He was the son in law of the Reverend U.J. In the last week of July 1918 Captain Christopher Martin Durrant was killed in action in German East Africa, aged 33.
Born in Milton Ernest, before enlisting, he had been, as was his father, in the employ of Lady Farrar, of Chicheley Hall. In fact he had written several cheerful letters up to November 7th, but on the 12th his parents received a telegram conveying the official news that he had died of wounds on November 12th. 1 South African General Hospital on September 21st, and, bearing the various operations to his leg very well, seemed to be making good progress. Subsequently he was transferred to the 5th Royal Berkshire Regiment, and took part in all the severe fighting until he was wounded on September 18th, when a shell burst - which killed a comrade on either side of him - badly fractured his right thigh. Later he was posted to the Somerset Light Infantry, and went to the Western Front on April 3rd 1918. Private Clarke had joined the army in June 1917, being posted to the Training Reserves. … He will be buried in the Military Cemetery here at 9.15 on Thursday morning.” He was always so good and patient, and when feeling fairly well was very bright. But nothing we did stopped the vomiting - even champagne did him no good. He had had several of these vomiting attacks before, but they had yielded to treatment.
We now think the disappointment must have upset him as he at once got worse and commenced vomiting. We actually got him ready to leave, and then a lot of them who were going had to be cancelled, he being one. “He will have written to you himself and told you how much better he was and that he was coming home. Aged 19, he was the third son of John and Eliza Clarke, of Chicheley Hall, who received a letter from the Matron of the Hospital stating 1 South African General Hospital, France, as a result of wounds received in action on September 18th. a procession marched to the village centre, where, as the clock struck midnight, the gathering sang the National Anthem.Īged 19, Private Vesey Clarke, of the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, died on November 12th 1918 at the No. A concert was staged in the evening, and at 11.30p.m. Jones, of Thickthorn Farm, a hearty vote of thanks was given to Lady Farrar, for having allowed the use of her grounds. Thanking them for their courage, Lady Farrar proposed the health of the returned ‘boys,’ to which Sergeant F. Joyce, of the Chester Arms, a tea of ample bread and butter was enjoyed by 52 children, whilst as for the 120 demobilised men and the other adults, they were served a splendid supper of roast beef, mutton, etc. As for the cricket match, the married men proved triumphant over the single men. in France, and was badly wounded serving with the 1/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, gained a good victory by two pulls to one. During the afternoon sports took place, and in the popular tug of war event after a rare tussle the team captained by Jim Clarke, who had won the D.C.M. The day began with a peal of church bells, which were also rung at later intervals, and the festivities proper were held in the grounds of Chicheley Hall. Coloured bunting adorned the approaches to the houses, whilst of the other decorations a particular feature was ‘Hurrah, hurrah for England,’ erected in a conspicuous position. On Peace Day, Saturday, July 19th 1919, the village was decorated with arches of flags stretched across the road at each end of the village.
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