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The raising of the flag on Monday on the Church tower by the Vicar gave the news of peace so long looked for. Soon numerous cottages were flying flags and bunting, and the young people marched about in small parties singing and shouting. In the evening the fine old peal of bells rang out for a couple of hours. Amongst the villagers home on leave at the time were Hedley Harris, who has seen active service in Salonika and France, and Serg. Percy Alley. National songs were sung when the Headmaster gave out the news and this was followed by a half-day holiday. The Church bells rang out in the early evening. One thing was particularly noticeable when the tension of the past months was broken. Mafaking and Ladysmith celebration scenes were entirely absent. There was neither rowdyism nor drinking. Undoubtedly this was due to feelings of respect and sympathy for the numerous families who have lost sons, fathers and others during the war. Services for thanksgiving were held in the Church on Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The past fortnight has brought some serious losses to several of the cottage tenants who were keeping pigs. At least two valuable hogs, worth together nearly £20 have died, and others have had to be killed because of ailments. The poor feeding stuff is blamed in each case. St. Thomas's gifts from the village charity estate were distributed on Satuday evening. These consisted of pound notes, 69 cottage tenants getting one each. The trustees present were Messrs F A Pickering, W H Dove and A Norris. Sergt. Charles Deacon, who reached Woburn Sands last week, came over to his parents' home in his native village for the week end. His friends warmly welcomed him. He was one of the early volunteers at Ampthill Camp and did so well while training that he was made sergeant. He was afterwards transferred to the Machine Gun Section, and spent some time at Grantham. He did well on the Western front until he was badly wounded in the wrist, the injuries being so serious that he has very little use in one hand and arm. His five months spent in a German Hospital was a terrible experience, as was his further term in a German prison camp with some 15,000 others. He states that it was common knowledge in the camp that unless the Armistice had been signed at the date it was, rebellion on a much more serious scale would have broken out. He appears in fairly good health except for the disability which he is likely to suffer from in the future. |
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