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.

This is a photograph of Arthur Montague Colvile going to Buckingham Palace with his wife Phyllis Muriel (Innes) to receive his DSO.

This picture shows children in fancy dress as part of the fete, probably 1954, which took place mostly at Weald Manor although this picture is taken outside the Town Hall.

Dr Alan Cole came to practice in Bampton in 1959 and was here long enough to have in some cases, looked after three generations of a family. He was 90 in 2020.

These three pictures, taken by Bob West are of Ann and Francis Shergold and brother Roy Shergold taken inside the Elephant & Castle Inn on Bridge Street in 1999 on the occasion of Francis's 80th birthday.

A group of five children from Bampton C of E Primary School ready to go out and sell poppies. Left to right they are

Hannah Pearce
Tom Bradley
Daniel Barratt
Louise Hampton - became Mrs Mustoe
Andrew Licence

The outbreak of Coronavirus in 2020 has caused devastation to the way of life all around the world. New restrictions and advice were being given daily by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and two specialist advisers each day at 5pm from the week beginning Monday March 16th 2020.

It was announced during this week that all schools were to close but the pupils of key workers could still go to nominated schools to allow their parent to continue with his or her essential job. Also, pupils who would normally have free school meals would be able to go in order to have at least one square meal per day.

On Friday, the list of key workers was published and this article from the on-line Witney Gazette lists those key workers.

An instruction from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York this week said there would be no services until the risk of catching coronavirus has passed. Weddings can take place with a maximum of 5 people attending but that did not say if it was the bride and groom and the clergy plus two, or those 3 plus 5. Not helpful.

Bampton Morris dancers c1924/5 outside the Elephant & Castle.

The sign over the pub door says Posting House, Horses, Carriages, Brakes. Personal attention given, Albert Townsend. The 3rd and 4th lines are hard to read which is a pity but it looks like 'For Hire All Trains Met On The Shortest Notice.

On 23rd September 1935 the Townsend family moved across the road to Castle View and made a farm of it having much more room to fatten more pigs.

The Bampton Community Archive puts on three exhibitions each year which run for two months. In September 2018 Janet Newman put up a wonderfully researched exhibition on some of Bampton's Families. Family trees were printed out on scrolls for people to see as well as written text. In this picture, young Devon Townsend and his father David can be seen looking at one of the family trees and have found themselves on it much to young Devon's delight.

Freda Bradley wrote a lovely book called 'Bampton; The Way It Was.' These are photographs of her parents and grandparents and of Freda when young with her brothers Jim and Ken with their grandmother Mrs Dewe, taken in 1937.