Jan a 1 Jan a 2 - The Great War Remembered · 1919: Anton Drexler, Gottfried Feder and Dietrich...

January 1st January 2nd

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i New Orleans Times-Democrat newspaper, 2.1.1913 archived at http://commons.wikimedia.org ii Rebecca Simpson: A Century of British Film Censorship, 31.12.2012;

http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk iii Blood Transfusions by Geoffrey Keynes (London 1922) from https://archive.org

i From www.airsciences.org.uk; ii From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_January_1915

1916: A YOUNG ERRAND (NOT ARRANT) THIEF:

A little boy, nine years old was at Stony Stratford Sessions

given six strokes of the birch rod for stealing a 10s note and

some stamps from Mr A Allen, bootmaker, in whose service he was

employed. It appears the boy spent the money on chocolates and a

flash-light. The darkness was responsible for the flash-light

for, being an errand boy who was obliged to attend school, he

could not see the numbers of the houses in the evening when the

master sent him out with parcels. What straits employers must be

in for labour, when it is necessary to impress a mere baby for

the delivery of boots. This must not be seen by the censor, for if

reported by wireless it may encourage the Germans to think

England is done for…

(e Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News 1.1.1916)

(e BucksAdvertiser andAylesbury News1.1.1916)

Elsewhere…1913: LouisArmstrong learnedthe trumpet in thisNew Orleans‘Waif's Home’:

(e Times-Democrat)i

e British Board of Film Censors is established to censor films ‘which maybe considered in any way opposed to the better feelings of the generalpublic.’ ii

1917: e Royal Army Medical Corps treating Front Line casualties of theGreat War uses blood that has been cooled and stored in the first-eversuccessful blood transfusion.iii

1914: THE NEWPORT PAGNELL RURAL DC has accepted

the designs of Mr A Wilson of Bradwell for cottage homes to be

erected at Loughton…

…The Wolverton Church Lads' Brigades, the Stewkley Church Lads

and the Scouts held a field day at Wing on Boxing Day.

(Luton Times and Advertiser 2.1.1914)

1916: 13337 Private William Bennett of Stony Stratford, born inBeachampton; employed as a labourer at London & North Western Railway(LNWR) Wolverton Works; enlisted in Wolverton with the 7th Battalion,Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Oxon & Bucks LI); diedon this day in Salonika aged 23; buried in the Lembet Road MilitaryCemetery, Salonika, Greece.

Elsewhere…1914: e Inspection Department of the Military Wing of the RoyalFlying Corps (precursor to the RAF) is formed with an Inspector ofAeroplanes, Geoffrey de Havilland; and an Inspector of Engines, Major J B DFulton CB.i

1915: Shipwrecks on 2nd January

Bjørgvin (Norway): e cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean 60nautical miles (110 km) north of Rockall, Inverness-shire, UK. Her crew wererescued by Brynhild (flag unknown).

Jamaica (Norway): e cargo ship was driven ashore at Angeiras, Portugalwith the loss of all hands.

Maryetta (Norway): e barque foundered in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nauticalmiles (28 km) north-west of Fair Isle, UK with the loss of eleven of herseventeen crew.

Sunlight (UK): e steam barge collided with Snowdrop (UK) in the RiverMersey at Liverpool, Lancashire and sank. Her crew were rescued bySnowdrop.ii

Milton Keynes c1914 (courtesy MKHA)

Dinner Time at Wolverton Works c1913(Living Archive MK)

January 3rd January 4th

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i From www.uboat.net/wwi ii From www.marxists.org/archive/lenin i British Vessels Lost at Sea pub. HMSO 1919

1914: Our Annualtreat to Mrs. K napp –Linford Hall. To give aConcert to the Blind of N.Bucks. Had a goodlaugh going over. Theprocession just amusedme. We had 5conveyances and thatartful little governess Car.We dodged it alrightgoing – put someoneblind in it, but had tohave it on our return.Miss Wylie, Ethel and I.It tried its circus tricksonce or twice. Had a good old laughover tea….

Diary extract and portrait of Nellie Smith from New Bradwell aged 19 (Living Archive MK)

Elsewhere…1914: Borough of Derby Health Report: During the week ended

2nd January 1914, there were 78 births (42 males and 36 females)

and 43 deaths recorded (23 males and 20 females)…

Causes of death: bronchitis 10; cancer 7; heart disease 4;

violence 3; alcoholism 2; whooping cough 2; pneumonia 2;

prematurity 2; old age 2; influenza and convulsions 1;

other causes 8… During the week, 12 cases of infectious disease

were notified including tuberculosis; scarlet fever; diphtheria;

enteric fever…

(Derby Daily Telegraph 3.1.1914)

1918: Ships sunk by U-boats on 3rd January:U-boat Commander Ship sunk Tons Nationality

U 61 Victor Dieckmann Birchwood 2,756 BritishUB 30 Wilhelm Rhein Gartland 2,613 BritishUB 50 Franz Becker Allanton 4,253 BritishUB 50 Franz Becker Steelville 3,649 BritishUC 49 Hans Kükenthal Blackwhale 237 BritishUC 75 Johannes Lohs Asborg 2,750 Norwegiani

V. I. LENIN

Resolution Of The All-Russia Central Executive Committee:

On the basis of all the achievements of the October Revolution,

and in accordance with the Declaration of the Working and

Exploited People adopted at the meeting of the Central Executive

Committee of January 3, 1918, all power in the Russian Republic

belongs to the Soviets and the Soviet institutions. Accordingly,

any attempt by any person or institution whatsoever to usurp any

of the functions of state power will be regarded as a counter-

revolutionary act. All such attempts will be suppressed by every

means at the disposal of the Soviet power, including the use of

armed force.ii

1915: 8571 Private William Syratt, son of William and Elizabeth Syrattof Spencer Street, New Bradwell, Wolverton; serving with 2ndNorthamptonshire Regiment; killed in action on this day aged 28;commemorated on Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

1918:(Bucks

Standard 12.1.1918)

Elsewhere…1917: Captured by submarine andsunk by gunfire: WRAGBY (3,641 tons)45 miles W by N from C Spartel.

