November 2024

23 Buckden Roundabout November 2024 BUCKDEN BRANCH - ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Remembrance Sunday this year is on Sunday 10 th November; there will be the usual service in St Marys Church at 10.30 am followed by our ceremony at the War Memorial. Any year with 4 at the end of its number is full of anniversaries: 110 years since the start of the First World War; in June 80 years since the D Day landings and in the same month, 80 years since the liberation of Rome, so I hope we will have an excellent turnout for the service, particularly from the uniformed organisations If you are a member of the Royal British Legion, a serving member of the armed forces or ex - service, please parade with us to fill our ranks a little. We parade on the corner of Lucks Lane opposite the church at about 10.15 am. There appears to be an increasing view that we should add permanently to the Roll of Honour which I read out during the service the names of those from the village who have died on active service since the end of the Second World War. I am happy to do this and have two names to include at the mo- ment. If anyone is aware of others who should be included, please let me know, with a little detail and I will be happy to consider including them. Armistice Day this year is Monday 11 th November, the day after Remembrance Sunday. There will be the usual short cer- emony at the War Memorial starting at around 10.45 a.m. Please come along if you can. It will be Poppy Appeal time again later this month; last year our door to door poppy collectors and all the other collections, including Littlehey Prison, raised a massive £6891.90 for the Appeal. Tim and Ce Walker, who organise everything, and our many collectors will be out to beat this again. The money raised in this way goes to assisting those from the armed ser- vices who are in need and is always welcome and well used, so please give generously. Peter Mount, Chairman. large - scale offensive against the Allied front on the Somme battlefield. It was the first of several German large - scale attacks made against the Allied line. Tragically, on 26th March 1918 George was killed in action. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France. John, a shepherd, and Martha Pywell had six boys the oldest John born in 1873 and the youngest Charles born in 1886. John their first born and George their second son were too old to be conscripted. Their four youngest James, Henry, Frederick and Charles enlisted in the war as they were aged between 18 and 40 years old. Their two youngest did not return. James was 39 years old and married when he was conscripted on 9th June 1916. He joined the Labour Corps and like his brother Henry who was conscripted on 27th June 1916 to the Bedfordshire regiment was discharged on 10th January 1919 with “ no im- pairments ”. In the 1901 census Charles Pywell was living on the High Street and working as a teamsman alongside his brother Frederick on a farm. He enlisted voluntarily into the Hunts Cyclist Battalion in November 1915 before conscription. He was later trans- ferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. This regiment was involved in the Third Battle of Ypres around Langemark, an area north of Ypres. The objective was to force the Germans to retreat, however they were dug in on higher ground and had secured their line. Torrential rain made conditions near impos- sible with mud up to the soldiers ’ knees. The loss of life was high and on 27th August 1917 George was killed in action. John Frederick Howson was born on 25th September 1891 in Godmanchester. Later the family moved to Lucks Lane, Buck- den. His father Vincent Cotton Howson was a general mer- chant. John went to boarding school in Norwich. He joined the Royal Horse Artillery and was sent to India where he died of a liver abscess on 18th October 1918. This article has been put together from public records includ- ing military records, the 1911 census and newspaper reports. Additional information for example photographs or other rec- ords is welcome. Please contact Buckden Local History Society via our email, buckdenhistory@gmail.com Nicky Gibbs (Continued from page 21) Roundabout Christmas Cover Competition for readers to create a festive cover for our Christmas edition !!Deadline for entries extended to 1 st November 2024!! Details are: Four age groups: 7 and under / 8 – 11 years / 12 – 18 years / adult (age on 31 st Dec 2024) Entries can be in any art medium including photos – the more creative the better Ideally entries should be in portrait orientation to fit on the cover Email entries to: editor@buckdenroundabout.info Paper entries to: Roundabout Editor, 33 Beaufort Drive, Buckden PE19 5YU Include name, address, and age if 18 or under Cash Prizes : £100 value for overall winner, £50 for winners in other age groups Adult prize as cash. Children ’ s prizes as vouchers