Private William Johnson Ox & Bucks Light Infantry 5th Battalion 10677 A Company. His granddaughter Pamela Smith has put together these items.
William was the first young man in Bampton to volunteer and the town awarded him a clock for this. He was also the first soldier to be awarded the Military Medal. This account by Pamela recounts his battles, the conditions, Christmas and much more.
Only five different medals were struck during the war and William was award four.
A newspaper account of the home-coming of William January 1916. William had already been award the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery in the field for recovering lieutenant Wood. He was met at Bampton & Brize Norton station by Mr Alfie Bryant in a car kindly lent by Mr Collett. A rapturous welcome awaited him in Bampton and he was presented with a handsome marble clock inscribed "Presented by friends in Bampton to Pte William Johnson O.B.L.I. on being awarded the DCM for gallantry in action 1915.
In 1983 Terry Crowley began taking photographs of people in Bampton who worked here, or were born here, or worked for charities here or any combination.
The wedding of George Frederick Lomas and Lillian Frances Ody at St Mary The Virgin, Bampton c1938. They lived in Belgrave Cottages, Church Street until the late 1990s when Fred, then a widower moved to a bungalow in Manor View.
Dutton the grocery shop also contained a bank and when the bank became Midland Bank and moved to a property next-door-but one, George moved out of the shop to run the bank full time and sold the grocery business to Bill Mathews.
Bernard Dafter used to live at Home Farm in the High Street. The farm buildings were behind the house and he rented land north of New Road when there were not houses north of the road.
These two photographs are of the family of Os Williams and were taken some time in the 1890s. Os Williams was a fireman in Bampton.Os Williams is seated in the front row on the left in the large group photo. These pictures were lent by David Darby.
This obituary was in The Guardian newspaper January 13th 2009. Francis was born on January 31st 1919 and died on November 27th 2009. The article was written by Derek Schofield.
Mrs Brooks of Mill Green showing a cross in the window to indicate a member of the family is away at war. WWI. She was the mother of Brannon Brooks and mother-in-law to Nellie Brooks
George Collins and family came to Bampton in 1943 from Somerset when he bought Weald Farm. George lived to be 102 years old and was active almost to the last.
