As I am sure you are all aware, Sunday, November 11th,
2018, will be 100 years to the day since the end of the First World War.
At 10.15 there will a Service of Remembrance in the church,
followed by two minutes silence round the War Memorial at 11 o’clock and in the
afternoon there will be a talk about how the war affected the people in and
around Doddinghurst. Of course, the village was a much smaller place then, even
though the parish included what is now Fox Hatch. Between 1911 and 2011 the
population increased from 371 to 2,832. For those 371 men, women and children
there was much hardship between 1914 and 1918 and I have unearthed stories
about individuals which are truly heart breaking. There are 10 names inscribed
on the War Memorial, some of which are also inscribed on the Blackmore War
Memorial, as they lived on the parish border or their families were involved in
both villages. Many more returned from
the front. How had their lives changed? And what about the families who were
left behind? What was life like for them?
It is important that we remember and recognise the great
sacrifices made by our forebears. I do hope you will be able to come to ‘Bombs
and Brothers, Raids and Rationing’. There will be a slide show to illustrate
and enhance the talk. It takes place in
the church at 2.30 and tea and homemade cake will be served afterwards in
Priest House, right next to the War Memorial. The cost is £4, payable at the
door, and all proceeds will go towards the upkeep of our ancient village
church.
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