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One morning in late August 1914, whilst on patrol an Olney Special Constable discovered a suspect canister under a railway bridge. It was carefully wrapped in brown paper, and seemed to have a fuse attached. After much hesitation the parcel was unwrapped, and the tin was subsequently found to contain a piece of paper on which was written ‘Made in Germany.’ In September 1914 there was growing dissatisfaction at the number of ‘shirkers’ in the town. As for those who had joined up, Mr. J.C. Hipwell, a partner in the well known brewing firm, had four sons on active service. The eldest, Lewis, was a lieutenant in the 3rd (Queen’s) Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment. Charles and Frank had joined the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, and Melville was in the Royal Engineers. Of the Olney Division St. John Ambulance Brigade, Ambulance Division, commanded by Superintendent W.T. Knight, by the end of October 1914 twenty seven members would be serving in either the Naval Sick Berth Reserve or the field or home hospitals. George Knight, of Class A Naval Sick Berth Reserve, was serving aboard H.M.S. Eclipse, whilst others were at Plymouth Hospital. On Wednesday, October 28th 1914 one of the largest meetings to ever be held in Olney took place in the New Hall, where the townspeople made a magnificent response to the appeal for shelter and practical aid for the distressed Belgian refugees. In fact so many had gathered that some people had to be turned away. The Belgian flag, the Union Jack, and the flags of the Allies were conspicuously displayed, and there were representatives from all the religions. The few refugees from Turvey were present, and with Mr. J. Whitmee presiding, supported by Lady Farrar, of Chicheley Hall, the plight of the Belgians was discussed. As a member of Lady Gladstone’s Committee in London Lady Farrar had kindly consented to work the district, which would encompass Olney, Emberton, Chicheley, Astwood, Hardmead, Sherington, Tyringham, Lavendon and a few other small places, and to rousing cheers Mr. A. Hipwell J.P. proposed “That some Belgian refugees be accommodated in Olney, the number to be decided by a general committee.” When Lady Farrar then came to speak she was received with prolonged applause, and, expressing her concern and sympathy for the Belgians plight, said in her address “I came here last Saturday and I was more than pleased with the reception I got. They all said ‘O, Lady Farrar, we are all anxious to do something, but we don’t know how to begin.’” At an informal meeting two days before, when about 20 people came to Mr. Hipwell’s house, offers had been made by local gentlemen to place three or four houses at the disposal of the Committee, and with a general discussion being held it was decided to hold a town meeting. Continuing, with regard to ‘brave little Belgium’ she said “They have saved us from being wiped out as they have been wiped out, and it is our duty to help them in all the ways we can.” Homes had been found for the refugees along the coast, but this was thought inadvisable and they were now lying in rows in beds close together in Alexandra Palace. The Reverend G. Soames, of Lavendon, said that a continuing support would be needed, and towards this he was giving 10% of his income while the war lasted. As for his daughter, she would contribute 20% since she had no housekeeping cares. Mr. Lewis Thompson said that the Olney Town Band was anxious to help, and it was agreed to accede to their request to make a house to house collection on Saturday. With Lady Farrar as president a committee was approved, to include a representative from each village, and following the singing of the Belgian National Anthem, in French, by the Roman Catholic schoolchildren, and the singing of the French National Anthem by Miss Hilda Mynard, from Emberton, the chairman gave a few remarks, before the evening came to a close with ‘God Save the King.’ For housing and feeding at least 20 women and children from Belgium, in November 1914 the Belgian Refugee Committee of Olney completed their arrangements. Lord Dartmouth and Mr. John Sowman had provided homes, rent free, for 12 to be made comfortable in one house, with the rest to be accommodated in a property lent by Mr. Sowman. The committee had already secured guaranteed donations of £600 for the first year, and from this amount each refugee would be paid a weekly sum, with coal and gas supplied free. Clothing would be provided as necessary. Accompanied by the Reverend Father Allen, a convent sister, and Mr. Lewis Thompson, a grocer, provision, and wine and spirit merchant who, apart from a branch outlet selling glass, china and earthenware, had a shop practically facing the Market Place, 16 refugees arrived in the town by train on Wednesday, November 11th 1914, and having been met at the station by several members of the committee were conveyed by motor car and other vehicles to their new home in the High Street, where an excellent meal awaited. By December 12th 1914 another party of 11 Belgian refugees would have arrived at Olney, to be provided with a home and necessities by the local Belgian Relief Committee. Prepared by Miss Horwood, the headmistress, and her staff, and given by the girl scholars of the Council schools, a concert took place at New Hall, Olney, on the evening of Thursday, December 17th 1914. Featuring songs and recitations, this was to raise monies for the Belgian Relief Fund, and a popular item was the formation of a Union Jack to the accompaniment of patriotic songs. A play entitled ‘The Holly Queen’ was well acted, and with a large attendance the event proved a great success. The outbreak of the war caused a boom in trade for the boot manufacturers and leather tanners of Olney. Messrs. Hinde and Mann, Cowley and Co., and T. Johnson all received large orders for military boots, and the factories would be working at full capacity for the rest of the year. In fact to cope with this demand Messrs. Pebody would enlarge their leather tanning works. Due to heavy rain there were deep floods around Olney at the beginning of January 1915. Promoted by the Olney Tennis Club, a whist drive and dance, attended by about 130 people, was