JANUARY
- The number of public lamps lit has been gradually reducing. The ones that are lit are shaded. In the end it's decided to abandon evening church services in Marlow as a result.
- Sapper G Willis, son of Mrs Willis of 7 Cambridge Road is awarded the DCM for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, relating to events in December 1915. When a "gallery" collapses on Sapper Willis, it takes 2 hours to extricate him. Despite this, he returns immediately to the "extremely critical" position, which is eventually held.
FEBRUARY
- Captain L.S.Metford, home on leave, returns to his old school, Borlase, to address the boys. He tells them about the work of the Royal Flying Corps and the many "thrilling experiences" he has had while on active service with them.
- Not to be outdone by the musical RAMC and their public concerts at Marlow, the Royal Engineers stationed here put on a "popular entertainment" in the Public Hall. So many people try to get in that the doors are closed and many people turned away. As the purpose is to raise funds for the Red Cross, it's decided to repeat the entertainment the next day so the disappointed Marlovians can have the chance to gain admission.
- The vicar decides it would be a good idea to insure All Saints against the risk posed by aircraft, military or otherwise. This will cost a steep £17 so he issues an appeal for donations.
- The Petty Sessions see their first case of someone appearing before them accused of not shading the lights in their home so they could not shine outside. Unfortunately for Annie Coventry of Chapel Street, it's decided to make an example of her as the first offender, and she is fined £1. However it's likely she would have recieved a higher fine anyway as Inspector West said she used "very bad language" and had not shaded the light when asked, or answered the door when he returned. Annie said she'd been busy putting the children to bed and didn't even know what the regulations were - at which point it was pointed out the poster explaining them was 200 yards from her home
MARCH
- The Marlow tribunal begins regular meetings, usually at the Institute. Their job is to decide on applications made by men for a deferral or cancellation of call up for military service. It's headed by local Urban District Council chairman Mr J Langley, with other members being local tradesman. There is of course a military representative (sometimes two) present. Many of the exemptions granted are temporary and allow agricultural labourers to delay service until essential farm work has been completed. Others ask to be excused on the ground they are self employed and no one else can do the business. Some employers ask for the only man who knows how to operate a paticular piece of machinery to be allowed to stay home, with varying degrees of success. The military representative often answers that a woman could be bought in to do the job of a man an employer thinks is essential. On one occasion, when told by one such business that the job could not be suitable for a woman, the military man holds up a picture of a woman already performing the manual role successfully elsewhere, causing laughter all round.
APRIL
- After a gale, the Royal Engineers in town are put to good use removing 5 fallen trees that block Oxford Road, as well as others in Spinfield Lane.
JUNE
- Lillian Bowles, Lillian Bowler, and Mary Jane Langley are fined 4s each for stealing sausages and currants from the larder of the Royal Engineers Officers mess at Quarry Wood House. They say they did it as a joke.
- The Royal Engineers stationed in Marlow stand in for the absent Grenadier Guards, who last year paraded before their former commander, General Sir George Higginson. The occasion now is his 90th birthday. He inspects the ranks as the soldiers line up on the Meadow opposite Sir George's Henley Road home, Gyldernscroft.
- The riverside is busy as the Royal Engineers construct a pontoon bridge across the Thames to facilitate the passage of troops and heavy equipment. But following a period of heavy rain the pontoons become treacherously muddy and the situation quickly becomes dangerous. The horses pulling the cable cart of the 1st Signal Corps of the RE struggle to maintain their footing, and one stumbles, falling into the water. The horse harnessed with it is also dragged under, along with several men who narrowly escape with their lives. The two horses are not so lucky, and are drowned despite the frantic efforts of onlookers. A little later, the tragedy is almost repeated during the crossing of the pontoon bridge by the Kings Royal Rifles. A horse slips and slides into the water, with the water cart it was hauling. Sapper Morrison, of the 23rd Company Royal Engineers miraculously manages to cut the horse free of its harness, while underwater, dodging the plunging hooves. For a few moments, everyone believe that Sapper Morrison is drowned as the churning of water by the panicked horse makes it impossible to see him. But he makes it to the river bank, as does happily the horse. Morrison is praised for his courage and quick thinking.
- The Royal Engineers hold a memorial service in All Saints in honour of the late Lord Kitchener. They had originally planned to hold a large outdoor event in Colonel's Meadow but the weather is awful so they settle on a parade with the band through town before the service.
- The parochial roll of honour, showing men of the parish who have left to serve "king and country" is now hanging in the porch of All Saints. It lists 1,100 men of whom 54 are believed dead. The latter names are added to a tablet within the church.
- On happier note, Royal Engineers still at Marlow are able to enjoy another sports day, this one followed by a dance.
