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Archival description
Bampton Community Archive Wars (WW1, WW2 and others)
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Stan Smith talks about his time as a soldier and POW in WWII

  • BCA - 2020.2334
  • Item
  • May 19th 2004

On May 19th 2004 a conversation between Stan Smith and Jo Lewington was recorded and this is a transcript of that conversation. Stan talks of his time fighting and then as a POW and finally on the long march west.

Bampton Community Archive

Private William Johnson Ox & Bucks Light Infantry 5th Battalion 10677. Awarded the Military Medal WWI

  • BCA - 2019.2096
  • Item
  • World War One

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.

Bampton Community Archive

Peter Davis and his exhibition in the Old Grammar School about Witney Airfield 2015

  • BCA - 2019.1942
  • Item
  • summer 2015

Witney Gazette June 24th 2015.

Peter Davis from Church Street put on a detailed and very interesting exhibition for the Bampton Community Archive in the Old Grammar School, Church Close about the Witney Airfield. The only suggestion of an airfield in the area now is in the names of three local roads, De Havilland Way, Range Road and Richard Jones Road.

Damaged Spitfires and Hurricanes aircraft damaged during WWII were serviced here. The airfield was important in both WWI and WWII. It opened in 1918 and closed in 1951.

The site was used as an RAF training unit, a base for tennis, horse racing and motorcycle speedway as well as for Witney and Oxford Aero Club and Witney Aeronautical College.

The catalogue of this exhibition, full of really interesting photos of the airfield is still on sale in the Vesey room.

Bampton Community Archive

Jack and Godfrey Horne in fancy dress in 1924

  • BCA - 2019.1972
  • Item
  • 1924

Jack and Godfrey Horne in fancy dress in 1924.Godfrey Horne was killed in action in France. He was in one of the Guards regiments in WWII

Bampton Community Archive

Instructions for wearing the ribbon; WWII medal

  • BCA - 2017.1090
  • Item
  • 1939-1945

This letter and piece of ribbon was sent to Dor Thompson, World War Two and explains how the ribbon should be used with the medal.

Bampton Community Archive

Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain 1942, by War Department Washington DC

  • BCA - 2017.1273
  • Item
  • 1942

When American servicemen were sent over in 1942 to help with the war against the Nazis, they were issued with guidelines on how to behave and what to expect when they came to the UK. This booklet, here reproduced in hard back, is reproduced from the original typescript by the War Department, Washington DC. The purpose of the guide "... is to start getting you acquainted with the British, their country, and their ways." Headings in the booklet are:-

No time to fight old wars
British reserved, not unfriendly
Don't be a show off
The British are tough
Age instead of size
Remember there's a war on
Britain the cradle of democracy
The people - their customs and manners
The British like sports
Indoor amusements
Keep out of arguments
Britain at war - the British came through
Waste means lives
British Women at war
Some hints on British words
Weights and measures
Important Do's and Don'ts
Table of currency
It is always impolite to criticise your hosts; it is militarily stupid to criticise your allies

Brian Woodward told me "The Yanks was good to us at The Signals Camp. Wanted to play darts in the pubs and always insisted on buying the beer as they had more money. Invited once a month to their Jazz club on the base and paid for everything. Invited to a concert which was held in a hanger by the then Air Force Of Note band which was the follow on from Glen Miller band. Concert due to finish at 11pm they would not let the band leave the stage and it ended at 1am. What a night. They also liked the Buckland dances as well, but that's another story.

"If I remember right the Buckland Dances was on a Monday or Wednesday. A coach from Witney carrying mainly girls from Smiths Industries picked us up at the town square about 7 o' clock. First we visited The Lamb in Buckland for lubrication and then on to the village hall. T he dances was well attended and when the Yanks found out they attended. One night a fight broke out between the Yanks and some Farringdon lads and the American Snowdrops (Military Police) was soon there to sort it out with their long batons. One shilling and sixpence, 7.1/2 pence today and a beer or two for a great night out dancing to a trio with a partner that you held and could talk to.

"We also had Camp Dances about every 3 months that was well attended. I remember John "Tazz" Winn finding Sergeant - Major Fred O Conner's wallet on the floor and Fred wanted to buy Tazz a drink. Tazz never drank, but to be sociable he asked for a Port and Lemon. 'I wont buy one of my soldiers that' so Tazz asked for a Babycham. Fred gave up. Great days."

Bampton Community Archive

Constance Irene de Hamel Aug 10th 1916 to November 20th 2009

  • BCA - 2017.1075
  • Item
  • November 20th 2009

This is the funeral program from the church service for Constance Irene de Hamel. Constance did many things but is possibly best known for being a continuity announcer during WWII.

Bampton Community Archive

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