held at the New Hall on Wednesday, February 10th 1915. A dance was held afterwards, and the proceeds of £7 were applied to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families’ Fund. By May 1915 four men from the Olney Ambulance Division had been sent by Superintendent W. Knight for service at the War Hospital, Birmingham. They were Privates Wickens, Fleming, Mynard and Partridge, making 51 as the total who had now left for active service. At the church of St. Michael Royal, City of London, on Tuesday, May 4th 1915 Miss Edith Hopper, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hopper, of 6, Midland Road, Olney, married Percy Bryant, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bryant of The Farm, Sunbury, Middlesex. For some years the groom had been in the detective department of the London City Police, but, having resigned from the police force, immediately after the wedding he reported to the War Office to become a sapper in the Royal Engineers. Formerly an inspector in the London City Police, the bride’s father was the Board of Trade representative under the Unemployment Insurance Scheme, being also a noted Friendly Society worker. Detective Inspector A. Alexander, of the General Post Office, had acted as groomsman (sic) and a reception was held in rooms at the Cloak Lane Police Station, Cannon Street. On the following day Mr. Bryant began his military duties. In the charge on Aubers Ridge, on Sunday, May 9th 1915 Private Walter Partridge, of the Northants. Regiment, was killed. He was the son of Mr. Thomas Partridge, of Olney, and being a regular soldier was serving in Egypt just prior to the war. He had seen much action, having been in the retreat from Mons, and the battles of the Aisne, the Marne, and Ypres. On the battlefield, on Easter Sunday he had met his brother, Walter, who was now in hospital with a two inch shrapnel wound in his back. At the outbreak of war Walter was employed on the Midland Railway, but as a Reservist was called to rejoin his regiment. Earlier in the war he had met with an accident when he was run over by a military water cart. He was subsequently taken to hospital, but just after his removal the water cart was blown to pieces by a German shell. Having seen much active service he took part in the charge on Aubers Ridge, which in a letter to his parents he described as a terrible affair. In the British Schools, on the evening of Monday, May 10th 1915 a concert was given for the Yeomanry now billeted in the town. In the last of a series, this had been promoted by Mrs. Grindon, and as part of the performance Miss Grindon gave a pianoforte solo. The artists included Corporal Fortescue, of the 2nd Beds Yeomanry, and the proceeds would be added to a comforts fund for the wounded soldiers in Northampton Hospital. With the opening of a Munitions Works Bureau, during the first week in July 1915 skilled mechanics were to apply to Mr. A. Hopper at 6, Midland Road, Olney. Between November 1914 and August 1915 3,359 eggs had been sent from Olney and district to Northampton Hospital. Mrs. Grindon, the wife of Dr. Grindon, had superintended and other ladies had also provided help. Fruit and vegetables had also been sent, and Mr. Frank Sowman gave Mrs. Grindon 13s 4d for the funds, by selling silk worms at 25 for a penny. On the afternoon of Sunday, August 22nd 1915 the Newport Pagnell and Olney Companies of the Bucks Volunteer Defence Corps held a route march, the Olney contingent being commanded by Mr. J.C. Hipwell. Other sections swelled their ranks and all the members carried arms, and, in addition to brassards, many wore the regulation head dress. The two companies met at Cross Albans Hill, midway between Sherington and Emberton, and were marched into a field tenanted by Mr. R. Mayes, to be drilled for over an hour by the company commanders and the chaplain, the Reverend J. Dove, of North Crawley. Afterwards each section marched back to their respective headquarters to be dismissed. For raising money for wounded soldiers, the eighth annual show of garden produce, staged by the Olney Allotment Holders’ Association, was held in the grounds of Bridge House, lent by Mr. W. Peabody, the President of the Association, on Saturday, August 28th 1915. Given by the allotment holders and local worthies, vegetables and fruit of all kinds packed a stall presided over by Mrs. Grindon, the wife of Dr. F. Grindon, and she would take the nine hampers which remained unsold to Northampton Hospital on the Monday morning. During the occasion the members of the squadron of Beds Yeomanry who were stationed in the town gave invaluable help, including Sergeant Farrier Hill, Corporal Quarry, Corporal White, Corporal Debeney, and Trumpeter Greenwood. Raffled by Corporal Quarry and Trumpeter Greenwood, a fox terrier dog, given by Miss Gilbert, of Clifton Reynes, realised the sum of £1 6s 6d, being won by Captain E. Ashley, whilst as for an iced cake, given by Mrs. Grindon, this made £1 1s 11d, with the wife of a private in the Yeomanry being the winner. Under the direction of Miss Pebody, a competition to name a prettily dressed doll raised 18s 6d, but since no one correctly guessed the name it would be sent to Northampton Hospital. Other means to raise money included boating on the Ouse and skittles, and during the event music was provided by the Olney Town Silver Band, who also played for dancing in the evening. In the flower show were displayed many exhibits of high quality, and, with a class for eggs also being introduced, the committee brought in a honey section, this being in the wake of the demise of the Olney Beekeepers’ Association, due to the ravages of the Isle of Wight disease. Besides helping out through the day, the members of B Squadron of the Beds Yeomanry gave a concert lasting an hour and a half on the lawn, during which Sergeant Farrier Hill sang ‘Down the Vale’ and ‘Sunshine of your smile.’ Corporal Fortescue rendered ‘The Blue Dragoon,’ and Private Richardson was loudly encored for ‘Sister Susie’s sewing shirts for soldiers.’ Privates Durrant and Clarke were also in good voice, and amongst the extensive programme the dialogue ‘When mother turned suffragette,’ by Corporal Quarry, Private Wooding and Private Fitch, caused great amusement. The weather for the day was perfect, and the sum of £10 would be handed to Mrs. Grindon, to be forwarded for the wounded soldiers at Northampton Hospital. At a crowded New Hall, on the evening of October 13th 1915 a concert took place in aid of funds for the Town Silver Prize Band. All the arrangements had been made by Sergeant Sharpe, Corporal Quarry, and other members of the squadron of Beds Yeomanry billeted in the town, and the occasion was in return for the Band’s turnout for church parade on Sundays. As one who had been amongst the first to promise accommodation for the Belgian refugees, the venue had been lent by Mr. Lewis Thompson, the President of the Band, and with Mr. C. Kenneth Garratt presiding at the piano, he being the organist and choir master at Newport Pagnell Parish Church, many excellent local artistes participated. Amongst other numbers Captain Hodgson sang ‘The Old Black Horse,’ the chorus of which was heartily taken up by the audience, whilst as for Trooper Tom Pollock, one of the cleverest comedians in the district, he performed the original song ‘The Bedford Boys,’ and brought the house down each time he appeared. In October 1915 a recruiting office was opened at 17, Market Square, Olney. This was in the charge of Sergeant G. Ashby, of the 2nd Oxon & Bucks Light Infantry, who had won the D.C.M. for having under heavy enemy fire undertaken a dangerous reconnaissance to discover the German position. Born at Radnage, he had been with the regiment for 9 years until, having served at the Front since the outbreak of the war, on May 11th a terrible wound in the back, at La Bassee, incapacitated him from further service in the trenches. After 3 months of closure for a thorough restoration, costing £120, the Cowper Museum at Olney reopened to the public in October 1915. It had been found that the main ceiling beams, of oak, and about a foot thick, were completely in two in both Cowper’s parlour and bedroom, where in the latter the ceiling was found to contain thousands of pins. This was because the accommodation had been used as a workroom by a dressmaker, who occupied the premises prior to the house becoming a museum. In October 1915 a nursing division was formed at Olney, with Mrs. How, of Emberton, as Divisional Superintendent, Miss Fryer as Lady Secretary, and Mrs. Clifton as Inspector of Stores. The Olney ladies had hitherto been associated with the Tyringham Division of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Then on the evening of Saturday, November 6th 1915 they would demonstrate their new skills in the application of first aid in the British School. With Mrs. How as the superintendent of the class, this was given by the Nursing Sisters attached to the Olney Ambulance Division, the chief of which, Superintendent W. Knight, had been responsible for the training with Dr. F. Grindon. Members of the Boy Scouts acted as patients, and after the demonstration Mr. W. Carlile, who for about 15 years had been President of the North Bucks Division of St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross, gave a short speech, saying how pleased he was with their work, and that which he had seen on the battlefields of France, of which he had personal experience. He then presented the certificates, and at the end of the evening the ladies presented Superintendent Knight with two beautifully bound books, in appreciation of his past services. With Mr. A. Hipwell presiding, on the evening of Tuesday, December 7th 1915 a meeting of the Olney St. John Ambulance and Red Cross Committee took place, at which the Reverend J. Samuel said that he, the vicar, and Mr. Fellows had, as requested, divided the town into districts and arranged house to house collections for the funds. Practically every eligible man in Olney and district offered themselves for enlistment under Lord Derby’s Reserve Scheme. On Friday, December 17th 1915 about 150 were ‘attested,’ and on the Saturday about 50 more. In total about 390 came forward during the period of the scheme, with the number of rejections being about 20%. Mr. J. Mann J.P. had been the chairman of the canvassers. At a whist drive and dance, held at the New Hall on the evening of Tuesday, December 28th 1915, Miss Hilda Cowley generously declined to take her prize of a gold horn brooch. Instead it was offered for competition, by which the sum of 17s was added to the Red Cross Fund, of which she was a committee member. After a brief illness, on Friday, January 21st 1916 the death occurred of Miss Catherine Eyles. She had been an invalid all her life, but was nevertheless a liberal benefactress to the town, and a regular subscriber to Northampton Hospital and war charities. Her home was in the High Street, and her burial took place in the parish churchyard. The first man from Olney to win the D.C.M. was James Flavell, the son of the late James Flavell. The news was received during the second week of February 1916 by the headmaster of the Council Schools Mr. Eady, who would remain in that position until his retirement in 1922, after 40 years in the post. At the Appeals Tribunal for the Newport Pagnell District, on the afternoon of Monday, March 6th 1916 a young man from Olney, who described himself as a lace manufacturer and exporter, applied for total exemption. Aged 30 and single, he said that if he went it would ruin a business which had taken 10 years to establish, and which gave employment to several thousand lace workers. He bought lace from North Bucks cottage workers for export, and when needed his business took him abroad. In fact he practically ran the whole industry in the neighbourhood, but was not the North Bucks Lace Association. The appeal was refused, whereupon he said that he might appeal. Of a jovial and kind disposition, after a wearying illness on Friday, March 31st 1916 Henry Hatton died. An expert in leather production, in which he had been engaged all his life, until about 1900 he and his brother Charles had been the proprietors of the very old firm of Hatton Bros, Oak Tanneries, Hereford. Then with the decline of the oak tanning industry the attention turned to the manufacture of chrome leather, and association with the firm of Messrs. Ward, Worcester. On leaving he was employed by the Pebody firm of Olney, and over the course of eleven