Logo Header
Village Home Parish Council Home Village Hall Home

World War I - those who came home

Part of the 1918 Absent Voters list

Contents

Introduction

The investigative work into the names on the War Memorial revealed another noteworthy group of names that deserve tribute.

These are the people of Medbourne and surrounding villages who signed up voluntarily or were conscripted into the armed forces to serve in the war and returned to civilian life after the cessation of hostilities in 1918. They number 45 from a village that only had a census population of 450.

Their names, gleaned from the 1918 Absent Voters list, are shown below. There are many familiar local names in the list: Burrows, Driver, Garfield, Snow, Tyler and Ward.

The 1918 Absent Voters List

A picture of an extract from the 1918 Absent Voters list appears at the top of this web page. As it has not been possible to enlarge this to produce something readable, the information has been transcribed below.

ABSENT VOTERS'S LIST 1918 - HARBOROUGH DIVISION - PARISH OF MEDBOURNE

No.

NAME

ADDRESS

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE, REGIMENT, RANK, RATING, ETC.

3834

Johnson, Clarence Frederick

Kennel Lane

R259130 Remt. Sqdn. A.S.C.

3835

Keech, John

Walker's Yard

12423 Pte. A.V.C.

3836

Lambert, Albine

Drayton Road

SE14284 Pte. A.V.C.

3837

Muggleton, Harry

Drayton Road

126320 Dvr. 55th Remt. Sqdn A.S.C.

3838

Palin, Alfred

Main Street

12424 Cpl. No. 2 Res. Sec. A.V.C.

3839

Reading, Henry

Spring Bank

WR275182 Spr. 277th Rly. Coy. R.E.

3840

Smith, George William

Uppingham Road

52349 Pte. 16th Fld. Bakery A.S.C.

3841

Smythe, Cecil George

Drayton Road

95495 Driving Camp Tank Corps

3842

Snow, Herbert William

Newman's Yard

272235 Dvr. A Bty. 68th Bde.

3843

Vendyback, William

Main Street

17539 Pte. A.V.C.

3844

Vines, George Leonard

Uppingham Road

290344 Spr. R.E.

3845

Ward, John Inchley

Kennel Lane

94403 Gnr. 392ND S. Bty. R.G.A.

3846

Webb, Charles William

Old Holt Road

179883 79th Bty. R.F.A.

3847

Barlow, Sydney Albert

Post Office

73405 Pte. Co. Depot R.A.M.C.

3848

Burrows, Clarence

Near Post Office

25086 Pte. 105th Aux. Petrol Coy. Agricl. A.S.C (M.T.)

3849

Burrows, Arthur

Near Post Office

381363 Pte. No. 3 Sec. 17th Coy. A.S.C. (M.T.)

3850

Burrows, Robert

Near Horse & Trumpet

14544 Pte. 8th Leicesters

3851

Driver, Stanley

Near Nevill Arms

2nd Lieut. 51st Grad. Batt. Leicesters

3852

Driver, William

Near Nevill Arms

2nd Lieut. Res. Batt. Leicesters

3853

Floyd, Alfred James Henry

Uppingham Road

416729 Pte. 410th Agric Coy. Labour Corps

3854

Freestone, Arthur William

Drayton Road

61858 Gnr. 39th Brigade R.G.A

3855

Garfield, Joseph Orme

Dexter's Lane

200975 7th Res. Leicesters

3856

Garfield, Robert George

Uppingham Road

086183 Dvr. A.S.C.

3857

Hodson, Frederick

Uppingham Road

430815 Pte. 410th Agri. Coy. Labour Corps

3858

Keech, John Hector

Old Holt Road

15276 Pte. 110th Inf. Bde. H.Q.

3859

Keech, Samuel William

Old Holt Road

41080 Pte. 17th Manchesters

3860

Lee, Alfred William

Crown Inn

WR289274 Spr. 115th Ry. Coy.

3861

Major, Thomas Orton

Crown Inn

241688 Pte. 15th Leicesters

3862

Major, Charles Henry

Crown Inn

14275 8th Leicesters

3863

Mayhew, James Edgar

Payne's Lane

41243 Pte. Highland L.I.

3864

Newman, Tom Douglas

Main Street

62087 L. Cpl. M.G.C.

3865

Orme, Alfred

Old Green

241209 Dvr. 547th How. Bty. 321st Bde R.F.A.

3866

Reading, Charles

Main Street

12491 Pte. 6th Leicesters

3867

Reading, Alfred

Main Street

WR216410 260th Rly. Coy. R.E.

3868

Simkin, Albert

Uppingham Road

157085 Pte. 182nd Agri. Coy. Labour Corps

3869

Searcy, George Henry

Near Nevill Arms

134279 Dvr. B. Bty. 62nd Bde.

3870

Searcy, Alfred Edward

Near Nevill Arms

29346 Cpl. 7th East Yorks

3871

Tyler, Tom Pateman

Old Holt Road

38323 Pte. 1st Royal Berks.

3872

Thompson, Arthur

Main Street

91402 Gnr. 237th S. Bty. R.G.A.

3873

Thatcher, Arthur Goodhall

Old Manor House

125125 Cpl. 53rd Remount Squad

3874

Warner, Arthur William Brown

Spring Bank

36141 Pte. 22nd. Northd. Fus.

3875

Ward, William

Main Street

130779 A.S.C. (M.T.)

3876

Ward, Frederick

Payne's Lane

14878 Pte. 7th Leicesters

3877

Ward, Arthur Edward

Payne's Lane

124151 2nd Res. Park A.S.C.

