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At the outbreak of the war Private T. Robinson was on the reserve of the Northants. Regiment and rejoined the Colours on August 5th 1914. He fought at Mons, but in November, having been sent from Exeter Hospital, he was back home, recovering from a shrapnel wound to the thigh, sustained on October 7th at the Battle of the Aisne. He had taken part in bayonet charges and said that the Germans played the ‘white flag’ trick more than once, but their ruse was not effective.

Well known as an artist, in December 1914 Mr. T. Ivester Lloyd joined the Remount Department of the Army Service Corps, and would be stationed at Woolwich. Having been promoted to corporal, arriving on December 10th he was then sent to France, from where in June 1915 in a letter home he appealed for gifts of old cricketing material. In consequence, any donations would be gladly received at Sherington Manor by Mrs. Wellesley Taylor, or at The Nest, Sherington, by Mrs. Ivester Lloyd, who in July 1916 had the need for a bicycle, ‘cheap for cash or good exchange,’ for a 12 year old boy. The previous month Mr. Ivester Loyd had been gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, on the list of Special Reserve of officers, and by October 1917 Mrs. Ivester Lloyd was residing at St Anne’s, High Wycombe. In consequence she advertised The Nest for rent, but by September 1919 she was back at her former residence, from where was advertised for sale a boy’s bicycle, ‘Coventry made machine,’ for £6. In August 1915 coloured patriotic picture post cards by T. Ivester Lloyd had been locally available in two sets of six each - Defenders of the Empire, and Our Friends and Allies - being sold at 6d per set, or separately at 1d each, and then in 1924 Mr. Ivester Lloyd, who had a reputation as a leading animal portrait painter, was commissioned by the War Office to design and execute scenes from the principal battles of English history - from Hastings to include World War One - for the British Empire Exhibition. This was to be held at Wembley, and the exhibits were to be in the form of tableaux, with painted scenery in the background and the foremost figures in silhouette.

After a long illness, on Wednesday, February 17th 1915 Mr. William Attwood died at his Sherington home. He was 49 and left a widow and two daughters. A native of the village, and a descendant of a family which had been associated with Sherington for generations, his father, Joel, had been sexton at the parish church for many years, whilst his grandfather was for many years the leader of the Church Choir. A staunch churchman, and one of the bell ringers, after leaving the employment of Mr. Owen Oldham, a baker, Mr. Attwood had worked in the paint shop at Wolverton Works.

Being drilled by ex Quarter Sergeant Mainwaring, who had recently become landlord of the White Hart Inn, by March 1915 fourteen men and youths of the village had joined the Bucks Volunteer Defence Corps.

Coming out of the Swan Inn, on Wednesday, April 21st 1915 a tinker of Olney took a bucket and stamped on it three times. Valued at 7d, the bucket belonged to Joseph Watts, and when told of the incident Mrs. Watts confronted the culprit, who denied that he had broken it. She asked him to mend it, and although he complied he asked for the sum of 4d. Mrs. Watts replied “I shall not pay you for the bucket you broke,” to which he then retorted, “I shall have the bucket.” Resolving the matter, he was fined 2s 6d.

For having on March 13th 1915 burnt wood from hedgerows and fences within 30 yards of the village centre, an assistant to a roundabout proprietor was summoned in April 1915. A labourer in the employ of Mr. Jefferson had seen the fire by the roadside on the summit of Chicheley Hill, and went to investigate. In court Superintendent Pearce said that the defendant was one of the gypsy fraternity, and had been ‘a trouble’ for more than a week. With 2s 6d in witness fees, a fine of 10s 6d was imposed.

In May 1915 Harry Claridge enrolled in the Newport Pagnell Company of Special Constables.

Having also maintained a well kept allotment on the Chester Estate, after almost 50 years as the village blacksmith William Groom retired in October 1915. Since the outbreak of the war he had made many useful items to be auctioned for the fund for soldiers comforts, and the role of village blacksmith would now be taken over by William Clarke. As for Mr. Groom, after a short illness he died on the evening of Wednesday, January 8th 1918, aged 70.

By November 1915 all the eligible men of Sherington had joined the Forces, and volunteers were needed to replace the bell ringers. In consequence three ladies commenced their duties on November 23rd.

During severe frosts, in November 1915 Mr. G. Oldham took a wheelbarrow and shovel and strewed the icy streets with sand, to make the surface safe for horses. The roadman was ill, and Mr. Oldham’s gesture was much appreciated.

On the evening of Saturday, November 20th 1915 a jumble sale was held in the schoolroom, this being to raise funds for Christmas gifts for the soldiers from the village.

Having rejoined the colours some time ago, in November 1915 George Crossman sailed for India, aged 55.

