January 13th 1917

The Newmarket and Thurlow Hunt met at Cavendish last week. Drawing Easty Wood they were soon away to Boxted where they lost, back to Northey they found at once, racing to Chipley Wood, he then crossed the Stanstead road, leaving Long Wood and Kings Wood to the right he entered Easty Wood and across the Cavendish road to Truckets Farm plantation, leaving Glemsford village on the left he crossed the river by the station into East Essex country, up the hill towards Pentlow then leaving the Tower on the right towards Pentlow, across Long Meadow to near Belchamp St Pauls, turning sharp to Otten and pointed to Belchamp Walter, then across the brook, the hounds pulled him down on Eyston Smyths Farm. A point of 1hr 15m and 7© miles.

February 3rd 1917

Captain G.B.Ward of Foxearth was in the list of officers who had the honour of being decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. Captain Ward M.C. is Officer Commanding fo the 10th squadron of the R.F.C. in France.

February 4th 1917

Four Cottages standing on Bunkers Hill, Cavendish and belonging to Mr C.S.Goodchild were burnt down. Mr T.Brockwell's men were pulling them down, leaving for dinner they found them quite demolished by the fire when they came back. This is a mystery.

March 3rd 1917

Death at the Front is reported of Sgt Alexander Hurst of the London Battalion who is the fourth son of Mr Robert Hurst former Head of Cavendish Grammar School.

March 24th 1917

News has been received in Cavendish that Stephen Argent has been killed in action. Argent went to Canada a few years ago and came back after a time to marry and he took his bride to Canada. With the outbreak of war he volunteered to serve with the Canadian Forces, he had been on active srevice in France, his wife came home to live in with her mother where she received the sad news, there is one child who was born since its father has been in France and whom he has never seen.

April 28th 1917

A letter from a chum of V.Bullock of Cavendish informs his parents that he has been severely wounded on Easter Monday and that they had not seen or heard of him since. J.Argent has also been severely wounded in his leg, arm and neck. B.Allen is also severely wounded in the chest, this is the second time he has been injured. The friends of E.J.Brockwell have had intimation that he had been shot on the body and has since succumbed to his injuries. The War Office have written to Mrs Wordley to inform her that her son H.Wordley has been killed in Mesopotamia.

April 28th 1917

One of the Cavendish boys writing home says - Never shall I forget Easter Monday and the following days, our guns were making it hot for the Huns. We were told we could have two days rest in the trenches, it then came on to snow, we did not mind a bit as we knew we were top dog and I can assure you old Fritz got it just right this bout, it was a sight to see, what he left behind, didn't it please us to lay a charge and blow his guns up knowing they will not turn on to our lads again. I have seen a good many Cavendish lads and am pleased they got through.

May 5th 1917

Major Arthur Travers Saulez, second son of Rev Saulez of Belchamp St Pauls has been killed in action. In the battle of the Somme his live was saved by his steel helmet, he was killed on Sunday, April 27th. Major Saulez was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch on January 2nd 1917.

May 12th 1917

Cavendish. A fortnight ago J.Argent of the Suffolks was reported seriously wounded, he was removed to Farnham in Surrey and his mother was sent for. He gradually got worse and a telegram was received to say he had died on Wednesday.

May 12th 1917

Pte J Golding of Belchamp St Pauls has been killed at the Front. He leaves a widow and six children and was groom at Mrs Deeks of Wood Barn Farm.

May 19th 1917

The parents of Cpl W.Parmenter of Cavendish have been notified that he has been killed in action. Pte B.Bullock who was reported wounded has now been certified killed. This makes 22 Cavendish lads to have given their lives for their country.

May 19th 1917

The war was brought close to the inhabitants of Cavendish on Monday when the remains of Pte G.(Jack) Argent were buried in the cementry. The particulars of how he got his wounds have just reached his mother, it appears that volunteers were asked for a bomb party and Argent offered his service and paid the penalty for his bravery, he was badly wounded in the throat and lingered for some time and died on May 10th. There was a large gathering of people at the funeral conducted by the Rev Barnard. A detachment of the Volunteers under Sgt.Ambrose attended. The attendance was greatly augmented at the cemetry and appeared to be a record for the village. The volunteers played the Last Post. Much sympathy is felt for Argent's mother as he was her only support, amongst the wreaths was one from the Railway Arms and the old boys.

May 26th 1917

The parents of Jack Johnson of Cavendish have received information that he has been killed in action in France on May 4th.

May 26th 1917

On Monday a man named John Cooper had a seizure and died at Blacklands Farm, Cavendish. He was returning from a field where he had been working, accompanied by a lad who noticed that he appeared to stagger. Mr C.Wells saw deceased lying on the ground bleeding from the mouth, he died on Tuesday.

June 2nd 1917

Killed-Corporal W.Parmenter-Essex Reg. of Cavendish.
June 9th 1917. Wounded-Pte T.Johnson-Cavendish and Pte A.Thompson also of Cavendish.
June 16th 1917.The parents of Pte E.Savage of Cavendish have been informed by the War Office that he is lying in hospital at Boulogne and is suffering from wounds and extensive burns.

