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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. 1915 May 15th

The following letter has been received by Mrs. Carlile, of Gayhurst House. It is from Bombardier P. Green, R.F.A., of Stoke Goldington, who is now a prisoner of war. From a German concentration camp at Soltan, Hanover, he writes;

“Dear Madam. I now have the great pleasure of writing to thank you so very much for the beautiful parcel of clothing, and also your good wishes, sent by you on the 15th instant, and which I received quite intact on Monday, March 29th. It was very kind and thoughtful of you to send such warm and useful articles of clothing, and I feel extremely grateful to you for your kindness. Although the parcel was addressed by you to Munster it was sent straight here, for you will see by my present address that we have moved to another camp since my address was given to you. We came to here from Munster on the 13th December, since when we have been allowed to write a post card every week and a letter on the 1st and 16th of each month. We are being treated fairly well under the circumstances, but I shall not be sorry when it is all finished, which may mean a lot. Hoping this letter will find both you and Mr. Carlile enjoying the best of health.

I remain, dear Madam,

Yours very faithfully,

P. GREEN.”


B.S. 1915 May 29th

From Barracks 65, B3, Laager 2, Saltau in Hanover, Germany, Bombardier P. Green, R.F.A., of Stoke Goldington, writes to a lady at Newport Pagnell;

“I now take the great pleasure of writing to thank you so much for the beautiful parcel sent by you on the 29th March, and which I received quite intact on 20th April. I received your two postcards (dated 27th and 29th March) on the same day - 17th April - so you see I was not disappointed as you thought; and indeed if I were not satisfied with a nice large parcel, which through no fault of yours was not larger, I should be a very ungrateful person. The articles enclosed were most useful, and I am wearing the waistcoat and shirts. It was very kind of you to knit a pair of socks, which, being the first you have made, I think I shall keep as long as I can in remembrance of one who unfortunately I am not acquainted with. My two chums also wish me to tender thanks on their behalf for the beautiful beef dripping, gingerbread, and salt, all three of which are worth their weight in gold out here. Anything to put on bread is very precious out here as we have to depend on what is sent to us to spread on our bread. As space is small I must conclude by asking you to accept my kindest regards, gratitude, and thanks.”


W.E. 1915 June 4th

Mr. and Mrs. Brown, of Park Wood, Stoke Goldington, have received official news that their son, Lance Corporal John Brown, 2nd Northants. Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on May 9th, three days before his 24th birthday. He had been in the Army for about six and a half years, and was with the regiment in Egypt. After being at the Front for awhile he was sent home to spend three months in hospital, and returned on April 1st. Before enlisting he worked for Mr. Bazeley, of Piddington Lodge.


B.S. 1915 Aug. 21st

Private A. Walker is now serving with the 1st Wiltshire Regiment in France, and writes to his old headmaster, Mr. W. Steventon, of Stoke Goldington school;

“Dear Sir. Just a line to say we are getting on well - Jack Bull and myself - and I hope you are the same. We have been out here just over a month. We sailed from Southampton on the 1st of July to Havre, in France; from there we went up the river Seine to Rouen, and we had a splendid journey and saw some nice scenery and buildings. On arriving at Rouen we marched up to the base and stayed there one night. Next day we started on a long railway journey. We were travelling from six o’clock at night till ten o’clock next day. We arrived at our journey’s end and joined the regiment, and after three days’ rest we went up to the firing line in the trenches. We had to take our rations and water with us and some wood to boil a drop of water to make our tea. As we marched through the places the churches and churchyards and houses were blown all to bits, and everywhere was in ruin. Everywhere we go it is just the same. As we get nearer the firing line we can hear the shells screaming in the air, and when one burst near us we all had to drop flat on the ground; but after running, walking, and a bit of bullet dodging we got up to the trenches and relieved the other regiment. It was rather warm, I can tell you. We stayed in the trenches for so many days and we were relieved by another regiment. All that sort of work is done in the dark. We have to be very careful both going in and coming out. We have been backwards and forwards several times and we have got through all right. But we have seen some sights, I can tell you. It will be a good job when it is all over. The corn crops look well out here and most of the land is cultivated by women and girls, as most of the men are in the army. The farm implements, most of them, are old-fashioned and clumsy. We get plenty of marching, and the things we require mostly out here are socks, because we hardly ever have our boots off for days and our feet get sore. My brother Albert is out here with George Bull and Reg. Warren, but they are in a different division to us, so we don’t see them, but they are alright. My other brother, Harry, is at Woking, in Surrey. I hope we shall all meet again at Stoke when the war is over. Shall be pleased to hear from you at any time.”


