Great War 1914 - 1918 Issue 3: July 2014
This is a website for people who are interested in the history of Box, in the county of Wiltshire, and its surrounding hamlets.
The site publishes articles about the characters who lived here and how the village developed. It is also a community website where you can record your story and that of your ancestors. Click on the blue headings below to read the articles.
The site publishes articles about the characters who lived here and how the village developed. It is also a community website where you can record your story and that of your ancestors. Click on the blue headings below to read the articles.
This Edition
The special feature in this issue is the story of the Great War with several articles telling the story of individual Box men and women. You can read tributes to the 43 Box men who were killed in the war at Never Forgotten. We have photos of Box's servicemen at In Memoriam, articles about life at Christmas 1913 and 1914, contemporary extracts of the School Log & Diaries at Children in WW1, and the chilling story of a White Feather Campaign in Neighbour Against Neighbour.
If you want to add your tribute, please contact us via the Contact tab. And you can also use the Blog page to discuss the Great War or our regular features on Box people or Box places, listed below.
The special feature in this issue is the story of the Great War with several articles telling the story of individual Box men and women. You can read tributes to the 43 Box men who were killed in the war at Never Forgotten. We have photos of Box's servicemen at In Memoriam, articles about life at Christmas 1913 and 1914, contemporary extracts of the School Log & Diaries at Children in WW1, and the chilling story of a White Feather Campaign in Neighbour Against Neighbour.
If you want to add your tribute, please contact us via the Contact tab. And you can also use the Blog page to discuss the Great War or our regular features on Box people or Box places, listed below.
John Bosley and daughter Tina at Arnham in 2013
People
We have an exclusive interview with PC John Bosley (see right), one of the last village bobbies in Box. John's amazing story includes the major local tragedies of the 1950s and 1960s with fatalities at the Rising Sun and the Manor House. He also tells of world events affecting the village: the influx of Hungarian refugees at Thorney Pitts and the journey of the Beatles through the village.
The story of Worthy George Phelps tells of Box's Last Blacksmith at Pye Corner. The history of Box's Fire Brigade is recorded. There is new research in Parliament in Box which traces Box's connections with Westminster politics.
The challenge to record the stories of local Box families has produced a mine of information. There are tributes to several families including the Cannings and Southards. Readers' contributions include Swinging Sixties or Not?
We have an exclusive interview with PC John Bosley (see right), one of the last village bobbies in Box. John's amazing story includes the major local tragedies of the 1950s and 1960s with fatalities at the Rising Sun and the Manor House. He also tells of world events affecting the village: the influx of Hungarian refugees at Thorney Pitts and the journey of the Beatles through the village.
The story of Worthy George Phelps tells of Box's Last Blacksmith at Pye Corner. The history of Box's Fire Brigade is recorded. There is new research in Parliament in Box which traces Box's connections with Westminster politics.
The challenge to record the stories of local Box families has produced a mine of information. There are tributes to several families including the Cannings and Southards. Readers' contributions include Swinging Sixties or Not?
Middlehill Meals mosaic of pottery shards
Places
There are new and follow-up articles at the request of readers. Middlehill Meals tells of The Three Cups Inn, Shockerwick and how to record finds from your garden (left).
In Part 2 of our review of Box's shops Eric & Sandra Callaway map out shop locations in Centre of Commerce. We have the fascinating story of Box Post Office with some wonderful pictures courtesy of Patty Baldwin. We also have the story of the County Stores recalled by Keith and Carla Pask.
The story of Kingsdown takes another twist with the Lord of the Manor confronting the newly established Parish Council in 1895. Find out who won the argument in the First Battle of Kingsdown Common.
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There are new and follow-up articles at the request of readers. Middlehill Meals tells of The Three Cups Inn, Shockerwick and how to record finds from your garden (left).
In Part 2 of our review of Box's shops Eric & Sandra Callaway map out shop locations in Centre of Commerce. We have the fascinating story of Box Post Office with some wonderful pictures courtesy of Patty Baldwin. We also have the story of the County Stores recalled by Keith and Carla Pask.
The story of Kingsdown takes another twist with the Lord of the Manor confronting the newly established Parish Council in 1895. Find out who won the argument in the First Battle of Kingsdown Common.
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Parish Plans for WW1 Commemoration
Local resident, Anna Grayson, thrilled the Year 6 children at Box School by recounting the war diaries and letters from the Front of her uncle, Cecil Lambert. She told them of his time in France, Salonika and Russia. It was part of the children's research into the War and the servicemen and women from Box.
The location of servicemen's houses throughout the parish is being traced, starting with the area around the Rec and you can see the work already done at Where They Lived. The houses will be marked with temporary plaques in October when they will be recorded on a map to cover the whole parish. You can see if your house will be listed on the link.
The children's research and the location map will be available to view on the website and will be on display in the autumn at the Chapel of Rest at the Cemetery on the A4.
On Remembrance Weekend in November we are putting on an exhibition at the Pavilion on the Rec where you can also enjoy a cup of tea with Boxlea WI.
Local resident, Anna Grayson, thrilled the Year 6 children at Box School by recounting the war diaries and letters from the Front of her uncle, Cecil Lambert. She told them of his time in France, Salonika and Russia. It was part of the children's research into the War and the servicemen and women from Box.
The location of servicemen's houses throughout the parish is being traced, starting with the area around the Rec and you can see the work already done at Where They Lived. The houses will be marked with temporary plaques in October when they will be recorded on a map to cover the whole parish. You can see if your house will be listed on the link.
The children's research and the location map will be available to view on the website and will be on display in the autumn at the Chapel of Rest at the Cemetery on the A4.
On Remembrance Weekend in November we are putting on an exhibition at the Pavilion on the Rec where you can also enjoy a cup of tea with Boxlea WI.