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In August 1914 a Reservist from Stony Stratford by the name of Pittam was called up, leaving behind his wife who was due to give birth. She and the baby son passed away on the Monday, and the heartbroken father was unable to attend the funeral.

Following the outbreak of war, the London General Omnibus Co. had a large number of their buses commandeered for war purposes by the War Office. Therefore they had to discontinue their Bedford services, including the No. 6 route from Stony Stratford to Bedford, and vice versa.

In the early weeks of the war George Brandon Baker, the son of Henry Baker, of Stony Stratford, was among those lost when a German submarine sank H.M.S. Pathfinder. Having learnt the trade of a fitter in Wolverton Works, where his father was employed, he was an electrician, and had been in the Navy for about 6 years. Well known locally as a footballer, he had formerly played for Stony Stratford Town Club.

One weekend in late October 1914 several Belgian refugees arrived at Stony Stratford, being principally exiles from Antwerp. Temporary accommodation was firstly found at the Vicarage by the Reverend and Mrs. Last, but other people also came forward, and Dr. T. Maquire provided a house for a family, rent free, near the tram terminus.

Built at the ‘Watling Works’ Stony Stratford, on Saturday, February 6th 1915 the steam tug ‘George Hill,’ from the masthead of which flew the Union Jack and the flags of France, Belgium and Russia, was launched at Old Stratford Wharf by a little Belgian girl, Mdlle. Renee Selbac Corstiaens, who, to much cheering, cut a string which released a bottle of champagne to burst against the bows. 51 foot long the vessel, which took some three months to build, would be used to help load up troops for the front, with firstly the need to negotiate about 70 locks along the Grand Junction Canal, to be put through its trials on the Thames. Renee was the grand daughter of Mons. Corstiaens (the ex town clerk of Antwerp) and Mme. Corstiaens, who were amongst the spectators. During World War One many launches and tugs built at the Watling Works would be used by the Admiralty, and also foreign governments. One was even employed on the Sea of Galilee to convey Mohammedans on their pilgrimage to Mecca, and had been specially constructed to withstand the sudden storms that could arise.

(The proprietor of the Watling Works was Edward Hayes, a native of the town, who for many years carried on the business of designing and building steam launches and tugs for the use of the Admiralty, as well as for overseas customers. He died at Stony Stratford in April 1917 aged 72, and was buried in the cemetery on the London road.)

As a result of a collection instituted for nine weeks at Old Stratford, by early February 1915 £6 had been realised for the Belgian Relief Fund. The collectors were Mrs. Webster and Mrs. Toombs, with the honorary treasurer being Mrs. W. Dickens.

Of the 13 children of Mr. and Mrs. Larner, of Stony Stratford, Private S. Larner, the youngest of the five soldier brothers, was killed at the charge at Aubers Ridge on May 9th 1915. The second son, Private William Larner, was now the stationmaster on the Government railway at Lahore.

In June 1915 Mr. W. Parrott, the clerk to the Potterspury Board of Guardians, and Stratford and Wolverton Rural District Council, joined the army, with his place as captain in the local section of the Special Constables being taken by Mr. R. Neave, the North Bucks Union Agent.

At the Stony Stratford Petty Sessions, on Friday, July 2nd 1915 Harry Palmer and Charles McGill, chauffeurs of Stockport, answered their bail for, in contravention of the Defence of the Realm Act, having been in charge of a searchlight attached to a motor car at Stony Stratford on June 6th. Christian Mebes, of 156, Great Portland Street, London, was also charged, for aiding and abetting. Whilst patrolling the High Street of Stony Stratford police constable Adams had noticed two cars parked outside the Cock Hotel, and having a body of an unusual design one of the vehicles, a 9h.p. Morris Oxford, was equipped with a searchlight able to be manipulated from the driver’s seat. When questioned the drivers said they were taking the vehicles from the Talbot Garage, London, to Stockport, and in the witness box Mebes said that he was born in England, and his German father had taken out naturalisation papers about two years ago. He was fined £30 with £6 10s costs, and although the other two were discharged the car was confiscated. Police constable Adams was highly commended by the Bench, whilst as for the car, this was to be used for police duty by Superintendent Pearce, the chief of the North Bucks Divisional Constabulary. For a similar contravention, at the Stony Stratford Petty Sessions on Friday, October 8th 1915 Alfred Browning, a general engineer of Dudley, Staffordshire, was summoned for carrying on a motor cycle ‘a lamp capable of movement.’ Police sergeant Govier said that on September 20th he had seen a motorcycle with a sidecar outside the Victoria Hotel, and attached to the vehicle was a lamp which was able to move skywards but not sideways. The defendant, who was a special constable in his own district, claimed ignorance of the law, and pleading guilty said that had he known he would have had the lamp fixed. A fine of 15s was imposed.