Mined and sunk with four lives lost:LONCLARA (1,294 tons) off RiverWear.i

1919:

(Bucks Standard11.1.1919)

High Street, Newport Pagnellc1914 (Living Archive MK)

(Bucks Standard 4.1.1919)

January 5th January 6th

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i Ford, http://corporate.ford.com/news-centerii From www.historyonthenet.com i The New York Times 7.1.1919; www.nytimes.com

1917: Sergeant William Wise, the second son of Mr and MrsReuben Wise of Wolverton Road, Newport Pagnell has beenofficially recognised for a heroic action on the Frenchbattlefield. This was in the severe fighting around Ypres whenone night he was in an advance to take over some trenchesoccupied by another battalion. Early the next morning, theGermans opened a terrific bombardment and smashed all means ofcommunication, and a volunteer was needed to take a message tothe Cornwall Battalion headquarters. Thus bringing relief to hisBrigade at a very critical moment, under very heavy fireSergeant Wise succeeded in this mission and, with his bravery andcool courage being highly praised by the Brigade Commander, andby his own Battalion Commander he was awarded the MilitaryMedal. Employed as an apprentice at Wolverton Carriage Works asa coach builder, when war broke out he joined up at the age oftwenty and having been wounded once, quickly gained promotion onthe field to sergeant. He is as excellent an athlete as a soldierand holds the championship gold medal for the mile flat raceopen to regiments of his Brigade.

(Wolverton Express 5.1.1917)

1918:


Elsewhere…1914: e Ford MotorCompany announces aneight-hour working dayand a minimum wage of $5a day.i

1919: Anton Drexler, Gottfried Feder and Dietrich Eckart found theDeutsche Arbeiterpartei DAP (German Workers' Party) – nationalist, racist,anti-semitic, anti-capitalist and anti-communist. Later, it becomes the Naziparty under Adolf Hitler.ii

1914: FENNY STRATFORD (Bucks): Great excitement was

caused yesterday by the appearance of a stag hunted by Lord

Rothschild’s staghounds seeking shelter in [a local] taproom…

(Hull Daily Mail 6.1.1914)

‘Western-road’ Wolvertonc1914 (Living Archive MK)

Salmons & Sons Motor Works in NewportPagnell c1910 (Living Archive MK)

Grand Junction Canal, Fenny Stratford (Living Archive MK)

Elsewhere…1919: THEODORE ROOSEVELT DIES SUDDENLY at Oyster

Bay Home; Nation Shocked, Pays Tribute to Former President; Our

Flag on All Seas and in All Lands at Half Mast

EMBOLISM CAUSED DEATH: Blood Clot, Physicians Announce,

Killed Col. Roosevelt in His Sleep

WORKED UP TO THE LAST: Worn by Illness, Former President

with Indomitable Will Kept Up Activities

WAS IN PERIL IN HOSPITAL: Rheumatism Traced to Tooth

Infected 20 Years Ago…

(New York Times)i

1917: His many friends in the town of Newport Pagnell have

been pleased to learn that Sapper Albert Weston, of the Royal

Engineers, has been awarded the Military Medal, this being for

distinguished conduct whilst serving with the Royal Engineers

on the Somme front. A day or so later he was promoted to Lance

Corporal, and the presentation was made at a parade of troops

‘somewhere in France,’ where he received the warm congratulations

of the Brigade and regimental commanders. Formerly employed at

Salmons and Sons motor body building works, Sapper Weston joined

up at the beginning of the war, and has seen almost two years of

active service in France. His wife and three children live at 51,

Greenfield Road, Newport Pagnell.



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i From http://forum.netweather.tv

i From North Otago Times, Volume CII, Issue 13470, 19 January 1916, Page 5 archived athttp://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

ii From www.firstworldwar/source

1914: Taught the Girls at Club newDance – Had lively evening.

(Nellie Smith of New Bradwell)

1918:

1915: Went up to No 51. Had a lovely present from H[arry]. Had the usual boxing match with Ted, made him look a pretty picture.


1916: A widow, Mary Ann Barley, 76 years of age, was fined 5

shillings for having been helplessly drunk in Market Place,

Stony Stratford, she having in her own words indulged in ‘two

penn’orth of whiskey’.

(Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News 8.1.1916)

H[arry] and I go to London 1.25 to see ‘Betty’. A very quaintly prettyplay but anywhere is alright when with H. Had a few frights with traff icat crossings. Came home on the midnight with a Negro (Good-night).

(Nellie Smith)

1918: Tuesday: Went round to E[ff ie]. A. was just wondering ifPakesy had gone back when a voice - No she hasn’t! So off we marchedfor a walk, bitterly cold.

(Nellie Smith)

Elsewhere…1916: The Bulgarian and German press, commenting on theevacuation of Gallipoli says that the prestige of the Allies is

melting like butter in the sun, but the jubilation is of a

perfunctory nature and half-hearted. The writers have obvious

difficulty in reconciling facts with the Turkish fictions

detailing ‘victory’.

(e disastrous campaign of the past nine months in Gallipoli, Turkey is endedwhen British and Australian troops are withdrawn:

North Otago Times, New Zealand)i

1918: We entered this war because violations of right hadoccurred which touched us to the quick and made the life of our

own people impossible unless they were corrected and the world

secured once for all against their recurrence. What we demand in

this war, therefore, is nothing peculiar to ourselves. It is that

the world be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that

it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our

own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions,

be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of

the world as against force and selfish aggression. All the

peoples of the world are in effect partners in this interest, and

for our own part we see very clearly that unless justice be done

to others it will not be done to us.

