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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.

NBT 1917 May 1st Tue.

News has been received of a Tebworth lad who has been in the thick of the fighting. He is Sergeant Cyril Hack, who went to Canada four years ago and came to England with the Canadian Contingent. Wounded last year, after a period in hospital he then returned to his regiment, and was in the Canadian’s successful attack on Vimy Ridge on Easter Monday. He was wounded by shrapnel in the back and stomach, and is now making satisfactory progress in hospital at Newport, Monmouthshire. Arthur Hyde and Walter Rickett, both of Tebworth, have also been in hospital, the former with wounds, and the latter with trench feet.


NBT 1917 May 1st Tue.

(See also entry for May 15th.) Official intimation was received last week of the death in action on March 15th of Lance Corporal Reginald Norman, of the Beds. Regiment. A letter of regret and sympathy was also been received from his Captain, who states that he was killed by a shot as his regiment was assaulting a village. He also speaks of the regret of his comrades at his loss, and of the good work he had performed as a sniper in the earlier days of the Somme fighting. He was only 19 years of age last November, and joined up two years ago. He was home on leave at Christmas.


NBT 1917 May 15th Tue.

A fortnight ago the death of Lance Corporal Norman, of Tebworth, was reported. His mother received an intimation from comrades and from his captain that he was killed in an assault on a village in France on March 16th, and was buried where he fell. Official notification of his death was also received from the War Office, and funeral cards were issued and insurance claims paid. However, yesterday from camp Gefangenerilager Minden, Westphalia, Germany, Mrs. Norman received a hand written post card from her son dated April 29th, in which he states that he has been badly wounded in the right arm, and is now a prisoner of war. The grief of his mother has now been turned to joy, and his many friends and acquaintances will rejoice to know he is alive, although a prisoner of war.


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.