At York House School, run by Mrs. Slade, the Misses Slade, and an ‘Efficient Staff including a resident Mademoiselle,’ the annual speech day and prize giving was held on Wednesday, July 28th 1915. Gathered on the lawn at the back was a large company of parents and friends of the pupils, plus many others of town and district, and in one of the classrooms could be inspected the work of the scholars, some of whom performed a play ‘King Cattarrho,’ with singing and dancing.

At the Stony Stratford Petty Sessions, on Friday, July 30th 1915 Martha Gunter, the manageress of a Stony Stratford boarding house, was summoned under the Aliens Restriction Amendment Order of 1915, together with Thomas Watson Ricker, a harness maker of Walsall. She was charged with failing to obtain certain particulars for the register, and he, an American engaged on Government work, for neglecting to furnish particulars whilst staying at the Victoria Hotel Boarding House, which was managed by his co-defendant. Both did not appear, but in a letter Ricker said “The whole thing was through want of understanding. I am an American, descended from English and Scotch stock, and I could send as many references from responsible business men as you would like to name.” Superintendent Pearce confirmed that the man‘s background was perfectly satisfactory, and although the Bench were quite satisfied that there had been no intention of wrong doing they, as a warning to others, imposed a fine of £1 on each defendant. The maximum punishment could have been £100, or 6 months’ imprisonment.

At the Baptist Church, on Thursday, August 12th 1915 Walter Mackerness, an assistant chemist employed by Mr. A. Leeming, of Wolverton, married Dora Jones, the daughter of the headmaster of the Stony Stratford Council Schools, where she had previously been a teacher. The couple were both prominent workers at the Baptist Church, and after the ceremony left for a honeymoon at Llandudno.

There was a large audience at the Public Hall on the evening of Thursday, January 27th 1916, this being for a concert given by the Wolverton Pom Pom Concert Party in aid of funds for the Red Cross, and also the Sunday School connected with the local Congregational Church. All the items were greatly enjoyed, with ‘We shall all do the goosestep’ receiving an encore.

During the night of Monday, March 17th and Tuesday, March 28th 1916 there was a heavy fall of snow, followed by such severe weather that the whole district was isolated from the outside world. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and roads blocked, and with nine trees down between Wolverton and Stony Stratford the steam tram was held up for the night.

Employed at Wolverton Works, before volunteering for active service with the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, Private W. Parker, the youngest son of Mr. W. Parker, of the High Street, Stony Stratford, had taken a great interest in the Boys’ Brigade at Fegan’s Homes. He was wounded at the Battle of Loos, and whilst helping an injured colleague was again wounded in July 1916, being subsequently treated in hospital at Leicester.

Towards raising money for Christmas presents for the men on active service, on December 23rd 1916 in the Public Hall the Reverend T. Landsdowne gave a lecture on Tennyson. The occasion was well attended, being interspersed with musical items by the choir.

A boy of 11 was dismissed with a caution, when brought to court for throwing a snowball in Stony Stratford on the evening of Monday, January 15th 1917. He and his brothers had been throwing snowballs across the road from Stony Stratford to Old Stratford when a touring car, going to Birmingham, passed in between. As one of the occupants Sergeant W. Kirtland, M.T., A.S.C., was hit in the eye by a snowball, and had to be taken to Towcester where he was treated by Dr. Simpson. However, with the damage found to be more serious he was taken to Birmingham Military Hospital, and then for treatment in London. When his leave expired he had to return to the front with his eye bandaged.

Being involved in the milling industry, Mr. James Rogers, of The Mill House, died on Thursday, February 15th 1917. Having lived in the town for some 50 years he had farmed on a large scale, with extensive holdings at Passenham and Puxley. A staunch supporter of Stony Stratford Market, and other farming organisations, he was much respected and a “fine old English gentleman,” being for 41 years Vicar’s Warden at Stony Stratford parish church, and prior to that for 16 years churchwarden at Thornton. Subsequently on the instructions of the executors of the deceased on Friday, June 15th 1917 at 4p.m. at the Cock Hotel Messrs. Geo. Wigley and Sons conducted the auction of the Mill, described as being ‘situate on the River Ouse, commanding the splendid Water Rights, with two powerful Water Wheels, together with an excellent Modern RESIDENCE, with Garden, Lawn, and Paddock; Freehold Stabling and converted House adjoining, with Orchard and Paddock; valuable Freehold Accommodation Meadow LAND, the whole containing about 22 acres. And a commodious HOUSE and SHOP, with extensive Yard and Buildings, situate on the Market-square.’ However, it was pointed out that if prospective buyers wished to put the premises to alternative use, then it was well adapted for use as an electric light generating station, ‘or any other Industry requiring Power, having two excellent water wheels of about 20 nominal horse power, the driving being thus almost costless.’