(President Wilson, USA propounds his Fourteen Points for peace.)ii


Portrait of Nellie Smith c1915(Living Archive MK)


Wolverton Road and Tram, Stony Stratford c1914 (Living Archive MK)

Elsewhere…1913: Seathwaite: ‘Blizzard, 8ft drifts…’ Mansfield: ‘12 inches of snow. Many roads blocked by drifts for some days…’ Rugby: ‘9 inches of snow…’Harlow: ‘6 inches of snow…’ Lewisham: ‘Glazed frost and streets like glass...’ i

Market Place Stony Stratford c1914 (Living Archive MK)


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i Source: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

1915: Footballers Serving with the Colours.

SPLENDID RALLY OF NORTH BUCKS PLAYERS.

The football clubs affiliated to the Berks and Bucks Football

Association have no less than 1,121 players serving with the

Colours. From Wolverton alone nearly 60 active followers of the

Soccer game are either on active service or in training for King

and country with the County Territorial Regiment or Lord

Kitchener’s Army; 16 have enlisted from the Olney Town Club, 14

from the Fenny Stratford Star, and 26 from the Newport Pagnell

Church Institute.


1914: Wet and miserable and the day I like best [Saturday]. (Nellie Smith of New Bradwell)

1917: Went to Club, and enough to freeze one, had a jolly evening.Ivy still up to her tricks, had a f ine time sliding home in the moon light.

(Nellie Smith)

1918: Oh what a great big treat to feel, one can f lap your wings nowthis old cold weather has gone, which I hate.

(Nellie Smith)

Elsewhere…1917: Denver, Colorado USA. Buffalo Bill Is No More:

William F Cody ‘Buffalo Bill’ died at 12.02 pm today at the home

of his sister Mrs May Decker. The celebrated Indian fighter and

Wild West show exhibitor was sick for the last week. He

gradually sank lower until little hope for his recovery was held

out. His most famous exploit, perhaps, was his fight with General

Custer against Sitting Bull.i


Stantonbury AlbionFootball Club

(New Bradwell) c1913 (Living Archive MK)

Nellie Smith (2nd from left) with other members of her Stantonbury ‘club’ in fancy dress (Living Archive MK).

New Bradwell c1914 (Living Archive MK)


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i Image of advertisement from the Living Archive MK Collectionii From The Commercial Motor 16.1.1913 http://archive.commercialmotor.com

i The Spectator 12.1 1918 http://archive.spectator.co.uk/ii From the 1920 Report to the Home Secretary on www.dmm.org.uk

1916: I discovered that while the Certified Teacher had been in chargebefore I could take up duty, two under -5 children had been on over -5register. I have made the necessary alterations both in registers andsummary, in red ink – this will give correct data for quarter end and forform IX.

(MA orpe, New Bradwell’s Stantonbury Girls School Log)

1919: BACK FROM GERMAN PRISON. Newport Pagnell

Officer’s Experiences.

His many friends in Newport Pagnell will be pleased to learn

that Captain Leonard Taylor, son of the late Mr Thomas Taylor

and of Mrs Taylor of ‘The Cedars’, High-street, who saw much

service with the Durham Light Infantry before being taken

prisoner by the Germans, is back from captivity. The gallant

officer looks fairly well, though he walks with a limp due to

the wound which led to his capture, and which is not yet healed.

The unhealed wound is a standing reproach to the medical

organisation of the German Army, or rather want of organisation,

for, in relating some of his experiences during his captivity,

Capt Taylor emphatically declared that there was no medical

organisation so that in one respect at least, the much vaunted

German system, which was held up to our gaze as something almost

superhuman and as a model to all the world of what organisation

should be, was really a thing to be shunned…


Elsewhere…1913: The last horse-drawn Omnibus was seen

in Paris on Saturday

morning, 11th January,

1913. The omnibus service

being a monopoly, it will

be impossible in future

to find anywhere within

the city or in the near

or distant suburbs, an

omnibus which does not

obtain its motive power

from an internal-

combustion engine. There

will be no Parisian

‘pirates’ as in London.

The last journey across

the city was a funeral

procession in which tears

and laughter were

intermingled. At noon the

last of the horse brigade left Place S. Sulpice for unlovely

Villette on the north-east extremity of the city. A group of

motorists decided that the disappearance of the horse should he

marked in a fitting manner. Consequently, about a hundred cars,

varying in nature from Alpine chars-à-bancs to light two-seater

runabouts, united on the Place and followed the two-horse bus

with its wreaths and mourning trimmings right across the city to

the external terminus. None of the orthodox signs of mourning

had been forgotten, but although they wore bands of crêpe and

had their cars bedecked with wreaths, there was something about

the mourners which suggested a superficial sadness. The journey

over, the last horse-driver was invited to drink to the eternal

repose of his regretted vehicle, and at the lunch which followed

the prosperity of the motor omnibus was not forgotten.ii

1915: Visit from Nurse – sent 3 home – last time none were verminous.

(Elizabeth Ainge, Wolverton Infants School Log)

1916: Went to Club and had our usual merry evening. (Nellie Smith of New Bradwell)

1917: Heard from my dearest friend Eff ie in Canada, what a reliefthis letter gave me. She is still the same kind friend to me, although somany miles divide.

(Nellie Smith)

27681 Private Redvers Jackson of Stony Stratford, born Woburn Sands;enlisted in Holburn with 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers; died of wounds on thisday; buried in Mailly Wood Cemetery, Somme, France.

1918: Met H[arry] at station, spent the evening at No. 51 justsneaking a few moments on our own, very muddy, a nice excuse.