B.S. 1915 Oct. 16th

Aged 33, and single, Rifleman Harry Warren, of the 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, died in hospital at Chatham on Sunday, October 3rd, the cause of death being an attack of enteric fever, contracted whilst in the trenches at Armentiers. He was the youngest son of Mr. Joseph Warren, of Stoke Goldington, and, having served 12 years in the Army, was called up on Reserve at the outbreak of war, from his employment with Messrs. Hipwell & Co., Olney. After taking part in much military action in France, he was invalided home last December, and although he received treatment at several hospitals, fever nevertheless set in. He was buried with full military honours in Chatham cemetery on Thursday, October 7th, the coffin, draped with the Union Jack, being borne from the hospital on a gun carriage, preceded by a firing party with rifles carried at the reverse. Vast crowds lined the mile route, and with muffled drums the band played appropriate music. Six of Rifleman Warren’s comrades acted as bearers, and at the close of the service the firing party discharged three volleys over the grave. Born at, and a resident of, Newport Pagnell, he is buried in Fort Pitt Military Cemetery, Kent.


B.S. 1916 Apr. 8th

Aged 24, on Saturday, April 1st, George Woodford died at his home in Stoke Goldington. He was the second son of ex police constable Thomas M. Woodford and Mrs. Woodford, and having followed the pursuit of gardening from a lad, had been employed in the gardens of such well-known men as Earl Egerton of Tatton and Lord Sefton. Patriotic to a degree, and stirred by the example of a younger brother to “do his bit” for King and country, he enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment some 15 months ago, but after six months of training at Dover developed an illness which unfortunately led to his discharge from the army. After being at home for awhile, he was later sent to a sanatorium at Peppard Common, near Reading, to receive treatment for tuberculosis. However, with his condition showing little if any improvement, he again returned to his house in Stoke Goldington, where his death took place from consumption of the bowels. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, the deceased being laid to rest in the village churchyard.


B.S. 1916 Dec. 23rd

Corporal Leslie Steventon, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Steventon, of the School House, Stoke Goldington, describes some of his experiences in British East Africa;

“You will see by the address that we have left Maktan, for which “May the Lord make us truly thankful.” We got here in the small hours of yesterday morning after spending the night on the roof of the carriage, the only cool place. Despite the determined efforts of the rotten springless carriages we managed to get some sleep without rolling off. There is no danger of being swept off by the tunnels as there aren’t any. They don’t bother about tunnels and cuttings here; they simply take the track over the hills. It reminds me of a huge scenic railway with some big curves chucked in. When they get to the top of a hill they coast about two-thirds of the way down, then open goes the throttle and the next hill is rushed. Usually they get about half-way up, then the engine begins to cough a bit and just manages to get over. “Some railways!” “Gee!” but it is hot here. It’s bad enough up country, but this beats it. Had a glorious bathe in the harbour this morning. Just going again in a few minutes. The water is as warm as toast. There doesn’t appear to be a town of Kilidini. Mombassa is the town if one can describe such a rotten hole by that word. I went through the native part, quite the largest part of Mombassa too. It is very interesting but horribly filthy. Most of the people seem to spend their time in lying about doing nothing. Very cosmopolitan population, and very few English people. Went to a café for tea and got properly swindled by a Greek I think he was. I argued, but couldn’t induce him to be reasonable about the price, so I paid him and told him lots of things about himself which I am sure he had never heard before. Along the main streets are small gauge rails along which are pushed little two-seater trolley affairs. Niggers do the pushing of course - “Taxis-a-la-Kilidine;” they stick the price on too. They have some weird conveyances in Africa. The few Europeans seem to have private trolleys pushed by their own boys. There are no Kaffirs or Zulus up here - all Swabitis (sic). Wait until I get back, I’ll swank my knowledge of Swabitis, Dutch, Kaffir, and German all mixed up. We are now waiting for a boat to Dar-es-Salaam. It is rumoured that we get pay to-morrow - hope it’s true; haven’t had any pay for six weeks. I don’t think there is much chance of our being home for some months, as the rainy season has set in down South and the floods of the Rufugi river are hindering operations. It’s a long-winded affair, but the conditions are very bad.”


