteer Regiment. In fact by Thursday, September 7th 1916 this comprised 662 actually attested men, and no doubt Major Trevor would be quick to discipline Richard Hirsch, one of his students at Lathbury Park, who on October 31st 1916 had been stopped at 5.45p.m. by special constable W. Chapman, who was detailed for duty at Cannon Corner, Newport Pagnell. This was at a time when wounded soldiers were about, having attended a concert at the Electric Theatre, and for having no lights on his bicycle a fine was imposed, plus expenses of 2s 6d for the special constable. In January 1917 Mrs. Trevor had the need for a ‘single hand kitchen maid.’ Good wages, outings and holidays were offered, and applicants were to contact her at Lathbury Park, where in beautiful cloudless weather, on Sunday afternoon, July 1st 1917, the 3rd Battalion Bucks Volunteer Regiment, commanded by Major Trevor, was inspected by Brigadier General Earl, of Albemarle. With Captain J.S. Robinson as the adjutant, the parade comprised nine officers and 262 N.C.O.s and men, and included were Lieutenant Steventon, Captain J.C. Hipwell, of Olney, Captain W. Uthwatt, of Newport Pagnell, and Captain R.F. Neave, of Wolverton and Stony Stratford. Numbering about 20, the Lathbury Boy Scouts also assembled on the parade ground, and among the many notables watching the proceedings were the Bishop of Buckingham and Mr. and Mrs. W. Carlile, of Gayhurst. The Volunteers were formed into one company of four platoons, and under the eye of the Brigadier General the commanding officer carried out a few movements of company drill. Subsequently the men were formed into a hollow square, from within which the inspecting officer included in his address; “Now you boys of Bucks - old boys and young boys - are fully responding to those requirements, and all credit to you. We know your disabilities. We know how difficult it is for you to assemble for your drills, and it is to the credit of everybody concerned that you turn out so well. Now we are in a better position - we are going forward. Every battalion is being served out with rifles to the extent of 300. The remainder will be supplied as soon as the men are entitled to carry them.” At the end of the occasion the commanding officer called for three cheers, with the officers, N.C.O.s and men being afterwards entertained to refreshments by Major and Mrs. Trevor. As for the invited ladies and gentlemen, they took tea at Lathbury Park, where in August 1917 Mrs. Trevor had the immediate need for an experienced kitchen maid, ‘scullery maid kept,’ and also a good house maid. On Sunday, January 27th 1918 detachments of the 3rd Battalion Bucks Volunteer Regiment were inspected by Major General T. Calley, C.B., M.V.O., the Staff Officer for Volunteer Services, Southern Command. 100 men were on parade at Lathbury Park at 10.30a.m., 60 in Wolverton Park at 11.30a.m. and 80 at Captain J.C. Hipwell’s field at Olney at 2.30p.m., and being very impressed with the turnout, Major General Calley said that if a man in Section A or B had signed on for the duration of war, then he was bound to do a minimum amount of drill and instruction. However, men in Section D could give 14 days notice to leave and ‘shirk’ drills, and the War Office had therefore decided to do away with Section D as from March 1st. Now styled as Commander in Chief of the Volunteer Forces in Southern Command, Major General Calley again made the acquaintance of Lathbury Park on Sunday, September 22nd 1918, when at the annual inspection of the 5th Volunteer Battalion of the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry he, with Colonel Green, Chief Instructor of Volunteers, and Captain Eric Long, A.D.C., accompanied the Inspecting Officer, Lieutenant General Sir H. Sclater, G.C.B., Commander in Chief of Southern Command. Numbering some 250, the Volunteers paraded at 1.20p.m., to be put through a number of preliminary exercises by their Commanding Officer, Major William Trevor. Then on the arrival of the Inspecting Officer the Olney platoon gave an exhibition of an attack on a strong point defended by the Newport Pagnell platoon. The setting was Lathbury Grounds (which belonged to Mr. J.E. Whiting, a generous supporter of the Volunteers) and having been complimented on their performance the men marched back to Lathbury Park, where the Stretcher Bearer Section were seen at work under Lieutenant H.T. Wickham, M.D. Afterwards bayonet training, musketry instruction, and various other ‘sideshows’ took place, with the men next falling in close column of platoon to be marched by Major Trevor past the saluting box. The parade subsequently reformed in close column of platoon to be addressed by the Inspecting Officer, who said that he had not seen a better drilled or finer looking body of men. A substantial tea at Lathbury Park, provided by Major and Mrs. Trevor, concluded the event, and perhaps rabbits were on the menu, for in September 1918 ferrets were being advertised for sale at Lathbury Park, at 5s each! As throughout the country the signing of the Armistice was momentous news, and Major Trevor was asked to speak at a celebration at the Electric Theatre, Newport Pagnell. However, the person taking the telephone call managed to get the date confused, and in the wake of this embarrassment Major Trevor had to swiftly pen a letter to the local press;