At 5, Clydesdale Road, London, on February 9th 1916 Mrs. Ann Victoria Nelson died, aged 74. She was the widow of the late George Nelson who owned considerable land and residential property in Sherington, and in whom the manorial rights of the village were vested. Before her marriage she was Miss Watkins of Adstock. Having never lived in Sherington, which she seldom visited, Mrs. Nelson had left the management to Mr. H. George Rose, who had managed the interests for her husband. She was interred in Sherington churchyard in the grave of her husband.

In connection with the ‘village bureau,’ a concert arranged by Mrs. Wellesley Taylor was held in the schools on Saturday, May 27th 1916. Accompanied by Mr. C. Kenneth Graham, a party of Royal Engineers came over from Fenny Stratford, and also featured was Miss Gune Atkinson, of Cosgrove Priory, who performed two charming songs, for which she was encored. The soldiers were also encored, as well as Miss Hilda Mynard, of Emberton. Other artists also gave excellent renditions, but the star of the evening was Mrs. Taylor’s grandson, Master Sammy Clutton, who, dressed as a Scotch laddie, sang ‘Mac Nab’s Wedding,’ with an encore of ‘There’s a Highland Laddie.’ During the interval Mrs. Taylor gave a resume of the work done by the bureau from November 1914 to April 30th 1916, stating that the amount received had been over £127. Most of this came in small sums week by week, and amongst those benefiting were the Belgian guests, £60 16s 9d, the distressed Belgians in Belgium, £7 12s 5d, the famine in Poland, £4 12s 6d, and the Y.M.C.A. huts.

In May 1916 Sherington Lodge was offered for let, fully furnished. The property had three reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, a large garden and a tennis court, and interested persons were to contact Bullard and Co., auctioneers of Newport Pagnell and Stratford on Avon.

In October 1916 it was announced that Sergeant George Cyril Hill, of the Royal Engineers, had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal, and the Medal of St George, 1st Class. The latter was a Russian decoration, and the highest of its kind to yet be won by a North Bucks soldier. Sergeant Hill was a native of Wolverton, but his wife now lived with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. King, at Sherington. Her father had been an employee at Wolverton Works, and it was there in the coach finishing shops that Sergeant Hill had worked prior to enlisting, shortly after the outbreak of war. During nearly 18 months of active service in France he was wounded in the arm and sent home to England, but having recovered he had now returned to duty at a regimental depot in Newark, where he received the official news of the honours, and letters of congratulation from the officers of his company.

On October 6th 1916, at 2/2 London Casualty Clearing Station, France, Sergeant Frederick Line, the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Line, of the Royal Oak, passed away aged 25. At Sherington a memorial service was held in the parish church on Sunday, October 22nd at 3p.m., with a contingent of the village section of the 3rd Battalion Bucks Volunteer Regiment being present.

Sapper Ernest Bailey, of the Royal Engineers, whose parents lived at an address in Water Lane, was wounded during the fighting in France in November 1916, being subsequently admitted to New Barnet Hospital. A bricklayer by trade, having volunteered for the army he had been in France for about 6 months. Serving with the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, Francis, his brother, had been missing on the Somme since July 31st, whilst as for his youngest brother, Albert, he had joined up a year ago at the age of 16, and was now at Felixstowe with the Bedfordshire Regiment, in which he was a member of the band.

On Christmas morning 1916 Mr. F. Boone received a surprise gift from the parishioners, in the form of a Treasury note case containing a substantial sum of money, and a written document bearing the names of the 96 subscribers. This was in appreciation of the courteous, kindly and obliging way that he had performed his duties as auxiliary postman throughout the past 21 years. Having lived in the village for 50 years, he had formerly delivered letters in Tyringham, Filgrave and Gayhurst, and for many years kept the general stores in the village. Indeed, as the village newsagent his services to the parishioners, in supplying their daily and weekly newspapers and periodicals, were greatly appreciated. Accompanied by Master S. Clutton, Mrs. Jefferson and Miss Jordan, on Christmas morning Mrs. Wellesley Taylor waited upon him at his home, and on behalf of the subscribers handed him the money and the Treasury note case. Completely taken by surprise words failed him, and Mr. Boone duly expressed his thanks through a local newspaper. On July 30th 1918 his grandson, Gunner William John (Jack) Turner, Royal Field Artillery, would be killed in action at Chaumuzy, France, aged 21. Educated at Bedford Modern he had been destined for a good career, but on leaving school he joined up, and after a short period of training at Woolwich was drafted to France.

In February 1917 a ‘monitoress’ was required for the village school, ‘some knowledge of music desirable.’

In March 1917, at the Local Tribunal for the Newport Pagnell Rural District a Sherington mineral water manufacturer applied for an extension for his van man. He was skilled in agriculture, and his services were needed to plough and cultivate 6 acres of land. One month was granted, with further leave to appeal should the weather in the meantime not allow him to complete the work.