(Nellie Smith)

Elsewhere…1918: THE PAPER

SHORTAGE: We trust

that readers of ‘The

Spectator’ will give

definite orders to their

newsagents for a copy of

‘The Spectator’ to be

reserved for them each

week till countermanded…

(e Spectator)i

Explosion at the Minnie Pit of the Podmore Hall Colliery near

Halmerend North Staffordshire:

The explosion occurred at about 9.45 am on Saturday 12th January

1918… The number of persons killed by the explosion was 155, 144

of them by the effects of the afterdamp, and 11 by violence (2 at

bottom of upcast shaft, 4 at top of Banbury Cruts, 2 half way

down, 9 about the bottom, 42 in the Seven Feet Seam, 4 in the

Bullhurst Crut, and 92 in the Bullhurst Seam). One member of a

rescue brigade (Hugh Doorbar) lost his life on the 14th January,

1918, whilst engaged in exploration work with self-contained

breathing apparatus in the Banbury Seven Feet Seam.ii

i



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i Image of the earthquake at Avezzano in Italy on 13.1.1915 archived at www.protezionecivile.gov.it ii Translated from Giovanni Pagano in Avezzano e la sua storia.iii From The Scotsman 13.1.1915 on http://www.edinburghs-war.ed.ac.uk i From an interview for Living Archive MK in 1984 with Lily Dytham b1904

1917: PrivateJohn Baxter of

the Oxon & Bucks

Light Infantry,

Machine Gun

Section, has been

wounded in action

in France. He is

presently in Dr

Stevens’ hospital

at Dublin where

the gunshot wounds

to the face have

affected the sight of one eye. Whilst employed by Mr FJ Taylor in

the gardens at Lovat Bank, he enlisted at the outbreak of war

and initially saw service at Salonica. On Christmas Eve 1915, he

fell ill with enteric fever and dysentery and after a while in

hospital at Malta was sent home to Netley and then to Addington

Park Convalescent Home, Croydon. On recovering, in September he

rejoined his regiment and a month later was in France where he

became a casualty after nine weeks. His older brother is with the

army in Salonica and his parents, Harry and Sarah Baxter, live

at 17 Caldecote Street, Newport Pagnell.


1919: The temperature in all the rooms this morning was too low fornormal work. In the classroom for youngest children it was only 38degrees [3C] and only reached 40 in the afternoon.

(MA orpe, Bradwell County Infants School Log)

Elsewhere…1915: Shouts, calls,cries… A terrifying sightappeared to my eyes: thegreyish, huge cloud thatsome from the suburbs hadseen hovering over the cityhad dissolved, leaving in theair a bitter unmistakeable smell of old plaster that through the nostrilsseemed to invade soul and body with the feeling of death all around. Iraised my eyes towards the poor houses in pieces, and was struck by thesight of San Bartolomeo, mutilated, that vainly tried to rise towards thesky from the huge, whitish desert of stones, slightly higher. My child'smind was shattered still deeper by the astonishment for the fall of thatgiant, which I believed indestructible.

(Giovanni Pagano, eyewitness to the Avezzano earthquake in Italy which killed 29,800 people, destroying the town)ii

A young man named James Kennie, a Labourer, was charged with

contravening Regulation 40 of the Defence of the Realm

Consolidation Act, 1914 (DORA) by giving a Private of the 3rd

Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment of His Majesty's Forces an

intoxicant. He gave the soldier whisky on 1st January while he

was on sentry duty at South Queensferry, rendering himself

liable to a fine of £100 and six months imprisonment.(e Scotsman)iii

1916: IN THE MOTOR WORLD: At Shenley and Stony

Stratford care is needed, as unrolled, loose metal is sometimes

left unprotected at night…

(Western Daily Mail 13.1.1016)

I went up to Wolverton 8.47 from S.W. arrived there at 7. 30 pm. I spentan exceedingly happy weekend there… It rained hard on Wednesdayafternoon and evening. I was astounded at the increased price offoodstuffs & more or less disgusted with the ministers changes of ourparliament, old women is not nearly expressive enough for them, a greatpity we have not Bottomley, Business Government, I really think MissPankhurst would put some of the Heads in the shade.

(Private Arthur Light of Wolverton)

1918: In accordance with Rule 69 registers were not marked in themorning. Deep snow. Only 121 present out of 284(42 per cent).Permission given to close school in the afternoon.


e Grand Junction Canal (Living Archive MK)

During the war we always seemed to have severe winters and the canalalways froze. We used to go to walk along the canal, over the Iron Trunkand along to Cosgrove – there was a big stretch of water which froze andthey used to go skating. My father used to skate and we’d slide then butanother man, a Mr Gibbs was an excellent skater. We were fascinated withhim ‘cause he used to do the figure eight, with his hands behind him …We’d pick a moonlight night to go and we’d have an empty cocoa tin on apiece of string with some rag in it and we’d light it before we went and itwould smoulder and we’d warm our hands on that – it had a hole in it yousee, and if you swung it round it would burn up, keep your hands warm.

(Lily Dytham of Wolverton)i

Elsewhere…1918: COVENTRY FOOD CONTROL COMMITTEE: RABBITS

(PRICES) ORDER 1918: NO PERSON shall, after the 14th JANUARY

1918, directly or indirectly SELL, OFFER, or EXPOSE FOR SALE, or

BUY or OFFER TO BUY A RABBIT or PART THEREOF at a Price

Exceeding the Maximum Price provided by or in pursuance of this

Order. UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE THE MAXIMUM PRICE SHALL BE 2s.

EACH, with Skin included. IF SKINNED, 1s.9d EACH. IF SKINNED,

CLEANED and CUT UP, 10p per lb… INFRINGEMENTS OF THIS

ORDER ARE SUMMARY OFFENCES AGAINST THE

DEFENCE OF THE REALM REGULATIONS.