July 1917 witnessed the completion of the first year of the Stony Stratford War Pensions Committee of the Naval and Military War Pensions Committee. With meetings held every month, alternatively in Wolverton and Stony Stratford, 164 cases had been dealt with, of which 21 were in receipt of relief. Of these, 19 were permanent, being chiefly wives and mothers of soldiers and sailors who, having been in better circumstances before the war, were now in need of help to keep their homes together.

Whilst digging in his garden, in August 1917 Thomas Worker, of the White Swan, unearthed a coin which turned out to be Roman and about 1,000 years old. Of heavy copper, the specimen was in a fair state of preservation.

Of three soldier brothers, in September 1917 it was reported that Private Herbert Clarke, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Clarke, of the Cock Hotel, had been awarded the Military Medal. As a transport driver in the 17th Royal Fusiliers his duties took him right up to the firing line, and it was in this proximity that a shell exploded close to his wagon. The horses immediately stampeded, and although Private Clarke had been wounded by shrapnel in the left thigh he managed to get the team under control, before they reached the enemy lines. Having for the past 19 years held the license of the Cock Hotel, towards the end of January 1920 his father, Mr. Francis Thomas Clarke, retired, to live in a house that he had bought in Wolverton Road. A native of Bedford, as a young man he had been employed by the L.N.W.R., rising to the position of traffic inspector for the Market Harborough and Stamford district. That was at a time when the late Empress of Austria frequently rode with a local hunt, and, having travelled on all the trains with her, a valued possession was a diamond cluster scarf pin that she had personally presented to him. On leaving the railway he became associated with Messrs. Manning, the Northampton brewers, and after several years in a responsible position he left their employment, and for the next 12 years became the tenant of the Hesketh Arms Hotel at Towcester. Then after 8 years of private life he came to Stony Stratford.

With the High Street impassable to pedestrians, on the last Saturday in January 1918 many people gathered to watch cars and cycles plough through the flood water. At the lower end of the town several houses were immersed to a significant depth, and people had to have bread and provisions passed to them through the bedroom windows.

It was reported on Friday, June 14th 1918 that James William Smith, aged 56, a chemist for some 20 years, had committed suicide by throwing himself into the River Ouse. For the past 18 months he had been under the treatment of Dr. Cecil Powell for neurasthenia, but at about midnight on rising from his bed he slipped past his sleeping attendant, who had been engaged for his care for some while, and dressed only in a night shirt and mackintosh went to the river, where his body was found after a 4 hour search by police sergeant Govier and others. The funeral service took place in the Baptist Church, with burial in Calverton Road Cemetery. Mr. Smith had been a passionate music lover, and devoted much of his leisure time to train and develop the Sunday School choir.

On November 22nd 1918 Carrie Scott, a 26 year old married woman of 26, Park Road, Calverton, called at the Co-op Stores in Stony Stratford to buy ¼lb of butter. Her husband was a member of the Co-op. but the assistant, Florence Pollard, told her that she could not have any because “your sugar card is not here.” With this deemed to be making a condition of sale, the case came to the Stony Stratford Petty Sessions on Friday, December 28th 1918, where a solicitor appeared for the Co-op, who were represented by the manager, Mr. Jelley. He pleaded not guilty, and when cross examined Mrs. Scott said that she had never been refused butter at the Stores until she took her sugar card elsewhere. Giving her evidence, Florence Pollard said she had received orders from the manager not to serve those who had not deposited their sugar cards until the others had been served, and in confirmation Mr. Jelley said that the committee had decided that where there was a scarcity of a commodity, then the members who had deposited their sugar cards would have priority. The Stores only had a sixth of their pre war butter supply, and so this seemed only fair. The Bench were undecided about a verdict, but eventually decided to convict and impose a penalty of 5s, with a similar fine for having refused the sale of margarine.

