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THE STORY

The aim of this HLF supported project was to connect young people with those of
100 years before; to bridge the generations and unearth an understanding that,
although the times might have been very different, suffering, learning to
overcome adversity, and extending generosity have long been part of the human
experience.

Initially inspired by the story of Swindon’s Mary Slade and her mobilisation of
communities to help Prisoners of War, we studied local history, spoke to local
historians, interviewed people on the street. We delved deep into the Swindon
war archives to try and find as many stories or moments that encompassed what
life had been like during those times.

From this process of exploring one story we discovered 100 stories that still
resonate today. These stories became the genesis for the unique pieces of
photographic and film work created by the young people of Swindon, and can be
explored within this site.

Our thanks to lead artists Gurch Singh and Sherylee Houssein who mentored the
young people, and our partners and funders who made this incredible journey of
discovery possible.

A very special thank you to local historian Mark Sutton for lending us his props
and sharing his detailed knowledge about life during WW1.

100 Stories was led by Create Studios as part our outreach and talent
development priorities. We make media projects to draw communities together and
support young people to gain media skills and grow their aspirations.

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OAKFIELD PROJECT

The Oakfield Project is an alternative to school where students are supported to
gain qualifications when outside of mainstream education.

Planning with the team at Oakfield, students were given the opportunity to
travel to Belgium and visit the war graves of Swindon soldiers.

At first the students had little interest for Swindon history and were unsure of
how they could relate to it. This soon changed when each student was given a
soldier’s name with some details of where that soldier had died and been buried.
The Students then went to further research their solider by visiting the
Wiltshire and Swindon History centre in Chippenham. Here they were able to find
details in newspapers and books about their soldier’s family history and where
they had lived in Swindon, building a full picture of their soldier’s lives.

With the research done, the students accompanied by Lead Artist and Filmmaker
Gurch Singh, took the minibus and went to Belgium. The students had the
opportunity to visit the Menin Gate, German and British trenches, war museums,
battlefields and the grave of their chosen soldier.

The Oakfield students who were at first unsure of history and its relevance
today, learnt to connect with the past and were moved by the scale of loss, and
the futility of war. Their short film presents that physical and emotional
journey.

Harry A. Southwell
Ernest George Leggett
William Stephen Leggett
William Arthus Brewer

Sapper 46274 89th Field company Royal Engineers.

Died of wounds 13th July 1915 aged 21 years old.

Lance-Corporal 10982 1st Battallion Wiltshire Regiment

Killed in action 3rd September 1915 aged 21years old

Lance-Corporal 10981 1st battalion Wiltshire Regiment

Killed in action 16th June 1915 aged 22 years old

Private 10398 ‘D’ Company 1st Battalion Wiltshire regiment

Killed in action 13th November 1914, aged 21 years old

Timothy O'Keefe
Thomas Curtis Fell
George Bathe

Lance Corporal 11089 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

Died of wounds 24th September 1915 aged 22 years old

Private 46474 17th Battalion Lancashire Fusilliers

Killed in action 28th September 1918 aged 20 years old

Private 10221 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

Killed in action 20th January 1915 aged 25 years old


100 STORIES :: EXPORING SWINDON'S WW1 PAST


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1914

WAR IS DECLARED

At 7.49pm the hooter at the Great Western Railway Works blasted ten times to
signal the beginning of the war with Germany.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.1)

THE FARMERS

Farmers from surrounding areas heard the hooter so they pushed their shovels
deep into the ground and started the long walk into Swindon, ready to sign up.
The shovels were left in the ground.

(Film Interview with local Historian Mark Sutton 02/12/2014)

See THE COMMUTE film by Mass Media >

MAYOR OF SWINDON SPEECH

Wednesday 5th August 1914 – Around 6pm all of Swindon’s men conscripted into the
Royal Field Artillery were met at the Old Town station by Ald. C. Hill, the
Mayor of Swindon, and the members of the Town Council, supported by a dense
crowd that had assembled to give the men a good send-off. The Mayor, speaking on
behalf of the town, expressed his admiration and good wishes that all felt,
saying, “You are leaving home and friends at the call of duty, and you can
depend upon us to see that those homes and friends, where necessary, are cared
for in your absence. We will see they do not want. Our good wishes go with you,
believing that you will, as worthy sons, uphold the best traditions of our
forefathers... What we say to you, we say to your comrades who have gone on in
advance, to those who are to follow you, and also to those who have gone to
active service straight from camp, without the opportunity of coming back to
Swindon and saying good-bye to their friends. Be of good cheer. Good-bye, Good
luck, and God bless you all!”

(Swindon’s War Record – W.D Bavin, 1922)

LOVE BECOMES URGENT

Weddings were pushed forward as Bridegrooms were called to the colours.

(Evening Advertiser August 5th 1914 – Swindon Central Library)

SWIMMING STOPPED

No more swimming lessons for School children because the baths were being used
by the troops.

(Swindon Central Higher Elementary, log book, 1897-1915, Wiltshire & Swindon
History Centre)

MOBILIZATION GRIPS SWINDON

Mobilization had a great impact on Swindon with large numbers of men arriving in
the town almost from the offset. The people of the town were asked by the Mayor
to pull together; a show of solidarity in the face of trying times. Soldiers
were temporarily billeted to various volunteers’ houses, with some families
taking up to five or six. The job of guiding the men, a vast number being
strangers to the town, fell to the Boy Scouts. Based at the Town Hall they
worked tirelessly to aid the newly enlisted soldiers.

(Swindon’s War Record – W.D Bavin 1922)

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. pp. 34-35)

COLUMNS OF TROOPS

Long columns of troops making their way from station to station were a constant
feature on the landscape in Swindon during the early days of the war.

http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=364&c=1217

SWINDONIANS ON HOLIDAY

A number of Swindonians were enjoying their holidays in Germany when war was
declared. Among these holidaymakers was Col. T.C.P Calley of Burderop Park,
commanding officer of the Swindon Battalion of the Wilts National Reserve. The
Colonel had been in Hamburg taking the fresh air when war was declared. When no
news of him had been obtainable for over two weeks it was feared he’d been taken
as a prisoner of war but following a rather arduous journey, and to locals
delight, he returned home on August 20th 1914.