(Coventry Evening Telegraph 10.1.1918)

‘All against the Barbarians!’ (Living Archive MK)

i


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i ‘molasses’ = black treacle; the final death toll was 21ii The New York Times 16.1.1919 archived in http://en.wikipedia.org iii Image from the Globe Newspaper archived at Boston Public Library www.bpl.org

i Both images from Living Archive MKii From www.history.com

1916: One of the London and North-Western Railway locomotiveswhich until recently had been known by the name ‘Dachshund’ has

been re-christened and given the characteristically British name

of ‘Bulldog’


NEWPORT PAGNELL SOLDIER MISSING AFTER FIGHTING

IN THE PERSIAN GULF

Private Ernest Arthur Sharp, 1st Oxford and Bucks LI, youngest

son of Mr Walter Sharp of Clay Lane, Newport Pagnell. The

father of this young soldier this week received information from

the Records Office that his son has been missing since an

engagement in the Persian Gulf on Christmas Day. Born at Milton

Keynes just over 22 years ago, Private Sharp, after leaving

school worked for Mr JE Whiting at Moulsoe Buildings and was

engaged for five years on the land before joining the Army. He

had been in India with his regiment two years when the war broke

out, and in the early days of the conflict he entered upon active

service with the Indian Expeditionary Force in the Persian Gulf

where he saw a good deal of hard fighting.


1917: Very bad night. Nasty cold & very bad boil on arm. (Private omas Taylor of Wolverton)

Elsewhere…1919:

12 KILLED

WHEN

TANK OF

MOLASSES

EXPLODES.i

Huge Sheets

of Steel,

Hurled

Though Air,

Destroy

Structures

on Boston

Waterfront

… A dull

muffled roar

gave but an

instant’s

warning before

the top of the

tank was blown

into the air. Two million gallons of molasses rushed over the

streets and converted into a sticky mass the wreckage of several

small buildings which had been smashed by the force of the

explosion… Wagons, carts and motor trucks were overturned.

A number of horses were killed. The street was strewn with debris

intermixed with molasses and all traffic was stopped.

(e New York Times 16.1.1919)iii

1915:

1918: Deep snow…(Emily Townsend, Wolverton Girls School Log)

Elsewhere…1916: e 18th Amendment to theUS Constitution, prohibiting ‘themanufacture, sale, or transportation ofintoxicating liquors for beveragepurposes’, becomes law.ii

Aftermath of the Boston molasses explosion ii

Wolverton in the snow i


‘Good luck in theNew Year!’


17

i From http://timelines i From www.eyewitnesstohistory.com

1916: Dear Mother, I have not been able to write sinceSaturday as I was thrown out of alumber wagon and skinned myhands. I’m alright now. Before Iwas too busy. I received the parcelsafely thank you and one fromGrange at the same time.Unfortunately they arrived the daybefore we came out for a rest and sohad to be consumed on the spot. So you had better repeat it quickly.We are now at rest we are at Ouchel– fairly large place. Our Major hasbeen awarded the DSO for good work done on the 25th of Septemberwhen the big Loos attack took place. I am quite well and quite warmand shall enjoy the rest I hope. I heard from Reggie yesterday. Put somecandles in the next parcel. I hope you are all well. With love, Lewis.

(Private Arthur Lewis Lloyd of Wolverton)

1918:


Less than 60 per cent at school…(Emily Townsend, Wolverton Girls School Log)

Elsewhere…1917: e United States pays Denmark $25 million for the VirginIslands.i

1915: Frederick Day of Aspley Villa, Woburn Sands had

emigrated to Australia. In 1914 at the age of 23 he enlisted and

embarked from Sydney with his unit aboard HMAT A35 Berrima, on a

mission to capture the German-held territory to the north of

Australia:

We landed at a place called Herbertshohe one Friday. Our off icersthought there would be little or no resistance, but they received a shock,as they were ready for us, and gave us a warm time; it was a good thingthat they were such bad shots, or there would not have been many of usleft to tell the tale. They surrendered, and that was one to us, for wehad captured the best wireless station in the South Sea Islands. [Later]the alarm went for us to be ready, and about three o’clock the nextmorning we were marching to Towma, about twelve miles away. It wasthe worst time most of us had, or ever want to have. Our water ran out,and if it had not been for the coconuts and milk, many would have diedon the road. We were marching in sand over our ankles, and you canimagine the dust f ive hundredmen would make, withmachine guns and a f ieldgun with us. When we arrived,they had surrendered, andwe had to march back again.We were back in camp aboutnine the same night, all deadtired… The Islands are called‘The White Man’s grave’ andwere infested with diseases. Icontracted malaria fever.When we returned to RabaulI went into a Hospital andremained there for some time,then [on 18th January 1915]was invalided back to Sydney.Frederick Day died in

April 1915 ‘from

exhaustion and diabetes’.

(North Bucks Times 8.6.1915)

Elsewhere…1913: e remainingmembers of the doomed BritishAntarctic Expedition of 1912are picked up on this day,exactly one year to the day afterCaptain Scott’s failure to be thefirst to reach the South Pole:Thursday morning, January 18th 1912 ...We have just arrived at this tent,2 miles from our camp, therefore about l 1/2 miles from the Pole. In thetent we f ind a record of f ive Norwegians having been here... We carriedthe Union Jack about 3/4 of a mile north with us and left it on a piece ofstick as near as we could f ix it. ...Well, we have turned our back now onthe goal of our ambition and must face our 800 miles of solid dragging- and good-bye to most of the day-dreams!

(Captain Robert Falconer Scott)i

1918:



18

i From www.1914.org/podcasts/podcast-12-zeppelins-over-britain

i Image courtesy of Woburn Sands & District Societyii From The History of the 16th (S) Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps by L/Corp Jack George iii From Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 20.1.1915

1915: 19424 Private John Withers Goodman born and resident NewportPagnell, son of Withers John and Annie Goodman of Greenfield Road;serving with 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers; killed in action on this day aged 22;commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper (Ypres) Belgium.