In connection with the Unionist Workmen’s Club a farewell concert was held in the Club Room on the evening of Saturday, March 29th 1919, this being in honour of Mr. Van-den-Broek, a Belgian resident who, since coming to the town in late October 1915, had made his home with his wife at 15, Wolverton Road. Now in the aftermath of the war he would shortly return to Antwerp to resume his pre-war business. Whilst in Stony Stratford he and his wife had been highly respected, and his quiet and sociable disposition always made him a welcome guest at the Club. He was presented with a handsome meerschaum pipe and pouch bearing the inscription ‘An emblem of friendship and good wishes to M. Van-den-Broek, from members of the S.S. U. Club,’ and in making the presentation in a few words the chairman, Mr. E. Cockerill, wished him every future happiness. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthem in fine style by Mr. A. Ross, with the audience rising and heartily joining in the refrain. Mr. Van-den-Broek then made an emotional reply.

On Peace Day, July 19th 1919, the whole town was ablaze with patriotic colours, and at the Church Schools the words ‘Victory and Peace’ stood out in bold relief from a wealth of flags and other decorative material. A competition for the best decorated house was won by John Robinson, of 12, Church Street, and around the town marched a procession in which men maimed in the war, ex soldiers, special constables, Friendly Society members with their banners, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and the Fire Brigade all participated, with decorated cycles and cars also featured. The demobilised men were then entertained to lunch, with a tea served to nearly 1,000 children. Sports were held during the day, and at night a bonfire was lit.

By the management of the local Working Men’s Social Club, on Saturday, August 9th 1919 a cordial welcome was extended to 150 of the town’s returning soldiers. After a tea a concert was given, also attended by about 120 clubmen, including many who were prominent in the movement in North Bucks. A ‘fine repast’ was served in marquees on the quoits ground, with the tables having been decorated by several local ladies, who also acted as waitresses.

In August 1919 Walter Marsh, of Stony Stratford, was awarded the Territorial Decoration, the highest honour that could be gained in this branch of the service, and thereby became the first man in the country to hold both this decoration and the Long Service Medal. Having joined the old county Volunteers in 1885, he had continued his military association with the Territorials and held the rank of Senior Colour Sergeant when the war broke out. He readily volunteered for active service, and on going to France with D Company soon gained high praise on the battle field from his battalion leader, as well as from distinguished generals. In fact in October 1916 he was specially recommended by Viscount French for a commission, and with this approved he was sent home to take up duty on the Isle of Man. On the night that he left the trenches he received a testimonial from his fellow N.C.O.s of D Company in the form of an address worded; “We the undersigned representatives of ‘D’ Company, 1/1st Bucks Battalion, wish to express the appreciation of the whole Company of the services of Company Q.M.S. Marsh both in England and on active service, and to wish him health and prosperity in the future.” In March 1918 he was then given a full lieutenancy. Both in the old Volunteer Corps and in the Bucks Territorials he had gained a reputation as a marksman, and, with this being testified by the many prizes he had won in open competition, in various parts of the country, his greatest achievement with the rifle was in the No. 1 County Competition, when he beat all the crack shots of Bucks, and created a record that was not equalled or beaten. In fact 1906 proved to be his best year, when he won the County Challenge Shield and Bronze Medal, and made the highest score of his career, this being 100 out of 105 when shooting against the London Irish on the Stantonbury range.

On active service, in 1918 Fred Holman had been badly gassed, and lost his power of speech. Then in February 1922 whilst trying to speak to his dog he was surprised to hear himself say “Lie down,” and during the next few days his voice grew stronger and eventually returned to normal. Living near Stony Stratford, he had been married for 2 years, and until then his wife and baby had not heard his voice.