(Swindon’s War Record – W.D Bavin 1922)

WAR MADNESS

G.C.W, a writer at The Swindon Advertiser, published an article entitled, “War
and Madness,” on the 15th of August 1914. The article implores the reader to,
“consider for a moment the regular solider.” To sympathise with the predicament
that he now finds himself in, being told to, “go out and fight the German
troops, with whom he has, in the main, no personal quarrel whatever.” The
expectation to, “kill men whose only fault is the same as his own – that he
obeys orders,” weighing heavy on their minds. The article is surprisingly
honest, which is particularly rare during this early stage of the conflict. The
author adding rather frankly that, “Our soldiers. . .have to kill or be killed
by men who would probably, under different rulers, be their warmest friends.”

(Evening Advertiser August 15th 1914 - Swindon Central Library)

SWINDON POET

Alfred Williams was a Swindon poet and writer famous for his summations on the
class systems present within the GWR. He published an anti-war poem in the
Swindon Advertiser on the 24th August 1914 and later went on to make public a
body of work entitled War Sonnets and Songs

(Mike Pringle – page 20) (http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=9&ss=275)

BELGIAN REFUGEES

Within a few months of war being declared, upwards of 300 Belgian refugees had
received hospitality in Swindon, 117 of this number were still in the
Committee’s care when arrangements for repatriation were made early in 1919.

(Swindon’s War Record – W.D Bavin 1922)

VICAR SHOWS SUPPORT

The Vicar of Swindon gave up his large house in Bath Road for use as a hostel to
help support Belgian refugees.

(Swindon’s War Record – W.D Bavin 1922)

ALL FOR THE CAUSE

Residents of Swindon devoted themselves to the refugees cause forming various
committees in order to finance, source and furnish over 30 homes all for the
Belgian cause.

(Swindon’s War Record – W.D Bavin 1922)

TRAINING TRENCHES

Training trenches were dug at the side of the main Swindon -Marlborough Road. A
full-sized trench system was also built just S South East of Lower Upham Farm.

(http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=116&ss=763&c=2501&t=Chiseldon+Camp)

SWINDON’S FIRST CASUALTY OF WAR

Mr. W Shail of 142 Manchester Road, a Royal Naval reservist, was the first
Swindonian injured during the war. While packing for his departure he had a
problem with a draw that kept sticking and in his efforts to free said draw, he
brought the whole cupboard falling on top of him. He suffered a broken leg and
injuries to his back.

(Evening Advertiser August 5th 1914 - Swindon Central Library)

1ST BATTALION WILTSHIRE REGIMENT

The 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment was based at Tidworth at the outbreak of
war. The regiment saw thousands of Swindon’s husbands, brothers, fathers and
uncles join, leaving for France on the 13th August 1914.

(www.thewardrobe.org.uk)

See SPADES film by Mass Media >

HARD STATISTICS

More than 5,000 Swindon men fought in the Great War.

(http://swindonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/90th-anniversary-of-end-of-wwi.html)

MILTON ROAD TEMPORARY HOSPITAL



SWINDON TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

On the outbreak of war all professional football leagues were suspended. The
majority of the players enlisted leaving Swindon with an amateur team for the
interim. Their first match against Portsmouth saw a win of 5-2. Lt Freddie
Wheatcroft, a former Swindon centre forward, was killed in action in Bourlon in
November 1917. Wheatcroft was the only casualty for the club during the War.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Swindon_Town_F.C.#1881.E2.80.931945:_Early_years)

GWR AMBULANCE TRAINS



POLICE FORCE ADAPTS

Police forces across the country were asked to watch the conduct of soldier’s
wives when they were overseas fighting. Swindon’s police force amongst others
recruited women to help swell numbers in the force.

(http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/history-frompolicearchives/Met6Kt/WomenPolice/wpWW1.html)

LYDIARD HOUSE

Two of the St John family joined up. Henry Mildmay St John as a lieutenant in
the 11th Battalion Gloucester Regiment and Vernon Henry St John, 6th Viscount
Bolingbroke, signed up as a private in the 3rd Devonshire Regiment, the only
peer of the realm to join at such a rank.

(Swindon Heritage Winter 2014)

THOMAS ARKELL

Thomas Arkell, co-owner of the local brewery, found himself as top donator
towards the newly formed Prince of Wales National Fund after giving a colossal
total of £100. On the outbreak of war the brewery was put aside and Thomas
joined the Wiltshire Regiment, becoming a captain of the 4th Battalion.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. pp.18- 24)

DIARY ENTRY

Sergeant R. A. Clark of the 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry: “The Germans
have some very good snipers, but the Dukes have better. We used to take it in
turn to do sniping, It is just like going out rabbit-shooting. You see a German
crawl out of his trench, up goes your rifle and over he rolls. Then you say.
Thats a bit of our own back for the way you have been treating the french
people.”

(Film Interview with local Historian Mark Sutton 02/12/2014)

EVERY EGG HELPS

December 1914 saw the formation of the National Egg Collection appeal on a
nationwide scale. Mrs. T Arkell was the president of the local branch based in
Stratton, Swindon. In total the branch collected 161,651 eggs, the eleventh
highest nationally!

(pp.70–71 Sheridan Parsons)

RATIONING

Children were being late due to being stuck in a queue at the butchers. They had
to get rations before school started, however the shops didn't open until 9am,
making them miss lessons. A letter was sent to try and allow pupils to get
rations at 8.45am, but it was unsuccessful.

(Swindon Central Higher Elementary, log book, 1897-1915, Wiltshire & Swindon
History Centre)

See BOY ON STREET by Alyx Blick >

THE STORY OF LOUIS WALTER GOUGH



NEW JOBS AT MCILROY’S

Mcilroy’s prospered after it received an order for 45,000 beds from the War
Office in 1914. A third of the order was to be manufactured in Swindon, creating
250 new jobs in two large workshops.