years helped to build up a fine business. When he left in June 1914 with Mr. W. Shaw he then organised the firm of Messrs Hatton, Shaw, and Co., Ltd., chrome tanners, Irthlingborough. (Aged 92, on Friday, December 28th 1951 William Edward Pebody died in Olney at Bridge House, which he had bought with a tannery in 1898, the former owner, Joseph Palmer, having carried on an oak bark tannery business there. Mr. Pebody had been associated with the manufacture of leather since 1878, when a business was founded in Northampton. When, with the increased demand for chrome leather, this outgrew the premises, he and his brother opened the Olney tannery under the name of Messrs W.E. and J. Pebody, which 8 years later became a limited company.) In May 1916, due to the number of applications from Olney boot and shoe manufacturers, for exemption for skilled workmen called up under the group system, the Military Representative and Major Hammans, the recruiting officer from Bletchley, visited three factories in the town. There they interviewed the men for whom the appeals were being made, and ascertained the nature of their work. Orders for 9 million pairs of boots for the Russian army were to be placed with English manufacturers, and part of the contract would be placed in Olney. The conclusion was reached that none of the men in the three factories could be spared, for it would mean shutting up certain rooms in the factory and interfering with the business. Therefore they would be temporarily exempted on condition that they continued at their trade. Many men from the factories had answered the call, and only those on essential duties would be exempt, this being 6 months for foremen, and 4 months for others. Arriving in charabancs, from Northampton Hospital 70 wounded soldiers were entertained by the committee and members of Olney Bowling Club on Thursday afternoon, June 8th 1916. They had all been in the heaviest fighting, and one 18 year old had lost both legs. It had been hoped to entertain the soldiers on the bowling green. However, after the heavy rains the conditions were not conducive, and instead Mr. and Mrs. Pebody placed the garden and lawn at Bridge House at the disposal of the party. While some played bowls, skittles, and garden bagatelle, others were taken on trips on the river, or played drawing room quoits and other games. Musical selections were played on two gramophones lent by Mr. S. Cowley, and under the cover of a large marquee a splendid tea was enjoyed. The catering was performed by ladies from the town, including the wives and daughters of the Bowling Club members, and in the wake of the event in due course a letter of thanks was received by the captain of the Bowling Club from Aubery Jeffery, the secretary of the Soldiers’ Outings Committee; “…. You will be pleased to hear that the motors reached Northampton without mishap shortly after 8 o’clock, none of the men being any the worse for the outing, and the unfortunate storm during the evening in no way damped their spirits. …” This being the third time that he had been wounded, one occasion being at the Battle of Loos, in July 1916 Private Stanley Rice, of the Northants. Regiment, was in hospital in France with shrapnel wounds to the shoulder. He was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Rice, of Elm Cottage, Midland Road, and before the war had been employed at Pebody’s tannery. Having joined up at the outbreak of the war he had been in France for over a year. His brother, Albert, was in training. In September 1916, 35 year old Marie Josephine Julien, a language teacher, of 9, Wellingborough Road, Olney, was summoned for having failed to register as a Belgian refugee, and for failing to register a change of address. Her father was employed in the Government railway office, and having before the war been teaching French in Austria, just before the outbreak she had gone to Paris for a holiday. In view of the crisis she then returned to Brussels and offered her services as a Red Cross nurse. However, when the Germans came she was advised by her friends to leave, and via Holland she arrived in England on May 29th 1915. On June 1st she duly reported to Hampstead Police Station, but was given no certificate. The following month she left Hampstead for Colwyn Bay, to follow the teaching profession, but since this was a prohibited area apart from a daily walk with the pupils she had very little freedom, and very little time to see any of the notices. She then entered into correspondence with the War Office about a post in the censorship department, but during the protracted dealings they found something amiss with her registration, and referred her to the police. Arriving at Olney from Colwyn Bay on July 28th 1916 she went to Sergeant Honour and gave the facts, and consequent to this she then registered. At the court hearing she said that the following day, Thursday, she was going to London to take an exam for the post in the War Office, and, with the chairman wishing her well, despite the possible penalty having been £200 she was ordered to pay only an inclusive amount of 5s, ie. a nominal fine of 2s 6d for each of the two offences. In September 1916 a request from Messrs. Pebody, in Olney, to use a new works whistle at their tannery brought controversy. One resident said that the noise was deafening, shook windows and doors, “and could be better imagined than described.” Another said that she suffered from nervous trouble, and considered it was detrimental to her health. A third said it was ten times as loud as necessary, and it seemed the general opinion that the noise woke all the children, and the mothers were very annoyed. Therefore permission was only granted to use a whistle of a reduced power. Nevertheless, during the following month there were complaints from well known residents that even this was annoying. In fact the firm were using the same whistle but with reduced steam, and, with the Clerk being instructed to write a letter to the firm to comply, the Council’s order was to use a whistle of smaller dimensions. For awhile harmony was restored, until in May 1917 four well known residents of the town sent letters to the Newport Pagnell Rural District Council, complaining about the noise of the time whistle at Messrs. Pebody. One lady wrote “I regret to have to trouble you again on this subject but the whistle of late has become objectionably loud. Although since your last order the sound was diminished I believe the order to cease was totally disregarded. I trust you will take steps to have this nuisance removed.” Another writer said it was a “raucous, intolerable noise coming from the Tannery by which one’s nerves are tortured day by day.” Messrs. Pebody replied that the farmers had said it would assist them if the whistle was sounded, but ‘If the Council thought it better to consider a few old ladies rather than the farmers they were prepared to reduce the sound.’ By the Council’s decision it would be demanded that the firm reduced the sound, for otherwise the next demand would be to provide a less annoying replacement. In fact at the meeting of the Newport Pagnell Rural District Council on Wednesday, July 18th 1917 a ‘memorial,’ signed by 24 persons in the town, was forwarded asking for the whistle to be removed, and in consequence a resolution was passed that the clerk should write to the firm to discontinue the whistle, in default of which not only would a £5 maximum penalty be imposed, and 40s a day, but proceedings would be taken under the Steam Whistles Act 1872. The following month Messrs. Pebody duly wrote to the Council regretting the noise of the whistle, and saying that they had now replaced it with one they had used for many years. Then in a surprising twist to the story, in August 1917 it was intended to present to the District Council a petition stating that, since the whistle proved of assistance in notifying the correct time of day to the villages around, and to the workers on the land, it would be in the general interest of the public for it’s use to be allowed. Indeed 599 signatures had allegedly been obtained - 399 from Olney, 150 Lavendon, and 50 from Emberton - and at the Council meeting in September 1917 a communication from Mr. J.W. Britton, schoolmaster at Emberton, enclosing the petition was presented, asking for the more potent whistle to be reinstated at the tannery. However, this was not considered! At the Newport Pagnell Rural District Tribunal, held in October 1916, the cases of some 20 men employed by Messrs. Cowley Ltd., boot manufacturers of Olney, were heard. However, two of the men had since joined the army, and the firm was willing to release two more when they reached military age. Captain Green said that factories and large businesses were now subject to visitation, and he had to make a report on each establishment as to the number of men employed, their medical fitness, and the work they were doing. The firm was mainly engaged on making boots for home use and export, and although in July 1914 there were 81 men and 48 women, now there were 65 men and 68 women. Of the former, 21 were of military age, with 6 of these being single, of which 4 had been rejected by the Medical Board, and so were exempt. This left 15 eligible married men, but one had just turned military age and came under the new order exempting men of 41 before March and June respectively. This left 14 men, but the firm said that since each of these was the last man in their particular department, and if any one of them went they might just as well all go. Indeed, it was the opinion of Captain Green that the men were indispensable to the business, but the decision lay with the Tribunal. In reply to a question, Captain Green said that the firm had a contract for Russian boots, 450 pairs of which were included in the factory’s weekly output of 2,200 pairs. Mr. Cowley then said that he had instructions from the War Office to continue for 2 weeks with the Cossack boots, until it was decided what quantity was needed for the British Army. Two of his sons were on the list, and he would not be able to continue the business without them. After consideration the Tribunal decided to dismiss the appeal of a pressman, in Group 31, and a studder, who had just reached military age. As for the other applications, they would be adjourned until December 1st. For raising money to send each local soldier a Christmas gift, a whist drive and dance was held at the New Hall on Wednesday, November 8th 1916. This included a Dutch auction for a cake, for which, after being bought and sold many times, Corporal Clark, on leave from France, paid a guinea. Slices were sold for 1s each, and the whole event raised £36 7s. George Clayson, a tailor and outfitter of 33, Market Place, was summoned for having failed to screen a light from his business premises on the night of November 16th 1916. Police sergeant Honour said that he had seen an illumination from the shop at 7.05p.m. and found that the gas was full on and the lamp not shaded. The blinds were ill fitting and the fanlight not screened, and the light could be seen from a distance of 100 yards. At the Newport Pagnell Divisional Petty Sessions on Wednesday, November 29th the defendant, who had been previously spoken to, produced what he said was a shade, but with this really being a reflector the chairman said “I don’t think that will do your case much good.” Mr. Clayson said that arriving at Olney by the 6.31p.m. train he had a 15 minute walk to the shop, and had forgotten about the fanlight from which the paper had fallen down. A fine of 10s was imposed. In March 1917 the Olney Bowling Club decided to plant their flower beds with vegetables, and to invest the money they had in hand in War Savings Certificates Following the custom of previous years, the Olney Hospital Week Committee held a church parade in aid of funds for Northampton Hospital on Sunday, May 6th 1917. In perfect weather, at 2p.m. a long procession was marshalled at the bottom of Midland Road near to the shoe factory, with the Northampton Volunteers leading, succeeded by those of Olney under Captain J. Hipwell and Lieutenant the Reverend S. Smith. Local notables and members of the Friendly Societies in the town followed, and the crowds along the way gave donations to the collectors. At the church service Mr. J. Britton, from Emberton, presided at the organ, with the special preacher being the Reverend Charles Escritt, from Tyringham cum Filgrave. During the proceedings Miss Bertha Richens, of Emberton, sang two solos