The contents on this page remain on our website for informational purposes only.
Content on this page will not be reviewed or updated.
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.

W.E. 1915 Jan. 29th

Mr. Leo White of Wavendon returned from the front last week. He was wounded in the head at Armentieres and has 28 days leave. After landing in France he was immediately sent to the firing line and went through several engagements without a scratch. He got up on the top of the trench to have a look round and was at once hit by a bullet which missed his brains by a miracle. The wound is now completely healed. He will talk about anything but bayonet charges, which make him feel sick. After his injury another Sands boy named Smith rendered first aid and crawled back to safety with bullets whizzing around him.

(Formerly of the Bedfordshire Regiment, Lance Corporal Francis Leo White, of the 5th Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) was killed in action on September 29th, 1918. He was aged 23, and was a resident of Wavendon, where he was born.)

B.S. 1915 June 5th

Aged 23, Private Alfred Payne, of the 2nd Northants. Regiment, was killed on May 9th, having been at the Front for only ten days. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Payne of Wavendon, and enlisted on December 7th, 1914. Some three of which being as chauffeur, for 5½ years he had previously been in the employ of Mr. John Dickens, of The Drive, Northampton. He leaves a fiancée, Miss Maddock, of Gallard’s Farm, Lathbury.

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.