(http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=364&c=1217)

WHITE FEATHERS AND NEW OPINIONS

Dorothy Godwin, of 28 Redcliffe Street, took it upon herself to give out white
feathers to men not in uniform. With all five of her brothers enlisting to serve
their country, in her opinion, men who did not follow in their admirable
footsteps were cowards. This view was not unique to Dorothy but common among men
and women during the start of the conflict. Although with the temporary return
of two of her brothers on leave, Dorothy’s opinion began to change. She
experienced first hand what the traumas of war could do to a man, with both of
her returned brothers seemingly scared by their experiences. Once their brief
time at home was over Dorothy went to the station to see them off and was
surprised to see so many men crying, all dreading their return to the front line
and their impending departure from their loved ones. This experience changed her
opinion and she never handed out a white feather again. Towards the end of the
war she joined the VAD’s to further contribute towards the war effort.

(Interview by Emma Rowe- Local Historian Mark Sutton – 11/8/15)

ARRESTS MADE ON VICTORIA ROAD

One Sunday evening in September 1914 a group of soldiers belonging to the 8th
Cheshire Regiment were charged with being drunk and disorderly following
complaints made by residents of Victoria Road. The residents were greatly
disturbed when fighting broke out amongst a group of reportedly topless,
bayonet-wielding men. A witness testified that the row appeared to start when
the accused were denied admittance to a club. A member of the Bench later
stating in court that the, “prisoners ought to be fully ashamed of themselves.”
The accused were found guilty of said charge and were promptly sentenced to 14
days hard labour.

(Swindon Advertiser – Monday 21st September 1914 – via Library)

A WOMEN’S REALM

On the 21st September 1914 a pattern appeared in the, “Women’s Realm,” section
of the Swindon Advertiser; a pattern detailing the construction of a “Nightshirt
for an Invalid.” The adjoining article described the item as being, “designed to
assist those women who wish to express their sympathy so practically with the
heroes of our war.”

(Swindon Advertiser – Monday 21st September 1914 – via Library)

TEACHERS TAKING UP ARMS

Many of Swindon’s teachers enlisted in the forces on the outbreak of war. This
increased the need for supply teachers and often required the sharing of staff
between schools. In September 1914 Mr. Norton, of Westcott Junior School, was
transferred to Jennings St. Mixed School, on account of several male teachers
leaving the establishment to enlist in the army.

(Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre – School Log Books – Westcott Mixed Junior
School - 1903- 1955)

KNITTING SCARVES AND SOCKS

During October 1914, the elder girls from Swindon’s College St Girls’ School
starting knitting scarves for soldiers fighting overseas. By the start of
February 1916 it was noted by one of the teachers that, “many of the elder
girls,” were, “indefatigable in their efforts.” Hundreds of pairs of socks had
been knitted, many students devoting their spare time to the cause, becoming
somewhat, “expert with the knitting pins.”

(Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre – School Log Books – College Street Girls
School – 1911-1940)

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FROM OVERSEAS

Children of the USA sent gifts of toys to Swindon during Christmas of 1914.
According to author W.D Bavin over 150 toys were received but 500 children
turned up at the Mechanics Institute hoping for a gift.

(http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=364&c=1227)


1915

SOLDIERS COMFORT FUND



A GROUP EFFORT

Local shopkeepers, schools and families helped Mary Slade in her work despite
being hard pushed themselves. It was a collaborative effort with the people of
Swindon taking to the cause with gusto.<

(http://swindonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/mary-e-slade.html)

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p029ykfd#auto)

See MARY SLADE film by Mass Media >

POSTCARDS FROM POWS

Postcards were sent by way of thanks to the Mayor of Swindon and to various
members of the committee from various prisoners of war. Some of the captured
soldiers found themselves isolated from other members of the Wiltshire Regiment
and therefore used the limited word count on the postcards to detail their
movements. Others, like a Mr. W. Tatehall of the 1st Battalion Wiltshire
Regiment, requested items such as boots or shirts from the Comforts Fund. Some
simply wished to thank the committee for sending such delights their way.

(Primary source; Postcard collection – SMAG)

EMPLOYMENT AT HOME IN SWINDON

Mcilroys were asked to make 55,000 Hospital Beds, Gilberts in Old Town were
asked to make a number of things to contribute to the war efforts which bought
lots of employment to the town.

(Swindon’s War Record – W.D Bavin 1922)

BRAVERY OVERSEAS

Lance-Corporal Arthur G Scott of the 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment had
worked, like many, in the GWR works prior to enlisting. He and his Battalion
were sent to the Dardanelles, a narrow strait in North Western Turkey, where he
went on to win a DCM or Distinguished Conduct Medal. This great honour was
awarded for showing tremendous amounts of courage during the infamous Battle of
Chunuk Bair in August 1915. During said battle Lance-Corporal Arthur Scott found
himself one of few amongst his Battalion to become stranded outside of British
lines for well over 14 days. By the conclusion of this time spent in isolation
all were exhausted and greatly weakened, yet Scott found the strength and
bravery to make his way back to his regiment to seek aid in rescuing his
isolated comrades. Despite coming under constant heavy fire he succeeded in
guiding a relief party to his injured and weary comrades.

(Interview by Emma Rowe – Local Historian Mark Sutton- 11/8/15)

(Sutton, Mark Tell Them Of Us – Remembering Swindons Sons of the Great War
1914-1918. Great Britain: Melvyn Mckeown, 2006. p. 212)

RATIONS FROM DOWN UNDER

In August 1915 the Queensland Government, Australia, sent stocks of beef and
mutton to Swindon to be distributed.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.68)

THE STORY OF ‘REX’ WARNEFORD



CHRISTMAS TRUCE FOOTBALL MATCH



BRUCE THE DOG HELPS OUT

Everyone chipped in with raising money for the troops. A dog called Bruce raised
more than £890 for charity, a large bulk going to the Swindon Victoria Hospital.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p. 40)

WAGE STRIKE

With a large majority of Swindon’s men being sent overseas to fight, the GWR
took on a number of boys under the age of sixteen and a smaller number of women.
Following a strike the boys’ wages were increased, in some case reaching up to
seven times more than that of their adult women counterparts.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.78)

See THE STRIKE by Jack Parsons >

EXTRA CASH

For some of Swindon’s young people, boys in particular, the war opened doors to
a world they’d never experienced before; the world of paid work. The need to
fill spaces in the work place that the fighting men had left behind resulted in
many of Swindon’s teens wielding newly discovered disposable incomes. W. D Bavin
noted that, “this was the beginning of a period of unheard of financial
prosperity for boys and girls, a not entirely mixed blessing.”