B.S. 1917 Feb. 24th

Writing from Dar-es-Salaam, Corporal Leslie Steventon, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Steventon, of the School House, Stoke Goldington, describes some of his experiences in British East Africa;

“We arrived here from Kilindini two days ago. Had quite a nice passage on a small coasting boat, although we were rather cramped. Two of us slept in a boat swung out from the davits; no room on deck. We called at Tanga on the way down. Could see it had been shelled. One or two boats were sunk in the harbour. Dar-es-Salaam has had quite a rough passage too, the building now used as a soldiers’ club has had a shell right through it. Dozens of Germans are in a concentration camp, and they don’t look exactly lovingly at us, when we walk by. Several captured boats are in the harbour. One, the Konig, is half submerged, with about a dozen hefty holes in her side, and all her superstructure blown away. By jove, but it is hot on the coast. Practically no breeze. Our camp is about one-and a-half-miles inland, and is only about forty feet above sea level. All the ports on this coast seem to be blessed with wonderful natural harbours. This one is quite invisible from the sea, being entered by a narrow channel at one end. We are at present camped in a huge cocoanut plantation. Had anybody told me two years ago that I should be sleeping under a mosquito net under cocoanut palms I should have called them perverters of the truth. It seems rather strange, doesn’t it? There doesn’t seem much chance of us going up the line again, although I managed the medical examination. Several chaps were nailed who had only had slight doses of malaria. The doctors tell by looking in your eyes. Luckily, he passed me by. I suppose I look well enough; anyhow I feel fit. I’m expecting to turn into a grease spot (some) time. We simply sweat from morning until about 12p.m. Luckily we can bathe here. The first night we slept in a shed on the docks. Had a bath about 11p.m. in the moonlight. Glorious! I should say the temperature is seventy degrees easily, and I could simply stay in hours. There are definite hours for swimming of course, owing to the sun - 6 to 8a.m. and any time after 5a.m., when the sun begins to go down. Its fine getting your own cocoanuts. What! What!! Totally different from those we get in England. We got a scrap of a rhino up country. Alive! And also dead. He started getting lively and troublesome, so we let him have a few dum-dums, reserved especially for those beggars. I could have got a ripping snap of three giraffes and a couple of leopards one day had I had a camera. The latter are a lot more dangerous than lions. Have seen several of those too. We were paid two days ago, and are at present living in fine style on ices, coffee, and cakes got from a Greek place. Very reasonable in price too. It’s a case of live well while you’ve got the chance.”

(In July 1918 he would be gazetted from sergeant to second lieutenant in the South Lancashire Regiment, having, after being recommended by his commanding officer for a commission, undergone training at Winchester. Whilst serving as a probationer on the General Manager’s staff, with the consent of the L.&N.W. Railway Company he had joined the army as a private at the age of 18, and being attached to the 23rd Batt. Motor Machine Guns, served for a year in German East Africa.)


