VJ Day Journal August 15th 1945

Pierre Bovington, the son of Yvette is welcomed back home from the Falklands War in 1982. In the photograph are

1. Herbert Lock, son of Bill
2. Ron Hickman – butcher
3. Henry Willis
4. Betty Lock
5. Yvette Bovington
7. Pierre, Yvette’s son back from Falklands
8. Billy Mathews
9. Jane Willis
10. Mrs Betty Hickman, the butcher’s wife

A talk about the arms industry during the First World War and beyond will be held at the village hall in October 2014. Sue Smith and Symon Hill gave the talk on October 23rd.

This letter, dated November 1st 1944 was send by Stan Smith's commanding officer to Stan's father informing him that Stan was missing but may be a POW. He was a POW and near the end of the was became one of the POWs who took part in the what became known as the Long March. They were marched from East Germany keeping ahead of the advancing Russians. Stan walked almost 1,000 miles. He survived.

Freda Daniels was not quite 3 years old when she was dressed up to sell poppies in 1929. She was born April 13th 1927. The photograph of her sitting has '3 years old' written on the back.
When she married she became Mrs Freda Bradley.

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.

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

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.

"The crest on the lighter is that of the USAF 5th Air Force that has been based in the Pacific since 1942. Brize Norton air base was handed to the USAF in 1951 and returned to the RAF in 1965.