Wendover Remembers, March 1919
By the end of March 1919 just over half of the British Army, some 2 million men and women, had been demobilized. This was a considerable achievement, but it did not take place without unrest and disruption among those still waiting to get home. Among the millions of demobilized soldiers was a group requiring special attention – the disabled. It is estimated that of those returning from the war a quarter suffered from some form of disability – in total 41.000 had lost at least one limb. The Government had set up a scheme to help returning soldiers to buy land and farm it, but through lack of money the scheme came to nothing.
In Wendover the Parish Council discussed several on-going problems. Mr F W Humphreys, who had returned from active service, wrote applying for a few acres of land. The Clerk explained that it was out of the jurisdiction of the Parish Council as the duty of administrating the Small Holdings and Allotments Act was the duty of the County Council. Mr Humphreys had lost a limb in serving his country and the Parish Council wished to do all they could for him and all discharged soldiers. They decided the application should be recommended when forwarded to the County Council.
On the 15th March the Bucks Herald reported on the departure of the Belgian families who had spent the war years in Wendover. ‘OUR BELGIAN GUESTS- On Tuesday morning the Belgians who have been in residence since 1914 at Glencote House, Chiltern Road, left Wendover for Liverpool Street, en route for Antwerp, Belgium. They were Mons. and Madame Verachtert and two children, Georges and Paul; Mons. and Madame de Milliane, and four children, Georges, Rayment, Genevieve, and Paul; also Mlle. Constance Verachtert. At the station to see them off were Miss Lucas, Lieut. and Mrs E J Francis, Miss Mitchell (Chilton Road) and Mr F W Blake, with Mr Stafford (clerk at the railway station), who very kindly arranged for their journeying together. It will be remembered that soon after the outbreak of war a committee was formed to assist the Belgian refugees who were coming to this country and who were suffering in the words of their King for “the justice and honour of civilisation.” Mr Frederick Purssell most kindly placed Glencote House at the disposal of the committee rent free for a certain time, and it was quickly furnished by friends who lent furniture or gave gifts with offers of weekly supplies of bread, meat, milk and groceries, with gas, water and rates free, the home at the time being entirely provided by efforts of goodwill on the part of the inhabitants of Wendover. At this time the work of Mr CE Wrigley and Mr Francis deserve special mention. For some time now the committee have been free of any responsibility, the families being able to maintain themselves. The Belgians will be very much missed by Wendoverians in the district in which they resided, particularly the children, whose conduct has been most excellent, and they departed with the best wishes for their future welfare and happiness.’
The Clerk of the Parish Council read a letter from Captain E P Smith, [Lord of the Manor and owner of most of the properties in Wendover] in reply to a request that he would receive a deputation to discuss the question of sites for the proposed war memorial. He stated that he hoped to soon have the privilege of arranging to meet them. For many years rats had been a problem in the town and at the March meeting the Clerk read the schedule of the Rat Order, 1918, issued by the County Council, in which a sum of 2d per rat was offered. On the suggestion of Mr Blake, seconded by Mr Rance, it was decided to appoint Mr Tarry as the “authorised person” to receive the rats.