B.S. 1917 Nov. 10th

At the Town Hall, Portsmouth, on Monday afternoon, November 5th, 1917, an inquest was held into the death of Corporal Walter West, aged 31, of the 7th Battalion, Northants. Regiment. He was from Dawkes’ Yard, Stoke Goldington, and had been admitted from France on October 2nd to the 5th Southern General (Military) Hospital, Portsmouth, with a shrapnel wound in the left thigh. This rapidly healed, and he was to have shortly been discharged. However, on Saturday, November 3rd he was found hanging from a beam in one of the lavatories, and in giving evidence Louisa Bailey, a V.A.D. Nurse attached to the hospital, said that despite his favourable progress, Corporal West had seemed very depressed and quiet, and mostly sat apart from the other patients on his bed. On the day in question, not eating his dinner he had gone out in the afternoon for a walk but in the evening, at about 6.30p.m., feeling that in view of his strange behaviour it was her duty to keep a watch on him, Louisa asked that a search be made by Lance Corporal Lovelock, who, on finding him in the bathroom of the lavatory, was told by Corporal West that he would have a bath. Leaving him to fetch a towel and soap, Lance Corporal Lovelock returned about ten minutes later, but with one of the lavatories being locked from the inside, and with no response forthcoming to his knocking and calling, he fetched Q.M.S. Ayres, R.A.M.C. Entering the adjoining cubicle, he looked over the partition and found the deceased hanging by the neck from two handkerchiefs, knotted together. Immediately he cut him down and applied artificial respiration, but to no avail. The body was then searched, but all that was found was 2s 6d, and a bar denoting that he had been awarded the Military Medal. Having formerly worked for Mr. G. Whiting, a farmer, Corporal West had been very popular in his home village, and had joined up voluntarily at the outbreak of war. Having been notified from Portsmouth of his son’s death, Mr. Henry West and his daughter, Mrs. Nicholls, of Ravenstone, hurriedly journeyed to Stantonbury to inform Mrs. T. Kightley, of 70, Queen Anne Street, of her brother’s demise, but whilst in the house he then suddenly expired from heart affection, for which he had been receiving medical attention. A well respected and lifelong resident of Stoke Goldington, Mr. West had also worked for Mr. Whiting, and both father and son were buried in Stoke Goldington Churchyard on the afternoon of Thursday, November 8th, in the presence of practically all the village residents.


B.S. 1917 Dec. 29th

Private William Whiting, of the 5th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), has been killed in action in France, and his wife, Bertha, of Myrtle Cottage, Stoke Goldington, has received the following letter from his sergeant;

“No doubt you have by now heard the news concerning your husband. Myself, together with the survivors of his platoon, send you their deep sympathy in your sad loss. Your husband was a brave soldier, loved and respected by all in his platoon. Together with many other brave men, he died for his King and country, nobly fighting in a heavy assault by the enemy on our trenches on November 30. He was killed instantly by a shell about 8 o’clock on that morning. His death was so sudden that he could have suffered no pain whatever. … Your husband is much missed by his comrades who survived that engagement.”

A native of Stoke Goldington, Private Whiting was aged 32, and had been well known locally as an excellent footballer and cricketer.


B.S. 1917 Dec. 29th

Sergeant Jack Whiting, the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Whiting, of Stoke Goldington, is serving with the Bucks Yeomanry in Palestine. He has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and writes to his mother;

“Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. I daresay you have read of the recent offensive in these parts. It has been very severe, I can assure you. Did you read of the charge of the Bucks and Dorset Yeomanry in which we captured 1,100 prisoners, 14 machine guns, and 2 field guns? It was a glorious sight and a fine performance, but very costly in men and horses. We galloped a mile under machine gun fire. It was terrible, but the Turks didn’t relish the sword! You will be pleased to hear I won the D.C.M. in the charge. I got it for leading my men into a forward position with a Hotchkiss gun, and we fairly mowed them down. We are not a long way from a place famous for oranges. We also have seen the pinnacles of another famous Bible city. I saw Neil Primrose go under. Col. Cripps remarked to me, after we had taken the hill: To think that our future Prime Minister should be killed by these swine! When you get close to the Turk, within the last ten yards, he will drop his rifle and surrender, and even want to shake hands with you.”

Sergeant Whiting was the first man from the village to enlist when the war broke out, and has served mainly in Gallipoli (where he was wounded), Egypt, and Palestine.


B.S. 1918 Jan. 12th

The following communication has been sent to Sapper Stanley Pallett, Royal Engineers, by Major General C.E. Perrin, commanding the 2nd Division;

“15th Dec., 1917. Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander have informed me that you have distinguished yourself by conspicuous bravery on the field on 7-8 Dec. 1917. I have read their report, and, although promotion and decoration cannot be given in every case, I should like you to know that your gallant action is recognised and how greatly it is appreciated.”

Since this communication was sent, Sapper Pallett has been awarded the Military Medal. A native of Stoke Goldington, when war broke out he was in the Highland Light Infantry, and has served continuously in France.


B.S. 1918 July 6th

Mrs. Warner, of Archway Cottage, Stoke Goldington, has received news that her husband, Private Arthur Charles Warner, of the 12th Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, was killed by a bomb explosion in France on November 30th, 1917. He had previously been reported as missing. The information was contained in a letter from a friend of her husband, who, now being a prisoner in Germany, was wounded in the legs by the same explosion. A resident of Horton, Northants., Private Warner was aged 24, and initially joined the Lancers in April 1917. He was a son of Mr. G. Warner, of Channey Farm, Eakley Lanes, Lancashire;

“Forget him! No, not in one short year

Will the impression wear away.

