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FROM THE CONTEMPORARY LOCAL NEWSPAPERS OF NORTH BUCKS (BUCKS STANDARD, NORTH BUCKS TIMES, WOLVERTON EXPRESS)
With today’s internet a wealth of official information is available regarding those who served.
In an age before local radio and television, families often allowed letters to be published in the local press from their loved ones on active service.
However, for their descendants the letters reveal a more personal aspect, graphically describing the experience of the people and providing an insight into their personalities.

B.S. 1916 Aug. 5th

On July 24th, Private George Thomas Richardson, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, succumbed to the shrapnel wounds to the head that he received in action on July 9th. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Richardson, of Ravenstone, and his wife has received the following letter from Lieutenant Colchester;

“I deeply regret to inform you that your husband, Private G. T. Richardson, died of wounds received on July 9. Your husband had been in my platoon since March, and always showed himself to be a good, cheerful worker, and his death is a great loss to my platoon. Hoping you will accept my sincere sympathy.”

Aged 25, when wounded Private Richardson was taking part in the British offensive on the Somme, and had been in France for about five months. Having volunteered for service some 12 months ago, he enlisted in the Duke of Bedford’s Regiment and trained at Ampthill Park. He had been in France for about five months. A married man, his wife lives at Chapel Lane, Ravenstone, and apart from a widow he leaves three very young children. A skilled farm worker, from the time that he left school he had been in the employ of Mr. H. Dover, of Weston Underwood, and on joining up held the position of horsekeeper.


B.S. 1917 Dec. 8th

On Friday last, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nicholls, of Ravenstone, learned that their youngest son, Private Harold Nicholls, of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, had been killed in action in Flanders on November 11th. Having joined up in February, he had only been in Flanders for a few weeks. Three older brothers are serving in the Forces. The eldest, William, is in Egypt, Harry is in Salonica, and Frank at Crowborough Camp.


ALSO AVAILABLE IN BOOK FORM AS ‘LETTERS FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR’ FROM WWW. LULU.COM,
PRODUCED WITH THE INVALUABLE EXPERTISE OF ALAN KAY & ZENA DAN.