JANUARY
- The Marlow War Relief Committee decide to form a Marlow unit for the Bucks Battalion of the Volunteer Defence force. This will give military training to men too old to join up, or who work in exempted occupations for example. They will be put to work in various tasks such as guarding depots and assisting the special police.
- The Institute (later the building used as Marlow Library) decide to allow any Marlow men on active service free use of their facilities while they are on leave. This means access to a library, billiards table and other games.
FEBRUARY
- At Walter Davies shop in the High Street you can see a war trophy on display. A German officers helmet was bought to England by an invalided officer and can now be seen in the shop.
MARCH
- The new commanding officer of the Volunteer Defence Force is Arthur L Lawrence and 80 members are enrolled already.
MAY
- News circulates around town that the Grenadier guards will arrive at Bovingdon Green toward the end of the month. However their arrival is delayed because anti German riots in London necessitate their presence.
JUNE
- 1,200 members of the 3rd Battalion of Grenadier Guards finally arrive at Marlow. They have come from the Wellington Barracks, on the 3rd/4th, with the usual fanfare and excited crowds stopping in the streets to cheer them in. A photographer captures the arrival of the main body of men on the 4th and it's made available as a postcard. The first train carrying troops arrives at 10.40, the second 11.45 Am. General Sir George Higginson is amongst those who turn out to witness the event, and he receives their salute. They march to Bovingdon Green where they will stay 7 weeks. Anyone who missed the troops arrival will have plenty of opportunities to see them march, as they proceed almost every morning to the long established firing range opposite Quarry woods for shooting practice. The 4th Battalion are initially expected to follow the 3rd to Marlow within a week or 2. They dig trenches but are they the training ones? See 1914.
- A depot for the National Egg Collection is opened at 71 High Street to collect eggs to provide food for soldiers in hospital both at home and in France. Anyone keeping chickens can donate surplus eggs there.
- The 3rd Battalion of Grenadier Guards march to Gyldernscroft in Henley Rd to honour of their former commander, General Sir George Higginson's, 89th birthday. The children of Bovingdon Green school have the honour of accompanying the Guards and the latters Drum and Fife band.
JULY -
- Grenadier Guards in camp at Marlow host a boxing championship, the first of many sporting events to be held there. Later, the guards host "river sports" on the Thames. A large crowd, deprived of the chance to attend the usual Marlow Regattas, attend. Marlow Rowing Club puts their premises at the soldiers disposal and Mr Meakes loans some skiffs for their use. Popular with crowds are the swimming races, officers jousting on canoes and a hotly contested aquatic tug of war. A band from the Guards keeps everyone entertained throughout the afternoon from their position on the rowing club lawn.
- 700 men from Marlow are now reported to be on active service.
- 3rd Battalion of Grenadier Guards leave Bovingdon Green, on the 20th after declaring the camp the best in England. Several wives and sweethearts walk by the side of the departing men as they make their way to the station. Other women are seen to give out cigarettes to the soldiers. Crowds throng the station, and the platform is closed. But enterprising ladies infiltrate the goods yard and manage to keep the men in sight a little longer. The men are replaced the following day by the 4th Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, who arrive by train and march through the town to Bovingdon Green. A special train also brings from London 200 members of the RAMC complete with ambulances. Officers take houses within the town.
- On the 24th, another 400 members of the Grenadier Guards arrive at Marlow, while 100 leave for duty on the front.
- Farmers at the Marlow Cattle Market hold sale in aid of Red Cross funds - with many animals selling well above usual rates and several put immediately back up for sale to be bid upon again.
- A number of famous though unnamed London "artistes" travel down to Bovingdon Green to take part in a concert for the troops camped there. Hosted in the substantial YMCA tent.
AUGUST
-Many Grenadier Guards move out of Marlow. A company of the 5th Grenadier Guards and the (3rd) 5th London Field Ambulance (RAMC) remain at Bovingdon Green in camp.
- HRH the Prince of Wales makes brief surprise visit to the camp in his capacity as officer in the Grenadier Guards.
- Anyone passing Marlow Lock is buttonholed by the energetic Miss Gladys Meakes who is selling miniature flags to boating people in aid of the Red Cross.
- Hooks Farm hosts a military sports day and gymkhana for the 5th Battalion of Grenadier Guards at Marlow, and the RAMC ditto. In common with most of these events at Marlow, civilians attend in droves, paying a small entry fee of 1 shilling which is collected to raise funds for the Red Cross. Men in armed forces uniform can attend free. Some races are more serious than others, with a three legged race causing much amusement. More than 200 injured soldiers in regional hospitals are invited to attend, including wounded servicemen recovering at Cliveden. Some arrive by river, others by road. Although pubs in Bovingdon Green are technically not supposed to serve them, many are seen to be worse for wear during the day. The landlord of the Jolly Cricketers - Francis Styles - will be fined £5 for serving these soldiers.