excellently, and after the service the procession reformed, and, headed by the band, proceeded to the Market Place to be dismissed. After tea the band then played selections in the Market Place, and in the evening a concert took place in the New Hall, to include the singing of Miss Bertha Richens, piano playing by Mr. C. Kenneth Garratt, and many fine musical acts. There was a sensation on the morning of Tuesday, May 22nd 1917, when rumours began to circulate that a female child, born to a woman who lived at 13, Weston Road, had been found dead under suspicious circumstances. In fact the body had been discovered in her bedroom the previous evening. Aged 27 the woman had two children, and the news - since her husband had been a P.O.W. in a German camp for over two years - came as a complete surprise to the neighbours. The inquest took place the following day at the New Hall, but not being sufficiently well the mother was unable to attend, and in view of this the Coroner, taking just enough evidence to allow the burial of the body, adjourned the enquiry until June 1st. On that date a coroner’s jury returned a verdict of wilful murder, and in consequence the serious charge of infanticide was made against the woman at a Special Police Court at Newport Pagnell, held on the morning of Saturday, June 2nd 1917. Accused of having wilfully murdered on May 21st 1917 a newly born female child, the defendant made a sad and pathetic picture, wrapped in a blanket with head bowed, and frequently gave way to tears. Entering the witness box to give evidence, her mother, Mrs. Mary Stanley, said that with her children her daughter had visited her on the evening of Sunday, May 20th and had mentioned nothing untoward. But at about 8p.m. on the following day 16 year old Beatrice Street, of Weston Underwood, called at her house and in consequence she went to the home of her daughter, who being in bed, remarked “Look mother what I have got; I have got a baby.” After looking at the infant her mother said “You have strangled it,” and in reply the woman said that the birth had been at 3p.m., and no one else was in the house. She said she put the child in a cupboard and admitted it was alive when she did so. However, the baby was dead when she took it out, and she intended burying the body when she had the strength. During this evidence Mrs. Stanley became overcome with grief, and being at one point in a state of collapse was led from the court and given a stimulant. Subsequently she recovered and then completed her evidence. As for her evidence, with the defendant’s two sisters, aged 12 and 10, Beatrice said she had paid a visit to the defendant’s house on the evening of May 21st . The woman was in a chair by the fire, and her two year old daughter was on her lap. Beatrice then remarked that she looked pale, and replying “My head is bad” the woman went to go upstairs but fainted at the bottom. This being at about 6p.m. Beatrice then sent for a neighbour, Clara Underwood, of 7, Weston Road, who on arriving was told by the woman, who was downstairs fully dressed in a chair, that she had suffered a miscarriage. Clara advised her to go upstairs, and having accompanied her gave her brandy and water before leaving after some 15 minutes, when the woman said that she felt alright. Beatrice then went upstairs to say goodnight to the woman, who was lying on the bed, but on hearing a cooing noise from the cupboard she remarked that it sounded like a baby. The woman said “It’s birds in the roof,” but Beatrice replied “I’m sure it isn’t.” Giving evidence, Clara, whose husband was in France, said that on the evening of May 21st Florence Stanley, the sister of the prisoner, had ‘made a communication’ to her, in consequence of which she went to the defendant’s house and advised her to go upstairs, which she did. In the bedroom the woman told her that she had a miscarriage, and, having given her water and brandy, after about ten minutes Clara left her on the bed and went back to her house. However, soon afterwards Beatrice came to see her, and she went back. With the door being locked she returned home, but after 2 or 3 more visits she then found the door open, and on entering the house found the woman upstairs on the bed. Clara said “.. you have had a baby,” and with the baby dead by her side on the bed, with a red mark around the neck, the woman said that the infant was dead when she picked it out of cupboard. Clara then sent for the woman’s mother, who lived at Weston Underwood, and at about 8p.m. a neighbour went to fetch a doctor. Since he could not attend that night he arrived the next morning, and at the bottom of the stairs discovered a piece of string. In court, Dr. Grindon said that he found the woman in bed, and having been shown the body took it downstairs, where he noticed a groove around the neck. Police sergeant Honour then gave evidence regarding his arrest of the prisoner on June 1st. At the close the defendant elected to go for trial at Bucks Assizes, and in consequence was advised by the Bench to make no statement that might incriminate her. Thus the case was heard at the Bucks Summer Assizes at Aylesbury, on Thursday, June 7th 1917. Looking very ill, the prisoner entered the dock accompanied by two wardresses, and in answer to the indictment, the proceedings much hampered by her deafness, said “I am not guilty of murder; I am guilty of manslaughter.” After much consideration the judge decided to advise a verdict of manslaughter, and when a sentence of 6 months imprisonment was pronounced the prisoner burst into tears, and in a state of collapse had to be helped from dock. (During the war there would be another tragic case, when an Olney resident killed his child and subsequently took his own life.) It also being ‘Buckinghamshire Day,’ on Empire Day 1917, May 24th, the inhabitants of Olney made a special effort to help the Red Cross funds. A number of ladies did fine business selling flags and buttons bearing the crests of the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry and Royal Bucks Hussars, and Mr. J. Mann J.P. and Mr. A. Hipwell J.P., the deputy presidents of the Bucks County Red Cross Committee, were enthusiastic helpers. Had they been available, 540 more flags could have been sold, with the number of