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Wheathampstead History in Pictures (25)

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Pictures and other information provided by J K Hutchinson  April 2010
 

"The Folly Boys home from the War" - Taken on Peace Day 1919

The second from the left on the front row is John Slough, but I don't know any of the others. Perhaps others might be able to put a name to one or two!
Back row 2nd from left thought to be surname Carter; 4th from left James Pearce  2nd from Right George Latchford
Second row, first on the left Fen Harding ( George Fenwick Elias Harding )

Peace Day was Saturday 19 July 1919. On this day a Peace Parade took place in London and for the occasion a temporary wooden structure, designed by Sir Edward Lutyens, was erected in Whitehall. It had the shape of an upended coffin. It was later replaced by a permanent structure The Cenotaph (unveiled by the King on 11 November 1920, the day when an unknown soldier was interred in Westminster Abbey). Many felt there was little to celebrate. Just nine miles from Wheathampstead, a group of ex-servicemen, despairing of the high level of unemployment, torched Luton Town Hall, where the mayor was holding a celebratory lunch.

Source Juliet Nicholson, The Great Silence 1918-1920. Living in the Shadow of the Great War. London: John Murray, 2009.

George Latchford served with the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was wounded in 1915 and as a result he was discharged in 1916.
Fred Carter, The Cricketers, Gustard Wood was a sapper with the Royal Engineers. Does this ring any bells with anyone?

Anthony M. Carter                                   submitted 5th May 2010

Let us know if you have more details or an historic picture to contribute!

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