(Swindon’s War Record – W.D Bavin 1922)

LUSITANIA TRAGEDY

A Swindon woman, Mrs. F. Chirgwin, and her baby were among the 1,201 killed on
the Cunard liner, the Lusitania, after a German submarine torpedoed it in 1915.

(http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=364&c=1227)

GILBERTS ON WOOD STREET

Gilberts on Wood Street, Old Town, supplied fixtures and fittings for barracks
such as beds and kit lockers bringing additional forms of employment to the
town.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p. 50)

EARLY CLOSE FOR SCHOOLS

During November 1915 in order to comply with an order issued via the Education
Authority, schools across Swindon were to close at 4pm. The object of said early
closures being to economise gas and coal.

(Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre – School Logbooks – Westcott Junior School
– 1903- 1955)

SEWING CLASSES AT METHODIST HALL

In 1915 Mrs. Elsie Ball took it upon herself to set up sewing classes in the
Methodist Hall. These classes were originally established in order to raise
money for the war effort but due to its success continued for another fifty
years!

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.85)

SCHOOL CHILDREN MAKE SACRIFICES

December 1915 saw pupils from Westcott Junior School forgoe, “the customary gift
of oranges from their teachers in order that the money may be sent to the
soldiers’ Comforts Fund.”

(Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre – School Logbooks – Westcott Junior School
– 1903- 1955)


1916

BROTHERS TRADING PLACES

Following the introduction of conscription in January 1916 there was a rise in
brothers from local businesses attempting to swap places with one another. The
desire to switch places was often down to the skill sets processed by each
family member and their importance to the family business; if you were the only
brother who could carry out a certain job then it made more business sense to
send a less skilled sibling to war in your place. Many of these attempts were
successful and not until their names were to be placed on memorial plaques,
statues or graves did their families come forward and admit to the false
identity. Some families went through the official route and appealed via
Tribunals but many of these requests were turned down.

(Interview by Emma Rowe - Local Historian Mark Sutton – 11/8/15)

THE EDITOR

William Morris (Editor The Advertiser at the time) had 3 sons; one conscientious
objector, one who died in service and one who took his own life.  Swindon was a
particularly empathetic town to conscientious objectors, possibly influenced by
William Morris's own experiences.

(Darryl Moody, Swindon Library)

THE WRONG TOILET

Harold Gladstone Knapp of Shrivenham, also known by his fellow villagers as
‘Rimble’, lied about his age and enlisted in the British Army in 1915. During
September 1916 while fellow soldiers were still engaged in one of the bloodiest
battles of the Great War, the Battle of the Somme, over in Greece, ‘Rimble’ had
been caught using the general’s personal latrine; a latrine considered sacred to
said general and to others of his rank also. As punishment he served 14 days CC
or confined to camp.

(Swindon Heritage magazine. Summer 2015. pp. 44-47)

(www.shrivenhamheritagesociety.co.uk)

HIGH COST OF LIVING

The cost of living skyrocketed during the war, by May 1916 prices in general had
risen by 23% but particular items like sugar and potatoes had shot up by 50%!

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.65)

SHED AT THE BOTTOM OF GARDEN

William went to war and was discharged in 1916 due to bad bronchial problems.
When he came back he demanded to live in the shed at the bottom of the garden
but died with-in a year of his return. Mark Sutton went to find his grave in the
Radnor Street Cemetery, and wrote to the war commission to get him commemoration
of death in military service. This was granted.

(Film Interview with local Historian Mark Sutton 02/12/2014)

See MAN IN THE SHED by Daniel Singleton >

THE DIARY

Ron Clack Enlisted in September 1914, his diaries talked about staying in camps
and the people he met there, some were good men, whilst others he called ‘the
scum of the earth’ people who would steal; he could never understand this. He
won a military medal on the first day of the Somme. He wrote the diary until
1984, and even then he was still suffering with nightmares from the war.

(Film Interview with local Historian Mark Sutton 02/12/2014)

See SUFFERING by Jayden Handel >

HOOTER SIGNALS HOME TIME

February 1916 saw local schools receive notice from the Educational Committee
that children were to be dismissed to their homes if the Great Western hooter
was to blow six times. This was to signal that the German Zeppelins were in the
neighbourhood.

(Swindon Heritage Magazine Winter 2014)

THE NSPCC

Woman arrested after not looking after her children. NSPCC called in and found
that the children were dirty, under fed, sleeping in a cold dirty room with a
fire of only a few twigs. Husband had died in the war and mother was bringing
Australian soldiers back to stay. 2 years in prison.

(Evening Advertiser 1914, Swindon library )

STREETS PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS

During the winter of 1915 to 1916 Swindon streets were plunged into darkness.
Due to the rise in the price of fuel and as a precaution against suspected air
raids, the Council decided to sharply reduce the number of street lamps by
approximately one third of their normal number. Many Swindonians were forced to
use candles to light their way or follow the Council’s advice and stay inside to
avoid dangerous conditions.

(Swindon’s War Record – Bavin – p.61)

See THE BLACKOUT by Kieran Savory >

REDUCED LUXURY ITEMS

Duck, Son & Pinker and C. Milsom & Son competed with each other in an attempt to
sell heavily reduced luxury items, such as pianos, to the hard pushed
Swindonians.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. P.49)

GWR TRADITIONS

High-ranking members of the GWR often became Officers of their own men on
joining the forces. Many troops continuing the Wiltshire tradition of referring
to their superior Officers as ‘Governor’ or ‘Gaffer’. This tradition was not
always received well by other regular soldiers and higher-ranking officers, but
it proved to retain a shred of normality and comradeship among the Swindon
soldiers in often-horrendous conditions.

(Interview by Emma Rowe - Local Historian Mark Sutton – 11/8/15)

CURFEW FOR PUBLIC HOUSES

On February 17th 1916 a wartime Licensing Order came into effect in Swindon
ordering that all pubs should close at 9pm.