3878

Ward, Frank Bernard

Chapel Lane

38936 Pte. 5th Royal Berks


ABSENT VOTERS'S LIST 1918 - HARBOROUGH DIVISION - PARISH OF HOLT

No.

NAME

ADDRESS

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE, REGIMENT, RANK, RATING, ETC.

3879

Dixon, James

Holt

38936 502118 626th Agric. Coy. Labour Corps

 

Others Who Served

It is clear from speaking to relatives that there are others who served in World War I whose names do not appear on the Absent Voters List above. Any such names will be listed in this section once they are known. This page can then become a repository for all the known Medbourne men and women who served during World War I.

If you have evidence of a relative who served please email Keith Sandars with the following details:

  • Name
  • Regiment if known
  • Any other information of relevance to their service in the War.

Name

Regiment

Notes

To be supplied

To be supplied

To be supplied

 

Harborough Advertiser 1919

The following article appeared in the Market Harborough Advertiser on 10th June 1919. Like the Absent Voters list it has not been possible to enlarge the actual article into a readable format, so it has been transcribed below. There are many familiar local family names in the article.

Medbourne Soldiers' Welcome Home

After past wars it has always been a reproach to our country that discharged soldiers broken in health were turned adrift on the world often without, and at most, with a mere pittance for a pension. There has been a wide spread demand that such things should not be allowed this time. The Government has allowed a scale of pensions and allowances which if not extravagant are certainly fairly just. Too often in the past have our soldiers returned and been forgotten immediately peace was declared, but there is every indication that all over the country the returning soldiers are not to be forgotten this time. In almost every town and village preparations have been or are being carried out to honour and to welcome back home the brave fellows after their long and arduous work.

At Medbourne on Wednesday evening it was made very manifest that it was the intention of the village that the men who had returned safely should not merge into civil life without doing its best to give all a hearty welcome home. All who had returned were invited to the Village Hall by a representative committee of villagers to partake of a most enjoyable supper, the proceeds for which had been previously provided for from a very successful whist drive and dance held the previous week. The supper was of a substantial character, consisting of legs of mutton, ham, tongue, and beef, and there were present many ladies acting as waitresses. The Rector, the Rev. T. K. B. Nevinson presided, although the day to him a sad one, for it was almost exactly the fourth anniversary of the death of his only son, Second-Lieut. H. Nevinson, at Gallipoli. After a most enjoyable supper the Rector, in a very eloquent, touching little speech, gave them all in the name of the village a most hearty and welcome return home. "Never", said Mr. Nevinson, "had their Village Hall been put to such an appropriate use as to be the place where a welcome was given to all those returning soldiers who, after a long period of anxiety, had succeeded by that wonderful display of bull-dog courage, which had always characterised the British nation, in thoroughly defeating the most wicked and terrible tyranny which had ever existed. (Applause).

Mr. Henry Orton proposed the health of His Majesty the King, which was drunk with musical honours.

Mr. T. P. Lygo proposed the "Army and Navy," coupling with them the names of Mr. Greaves, who had served with the Navy, and Second-Lieut. S. Driver, the Army. The toasts were given and suitably replied to amidst cheers.

While these toasts were being given cigarettes and tobacco were supplied to each man, and refreshments were plentifully supplied by the willing waiters. By 8.30 the large room had been cleared and re-arranged for the concert, to which the relations and friends of the soldiers had been invited. The large room was very comfortably filled, and the audience had the pleasing experience of listening to what was universally termed the best concert ever given in the Village Hall. Through the instrumentality of Mr. Nevinson the services of Mr. Noble's and Mr. And Mrs. Love's Concert Party from Uppingham were secured for the evening, and they provided a huge treat for all those present. Every item was thoroughly appreciated, the quartettes, comic and sentimental being rapturously applauded. Each contribution, in fact, was encored and most generously acknowledged.

After a long and most enjoyable programme, refreshments of which there seemed to be an unlimited supply, were handed round, and Mr. Nevinson, when he proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the various artists, never had an audience so heartily in accord with him. Although Mr. Noble's party has given over 100 concerts to returned or wounded soldiers it is doubtful if their efforts have been more appreciated.

Mr. Noble, in a happy little speech, said they always had done their best in the past for the glorious soldiers of their country, and would try to do the same in the future.

By special request the party gave another rendering of the quartette "The Old Banjo", and followed up by giving a few extra ones, finishing with the beautiful quartette "The End of a Perfect Day." The concert closed about 11 o'clock, and at the end refreshments were again distributed, the soldiers and friends sang a few songs and dancing was then indulged in till about 3 o'clock next morning. The expressions heard on every hand from the soldiers themselves supplied the most fitting vote of thanks to the many workers, ladies and gentlemen, who had done their utmost to give the soldiers at least one happy evening on their return home.


Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Keith Sandars and Jim Royall for the research underlying this web page. July 2014.