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With large families not being unusual, many would be devastated by the loss of several sons during the war, as would be the tragic experience of Mr. and Mrs. H. Bignell of Moulsoe. On February 10th 1917 they received official news that Sergeant George Bignell, of the Gloucester Regiment, had been killed in action on January 25th whilst serving with the Mesopotamian Force. Aged 22, he was their third son, and as one of the first from the village had joined up at the outbreak of war. Undergoing a period of home training, he then took part in severe fighting in France, where he was wounded, and in the summer of 1916 spent a short leave at his home. On rejoining his regiment in October 1916 he was sent to Mesopotamia, and during his military service would be twice promoted on the battlefield. A memorial service took place in Moulsoe Parish Church on Wednesday afternoon, February 14th, with Mr. Donald Fraser, J.P., accompanied by his wife, being amongst the many persons present, he having employed the deceased as a farm worker before the war. Then on July 22nd 1917 Mr. and Mrs. Bignell learned that their second son, Private John Bignell, had been reported as missing in France. Aged 25, he was serving with the Northants. Regiment, and from Lieutenant Cutting his parents would receive the following letter;

“He was one of a raiding party and failed to return. I was in charge of his party, and although I did not actually see him on the return journey, I feel very confident that he was captured, and, I believe, unhurt. I had known your son quite long enough to realise his sterling qualities, and I can assure you the Battalion has lost one of its very best men. He was a man without fear, and as his Platoon Commander I regret his loss immensely.” Fortunately he had been captured, and from Gefangenen Lager, Limburg, in September 1918 would send a postcard to his parents written on July 29th, stating that he was a prisoner of war, and although wounded was going on well. However, there was no good news in November 1917, when Mr. and Mrs. Bignell received official confirmation that their eldest son, 29 year old Bombardier Horace Bignell, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, had died at the 52 Field Ambulance on November 9th, from serious wounds received in the fighting in Flanders. Only a few days before, his wife, who lived with their child at 77, Percy Road, Northampton, had received the following letter from the captain of her husband’s battery;

“It is with deep regret that I write to inform you that your husband has been severely wounded. I can’t express in words how I feel his loss. He has been valuable to his battery and has relieved many by his knowledge of first aid. He was always so willing to help others. I am afraid he is very severely wounded, and fear very much that he will not recover. All the officers and men of the battery sympathise deeply with you.”

6’ 2” tall, before the war he had been in the Northampton Borough Police, and joining up early in the war had been in France for 18 months. Then in September 1918 it was officially reported that their fourth son, Private Alec Bignell, of the Worcestershire Regiment, had been killed in action in France on September 25th, and in a letter to the parents the Platoon Officer wrote;

“He was killed in action by a shell. He was attached to the Battalion Observers about 3 weeks ago, and, since that time, had done excellent work, always being very keen and taking great interest in everything he did. I can assure you that the section has suffered tremendously by his loss, and you have my deepest sympathy in your great trial.”

Private Bignell was aged 19, and, from employment by Mr. Donald Fraser at Tickford Park Stud, had joined up in March 1917, being drafted to the Western Front a year later.

By November 1914 a family of Belgian refugees, comprised of a husband, wife, three girls and a boy, had been accommodated in a comfortable cottage, furnished throughout by the rector’s wife. The man had been a well to do farmer, whose house, homestead, horses and cattle were burnt before the family’s eyes by the Germans. He says that how they escaped with their lives amounts to a miracle, and although they all look careworn and frightened they are now delighted to be safe.

At the Easter Vestry Meeting in 1915, Donald Fraser was nominated as Rector’s Warden, with Mark Grimes appointed as Parish Warden in succession to Mr. J.E. Whiting, who had now left Moulsoe. At the close of the meeting many parishioners and members of the congregation attended a presentation in the schoolroom to Mr. Whiting, to whom in his address the rector said “I have much pleasure in asking you to accept these four silver candlesticks in token of our recognition of your services as churchwarden for the long period of 31 years…”