1916: 2927 Private John Berrel of Newport Pagnell, serving with the1st/4th Seaforth Highlanders; died on this day aged 31; buried in EtretatChurchyard, Seine-Maritime, France.

1918: 537254 Private Cyril Stapleton born and resident NewportPagnell; son of William and Jane Stapleton, of ‘Kypersley,’ Wolverton Road;enlisted in Whitehall in the Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles,London Regiment; died in England on this day of pneumonia aged 19;buried in Newport Pagnell Burial Ground.

1919:


Elsewhere…1915: I rememberYarmouth being bombed byZeppelins. I remember beingin the bar with my fatherand the whole place shookand he says, ‘Open the doorboy, there’s somebody tryingto get into the bar.’ And Iwent to the door … I couldn’tsee them, but I could hearhalf a dozen bombs falling ina straight line downSouthgates Road which isnear the fish wharf in theother end of the town.

(William Gedge, 15 year-oldresident at the time of the

bombing)i

Local men practisefiring from trenches in the Woburn Sandsarea i


1914: Club night – had a good evening at dance. (Nellie Smith of New Bradwell)

1915: Attendance very poor – many have coughs and colds… (Elizabeth Ainge, Wolverton Infants School Log)

1917: The following letter has been sent to Mr George Oldham,

Hon Sec of the Sherington Soldiers’ Presents Fund: Beds Yeomanry,

BEF, France.

Dear Sir, I should be glad if you would kindly permit me, through themedium of your valuable paper, to thank the inhabitants of Sheringtonfor the nice gifts they so kindly sent to us. As it is impossible for me tothank each individual person I take this my only opportunity ofexpressing my appreciation and best thanks. Trusting you will grant methe favour of publication. I am, yours faithfully, PTE JOHN BORTON


Elsewhere…1915: PASSPORT CHECK: NEW REGULATIONS BY THE

FOREIGN OFFICE: ... On 1st February next all British

passports will become invalid and holders must make application

for new passports.

(Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 20.1.1915)ii

1917: January the 20th saw the battalion again on the move. Reveillewas at 4am and 6.30 am we marched off bound for Longpree, everyonefinding great difficulty in keeping on their feet for the weather had turnedfrosty and the road was like a sheet of glass. At Longpree, the battalionentrained and after a very slow, cold journey we detrained just outside Brayand marched through that town to camp 112, where we stayed for two days…

(L/Corp Jack George of the King’s Royal Rifles with which many local men served)iii

January 21st January 22nd

19

i An embroidered card from the Edwin Owens Collection donated to Living Archive MKii From www.nationalarchives.ie i From archive.spectator.co.uk

1916: Cameall too soon, Isaw “W” off at12. 30pm(yesterday) &sailed for Franceat 7pm myself,what a contrastto ones feelingthen & on themorning of theprevious Thursday when we landed, the contrast was just excruciating.Roll on peace & so an end to these heartaching partings. Arrived at PontMoyell at 4. 30pm (today) in a very fed up condition.


7071 Private John Chapman, born Stoke Goldington; enlistedNorthampton with 1st Northamptonshire Regiment; died on this day; buriedin Lillers Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

1917: What a day, the ground is like glass. H[arry] went back onearly train, how I managed that hill as it was one mass of childrensliding, so I am glad Harry has gone back. Went up with Ede andNorah to Mrs. R. for a musical evening, pitch dark everybody knockinginto us, had a good laugh over the “Speech”. Walked home just like OldAge Pensioner, nearly sat down times.


A Little Linford parishioner has received the following letter

from her brother: I expect that you have heard of my being sunk by aGerman submarine, Jan 10th. I sailed in a small boat 200 miles beforebeing rescued by hospitable ship, Jan 15, and landed Jan 21 at Dakar,French West Africa. It was a terrible experience. I think that someonemust offer up a prayer for me, for if we had not been rescued by thatship we must all have died in 24 hours. I had a fearful time trying tocontrol the crew the last night in the boat, for some of them went mad. …I suppose I will be at sea again before long, for it would be a queerGerman that would scare me.


1918: Owing to an outbreak of measles, Dr. Hogarth has ordered theexclusion of all unprotected children for a week. As this would affect quitehalf of the children, the school will be closed for a week.


Elsewhere…1919: Meeting in Dublin of the Sinn Féin Members of the BritishParliament at Westminster, who had been elected at the British GeneralElection of December 1918. ey unanimously adopt the provisionalconstitution of Dáil Éireann (Irish parliament).ere is also an ambush bymembers of the Irish Volunteers at Soloheadbeg, County Tipperary, which isafterwards regarded as the beginning of Ireland’s War of Independence.ii

1916: Dear Mother,I received Dad’s letter today.Y ou will know by now we are atrest. We have drill again justthe same as we had inEngland…This place is very muddy andrambling. There are mines inthis part of the country. Thetowns and villages are full ofEstaminets – the French forpublic houses. Y ou say Stonyhas a lot of publics – boozers asthey are styled in the Army –but this place about the samesize as Stony can give it 50and beat it.… Lewis

(Private Arthur Lewis Lloyd of Wolverton)

1917: Only 186 present, roads and paths are so slippery that it is notsafe for the children to walk.


Elsewhere…1916: THE NATIONAL MINERS FEDERATION

UNANIMOUSLY DECIDE TO OPPOSE THE MILITARY

SERVICE BILL: For the Bill, 38,100; against, 653,190; neutral,

25,240… By the time the Bill becomes law, we suspect, the

Executive Committee will have discovered that they cannot take

the utterly undemocratic course of opposing the will of the

people, and that there are few things more misleading than a

card-vote by Trade Union delegates each of whom is supposed to

represent the will of thousands.

