Distant events can influence and upset everyday life. Distant in space, the Great War caused loss and grief to communities and families throughout the 1914-18 World; distant in time, it remains a potent symbol of the futility of conflict.
As its centenary approaches, we are being encouraged to commemorate the war. This is the record of our efforts to recapture the effects of the First World War in Chalford, Gloucestershire – then, as now, a village with a strong sense of community.
Chalford never had any illusions as to the reality and impact of war. Almost as soon as hostilities broke out in August 1914, two lads from the village were killed when HMS Amphion hit a mine in the North Sea. The vicar of the time, the Revd Addenbrooke, wrote in the church magazine of September 1914:
“Like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky there has burst upon us the present terrible war, which in all likelihood will last long and be the bloodiest in the history of the World…” He certainly didn’t think it would all be over before Christmas.
The Great War and Chalford 
Good morning fascinating read of your blog. So much work and thought has gone into it. Great to see photo of my wife’s grandfather in the photo of returned soldiers 9cecil Chapman
One of my first brick walls was victor chapman as very reliable told he died of gunshot to the head but after much searching found he died if Tb in 1919 at cashes green but still on the war memorial
2 brothers from Sussex marring 2 sisters from Chalford took a bit longer
Cheers
Simon
Simongardner2@gmail.com
Started to reply and then it disappeared! Thank you for your kind comments on my blog, and I’m delighted you found Cecil Chapman in the photo (amazing picture, I think). Yes, Victor died after the war, in November 1919 – I haven’t got that far yet. His cause of death was officially pulmonary TB and tubercular meningitis, which his family believed to have been caused by exposure to gas. Despite the fact that he’d been receiving 100%disability pension from the army, the authorities refused to accept that the death was war-related (something that was not uncommon, alas). However, I think everyone round here thought his death was due to his service overseas. Have you seen the rather wonderful photograph of Victor in his uniform? I can’t attach it here. I could send it to your e-mail address if you were happy for me to do so?
Camilla
Hi Camila only just seen your reply after all these years! Would love to see the picture of victior as so not have one
Simongardner2@gmail.com
Thank you
Where would I be able to purchase a copy?
What are you wanting a copy of, Judy? The blog continues (in huge detail, which I loved writing, but appreciate some would find too much!!) if you click on the other title at the top of the blog. I forget what that is now – so long since I wrote it. I didn’t intend to separate the bulk of the work off, it just happened! I haven’t actually touched the blog for a while, and it’s not quite finished, though I do intend to get back to it soon.
We produced a book on the villages during the Great War, called ‘A Parish at War’, which is now out of print.
Camilla
I read a bit if an article regarding Bert Smart being injured and in the Warrington Hospital. Bert is my grandfather and I have a pic of him in a hospital and was wondering if it was the Warrington, I can’t seem ,to find the page I was reading!
There seem to be two references to Bert – one in the article about Easter 1918 (‘The most tragic Eastertide’, when he is reported as being in hospital in Rouen -and there is a short ref to his uncle, too), the other in ‘Joys and sorrows from the last month of the war’, by which time he is in hospital in Warrington. Unless his record of service has survived, I think it would be difficult to know how many hospitals he passed through, and as for identifying the hospital, unless it has some architectural peculiarity, I think that would be almost impossible! Do you know whether he was badly wounded, and so the two hospital stays would be for the same injury?
I’d love to see a copy of the picture! Is it clear which one is him?
Camilla
Couldn’t seem to attach photo here. I have messaged you on facebook.( hope it is you.!)