With full military honours, in Moulsoe churchyard the late Lieutenant Viscount Wendover, Royal Horse Guards, was laid to rest in the family vault on Saturday afternoon, May 22nd 1915. He was the only son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lincolnshire, and had died of wounds received in action the previous Wednesday. Apart from many prominent army personnel, many people well known in politics and society were in attendance, as well as many local people and the tenantry from Moulsoe and Castlethorpe. The plain English oak coffin had been brought from France to England on Thursday, and having rested until Saturday at the town house of the Marquis, at 53, Prince’s Gate, was brought from Euston by special train to Woburn Sands. From there it was taken by motor hearse to Moulsoe, followed in a fleet of motor cars, supplied by Salmons and Sons of Newport Pagnell, by the bereaved relatives, officers of the Royal Horse Guards, and the firing party from the regiment, comprised of men who had served with the deceased in France. At the entrance to the churchyard the village squad of the Bucks Volunteer Defence Corps, of which the Marquis was Chief Commandant, formed a guard of honour, and with the coffin draped in a Union Jack, and surmounted with the cap of the deceased, and the regimental standard, carried at Waterloo, the cortege made its way to the church, the firing party standing with heads bowed and arms reversed. The service was full choral, and the village choir lead the singing of the hymns. At the graveside the committal sentences were offered by the vicar of High Wycombe, and with the burial service at an end the fourteen Horse Guardsmen of the firing party discharged three volleys over the grave, with the trumpeter sounding the Last Post. The vault had been beautifully treated with lilies of the valley, and being arranged by the head gardener, Mr. G. Miles, these had been grown in the gardens of the Marquis at High Wycombe. On the oblong brass plate on the coffin was inscribed in plain block letters;

ALBERT EDWARD CHARLES ROBERT

VISCOUNT WENDOVER

Lieutenant Royal Horse Guards,

Born 24th April, 1895,

Fell mortally wounded near Ypres,

Died at Boulogne 19th May, 1915.

AGED 20 YEARS

“Through fire, out of darkness into light.”

At Moulsoe, on Sunday, June 20th 1915 arms were carried at the Church Parade of the Bucks Volunteer Defence Corps. In the afternoon a contingent from the Woburn Sands Company, under Commander E. Creasy, and the Milton-Moulsoe Platoon, under Platoon Commander Snelson, had assembled at Broughton and, to there be joined by a section from North Crawley, marched to Moulsoe, and the garden of Section Commander Mark Grimes, who, with his wife, had arranged a tea in a large marquee. Afterwards, on the lawn a lecture on ‘Outposts’ was given by the Adjutant Mr. W. Trevor, of Lathbury Park, and this was followed by a few words from Colonel Bowyer. Minus their rifles, the assembly, of some 85 Volunteers, then fell in and marched in file to church.

Miss Mary George died in a London nursing home on January 6th 1916. In March 1900 she had begun work as the schoolmistress at Moulsoe, and consistently merited excellent reports from the Inspectors. She also took charge of the morning Sunday School, and took a great interest in the entertainments and concerts in the village, in many of which she participated. Despite failing health she remained at work until November 24th 1915, when it became necessary to consult a London surgeon. A serious operation on December 6th afforded her considerable relief, but complications set in around Christmas and her strength fatally declined. By her wish she was buried at Moulsoe on Monday, January 10th 1916, with there being among the mourners Miss Walton, her assistant mistress who had lived with her for nearly 8 years, the schoolchildren, and many of the parishioners.

In April 1916 Mr. Donald Fraser, of Tickford Park, Moulsoe, was appointed as a Justice of the Peace. Having amassed a fortune from diamond mining in South Africa, at Moulsoe he became well known as a breeder of pedigree race horses, and after the outbreak of war was engaged for purchasing horses for the army. His stud farm on the outskirts of Newport Pagnell was one of the best in the country, and, apart from many successes on the turf, for some years past he had won the King’s premiums at the London Show. His last success had been in 1909 with Sundawn, which would subsequently travel parts of North Buckinghamshire and South Northamptonshire. In fact with the wartime need for horses his stud was placed at the disposal of farmers at a ‘ridiculously low’ fee, so as to encourage the breeding of the best animals, and to return a swift profit. A fine judge of horses, Mr. Fraser had frequently officiated in the prize ring at leading shows in England and Ireland. (Tickford Park was demolished in 1976.)

At a meeting of the Newport Pagnell Board of Guardians, on Wednesday, April 25th 1917 Mr. Moss, the relieving officer for the Fenny Stratford district, said that in 13 years he had only had to pay 13s in relief to the village.

For the National Egg Collection for the Wounded, at 154, Fleet Street, London, the village collectors were Mrs. Starling at the Vicarage, and Miss E. Gibbons at the school.

On May 1st 1918 the girls of Moulsoe Council School performed the old time custom of going around the village with a garland, and singing a May Day song. From flowers gathered by the children Mrs. Adams had made the beautiful 3 foot high garland, and floral wreaths of blue and white were worn by Bertha Bignell, who had been elected as the May Queen, and Rachel Sinfield, the Maid of Honour, who carried a Red Cross sign. As per the agreement of the pupils half the proceedings from the ceremony would be given to the British Red Cross Funds, instead of having a school tea party, as was the custom before the war, and as a result 15s 2d was handed to Mrs. Starling for that purpose. The Moulsoe scholars had also from time to time contributed generously to the Overseas Club, and the Y.M.C.A. huts.