At a Special Police Court at Newport Pagnell, on the morning of Saturday, May 19th 1917 the story was recounted of the smart capture of a 45 year old able bodied man. Described as a labourer, he had been apprehended by police constable Barnett, of Sherington, and was charged on remand with having been in unlawful possession of housebreaking tools in Chicheley parish on May 16th. With Mr. W. Carlile in the chair, before the Bench were displayed the implements and some skeleton keys, and giving evidence police constable Barnett said around 10.10p.m. on Wednesday, May 16th he, in consequence of a complaint, had made a search for the man, who he found on Chicheley Hill with a sack on his back. Emptying this on the ground the man told him it contained a few rags and bones, but concealed in the toe of an old boot a bunch of keys came to light, and also discovered was a sharp pointed skewer, which the man said he found. However, at the police station, when thoroughly searched in the presence of Superintendent Dibben hacksaws, knives, files and other implements were revealed in inside pockets. The prisoner, who had 36 previous convictions, in all parts of the country, had nothing to say in court, and was committed for trial at the next Bucks Assizes. This took place at Aylesbury during the first week of June 1917, and saying that he had found a number of the articles he pleaded not guilty. However, this was not the verdict of the court, and he was sentenced to three years penal servitude.

An auction, to provide funds for Christmas presents for the soldiers on active service, was held in the schoolroom on November 9th 1917, with Mr. P.C. Gambell, a local auctioneer, giving his services. With many useful items sold nearly £30 was raised, which with the subscriptions gave a total of £40. This year the Committee had agreed to send money instead of parcels, being 15s each for those at the Front, and 7s 6d each for those at home.

Aged 54, William Pettit, of 176, Edgware Road, London, died on February 19th 1918 at ‘Croyland,’ Aspley Heath, the residence of his brother, Mr. A.W. Pettit. He was 54. The youngest son of his late namesake father, he was born at Sherington and as a young man went to London 26 years ago to begin in business as a draper at 72 and 176, Edgware Road. There he built up a good trade, but the numerous air raids on the city had affected his health, causing him to recently contemplate retirement in the country. On one occasion his premises had sustained heavy damage by enemy aircraft, and on medical advice he came to live with his brother at Aspley Heath. However, he had only been there a week when on Monday, February 18th 1918 he was taken ill, and passed away the following evening. He left a widow and two daughters, and with the funeral taking place on Saturday, February 3rd he was laid to rest in Sherington churchyard. The service was conducted by the Reverend E. Brereton, the rector of Lathbury, and this was because the village rector, the Reverend H. Blomefield, was acting as chaplain to H.M. Forces. In fact as a consequence The Rectory, fully furnished, was available to rent.

For having driven a vehicle at Sherington with no off side front lamp or rear red lamp, Florence Mary Taylor, of Sherington Manor, was summoned at the Newport Pagnell Petty Sessions on Wednesday, March 20th 1918. She pleaded guilty to the offence, which had occurred on March 14th 1918, and in mitigation said that she had no matches to relight the front lamp, and was unaware that the rear was out. She had only been a short distance from her home, but nevertheless a fine of 1s 6d for each case was imposed.

In May 1918, at a Red Cross fete at Newport Pagnell Major Clutton exhibited an old inkstand used at the signing of the deliverance of Jerusalem, an ancient dagger taken from the chief of a rebel tribe at Palestine, and part of a bomb dropped by a Zeppelin in 1914.

At the parish church, on June 26th 1918 the funeral took place of Mrs. Lawes, who for many years had owned the White Hart Inn. Around 1915 she retired from the business, intending to live a quiet life in a cottage, but when the landlord of the pub joined the Forces, and went to France, she gave up her home to help Mrs. Mainwaring carry on the trade. She had been taken ill during early June, in which month she died on the 22nd.

The need arose for an organist at the parish church in November 1918, ‘Gent preferred.’

Conducted by the Reverend E. Brereton, in the absence of the rector, who was still on war duties, a choral service in memory of the men from the parish who were killed in the war was held on Sunday, April 6th 1919. The large congregation included many servicemen from the village, and those who had served in the Volunteers, and with Mr. Nicholls away on war duties his place at the organ was taken by Flossie Sharp, aged 12.

After the war, regarding the Battle of Bapaume in his ‘Story of the Victorious Tanks,’ published in the Daily Telegraph, Major Clough Williams-Ellis M.C. would devote a paragraph to the gallantry of Lieutenant Archie Hickson, the youngest son of the late Mr. W.T. Hickson of Sherington. ‘Lieut. Hickson, of the 3rd Tank Battalion, was one of the few who had got his tank across the line just before the mist lifted. As the sun came out he found himself right in front of the enemies’ batteries at point-blank range. His whippet was immediately hit, but he managed to get his two men away in safety. The artillery and machine gun fire was extremely heavy, but, without any thought of his own safety, he at once went back on foot to warn a number of other tanks which were about to cross the railway at the same place. In this he was successful, and undoubtedly saved a large number of machines from being knocked out.’