buttons purchased totalling 450. Particularly pleasing was the support from the old ladies in the almshouses, for they not only sent silver thimbles but also old English coins and a gold pencil case, which Mr. A. Hipwell bought for 10s. The residents also hung a Red Cross bag in the grounds of the almshouses, and thereby raised 1s 10d of the £17 11s total. Being on leave from Italy, on Monday, June 18th 1917 at Olney Parish Church Lieutenant L. Pebody, the second son of Mr. W. Pebody, of Bridge House, married Miss Etta Fellows, the younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Fellows of Dartmouth Road. The bride’s brother, the organist of St Sepulchre’s Church, Northampton, presided at the organ, and her sisters, the Misses Winnie and Elsie, were bridesmaids. The reception took place at the home of the bride, after which the couple left for a honeymoon at Llandudno, via Chester. With the order for Russian boots having been increased, in June 1917 Hinde and Mann were under contract to supply 1,000 pairs of boots per week to the Italian Army. This was despite 101 men from the firm having joined the Army. At Olney Parish Church, on Monday, July 23rd 1917 the marriage took place of Miss Constance Dorothy Cooper and Mr. Royston Egerton-Green. The bride was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leapidge Cooper, of Clifton House, Olney, and the groom was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Egerton-Green, of West Kensington. The bride’s aunt presided at the organ, and the chancel had been tastefully decorated by Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Grindon. Wearing a simple gown of white voile, embroidered by hand, and a Limerick veil, which her grandmother had worn at her marriage in 1849, the bride was given away by her father, and as the newly weds left the church schoolchildren scattered rose petals along the path. A reception was held at Clifton House, and later the couple left for their home at Barnes. Owing to the bride’s present engagement at the Alhambra there was no honeymoon, and her stage career would continue until her contract had been fulfilled. In August 1917 Olney learned that whilst charging an enemy machine gun post Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Mobbs, D.S.O., of the 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, had fallen at the Battle of Passchendaele on Tuesday, July 31st. He was aged 37, and the son of Oliver and Elizabeth Mobbs, of Northampton. Renowned as a sportsman, during the time that the Saints were at the peak of their form he had been the inimitable captain of the Northampton Rugby team, and played in 1909-1910 for England in all the International games, including those against Australia and France. The following season he then captained England against France in Paris, and also played against Ireland. In the autumn of 1914, when calls were made for sportsmen to join the forces (specifically in their own battalions) he came forward with an offer to raise a company of athletes, and within 48 hours had recruited 250 men. In fact many were Bedford footballers who had played with and against him, and these included Jack Gillam, whose parents had formerly lived at Lathbury. Being too old to take his commission, Edgar Mobbs enlisted as a private in his own company, but he quickly rose to C.S.M. and then Lieutenant, and within 18 months was commanding his Battalion of the Northamptons in action. After being wounded, it would be whilst convalescing in England that, last winter, he watched one of the games played on the field of the Modern School, Bedford, where, living for a while at Olney, Bucks, he had once been a pupil. (A memorial fund to perpetuate his memory would attract contributions from sportsmen everywhere, and the total received by late September 1917 amounted to £1,400, not including £100 from the officers and men of his battalion. The memorial was duly erected in Northampton.) In perfect weather, on Thursday, October 18th 1917 the town raised over £2,000 for equal division between the British Farmers’ Red Cross Fund and the Buckinghamshire Branch of the Red Cross and Order of St. John. With stalls on the Market Place, the Olney Market Committee had organised an agricultural and jumble sale, and, plus many novel competitions, the Red Cross Committee of the town a general sale of fancy and plain articles, bric a brac, fruit and vegetables. The event was given a fine start by donations from many notables, and these included £120 from Mr. J. Mann, 100 guineas from Mr. F. Konig, and the same from Colonel W.G. Bowyer. Travelling down from London, the Marquis of Lincolnshire (the Lord Lieutenant of the county) was to have performed the opening ceremony, but by boarding the wrong train at Bedford, and thereby having to be motored down from Sharnbrook, he arrived late, so missing the Olney Volunteers guard of honour. His daughter, Lady Lewisham, was also to have attended, but was prevented by illness. At the beginning of December 1917 Chief Petty Officer William Charles Knight, the eldest son of Superintendent W. T. Knight, the chief of the Olney Ambulance Division, was gazetted to the post of Flight Officer in the Balloon Service, Royal Naval Air Service. Before the war he had been an active member of the Olney Ambulance Division, and had attended the camps of No. 3 district (with which the Olney Division was associated) since 1903, at the age of 11. Mobilised with the Division at the outbreak of the war, he was given charge of the men detailed for service at Plymouth, being then a sergeant, to which rank he had been promoted a day or so earlier by Deputy Commissioner Woolstone, whilst the Ambulance Brigade were in camp at Boughton Park, Kettering. While at Plymouth, when volunteers were called for he and other men from Olney came forward, and although detailed for service at Antwerp when their steamer, ‘China,’ arrived late they, as confirmed by the sound of gunfire, were informed that the port had fallen. They were then transferred to the hospital ship ‘St. Petersburg,’ aboard which William supervised the transport of wounded soldiers to England. Later he was stationed at Chatham, and being transferred to No. 2 Kite Section subsequently saw 10 months service in Flanders. Returning to