(http://www.swindonheritage.com/on-this-day/day-february-17/)

SWINDON’S MEN SENT FAR AFIELD

The men of Swindon enlisted within various Battalions of the Wiltshire
Regiments, many finding themselves on the frontline in France but many being
posted to far-flung corners of the globe such as India and Egypt. The ¼ Wilts
were part of the Palestine Campaign, with Captain Arkell, of the well-known
brewery family, being wounded by rifle fire during the battle for Jerusalem.

(https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/346/wiltshire-regiment/)

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.118)

THE EMPIRE THEATRE




1917

CHRISTMAS AT MILTON BATH HOSPITAL



CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Swindon had its share of conscientious objectors. People, such as William
Robins, who simply didn’t believe in war. Two of Robins’ brothers were in the
forces, one of whom, Harold Richard Robins, died at Dunkirk on the 19th of
October 1917 during an air raid. Despite this, or indeed perhaps because of it,
William continued to uphold his pacifist beliefs throughout the war and later
became Mayor of Swindon in 1932.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.63)

(http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/conscientious-objectors-in-their-own-words)

DESERTION

On the 2nd of May 1917 a special Police Court was held in Wootton Bassett to try
two men on charges of desertion. PC Wheeler, who apprehended the two men, was
awarded with 10 shillings for his efforts.

(p.102-103 Sheridan Parsons Wootton Bassett In The Great War)

THE STORY OF WILLIAM JAMES PITT



GWR EXPANDS ITS MANUFACTURING POWER

The GWR acted as not only as a production line for making ambulance trains, but
also supplied a staggering 216,350 vehicles towards the war effort and acted as
an ammunitions factory producing over 2,500 shells per week.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.47)

THREE SISTERS ENLIST TOGETHER



THE STORY OF ARTHUR AND WILLIAM BARNES

Brothers Arthur and William Barnes of 18 Medgebury Road both enlisted; Arthur
joining the Royal Navy and William as a private in the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire
Regiment. In order to follow his brother into the forces a 15-year-old William
took the steps to lie about his age. Sadly on the 31st May 1916, at the age of
18 years, Arthur was killed in action on the HMS ‘Queen Mary’ during the Battle
of Jutland. William followed the 2nd Battalion to the Western Front, seeing
front line action in some of the bloodiest battles of WW1 including the Battle
of the Somme and the British offensive fought on the 9th of May 1915 on Aubers
Ridge. It was during the latter conflict that he took bullets to both of his
legs leaving him helpless and alone on the battlefield for two to three days.
After being posted as missing in action he was eventually discovered and
returned to England to recuperate. On returning home William became extremely
reluctant to return to the front line, begging his father to reveal the illegal
nature of his recruitment, being just 15 years old. Harry Barnes, an ex Sergeant
Major and decorated veteran, took a hard line with his son and refused to
declare any such irregularities. William returned to the front line on his
father’s instructions, only to tragically die on the 6th of April 1917 of wounds
sustained during the Battle of Arras.

(Interview by Emma Rowe – Local Historian Mark Sutton- 11/8/15)

(Sutton, Mark Tell Them Of Us – Remembering Swindons Sons of the Great War
1914-1918. Great Britain: Melvyn Mckeown, 2006. p. 7.)

PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND

February 1917 saw William Ferguson Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, give a
talk at the Mechanics Institute. One of the main themes being the issue of
raising money to fund the war effort.

(http://www.swindonheritage.com/on-this-day/on-this-day-february-5/)

SWINDON BROTHELS

A number of brothels were set up across Swindon during the Great War. The
council, to help prevent venereal diseases spreading amongst the soldiers,
legally ran these brothels carrying out regular health checks on their female
workers. Soldiers who did contract VD’s were often treated as cowards due to the
fact that the disease put them out of active service. Often their pay was
stopped and a letter sent home explaining that VD was behind this stop in pay.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25762151)

(Interview by Emma Rowe – Local Historian Mark Sutton- 11/8/15)

THE SOCIAL CLUB

The Social Club for the wives and mothers of members of the forces became an
increasingly important pillar within the community as the fighting overseas
continued. The average attendance leaping from 160 women, not including the
children whom the mothers brought with them, through 1916 and 1917 to over 511
by 1917. The meetings were far more than just “tea meetings,” providing the
women and children with an escape from the worry and the hardship that war
brought with it. The meetings were often enlivened by music and song,
effectively lifting the mood to that of general merriment.

(Swindon’s War Record – Bavin - p. 132)

THE WILTSHIRE REGIMENT

On the outbreak of war the Wiltshire Regiment managed to muster 10 Battalions.
In total gaining 60 Battle Honours and 1 Victoria Cross that was awarded to
Wanborough man, Sergeant William Gosling, for his bravery shown on 5th April
1917. On this particular date Gosling was in France on the front line when he
took the admirable decision to leave his trench to disarm a mortar round that
had fallen only yards from his unit. Gosling lifted the nose of the bomb and
deftly unscrewed the fuse, hurling the mortar into no mans land where it
exploded safely. His actions arguably saved the lives of many and for such
actions he was awarded the highest of honours.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p. 111)

(https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/346/wiltshire-regiment/)


1918

“WAR-TIME COOKERY” CLASSES

During the Spring of 1918 a course of six lectures were given at the Technical
Institution in, “War-time Cookery.” This was in reaction to the ever-increasing
shortage of food, with the Food Control Committee identifying the need to
educate Swindonians in the art of preserving fruit and adopting zero waste
schemes.

(Swindon’s War Record – Bavin - p. 154)

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

Swindon born Arthur Loveday served as a Company Sergeant Major in France. During
his time overseas he was caught under fire and took a German bullet to the
chest. Miraculously he survived as his own bullets, hung on a metal attachment,
took the impact and effectively reflected the bullet’s fatal course. Sadly
Arthur’s luck wasn’t to last and he was later killed in action in 1918.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p. 105)

FOOD RATIONING

Food rationing came into force nationally by July 1918 but Swindon had adopted
similar schemes much earlier in January.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. pp. 68-69)

See BOY ON STREET by Alyx Blick >

FRANK GILBERT AND LILY CANNINGS



GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR

Plans were made during a meeting held by the National Farmers Union at the
Goddard Arms, Swindon, to utilize German prisoners of war that were held at the
Chiseldon Camp, all 210 of them, on local farms. Although there has been no
evidence unearthed so far to suggest this plan was put into action in Swindon.