(e Spectator 22.1.1916)i


Embroidered postcard 1914-18 (Living Archive MK) i

January 23rd January 24th

20

i From http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org

i From an interview in 1981 with Sid Coles of Wolverton born 1893 (Living Archive MK)ii VAD - Voluntary Aid Detachmentiii From No Heroes No Cowards, the reminiscences of Hawtin Mundy published by The People’s Pressiv From ‘The Battle of Dogger Bank’ www.naval-history.net

1914: WOBURN SANDS RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS: The

plans for the alterations at the Railway Station have now been

prepared.

(Luton Times and Advertiser 23.1.1914)

1915: There are 127 young fellows from Olney serving with the

Colours, either in the Navy, Army and Territorials, or with the

Ambulance Brigade. Nine are with the Royal Navy Sick Berth

Reserve and 14 with the Royal Military Home Hospital Reserve…

... Mr JC Hipwell of the well-known brewery firm has four sons

serving their King and country, and five brothers of another

Olney family are on service. They are Privates Reg, Alfred,

Harold, Horace and Stanley Clifton. Mr Charles Stanton, chauffeur

to the Rev GF Sams rector of Emberton, has volunteered his

services as a motor driver to the Red Cross and St John Ambulance

Division. His only son is serving in Lord Kitchener’s Army…

... Pte Cyril Gray, 3rd Northants Regiment, Pte Frank Lyman, 3rd

Rifle Brigade, have been killed in action, and Pte Tom Barnes, 1st

Northants, is reported to have been killed also.


1916: … I might as well tell youthat I rather took a liking to Violetwhile I was home and I hope she writesto me, My mate did not think much ofmy photo, I wonder what Violet willthink of it? My mate said I lookedabout 14, and not much like a soldier…

(Private Albert French of Wolverton)

Private Albert French aged 16(Living Archive MK)

Elsewhere…1919: We the citizens of the negro race and parents of pupilsof the aforesaid race in attendance as pupils of the public

schools of Charleston, do most respectfully petition for

assistance and relief from the uncalled for, unnecessary,

unusual, abnormal conditions that surround and control the

management, instruction and teaching of the children of the

aforesaid race in the public schools of the city of Charleston…

Fifty-six years after freedom, the negroes of the city of

Charleston are denied the right to teach negro children by

negroes in the free schools of Charleston, [unlike] every other

city of this State and in every city in every one of the 13 old

slave-holding States in the Union… We, therefore, most humbly

petition and pray to each and every one of you in authority to

have Section 1780 of the civil code of 1912 amended so as to read:

‘That it shall be unlawful for a person of the white race to

teach in the free public schools of South Carolina, provided and

set aside for the children of the negro race.’

(Petition to South Carolina Assembly)i

1916: I came home once (before I got wounded). I didn’t tell anybodyanything, everybody was the same. ey was all in trouble and either gotpeople killed or people wounded or something of that.i

(Private Sid Coles of Wolverton)

ere was always three thingsprominent in the mind of asoldier in the trenches. efirst was that you would beable to get a nice little Blighty,that meant a wound of somesort, which brought you backto England for a spell inhospital, convalescence and soforth, especially if it should bea VAD ii hospital because theywas very, very nice, muchmore than the others. esecond thing was if you couldonly get your leave, perhapsten days or so leave in England,but finally, the third thing, ofcourse, was if you could get aspell from the trenches to a village behind the lines somewhere.

(Hawtin Mundy of New Bradwell)iii

1918:

Elsewhere…1915: SIR: I have thehonour to report that atdaybreak on 24th January,1915, the following vessels werepatrolling in company: TheBattle Cruisers Lion, PrincessRoyal, Tiger, New Zealand, and Indomitable; the Light CruisersSouthampton, Nottingham, Birmingham, and Lowestoft were disposedon my port beam; Arethusa, and the Destroyer Flotillas were ahead…At 7.25 am the flash of guns was observed SSE. Shortly afterwards areport reached me from Aurora that she was engaged with enemy's ships…At about 12.20 pm Blücher had been sunk and that the enemy BattleCruisers had continued their course to the eastward in a considerablydamaged condition. A Zeppelin and a seaplane had endeavoured to dropbombs on the vessels which went to the rescue of the survivors of Blücher.The excellent steaming of the ships engaged in the operation was aconspicuous feature. I attach an appendix giving the names of various officersand men who specially distinguished themselves. (Signed) DAVID BEATTY, Vice-Admiral.iv

Hawtin Mundy in 1981, aged 87 (Living Archive MK)



21

i Fromwww.corp.att.com/history

i From www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southwestii Image archived on www.fiveprospecthouse.com

1915: 276 present out of 412 – nearly all absentees have whoopingcough or influenza


1919: DEATH OF ANOTHER NEWPORT PAGNELL

SOLDIER. Sincere sympathy has gone out to Mrs Daniells of

Caldecote-street, Newport Pagnell in the further sad bereavement

she has suffered by the death of her eldest son whilst on service

with the British Expeditionary Force in Flanders and on the eve

of his anticipated return home to civil life. Private George

Arthur John Daniells, RASC (Ammunition Column), whose lamented

death took place on January 16 in No 32 Casualty Clearing

Station from pneumonia following an attack of influenza, was 21

years of age. A letter from the Rev R Hayward, the chaplain, says

that hopes were at first

entertained that the young

soldier would sufficiently

improve to warrant him being sent

to the base hospital. But the

desired improvement was not

maintained and consequently it

was felt he could not stand the

long and tedious journey to the

base. The reverend gentleman

expresses sorrow for the bereaved

mother and informs her that her

son was buried according to the

rites of the Church of England in

Valenciennes cemetery on January

17. Before enlistment he was four

years in the employ of Dr

CHF Bailey. In the short

space of eight months Mrs

Daniells has suffered a

triple bereavement by the

death of her husband, and by

the loss of her two sons

while serving King and

Country in the war. The

younger son was killed in

action on the 26th April

last.

