Tingewick Historical Society has researched the lives and military service of the Tingewick soldeirs who died in WW1 and are named on the village war memorials. A booklet has beeen produced about the soldeirs to commemorate the first world war. Cost £3.50

contact: ruthroy@hotmail.com or see www.tingewickparishcouncil.org.uk

A local case study….171 lads went to War and 42 lost their lives, but only 34 are honoured on the village War Memorials. Two fabulously well researched and illustrated pamphlets,  a one hour powerpoint presentation with over 100 illustrations and as presented to Oxford University Continuing Studies dept in 2012. Contact John Sheldon BA FRSA.  For books or Powerpoint presentation and Prices.

 publications@stewkleyhistory.org.uk

A superb database resource now including 2 projects which document the Bucks men and women who served in the Great War. Buckinghamshire Remembers for those that lost their lives and Clints Roll of Honour for all those who served.

www.buckinghamshireremembers.org.uk 

A project that has seen 154m of historic and original training trenches restored. 2 miles or barbed wire, 5,500 sandbags, 300 picket posts plus a further 1,200m of yet unrestored trenches.Visits inc historical presentations, hands-on activities, schools and colleges welcome guided tours by arrangement.

www.raf.mod.uk/rafhalton/aboutus/restoredww1trenches.cfm  and www.facebook.com/RAFHaltonTrenches/

Published in Oct 2013 a new book on the history of the Royal Bucks Hussars during WW1, detailing their service in Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine and France. Written by E J Hounslow the grandson of a Royal Bucks Hussar.

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

A local project organised by Jackie and Bob Slater from Burnham Royal British Legion collating the war stories and memories of the great war and it’s effect on Burnham. Now with an HLF grant of £3,200  the project is well underway and working with 7 local schools. Much more to follow with this exciting and dynamic project!

2nd August 14 Commemorative Event Burnham Park Hall – further details when known.

j_slater1@sky.com

Forthcoming series of talks:

18th July 14 – “The Western Front” Liston Hall, Chapel St, Marlow

18th September 14 – “The Training Trenches of Pullingshill Wood”. Liston Hall, Chapel St, Marlow

7th November 14 – “The Unknown Soldier” Liston Hall, Chapel St, Marlow

michaelahyde@uwclub.net

An exhibition of Waddesdon at War 26th March to 26th October 2014 in the family room. This exhibition marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Drawn from the archive and Rothschild memorabilia collections including loans from other collections. It will look at the Manor and Estate during the war from the perspective of the family and staff. As Europe was fractured by the conflict, the exhibition will also explore the impact of the war on the wider Rothschild family including those in Austria, Germany and France.

Usual Entrance Fees apply

www.waddesdon.org.uk/collection/exhibitions/waddesdon-at-war

This Lecture was held on Sunday 7 October 2012.

The lecturer was the distinguished BBC journalist, Mark Urban, currently diplomatic and defence editor for Newsnight. Mark has published a number of acclaimed books on the history of the British Army including The Man Who Broke Napoleon’s Codes (2001), Rifles: Six Years with Wellington’s Legendary Sharpshooters (2003), Generals: Ten British Commanders Who Shaped the World (2005), and Fusiliers: Eight Years with the Redcoats in America (2007).

2012 marks the bi-centenary of Wellington’s victory at Salamanca during the Peninsular War. Both the 43rd and 52nd Foot – later the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry – were present with the celebrated Light Division. Gaspard Le Marchant, who was intimately connected with the founding of the Senior Division of the Royal Military College (later the Staff College) at High Wycombe in 1799, and of the Junior Division (later the RMC Sandhurst) at Marlow in 1802, was killed leading a cavalry charge against the French in the same battle.

It is appropriate, therefore, that Mark has agreed to talk on the subject of the Rifles and Light Infantry in the Peninsular War.

The event was held at The Oculus, Gatehouse Road, AYLESBURY  HP19 8FF.

Fromelles is a small village in Northern France a few miles to the south of Armentières on the edge of the Lys basin. The village sits on the slope of the Aubers Ridge.  In 1916  the front lines ran across the flat ground a mile below the village. On the 19th. July 1916 two divisions, the 5th Australian and the 61st (Second South Midland) attacked the German lines in broad daylight, after an inaccurate and ineffective artillery bombardment.

The Territorial 2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion were ordered to attack across No Man’s Land – 400 yards of soggy water meadows – to take a strong point called the “Sugar Loaf” held by a Bavarian Reserve Regiment. They lost half their overall strength and all the officers but one in their assaulting companies. The attack was intended to pin down German reserves and to prevent them being sent to reinforce the Somme Battlefield.  The attack was a failure;  the Germans were not impressed and more than 5,500 Australians 1,500 British became casualties, of which 2,500 were killed. Many of the dead remained where they lay until after the war.
Two battalions of the Regiment were involved in the battle – as well as the 2/1st Bucks there were the 2/4th. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.  Fortunately, the Oxfords were in reserve at the time of the first attack and when called forward to try to take the Sugar Loaf after the 2/1st Bucks had failed, were saved when the attack was cancelled. Nevertheless, they suffered some casualties from German artillery fire.  Both battalions were second line Territorial battalions brought to France in early 1916 as units of the 61st (Second South Midland) Division and allocated to the hitherto quiet sector opposite Fromelles. They were inexperienced and suffered accordingly. In 1917, both battalions were to take part in Third Ypres, attacking in the area of St. Julien in appalling conditions, and once again confronted by strong points and concrete pill-boxes manned by determined defenders, lost heavily.