(Parsons, Sheridan. Wootton Bassett In The Great War. p.111)

THE STORY OF RONALD PERCIVAL CLACK



SWINDON COLLEGE REMEMBERS ITS FALLEN



CHRISTMAS PARCELS FROM THE MAYOR

With the signing of the Armistice on the 11th of November 1918 there came a
sense of great relief for families across the world. This sense of relief was
compounded when news reached Swindon of the release of prisoners of war being
held in German camps. The Mayor, Alderman C. A Plaister, addressed a letter to
each of the returning Swindon men inviting them to meet him at the Museum to
receive a Christmas parcel; parcels that had already been packed ready for
dispatch to Germany before the Armistice was signed.

(Swindon’s War Record – Bavin - p.104)

NEW ROLES FOR WOMEN

By the end of the war in 1918 many of Swindon’s women had taken on the roles
their husbands, brothers, fathers and uncles had left behind. Nearly all aspects
of the town’s economy including factory work, shop work, administration and
farming had been supported, as indeed was the case across the country, by women.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. pp.82-83)

See UNTITLED by Georgia Fullerton >

ARMISTICE IN WOOTTON BASSETT

November 11th 1918 has become the day we all know as Armistice Day. The Herald
describes, “a deathly stillness,” hanging over Wootton Bassett on the Monday
morning of the 11th, “everyone waiting to hear the verdict of the Kaiser.”
Shopkeepers soon found their stocks of red, white and blue ribbons decimated
greatly as, “the greatest excitement,” took hold of the town.

(Parsons, Sheridan. Wootton Bassett In The Great War. p.113)

‘DE-MOBBED’ HORSES TO NEW HOMES

December 1918 saw a number of ‘de-mobbed’ horses that had survived the trials of
war being unceremoniously sold off at the Swindon cattle market. It has been
estimated that half a million horses belonging to the British Army were killed
during the Great War.

http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=364&c=1227


1919

REGENT CIRCUS – PEACE DAY RIOTS

On Peace Day 1919 a flagpole was erected in Swindon causing riots to break out.
The pole cost £300 and was erected to honor Swindon’s men who fought in the war.
Despite the honorable cause Swindon was rife with poverty at this time so the
expense was seen as extremely controversial. Over 20,000 people gathered for the
ceremony but that night the flagpole was taken down and riots started. The only
people who could manage to subdue the rioters were fellow soldiers.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qb45n)

VICTORY BALL

On Tuesday the 21st January 1919 – one of the finest Swindon victory balls,
hosted by the Mayor and Mayoress, was held at the large Swimming Baths. With
over 400 returned prisoners and friends sitting down to dinner, a brass band
playing from a platform encircled with flowers, emblems and flags.

(Swindon’s War Record – Bavin - p. 104)

RECOGNITION FOR MARY SLADE AND KATE HANDLEY

On July 25, 1919 - Mary Slade and Kate Handley represented the Swindon Prisoners
of War Committee at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

(http://swindonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/mary-e-slade.html)

See MARY SLADE by Dorcan Academy >

BELGIAN GUESTS WELL LOOKED AFTER

Sympathy never waned for Swindon's Belgian guests with over £5,000, roughly
£2.5million in today’s terms, being raised for them during the war.

(http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=364&c=1217)

SWINDON HIT HARD

920 Swindon men have been identified as being among those who lost their lives
during World War One and are remembered on a large plaque in the Town Hall.
Current estimates though put the actual figure a lot higher at roughly 1,300
men.

(Pringle, Mike. Great War Britain - Swindon Remembering 1914-18. p.148)

THE BAD BOYS CAMP

Chiseldon, Wiltshire: home to The Bad Boys Camp. Once home to a training base
for approximately 8,000 soldiers and hospital since July 1915, the camp post war
took on a very different role. Acting as a guarded hospital for up to 1,100
British soldiers suffering from venereal disease; a disease that the authorities
were struggling to contain. It now forms part of the story of the Army’s and
Britain’s, attitudes towards sex at the time.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qb3tn)

(http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=116&ss=763&c=2501&t=Chiseldon+Camp)

WAR INJURIES

A Swindon man who had lost his legs during the Great War used a ‘trolley’ to get
around due to a lack of available wheelchairs.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qb3tn)

(Interview by Gurchetan Singh - Local Historian Mark Sutton)

CHILDREN LISTENING AT DOORS

Many of Swindon’s children listened intently through doors to hear their fathers
talk of the war. Quite often soldiers wouldn't talk to their children about what
happened overseas but would talk to brothers or friends.

(Interview by Gurchetan Singh - Local Historian Mark Sutton)

See LISTENING by Joseph Swaby >

THE STORY OF ROGER AND FRANK HAYES

Roger Hayes, a Swindon man born and bred, remembers his father Frank Hayes, who
served with the Somerset Light Infantry, spoke little of his experiences
overseas following his demobilisation. At the age of 5 or 6 many an hour was
spent in the garden being taught how to march by his father; this being the only
nod to his time spent on active duty that Frank divulged to Roger. This being
said, a story was passed down by Roger’s grandmother that on returning home to
Swindon, following some time spent in Boulogne hospital, recovering from an
injury to his thigh caused by flying shrapnel, Frank was required to strip off
in the back garden. Both Frank and his much worn uniform were covered in lice, a
creature much cursed and frequently encountered during the first world war, so
had to be disinfected prior to crossing the threshold of his childhood home.
Roger remembers sadly that this process included the burning of his father’s
uniform.

(Interview by Emma Rowe with retired GWR worker Roger Hayes. 30/7/15)

SUICIDE RATES

Suicide rates in Swindon and indeed across the country were alarmingly high
following the end of the First World War. Many soldiers struggled to settle back
into everyday life with high numbers suffering from undiagnosed Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder. One Swindon gentleman was called to come back to the Army after
the war had ended, but this prospect filled him with dread so much so that he
attempted to commit suicide on a number of occasions.

