Keep the Home Fires Burning - detailing wartime life in the towns and villages mentioned.

Evelyn Close was built on land given by Anthony Rothschild, in memory of his brother, Evelyn, who was killed in action in the charge at El Mughar in November 1917. The following letters remind of the sacrifice made by all the men on active service from Wing.

“Dear Mr. Pease, it is a great sorrow to me to have to send you bad news about your son, Pte. W. Pease. Our Battalion had a very rough time in the front line trenches at the beginning of the week, and during shelling your son was hit and died almost at once. I understand the wound was on the top of his head, and he was apparently not conscious at all and passed away in five minutes. There is the comfort of knowing that he did not suffer at all. We feel we have lost a good and true soldier, and I want to offer you on behalf of all his comrades, our deep and respectful sympathy.”

Private Page was aged 19, and had been at the Front for only three months. Having joined the Oxon & Bucks Light Infantry in October, 1916, after passing as a first class signaller he was sent to France on July 29th, 1917, being then transferred to a Lewis Gun Section. He had been one of the first to join Mrs. De Rothschild’s Own Troop of Scouts, and did much good service when soldiers were first billeted in Wing.