- Ladies and men volunteer to carry out national registration, which means delivering 3,500 forms to households in Marlow area.
- An open air meeting is held in the Market Square to encourage every man able to fight to register his interest in doing so. Speakers use a flag draped lorry - loaned from the Brewery - as a platform. Among them is General Sir George Higginson who says war will only end when England and her allies come out victorious. The event ends with cheers for serving men and the Allies as well as the singing of the National Anthem.
- Members of Wycombe VAD march to Bovingdon Green to see the training trenches which have been made on the "most modern scientific principles." The trenches therefore pre date the arrival of the Royal Engineers during war time but the Grenadiers were said to be digging trenches in June - see above.
SEPTEMBER
- Bovingdon Green sees yet more military sports, this time courtesy of the RAMC. Amongst competitive running races, and long and high jump events, can be found mounted wrestling competitions, egg and spoon dashes and a costume race won by a man dressed as a undertaker.
- They also hold a river sports day, with swimming, punting, and a greasy pole climbing competition. The officers and their friends are invited to watch from the lawn of Marlow Rowing Club while others line the traditional regatta viewing spot - Marlow Bridge. After the last race, all competitors and officers are given a celebratory tea by the Rowing club following a prize giving.
- The RAMC hold a fund raising concert in aid of their YMCA tent at the Bovingdon camp, one of many they will organise.
- The 2nd Welsh Guards are reported to also be at Bovingdon along with Grenadier Guards and RAMC.
- The Bucks Examiner prints extracts from a moving letter from ex Marlow football player Sergeant H Hawkes to his wife, from his hospital bed at a military hospital at Netley. Hawkes had a miraculous escape, having been shot through the neck while fighting in the Dardanelles. "I must say I thought of you all when I lay there in the moonlight with hundreds of dead and wounded around me". The man from the Red Cross who had come to his aid, was sadly shot through the head and killed as he tended Sergeant Hawke.
OCTOBER
- Mr and Mrs Owens of 62 West Street receive special letter of sympathy from King and Queen after the death of the third of their sons in action.
- The Welsh Guards leave Bovingdon on the 2nd.
- On the 23rd, the sounds of the Grenadier Guards Drum and Fife band marching through the town centre gives warning to any Marlow resident who hasn't heard the news - the Grenadier Guards are moving out. They leave from Marlow station as the band plays patriotic songs. The RAMC and 26th Fusiliers Bankers Battalion remain.
NOVEMBER
- 50 Marlow men are reported as killed or missing presumed killed so far.
- The 26th Royal Fusiliers Bankers Battalion and (3rd) 5th RAMC are reported to still be in camp at Marlow. The former has formed a brass band and gives first performance at one of the many military football matches held at Marlow, on this occasion on Borlase playing fields.
- A fearsome gale at the end of the month sees numerous tents belonging to the camped soldiers upturned. They seek shelter in the YMCA tent before many get temporarily billeted within the town the following day. The RAMC billet themselves in The Old House and one adjoining while other troops occupy locations including the Institute (now Marlow Library), the Armoury (Institute Rd) and in the High Street - "the old Lloyd bank" and the unused shop of Mr Martin plus the former boys school in The Causeway (now the church hall)
- The 26th Royal Fusiliers Bankers Battalion leave Marlow for Essex. They take with them a number of Marlow men who joined them during their Marlow stay.
DECEMBER
- Three field companies of the Home Counties Royal Engineers Territorial force arrive in Marlow. They are quartered in empty houses and halls. About 450 men in total are housed.
- The RAMC leave Marlow after a long stay, giving a farewell concert that ends in an emotional singing of Auld Lang Syne. They had remained quartered at The Old House and an adjacent property after the gale last month partially destroyed their camp.
- Busy scenes were reported at the Marlow recruiting office where 150 Marlow men are "attested for grouping under Lord Derby's scheme"
- At the AGM of the Brewery, it is revealed that 44 of their employees are currently serving, and that 4 others had been found medically unfit for service. They are at this time executing a "considerable order" for shells having moved some of their production over to munitions. Company Engineer V B Butt supervised this work.
1918 here
Brewery First World War Memorial tablet Here
To read other posts relating to Marlow's military history or everyday life here in the past, see the post listing here
Researched and written by Kathryn Day
©MarlowAncestors. You are very welcome to use this research for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog and provide a link back here.
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