1918:

Elsewhere…1915: Alexander GrahamBell (centre) and several AT&Texecutives prepare to inauguratethe first transcontinentaltelephone service.

i

Elsewhere…1917: It had been blowing hard from the South East all day, and in theafternoon, the seas came tumbling in, shaking everything all to pieces. We became greatly alarmed. Instead of abating, as we hoped it would, thegale increased, and we soon saw that our cottages would come down…

(Mr and Mrs Logan in e Hallsands Gazette)i

(All from Bucks Standard 26.1.1918)

ii

e sea defences of the village of Hallsands, South Devon,are breached with its houses made uninhabitable.

(All from Bucks Standard 25.1.1919)


22

i From www.1914-1918.net/msa i From http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/59735234

1915: I sit andthink really Howfunny is Life. TheMystery of it. Forgotall such things andenjoyed myself atClub A1. Having anopen night allmembers takingfriends. There was 74such jolly goodcompany, went in allcompetitions, but wasnot “Brainy” enough towin any prize, apples old way bring me the most luck


1916: Putting a heavy bridge across Somme at Bussy. Verydisturbing rumours af loat to effect of Suzanne & Bray being shelledheavily and many casualties. The enemy is making an offensive fromAlbert to Cappy. Village of Frise captured from French but retaken. Twobatteries from here were called up at night to go straight into action, ourartillery is bombarding incessantly. [Today] had the bridge almostcompleted & it did not su it the Colonel so we had to dismantle it & putthree trestles instead of two, such are the ways of the army, roll on peace& civilia n life.


1918: What a grand morn, as mild as summer, went for anothergrand walk, it seemed just like Easter to me. How lovely to think wehave the bright Spring days before us once more.

(Nellie Smith)

Elsewhere…1916: Conscription is introduced for all British single men between theages of 18 and 41 (with the promise that no-one should be sent abroad beforehe is 19).i

1916: 93 children under 5 excluded today by order of EducationCommittee (overcrowding)…

(Stantonbury, Bradwell and Wolverton Schools Log)

Hanslope School c1914 (Living Archive MK)

1917: Still awfully cold, went up to station in the afternoon withH[arry] felt like agood walk, wentround to E[ff ie]but was not athome so cameback and had agood read.

(Nellie Smith ofNew Bradwell)

Army Manoevres in Wolverton, 1913 (Living Archive MK)

A protest march in Wolverton, 1915, supporting the McCorquodale women workers for better pay and conditions (Living Archive MK)

Elsewhere…1913: Suffragettes demonstrate in London following the withdrawal of afranchise bill (27th January) to which an amendment for women’s suffragemay have been added.i


1918:


23

i From http://www.on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/jan29.htm ii Archived in http://www.hatfield-herts.co.uk

i From http://www.wfa-eastcoast.orgii From www.guinnessworldrecords.com (see also May 31st)

1915: 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 [Woburn] Sands boy named Smith rendered

first aid and crawled back to safety with bullets whizzing

around him.


A most remarkable epidemic of influenza colds has brought the childrendown this week. The cold winds and the slush of a week ago have been toomuch for the strongest and many who have struggled through and come toschool have been promptly sent home if the nurse has seen them.

(Emily Townsend, Wolverton Girls School Log)

1917: Oh dear the cold weather is getting on my nerves, this is theworst winter we have had for many a long year. Poor old Bobby and allour soldiers it must be killing for them.


Elsewhere…1916: First bombing of Paris by Zeppelins i

First trial of tanks in Britain, at Hatfield, Herts ii

1914: Caught 6. 15 bus (after running round like a cinematograph)and astonished Eff ie, by getting up there so early stayed a little while,arranging a stay weekend.


1915:

1917: The sad newswas received by Mrs

Nettie Howson of

Prospect Place,

Emberton that her

brother, Corporal John

Davis of the 175th

Tunnelling Company,

Royal Engineers, had

died in hospital in

France on Tuesday

January 30th. He had

enlisted in May 1915

and went straight to

the Labour Battalion.

Born at North Crawley,

he lived at 162 Long

Street, Dordon,

Warwickshire, where

his widow and seven

children live. His

widowed mother, Mrs Charlotte Davis, resides at Emberton.


Elsewhere…1915: A German submarine, without giving warning, sinks threemerchant ships in the English Channel.i

1917: e first jazz record made was Indiana and e Dark TownStrutters’ Ball, recorded for the Columbia label in New York City, N.Y., USA,on or about 30 January 1917, by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, led byDominic (Nick) James La Rocca (1889-1961).ii


e frozen canal near Wolverton (Living Archive MK)

High Street, Woburn Sands c1918 (Living Archive MK)

January 31st

24

i From http://chessiestales.blogspot.co.uk

1914: Effie’s party, had a lovely time – got quite bold this time withmy Coon Songs. Eff ie and I had a good laugh at bed-time in thedarkness.



1916:

1918:At Great Linford,

on Thursday

January 31st, Mrs

H Brightman

received official

notification that

her husband,

Private Herbert

Brightman of the

Royal Fusiliers,

had been taken

prisoner by the

Germans on January

1st. Employed for

15 years by the

Aylesbury Brewery

Company at

Newport Pagnell,

he enlisted in February 1917 and on New Year’s Day, Mrs

Brightman had received a field card from him written on December

28th.


Elsewhere…1919: GALLANTRY REWARDED. The Board of Trade has

received through the Foreign Office two gold watches, two

binoculars, and 16 gold medals which have been awarded by the

President of the United States to the master and crew of the

Ramsgate tug Aid and the coxswain and crew of the lifeboat

Charles and Suzanne Stephens, in recognition of their humane and

heroic services to the crew of the American s.s. Plave, which went

ashore on the Goodwin Sands during a heavy snow-storm on the

31st January 1919.

(e Derby Daily Telegraph 28.6.1923)

i

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