England he was successively stationed at Mullion, Cornwall, Crystal Palace, and then Plymouth, and having in the meantime been promoted to Chief Petty Officer, this appointment proved so popular with the Plymouth Sick Berth Staff that they presented him with a silver mounted fountain pen. Also as a measure of the esteem in which he was held, having for a long time been attached to a Canadian contingent the soldiers presented him with a tobacco jar made from the base of an 18lb. shell, and a match box holder of a unique design, the tray being a piece of German shell and the upright an English cartridge, suspended upon which was a French coin from which rose a tripod of 3 rifle bullets, the brass framework being part of an exploded enemy shell. (On a visit home, Chief Petty Officer Knight brought relics to include a German rifle, a German six chamber service revolver, coal scuttles and vases made from French 75 shell cases, and also a a piece of canvas and splintered woodwork from Lieutenant Warneford’s aircraft.) At a time when balloons were a novelty, at Olney in December 1783 the poet William Cowper anticipated the invention of the flying machine with dread, and wrote; “Should the point be carried, and man at last become as familiar with the air as he has long been with the ocean, will it in its consequences prove a mercy, or a judgement? I think a judgement. First, because if a power to convey himself from place to place like a bird, would have been good for him, his Maker would have formed him with such a capacity. But he has been a groveller upon the earth for six thousand years, and now at last, when the close of this present state of things approaches, begins to exalt himself above it. So much the worse for him. Like a truant school boy, he breaks his bounds, and will have reason to repent of his presumption.” The pursuits of another Cowper therefore seemed ironic during the First World War. Flying with the R.F.C., in 1918 while leading a patrol of six aircraft Second Lieutenant Andrew King Cowper observed four enemy triplanes. He attacked one, which broke up in the air, and the remaining three machines were destroyed by the rest of his formation. On the return journey he then encountered an enemy scout, and by skilful piloting forced it to land at an Allied airfield west of the lines. Later, during three separate combats he and his patrol brought down another machine, as well as two others with their observers wounded. Later the same day three other machines were shot down, and previously he had assisted in destroying six further enemy scouts. Not surprisingly he was awarded the Military Cross. Thomas Stratton, of the Duke William Inn, was summoned for having an unscreened sky light on March 31st 1918. Police constable Barnett said that from the High Street at 11.20p.m. he saw a bright light issuing from the aperture, and when this was pointed out the defendant expressed his regret, saying “I am very sorry. I quite forgot to attend to it.” The paint had apparently worn off, but with a warning having previously been given by the Special Constabulary a fine of 10s was imposed. In April 1918 the name of Superintendent W.T. Knight was submitted to the King by the Chapter General of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England. This was for the purpose of making him an Honorary Serving Brother of the Order. The employees of Messrs. Hinde and Mann’s boot factory made a splendid response in June 1918 to an appeal for investments in the Olney and District War Weapons Week. With Mr. J.W. Mann giving 2s 6d to each War Savings Certificate taken up, 1,489 had already been subscribed for. As for the Aeroplane Week Committee, of which the Reverend R. Allan was secretary, and Mr. E. Mapley and Mr. E. Field sub secretaries, at a meeting held on Wednesday, June 26th at the Congregational Schools the chairman, Mr. Mann, said that the target of £25,000 had already been assured. In fact in July, on the last day of the Aeroplane Week (a Saturday) it would be announced by Mr. Mann that a total of £40,700 had been raised. This news was greeted with loud and appreciative applause by the crowd gathered on the Market Square, and much credit was expressed for the postmaster and his staff, who in making the Week a success had worked very hard. On the evening of Tuesday, August 6th 1918, at the meeting of the Belgian Refugee Committee a sad farewell was said to the Reverend Father Allan, who had received orders to move to Lowestoft on the next Thursday. Including Mrs. Wellesley Taylor, many notables were present, and Lady Farrar spoke appreciatively of his enormous help not only with the Committee but also the Hospital Committee, the War Savings Committee and other matters regarding the welfare of the town. On Wednesday, August 14th 1918 the wedding took place at Olney Parish Church of Miss Dorothy Mann, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Mann, of Orchard House, and Ernest Andrews, the third son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Andrews of ‘Ambleside,’ Northampton, who had been invalided out of the army after active service in France. The church was crowded, and attending the bride were her sister, Miss Hilda Mann, and a friend and two nieces. After the ceremony the many guests proceeded to Orchard House, and during the proceedings Mr. Holloway, secretary of the Northants. P.O.W. Fund, said that towards this cause Mr. Mann had given a cheque for £100. The bride had received cables from her two brothers who were on active service - Private Frank Mann in Mesopotamia, and Private Clarence Mann in East Africa - and having been members of the Olney Ambulance Brigade both were in the R.A.M.C. The wives of the men employed by Mr. Mann, but who were now in the Forces, had all subscribed to a present for the newly weds, and accompanied their gift with the message; ‘To Mr. Mann. In our small way, in recognition of your extreme kindness to us as the wives of your employees, serving, and having served, we unanimously thought this was a time, on the occasion of your daughter’s wedding, to show you how we all appreciate your generosity, by presenting Miss Mann with a wedding present, and asking you, Sir, to accept our best thanks.’
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