“Dear Sir. I owe an explanation and apology to the audience assembled last Monday evening in the Electric Theatre, Newport Pagnell, to celebrate the Signing of the Armistice. The invitation to address the meeting came by telephone, and the recipient of the message understood that the meeting was to be held on Tuesday evening, and promised that I should attend and speak. I was shocked to be told on Tuesday morning that I had, quite unintentionally, disappointed those who had done me the honour of asking me to be present on the occasion for Rejoicing unparalleled in the History of the World.

Yours truly,

W. TREVOR.

Lathbury Park,

Newport Pagnell,

Nov. 12, 1918”

With the war at an end the need for the Volunteers ceased, but in January 1919 Major William Trevor was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel, ‘and permitted to wear the uniform of which he took such a keen and deep interest.’ In March he then took a keen and deep interest in the return of ‘the HANDLE for winding up Motor Car,’ which, hopefully not by William Elliff, who had been appointed the previous year as groom and chauffeur, had been lost on the road between Lathbury and Newport Pagnell. With the cessation of hostilities perhaps there was now a lessened intake of military cadets, for on Thursday, June 5th 1919 on the instructions of Mr. Trevor at 3.30p.m. Wigley, Sons & Gambell conducted an auction at Lathbury Park, which included a number of full size, three quarter, and single bedsteads, woven wire and wool mattresses, grained and painted chests of drawers, washstands and dressing tables, a number of engravings in oak frames, mahogany tables, oak, walnut and bamboo hall stands, Windsor arm and single chairs, 7 carved oak frame dining chairs, brass standard lamp, corner and two armchairs in American cloth, Wedgewood dinner and tea services, Dresden china, a number of white glazed figures, several plated bedroom candlesticks, two old brass trivets, several deal tables, saucepans, scales and weights, and wood tubs etc. On Saturday, July 19th 1919 the celebrations for Peace Day were held. The programme commenced at 2.30p.m. with a cricket match, played in Mr. Whiting’s field between the married and single men, and at 3.30p.m. the women and children assembled at the Park, where a number of sports were held on the lawn. These were arranged and carried out by Miss Trevor assisted by Mr. Terriss, who afterwards gave out the prizes. Tea for the women and children was at 4p.m., and supper for the men and women at 6p.m., after which Colonel Trevor called for the health of the King and Queen and the Royal Family, and then gave an account of the war from start to finish. Then at a special memorial service, at which he addressed the large congregation with well chosen words, on the evening of Sunday, March 14th 1920 he unveiled a mural tablet on the easternmost pillar of the south aisle of the church, this being to the memory of the six men from the village who had fallen in the war. As for those who had survived, on Saturday, February 5th 1921 a Supper and Smoking Concert in connection with the ex soldiers reunion took place in The Hut (the village hall) at 6.30p.m. Mr. Reg Coales presided, and was ably assisted by Captain Trevor, G. Greenall, and Lady Olivia Trevor. On Sunday, November 6th 1921 special services of thanksgiving in memory of the village fallen were held at 11a.m. and 6p.m., but because a sudden illness had unfortunately prevented Mr. William Trevor from giving the address, the 35 names on the Roll of Honour were instead read out by Captain Stephen Trevor.