With almost 2 million refugees from the war in Ukraine and many more still desperately trying to get out of the country, a sale was held in the Village Hall on Saturday March 12th 2022 to raise funds to purchase essential items for these desperate people.

RAF Signals station at Weald. The air officer supporting Air Command carrying out the annual inspection in April 1993

RAF Bampton Castle - a brief history

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.

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.

Special Edition for 75th Anniversary of VE Day. Articles about how people celebrated VE Day at the end of the War 2 in and around Oxford.

Molly Rose flew 38 different types of aircraft during WWII including the Spitfire as part of her work when in the Air Transport Auxiliary.

Photos of the Military Funeral of Jason Mackie held in St. Mary's Church Bampton on 4th June 2009.
Reverend Philip Francis took the service. PDF includes letter of condolence from Prince Philip, Captain General Royal Marines. and a letter from the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the order of service.