On May 30th 1919 Serge H.V. Coillie writes to the local press;

‘Dear Sir.

Before leaving these hospitable shores for my poor devastated country, permit me to express, through the medium of your valuable columns, my heartfelt gratitude for all the great kindness shown to me during my exile in this beautiful and peaceful country.

I am anxious to mention the names of Mr. and Mrs. Fraser and staff; also the Rector and the ladies of the village for having been so good and helpful to me during my sojourn in Moulsoe. I return to Belgium with my heart full of deep gratitude for the kindness which was showered on me, and which will ever be remembered by

Yours very truly,

SERG. H.V. COILLIE.

Moulsoe, May 30, 1919.’

On Peace Day July 19th 1919 the day’s events commenced with a church service, conducted by the Reverend J. Starling. Then at 3p.m. a procession around the village took place, followed by sporting events for the children and adults. At 5p.m. the villagers sat down to a meat tea, and at the conclusion of the sporting events at 9p.m. the prizes were distributed by Mrs. Starling, with each soldier being given a War Savings Certificate, which Mr. and Mrs. Mark Grimes had gone to great lengths to procure. Concluding the occasion all the villagers assembled to sing God Save the King.

Replacing a box harmonium, which had been in use in the church for many years, on the evening of Sunday, April 18th 1920 a new two manual organ was dedicated by the Bishop of Buckingham, the Ven. E.D. Shaw. As a memorial to the men who had given their lives in the war, this had been subscribed for by the parishioners and other local people, over 250 of whom formed the congregation. On the front of the new instrument a memorial tablet, surrounded by a frame of carved laurel leaves in dark oak, recorded the 7 names of the fallen, and for the service the church had been beautifully decorated with yellow flowers with a groundwork of evergreen, the artistic arrangement reflecting great credit on Miss Bignell and Mrs. Mark Grimes. The Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, the Marquis of Lincolnshire, performed the unveiling of the tablet, and in a brief but appropriate address paid tribute to the fallen, and the deeds of the soldiers on the battlefields. The Bishop of Buckingham then read out the names on the tablet, and dedicated the organ for use in the church. The choir lead the singing of the hymn ‘Let Saints on earth in concerts sing,’ and Evensong then followed. The Bishop next preached a sermon, and after the service a recital was given on the new organ by Dr. J. Warriner, F.T.C.L. (Mus. Doc. T.C.D.) The proceedings finally closed with the singing of the National Anthem.
(In addition to those who were killed, 32 other men from Moulsoe had served in the war, with Miss Fraser, the daughter of Donald Fraser, and Miss Bignell, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Bignell, giving their services as nurses, the latter as Sister in the 3rd London General Hospital, where she had been since 1915.)

Having lived in the district for over 40 years, during the night of Tuesday, January 3rd 1922 Mark Carey Grimes passed away. Just before Christmas he had contracted a chill whilst out hunting, but serious symptoms set in, and with pneumonia taking hold his condition began to deteriorate, despite the attentions of his wife and Dr. H. Wickham. On the Monday the situation was such that a specialist was called in, but Mr. Grimes passed away in the early hours. Aged 56, he was a native of Suffolk, and after a few years in the stables of a country doctor he entered the service of Donald Fraser, who was now ranked amongst the finest of breeders of English race horses. After 3 years in South Africa, he returned with Mr. Fraser to England in 1882, and shortly afterwards the Tickford Park Stud at Moulsoe was launched. At first Mr. Fraser had only kept a hunter stallion, but, realising the skill of Mr. Grimes, he soon acquired a few mares, and so began the foundation for a stud of pedigree horses at Tickford. The business soon progressed, and many of his animals would gain distinction on the turf. Very popular in the village, Mr. Grimes took an active role in the parish, and as well as serving on the Parish Council he was for several years church warden. During the war, at Moulsoe he had organised one of the finest detachments of special constables, and took a leading part in the Volunteer movement from early 1915 until the end of the war. He possessed an excellent knowledge of the countryside and wild life, and was a keen sportsman. He left a widow but no family, and at the funeral on the afternoon of Saturday, January 7th 1922 his coffin was borne from his house, ‘Churchfields,’ by eight employees of the Tickford Park estate. Among the mourners who followed from the house was Willie Nicholls, house boy at Churchfields, and although due to indisposition his widow did not attend, at the service were many notables, plus nearly all the villagers and ex servicemen.