Woodbridge During the First World War
The End of the War
By August 1918 it was evident that the war might be coming to an end. Shortly after 10am on Monday 11 Nov 1918 the local paper reported that “rumours were current in Woodbridge that information had been received by the military authorities that an armistice had been signed, but these were largely discounted, because the morning papers had suggested that the process was delayed. The fact that the war had ended was, therefore, not accepted until the official confirmation of the announcement was posted, shortly after 11 am, in the window of The Woodbridge and Wickham Market Reporter on the Thoroughfare. A crowd quickly gathered and the news spread rapidly throughout the town and “flags and streamers were soon hung from the windows and fronts of many houses and business”.
Enthusiasm increased and Church Street and Thoroughfare became crowded with soldiers and civilians. Drum and bugle bands, followed by a large number of soldiers singing, shouting and cheering continued to parade through most parts of the town until nearly nine o’clock in the evening. The soldiers were accompanied by young people. The bells of St Mary’s Church were rung at intervals and thanksgiving services were held at the various churches in the town.”
The town then entered a period where some of the service men were demobilized and returned home but, until the formal Peace Treaty was signed many remained on duty in various parts of the world. Some 63% of British servicemen had been demobilized by April 1919 and 90% by April 1920.
The Peace Treaty was eventually agreed and signed on 28 June 1919. News of this was received at Woodbridge just after half past three and was posted at the office of the Woodbridge & Wickham Market Reporter. The brief message “Peace was signed at 3.12 this afternoon” was eagerly read and quickly spread throughout the town and soon flags and bunting were in profusion along the main streets, especially the Thoroughfare.
A special service of Thanksgiving for Peace was held in the Parish Church on the following Sunday. It was attended by contingents of ex-service men who had gathered at the Council School and then, headed by the Excelsior Band, marched by the way of St John’s Street, Thoroughfare and Church Street. At the conclusion of the service the detachment reassembled on Market Hill and marched back by the same route. They were then addresses by Colonel Carthew who expressed to the ex-servicemen the gratitude of the public for their services and the high opinion of their courage.
The Church Lads Brigade parading through a crowded
Market Hill on the day the Armistice was announced.
The Government announced that the official day for celebrating the peace would be Saturday 19th July. To decide what form these celebrations should take in Woodbridge, a public meeting was convened at the Shire Hall and agreement was reached on draft programme of events which was to be funded by general subscription.
On the day, celebrations commenced at 8am when “Peace Bells” rang forth in Jubilation from St Mary’s Church and flags, bunting and streamers were in evidence throughout the town. At 9am all the children in Woodbridge mustered on the Market Hill and then marched, headed by the band of the Boy Scouts, to the Council School where they had breakfast half an hour later Some 900 children were present, including 67 on holiday from London Schools. They were all presented with a Peace Medal.
At 11am a United Divine Service was held on the lawn of Woodbridge Abbey. The celebrations then resumed at 2pm when rustic and aquatic sports were held on the meadow near the river. Then at 6pm dinner was served to 300 ex-service men. From 7pm this was followed by a jovial hour. Then, at 8 pm the celebrations finished with a Promenade Concert and fancy dress party on the Fen Meadow. The Excelsior band provided dance music and at 9.30pm there was a Bonfire.
Both sides of the Peace Medal presented to all the children who attended the breakfast during the celebration of the peace. The Peace Medal bears the inscription "To commemorate the victorious conclusion of the Great War".
Remembering Those Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice for King and Country
Throughout the war actions had been taken to ensure that who were “Fighting for King and Country were remembered”.
From October 1914 there was to be found in the west end of St Mary’s Church, near the porch door, a list of all the men who had left the town for active service. In the Parish Magazine the Rector wrote:-
“It is hoped that many will come and read over the names of these our brothers who have placed Duty before the many comforts of home, and those so reading will go down on their knees and ask the Almighty Father, for our Lord and Saviour's sake to shield and defend these our protectors in the time of danger, that the Divine presence will lead them on to a victory which will be for the benefit of Europe in general, for the restoration of a rightful and abiding peace, otherwise, if this war is not carried on to the necessary end, all this great sacrifice of life will have been in vain.”
In November 1916 it was announced “that Street Shrines commemorating the many Woodbridgians Fallen and Fighting in defence of their King and Country, were to be affixed in every street in the parish to the Glory of God and the Honour of brave men. The Shrines were made of very old oak, and were intended to be a permanent memorial to the glory and honour of the town.
Woodbridge Museum has ten such Rolls of Honour which most likely came from these shrines. Each sheet is 1ft 10in tall by 1ft 4in wide. Many of the sheets held by the museum were clearly produced after the war was over because some of the fallen died during the final stages of the war or just after it.
Link to Photograph of the Roll of Honour for Seckford Street
When the war was over the next-of-kin of all those who were killed as a result of the war received a Memorial Plaque. These were made of bronze and became popularly known as the "Dead Man’s Penny". The inscription around it reads “He died for freedom and honour.”
Photograph of the Memorial Plaque sent to the parents of Wilfred Nunn. Being tall, he successfully lied about his age, and had been enlisted when he was only 15. He died in action 2 years later.
Last edited 15 Sept 21