He still before my mind appears,

Abroad, at home, by night, by day.

Oft, as with those he loved I meet

His looks, his voice, his words revive;

Or, if alone, I walk the street,

Still something leads my thoughts to him.

From his sorrowing wife.”


B.S. 1918 Nov. 30th

Private Harry Whiting, of the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, is officially reported to have been killed in action in France on October 25th. One of his friends has written this letter to Mrs. Whiting, of Broads Cottage, Stoke Goldington, regarding her son;

“We received your son’s parcel, but regret to say he was killed two days before it arrived, so the parcel was distributed amongst the fellows in his section. His death was caused by a bullet in the left side, and he died a few minutes later. He was a very popular lad with the boys and his death was greatly mourned by all his chums. The boys wish me to send their greatest sympathy to you.”

Aged 25, Private Whiting was born at, and a resident of, Stoke Goldington, and two of his brothers are serving.

Also born at Stoke Goldington, but a resident of Newport Pagnell, Private Arthur Bland, of the Coldstream Guards, has been reported as killed in action in France on November 4th. He was the son of the late Mr. Bland, and Mrs. Bland, of Archway Cottage, Stoke Goldington, and having joined the Forces on March 26th, 1917, went to France exactly a year later. He was aged 22, and was killed by a machine gun bullet. Before enlisting he acted at Ravenstone as horsekeeper for Mr. Alcock, by whom he had been employed for about eight years.

“Fold him in Thy arms, O Lord,

And ever let him be

A messenger of love between

My aching heart and Thee.

From his sorrowing mother, brother and sister.”


B.S. 1918 Dec. 7th

One of the former scholars of Mr. W. Steventon, the headmaster of Stoke Goldington School, has written the following interesting letter with regard to the surrender of the German Fleet in the North Sea;

“As an eye-witness, I can tell you it was a grand sight. The day before His Majesty the King paid us a visit and inspected the Fleet, and so, of course, we had a general holiday that day. We left our base at 4 o’clock on Thursday morning (November 21) to meet the German Fleet. As you no doubt have seen our Fleet was out in its fullest strength, with a squadron of Americans, who have been over here some time now. If the public could only see the Grand Fleet out in full strength they would be amazed. Our ship was the first to see the enemy approaching, but we lost them again in the mist for a little while. We were at our action stations ready for anything that might come, but, when everything was found to be square and above board, you may guess we were not long in getting on top to have a full view of them. By this time the sun had broken through, and the mist that had been hanging over us for days seemed to lift as if for the purpose. Our Fleet divided up into two long rows and we picked up positions so as all their ships came in one line in the centre. I can tell you it was a lovely sight and made an onlooker spell-bound to see these two separate implements of destruction meeting each other in the open sea without an angry shot being fired. And our Navy appeared to take it as calmly as though it were a pageant. In fact on the ship that I have the honour to serve, not a single cheer was raised. All eyes were centred at the centre row. The only comment I heard was it looked as if it never could have happened; and if anyone had told me a month ago that we should witness such a sight I would not have believed it. But, as I write, they are safely anchored in our waters , and we, with others of the Fleet, are proudly guarding them. Some of their ships look as though they would take a bit of reckoning with in action. I can tell you no news regarding the crews, but I believe they must have a full complement of men on board. And some of them appear to be very fine men. But there they are; and what a fine bloodless victory it was to our arms, and one all of us ought to be thankful for. We had a short, but very nice, thanksgiving service on board in the evening, and it was most fitting, too, to the occasion. Of course it was a very proud day for all of us; and after serving three years afloat, I would not have missed it for anything; I shall never forget it as long as I live. I don’t know whether any more of your old scholars, or any from the village, were fortunate enough to witness the scene, but I am proud that I, for one, had the honour and privilege of witnessing such a scene, and I can assure you that I tried my best to represent the old school and village in a most fitting manner. At the same time, one could not help realising the feelings of the men who came in under their own flag to see it lowered not to be raised again at the present.”

The writer, C. Kilpin, holds a carpenter’s rating on H.M.S. New Zealand.


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