(Interview by Emma Rowe - Local Historian Mark Sutton – 11/8/15)

See MAN ON THE EDGE by James Frost >

ARMISTICE DAY IN SWINDON’S SCHOOLS

Armistice Day was observed across Swindon on the 11th of November 1919. Many of
Swindon’s schools planned lessons and brief ceremonies in commemoration of all
those who were lost during the conflict. In accordance with the King’s desire a
two-minute period of silence was held in remembrance, “of our glorious dead.”

(Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre – School Log Books – Westcott Mixed Junior
School - 1903- 1955)

THE STORY OF SIDNEY WILKINS




LATER

WILLIAM DORLING BAVIN

William Dorling Bavin (1871-1948), Headmaster of Sanford Street Boys School, was
approached by Swindon Borough Council following the First World War and asked to
compile a ‘complete record in permanent form of local activities, charitable and
otherwise, in connection with the War.’ Initial plans projected the work would
consist of at least two or three volumes but, in the event, Swindon’s War Record
was published in one volume in 1922. Bavin’s carefully compiled body of work has
proven to be of great importance and succour, not only to this project, but to
local historians and Great War enthusiasts alike.

(Child, Mark. The Swindon Book Companion. p. 14)

THE STORY OF JOHN PUZEY

Swindon man John Puzey, one of three brothers serving during WW1, became one of
many to suffer following the conclusion of the First World War with
post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Due to the severity of his symptoms his
family, with his agreement, sent him to Roundway Mental Institute in Devizes to
receive treatment. Local historian Mark Sutton talks of his Italian mother, who
came over to England to work at Roundway as a trained nurse. She, among many,
remembered John Puzey as a man with a smile always on his face. John lived out
his days at the Institute and on his passing he was buried in Radnor Street
Cemetery.

(Interview by Emma Rowe – Local Historian Mark Sutton - 11/8/15)

See RABBIT HUNTING film by Mass Media >


2015

MASSMEDIA

MassMedia are a group of enthusiastic young people who have come to Create
Studios through a range of outreach projects. They are serious about taking next
steps towards careers within digital creative industries and were the lead young
people's group on 100Stories.

SEE THE STORIES >

DORCAN ACADEMY

Dorcan spent a week out of their school term working on this project with a
focus on creative and documentary photography. The group ranged from photography
novices to students who were already learning elements within their media
course.

SEE THE STORIES >

OAKFIELD PROJECT

The Oakfield Project is an alternative to school where students are supported to
gain qualifications when outside of mainstream education.

Planning with the team at Oakfield, students were given the opportunity to
travel to Belgium and visit the war graves of Swindon solders.

SEE THE STORIES >


Create Studios

CONTACT

01793 486108

info@createstudios.org.uk

Facebook Twitter Vimeo
Heritage Lottery Funded

RESOURCES

Swindon Museum & Art Gallery

Swindon Library/Archives

Wilts & Swindon History Centre

Swindon in the Great War Group

Imperial War Museum WW1

Partners:

Swindon Libraries/Archives
Swindon Museum & Art Gallery
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre

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MILTON ROAD TEMPORARY HOSPITAL

Milton Road Baths used as a temporary Red Cross hospital, opening in 1914 - The
GWR Medical Fund baths in Milton Road were rented so that they could be
converted to a hospital that would admit 1070 patients before it was closed in
June 1915, and a new hospital opened at Stratton in 1917.

http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=364&c=1217


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GWR AMBULANCE TRAINS

Swindon’s GWR works manufactured the government approved ambulance trains. Frank
Marillier, the manager of the Carriage and Wagon Department was on the
front-line in regards to designing and managing their production. He later
became the Chairman of the Continental Ambulance Train Committee, a position of
great significance within the war effort.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p022njzx


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THE STORY OF LOUIS WALTER GOUGH

At 15 years 4 months and 5 days old Purton born Louis Walter Gough enlisted into
the Royal Field Artillery in September 1914 after lying to superior offices in
regards to his age. He arrived in France on the 31st July 1915 aged just 16
years. Just two years after signing up the truth came to light in regards to his
age and he was promptly discharged from the army. Gough was described on his
departure from the forces as a, “bright, intelligent, willing lad who had the
pluck to enlist aged 15 years.”

http://www.wiltshireatwar.org.uk/story/louis-walter-gough-a-plucky-purton-boy-joins-up/


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SOLDIERS COMFORT FUND

Mary Elizabeth Slade and Kate Handley formed the Swindon Committee for the
Provision of Comforts for the Wiltshire Regiment in 1915. Groups of women
volunteers, headed by Slade, were based at the Town Hall. These women charged
themselves with the task of dispatching boxes of provisions to soldiers on the
front line and to POW’s. She also pioneered a scheme whereby one could ‘adopt’ a
prisoner to send gifts of money, food or clothes to. By the end of July 1916 the
committee had dispatched over 1,300 parcels of groceries, 1,400 of bread and 38
parcels of clothing to various camps. The committee didn’t render its services
obsolete with the conclusion of the war; in fact Mary Slade and her army of
volunteers continued supporting the families of POW’s well into the 1940’s, the
last committee meeting being held on the 8th of May 1946. A total of 28 years’
service saw Mary Slade take her place in history as one of the greats, an honor,
which alongside her MBE, upon her death in 1960, at the age of 87, she proudly
sported.

http://swindonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/mary-e-slade.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p029ykfd#auto

See MARY SLADE by Dorcan Academy >


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THE STORY OF ‘REX’ WARNEFORD

Sub Lieutenant Reginald ‘Rex’ Warneford, from Highworth, was the first person to
shoot down a German Zeppelin during the First World War. On 17th June 1915,
Warneford received the award of Légion d’honneur from the French Army Commander
in Chief, General Joffre. During the return journey from France the right hand
wing of the plane carrying Rex, and his American journalist passenger, collapsed
leading to a catastrophic failure of the airframe. Both were both thrown out of
the aircraft, suffering fatal injuries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qb4mm

http://highworthremembers.co.uk/rex-warneford/


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CHRISTMAS TRUCE FOOTBALL MATCH