DOCTORS AT WAR
DR. CECIL POWELL

Born the son of the late Christopher B Powell, of Tunbridge Wells, Dr. Cecil Powell was educated at Cambridge, where he gained an M.A. and an M.B. Around 1910 he came to Stony Stratford to join the practice of Dr. T. Maguire, on whose retirement he then acquired the practice. Resident at Calverton House he was highly esteemed in the town, and following the outbreak of war joined the R.A.M.C., to be stationed at the Military Hospital at Colchester with the rank of Lieutenant. Mentioned in the London Gazette of November 18th 1914, his commission actually dated from November 5th, and would continue for one year, or for the duration of the war. As for his experiences, on November 10th 1914 he wrote to a friend at Stony Stratford saying that, with an extremely varied range of duties, he was having a busy time, despite there being 30 doctors at the hospital. He hoped to go to the Front soon, and said that on the Saturday he had met a party of 100 soldiers who had been wounded at Ypres. Many had not shaved or changed their clothes for a month, and many still had their field dressings on. Whilst on active service he would come to the notice in September 1915 of Private W. Wodhams, of the 7th Beds., who writing to a friend in Woburn Sands said that their doctor was Lieutenant Surgeon C. Powell, of Stony Stratford; “He is a jolly fine fellow, and looks after us well.” At Stony Stratford, Dr. E. Brown, the partner in the practice, had taken over the duties of Dr. Powell, who in November 1916 resigned his commission, and on returning from France resumed his position as Medical Officer of Health for the Potterspury Union, as well as, by the nomination of Mr. E.T. Worley, becoming deputy coroner for the Newport Pagnell and Stony Stratford districts. He was also surgeon to the Duke of Buckingham Lodge of Odd Fellows (Manchester Unity), President of the Stony Stratford Fur and Feather Society, a prominent Freemason, and Vice Chairman of the Literary and Debating Society. As for leisure pursuits, he was keen on sport, and enjoyed playing tennis in the summer. Also he enjoyed hunting, but during one outing on October 26th 1921 his horse shied and fell on his right leg, but with no bones broken he made light of the incident, which just caused him to rest up for awhile. However, a month later it was due to this accident that, whilst dismounting in the stable yard, he was unable to swing his right leg over his horse, and when his spur touched the animal’s neck the horse started forward, throwing him onto the cobbles. He was then unable to rise until his groom and gardener, Reuben Tucker, of 1, Mill Lane, Stony Stratford, came to his assistance. Taken indoors, medical help was immediately summoned, and on being transferred to St Thomas’s Nursing Home on January 3rd 1922 it was found that his spine was injured. At the beginning of February he returned to Stony Stratford, but on Wednesday, March 1st 1922 was brought to a nursing home in London, in Beaumont Street, where an operation was performed. However, this only had partial success and he died 3 days later, aged 50, leaving (his wife Emily having died some three years before) three children, of whom the eldest was in the Navy and the youngest still at school. The inquest was held at Marylebone Coroner’s Court, with the verdict returned of accidental death. Brought by train from London to Wolverton station, the body was then taken to Calverton House in a glass panelled hearse, and on Thursday, March 9th 1922 just before noon the first part of the funeral service was conducted by the Reverend T. Evans Prichard, the rector of Calverton, assisted by the vicar of Stony Stratford and the vicar of Old Wolverton Church. Burial then took place in the churchyard of Calverton with among the mourners his son Christopher, wearing the uniform of a Navy midshipman, Miss Cecily Powell his daughter, his sisters and relatives, and Miss R. Skipp and Miss A. Tite, maids at Calverton House.

COLONEL W.H. BULL

On Friday, May 12th 1916 Mrs. Bull, the wife of Colonel W.H. Bull, the King’s Honorary Surgeon, died at her home in Stony Stratford. Giving evidence, at the inquest Marjorie Littlechild, a housemaid, said that she had taken a cup of tea to Mrs. Bull’s bedroom at 7.30a.m., and passing a remark about the weather she had seemed perfectly alright. However, on returning later with the letters the housemaid found that she was not there. In her evidence, Carrie Atkinson, a cook, said that on going to open the surgery at about 8a.m. she found Mrs. Bull lying on the floor in her dressing gown, and when her head was lifted she was found to be unconscious, with there being a strong smell of carbolic from a bottle close by. Dr. Douglas Bull said that his stepmother was aged 64, and because her husband was away on military duties he had constantly seen her. The loss of her son early in the war had taken a significant toll, and, this having been even more so since the previous Sunday week, he had noticed a sudden change in her condition, which, despite having had the company in the house of her sister, Mrs. Smith, for the past year, seemed very depressed. Then last Sunday it seemed to be the beginning of the end, for on Wednesday week she had heard the news of Sergeant Godley’s death, and then the servant to whom he had been engaged gave notice to leave. In the absence of Colonel Bull, as locum tenens Dr. W. Ross said Mrs. Bull had been very depressed since the loss of her son, and with her death having been due to carbolic poisoning the jury returned a verdict of ‘Suicide whilst temporarily insane.’ The funeral took place on Tuesday, May 1916 in Calverton Road Cemetery, with the body interred in the grave of her first child. In January 1917 came news that her youngest son, Captain Cecil Bull, of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, had been dangerously wounded. He was in a London hospital, and it was perhaps there that he would learn that his father, who had been serving with the Army Medical Service since the outbreak of war, was amongst those officers whose names had been brought before the Secretary of State for War. This was for valuable services rendered, and on completing his appointment as Commissioner of Medical Services for the West Midland Region, in June 1919 he would be presented by the medical staff with an illuminated address on vellum, and a pair of massive silver candlesticks. As for the clerical staff, they gave him a leather writing case.