- All eyes are on Bisham where a military aeroplane descends into a field. A large crowd gathers as always, despite the planes short stay - to do a slight repair.
JULY -
- Residents unaware of munitions work being conducted at the Brewery will now know about it thanks to reports of men engaged in work there being exempted from call up on those grounds.
- More river sports for the Royal Engineers as well as cricket matches at the Marlow Cricket ground. Our home counties Royal Engineers play the East Anglians who are camped at Bourne End. They loose but are compensated by the "ladies of Marlow" entertaining them at tea.
- 100 members of the 3rd home counties Royal Engineers leave Marlow for the Front. Another contingent head by train to Bourne End where they will stay in camp. All the leaving soldiers are proceeded by a band on their march through town. Marlow people immediately know what the sound of this music means by now and come out to line the streets as the men say farewell.
AUGUST
- General Sir George Higginson, gives a speech to the boys of Borlase on their prize giving day. He tells them he hopes none could now go to sleep at night without a thought for those "maintaining the honour of King and Country in other lands".
-Gertrude Clayton, district representative of the Bucks agricultural committee writes a letter about their work to the local press. She appeals to those who could provide useful war work to those men exempted from armed service on grounds of conscientious objection, to come forward. She also says that farmers wanting to employ woman on the land could apply to the registrar of the Marlow district at the Old Parsonage.
- Mrs Damant, of West End Gardens, receives a heart breaking letter from Canon Phillips Smith of The Lee, relating to the death of her son Sidney. Canon Smith says Sidney died while trying to save the life of his own son Charles. Sidney had gone to bring back Charles, who had been wounded. Sadly both were killed but Canon Smith wished to thank Sidney's parents for his "courage and devotion to my beloved son." "It is hard for me to write more.."
- The home counties Royal Engineers left at Marlow leave Marlow for a short camp at Bourne End where they will stay for 3 weeks to undergo pontoon training.
- The first wounded soldiers arrive at Little Marlow Manor house which has been loaned by Mrs Bradish Ellames for use as a convalescent home.
SEPTEMBER
- The Home Counties Royal Engineers have formed a football team and will play games at Crown Meadow (Now Riley Recreation ground) for the rest of their stay, becoming a popular fixture as it's been a long time since the Marlow football teams have been able to play.
- a number of local people report hearing the dull boom of guns in Marlow. Later they realise it occurred at the time of an Zeppelin air raid at Wycombe. Railway passengers there claim to see the Zeppelin shot down in flames. Initially there is doubt about whether this successful hit can be true, but the downing is said to be confirmed by those on West Wycombe hills as well as some soldiers at Wycombe. They say they saw the Zeppelin illuminated by the searchlights, before bursting into flame. It seemed to remain stationary for a moment, then began to descend, looking like a "red hot cigar".
- Gyldernscroft in Henley Road hosts a fete in aid of the Red Cross, raising £200.
- The home counties Royal Engineers at Marlow start a mixed hockey team for officers and local ladies. They will become a popular feature, and play at Star Meadow (off Wycombe Rd, part of it becoming the Marlow FC ground.)
OCTOBER -
- The Maidenhead Military Football league has begun and Marlow's teams formed from the Home Counties Royal Engineers take part enthusiastically.
- The family of Sergeant CV Austin of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry allow the publication of a letter recieved by them relating to their son. The young soldier, age 23, had been reported wounded and missing in July. He became a German POW and died of his wounds in captivity. His parents then recieved the letter from Ivor Stewart Liberty who knew the circumstances of their sons injury and capture. He said both Austin and himself had been hurt in the same attack. Austin could see that Ivor was severely wounded and despite his own injuries, crawled to his assistance. While bandaging Ivor's wounds, he was hit again, this time in the back and could not survive this last. Ivor wrote "he gave his life for a fellow soldier. Marlow may well be proud of him."
- Marlow Congregational Church lend their hall to recreation club of the Royal Engineers stationed in town.
NOVEMBER
- Marlow Fair is held as usual, in the Star Meadow. (It stopped occupying the streets of the Town Centre in 1903, to the delight of some and to the sadness of others).
DECEMBER
-The list of Marlow men fallen now stands at 92 names with 100 more reported wounded and 7 recorded as a prisoner of war.
- On Christmas Day, the parents of Lieutenant John Bath, receive news that their 23 year old son had been killed in action on the 22nd. He is the son of All Saints organist Dr Bath of Newfield, and the news is broken to the congregation during the service. He had been back at the front for less than a month after returning to Marlow on leave.
Written and researched by Kathryn Day.
For a post on Marlow in 1914 see here,
1915 here
1917 here
1918 here
Brewery First World War Memorial tablet here
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