CPT Mervyn Stronge Richardson, a Purton man, took part in the Boxing Day
football match in 1915. Richardson was also friends with the famous war poet
Siegfried Sassoon and is mentioned in Sassoon's 'Memoirs of a fox-hunting man'.

http://radleyarchives.co.uk/people/7761-mervyn-stronge-richardson

See THE GREAT GAME film by Mass Media >


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THE EMPIRE THEATRE

When the people of Swindon weren’t busy supporting the war effort a popular way
to wind down and have some fun was attending a free show at the Empire Theatre.
Alderman James 'Raggy' Powell organised shows for the wives and children of men
in the forces, providing them with a few hours’ respite from the worries of the
conflict.

http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=116&ss=364&c=1217


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CHRISTMAS 1916 AT THE MILTON BATH HOSPITAL

https://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4275047122/in/album-72157621922606653/


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THE STORY OF WILLIAM JAMES PITT

Swindon man William James Pitt re-enlisted, after previously serving with the
Royal Warwick Regiment, into the army in October 1914 at the age of 43 but was
discharged three years later in 1917. Tuberculosis left him permanently unfit
for active service and saw him confined to a specially adapted garden shed at
his home at number 21 Hawkins Street. He died just three months later. Local
military historian Mark Sutton went to find his grave in the Radnor Street
Cemetery. He then wrote to the war commission to get it acknowledged that he
died in military service. This was later confirmed.

http://swindonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/celia-pitt-and-mary-jane-preater.html


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THREE SISTERS ENLIST TOGETHER

Three Swindon sisters, Elsie, Mabel and Ethel French, enlisted together, two
into the Women’s Army Auxiliary core and one into the RAF. Although born in
Bournemouth all three sisters gravitated to Swindon to put down more permanent
roots. From 1917 the Women’s Auxiliary Corps played an important role within the
war machine. To be accepted into the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, you had to
provide two references, go before a selection board and pass a medical
examination. In spite of these hurdles far more women applied to join the
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps than had been previously anticipated.

(Interview by Emma Rowe – Local Historian Mark Sutton - 11/8/15)

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-role-of-british-women-in-the-twentieth-century/the-womens-army-auxiliary-corps


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THE LOVE STORY OF FRANK GILBERT AND LILY CANNINGS

On the 29th of August 1918 Swindon born Lily Pretoria Cannings married Anzac
Frank Roy Gilbert at St Marks Church. This had been, and continued to be, a
story not only defined by war but a story fuelled by love. Previously serving as
a lifeguard on Sydney’s Manly Beach, Frank had enlisted with the Australian Army
in 1915 and saw gruelling frontline service in France before his eventual
posting to England at the age of 22. On arriving in England, Frank found himself
posted for some time at the Chiseldon Camp, going on to serve with the First
Anzac Cycle Battalion. During this time spent in and around Swindon he met his
future wife Lily. Yet following their marriage and the conclusion of the
conflict, the Australian Government put out a call for all Australian born
soldiers to return home. Strongly adverse to leaving his new wife Frank took
drastic action to avoid deportation, in the words of Roy Gilbert, Frank and
Lily’s son, he, “did a runner.” Sadly not all was to go smoothly for the couple
as just weeks after absconding a local policeman was to hear Frank’s rather
distinctive accent during a brief visit to the house. Faced with certain capture
and prosecution Frank gave himself up to authorities. He served his allocated
sentence of 156 days and found himself on conclusion of this stint on a ship
back to Australia. Lily was soon to follow him to Sydney but following the birth
of a daughter the family would find themselves putting down more permanent roots
back in the town in which they had met; Swindon.

(INTERVIEW - Roy Gilbert by Emma Rowe – 4/8/15)


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THE STORY OF RONALD PERCIVAL CLACK

Ronald Percival Clack of Guppy Street in Rodbourne, a coppersmith at the GWR,
enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery in September 1914. In a later published
autobiography Clack talked of his time in the forces and his experience of the
Great War. On enlisting to join, “Kitchener’s Army,” Clack describes his fellow
recruits as a “motley collection of people,” with University graduates rubbing
shoulders with recruits, deemed by Clack to be, “the scum of the earth.” On the
13th of September 1918 Clack was put out of action by a gas shell. With injuries
to his legs and suffering from temporary blindness he was moved to a VAD
hospital in Darwin. He remained at the aforementioned hospital until the
Armistice was announced on the 11th of November.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11371047.print/


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SWINDON COLLEGE REMEMBERS ITS FALLEN

Swindon College, which was established in 1843 by the Great Western Railway
Company to provide educational opportunities for its employees, saw many of its
students and members of staff go off to war. One such student being Brian Harold
Frearson who is believed to have joined up at the age of 17 or 18 and served
with the Royal Engineers until his death on the 4th February 1918 as a result of
a gas attack. To honour Brian and the 44 others fallen amongst its ranks, a
stained glass window was commissioned which is now on display at the new Swindon
College campus in North Star Avenue.

http://cemeteryjunctionwargraves.org.uk/category/regiments/other/page/22/

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/8676007


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THE STORY OF SIDNEY WILKINS AND HIS SON SIDNEY

The top photograph was taken in 1917 and shows Sidney Wilkins of Swindon aged
one. Sidney’s mother sent this image to his father who was on military service
during the First World War. Sidney, like many others, had never met his father
and did not get the chance until Sidney senior returned from overseas following
the conclusion on the conflict. The image appears worn in places as it was kept
on Sidney’s person throughout his time in the trenches.

The accompanying image, taken in 1950 and later made public by Sidney’s son
Trevor, depicts members of the Swindon Pegasus Brass Band; amongst their numbers
are both Sidney Wilkins (bottom left) and his father Sidney Wilkins (bottom
right), bonded despite their years apart by their love of music.

(Interview Darryl Moody – Head of Swindon Local Studies Archive - 3/8/15)

(Interview Trevor Wilkins – via telephone – August and July 15)

http://swindonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/swindon-ankle-biters.html

See FAMILY by Stella-Kent Harper >