June 30th 1917

The War Office has informed Mr L.CHatters of Cavendish that his son George who won the D.C.M. has been dangerously wounded in action and is now lying in hospital in Manchester.

July 14th 1917

It is reported that Cavendish man, Acting Corporal A.E.Jeffery of the Essex Regiment has been wounded.

July 21st 1917

A few weeks ago Mrs Wordley of Cavendish received a report that her son had been killed in action. She has just received a letter from him saying he is well and has recovered from a slight leg wound.
July 14th 1917. A.Bullock of Cavendish who was reported missing has written home with the news he is a prisoner in German hands.

August 11th 1917

Acting Bombardier F.Sandford of Belchamp has been killed.

August 18th 1917

Now reported in German hands is Pte E.Bullock of Cavendish.

September 29th 1917

The village of Cavendish has paid another toll in the death of one more of her boys at the Front, Mrs F.Fitch has received a letter from France saying " I am sorry to have to tell you that your husband Lance Corporal F.Fitch was killed as he lay asleep in his tent at my transport lines last night.

September 29th 1917

Mr David Ward of Foxearth has received information that his son, Major George Bernard Ward of the R.F.C.has been killed at the Front. He was shot down within the British lines. The late Major Ward joined up at the outbreak of hostilities and soon gained promotion promotion by his daring and skillful work. He had not long been in France when he was decorated with the Military Cross for valuable service and a bar was subsequently added. He was well known in Sudbury and was always in high spirits when he visited the Borough. His father, who's interests are mainly in S.W.Suffolk has a younger son who has been wounded also in the R.F.C.

October 13th 1917

On Friday two lads employed by Mr Brockwell the builder at Cavendish were carting some gravel with a pony and tumbril from near a pit near Mr Fullers, Glemsford, the pony was standing near the edge of the pit when all of a sudden it started to back, the lads tried to stop it but it fell down the pit with the lads and all, in falling over they turned over and lay at the bottom of the 10ft pit with the legs of the pony sticking up in the air and the boys trapped under the tumbril, help was at hand and they were both got out unharmed with neither the pony hurt or harness and tumbril broken.

October 20th 1917

Pte H.Perkins and Pte E.Brown of Cavendish have been reported wounded.

November 17th 1917

Mr W.Mason of Belchamp Otten has received news that his son Pte Charles Mason has been awarded the Military Medal. Pte Mason who enlisted three years ago was injured in 1916, after convalescence he was attached to the Royal Sussex Regiment. The official report read- For conspicious gallantry and devotion to duty during operations at Menin Road. This man was a stretcher bearer and worked unconcerned and cheerful among the wounded throughout the fierce bombardment, he was always where the fire was hottest, attending cases with no thought of his own safety, his courage was the means of saving many wounded and was a fine example to all ranks. Private Mason's brother was wounded in France and is now on Egypt.

Novenber 17th 1917

Information has been received in Cavendish that Pte D.L.Harris R.E. has died somewhere in France. Pte Harris was a dispatch rider and on November 3rd his motor cycle was in collision with a motor- car, he was thrown and pinned beneath the car, he was extricated unconcious and died soon afterwards. Pte Harris was well known in Cavendish as a clerk at the G.E.R station. He married a Cavendish woman, Miss D.Brockwell, who died four years previous. Pte Harris leaves one little boy who is now an orphan.

November 17th 1917

News has been received that two more Cavendish lads have been wounded, they are Privates O.Hall and W.Wordley.

November 24th 1917

Belchamp Tribunal. Among cases dealt with was an application for deferment for J.Amos, baker, refused. C.L.Stunt of Walter Belchamp, 18yrs, granted on condition he remains with his 73 year old father.

December 8th 1917

Another Cavendish lad killed in the war. Lance Corporal J.Brown, Pte F.Underwood in writing to his mother conveyed the sad news, the first that the parents of Brown had heard of it.

December 15th 1917

At the tribunal applications received-Samuel Page carpenter of Cavendish employed by MrG.Graham, extended till March 5th.
John Cooper, ploughman, employed by T.B.Ambrose, exemption, to join Volunteers-Spencer Wright, Pentlow, employed by C.Cornell, transferred to Belchamp tribunal.

December 15th 1917

Yet another Cavendish soldier killed at the Front, the unfortunate man on this occasion is Pte C.Wordley of the Suffolk Reg., he leaves a widow and one child.

December 27th 1917

Essex War Agricultural Committee. Small cultivators in the Belchamp district can obtain the loan of a horse and ploughman at a sum of 5s 6d a day per horse, 4s 6d a day for men and 1s a day for implement. Teams can be lent to large farmers at 12s per horse per week.
In Dec.and Jan. 7s 6d per week and usual rate for men.

December 29th 1917

The parents of Lance Corporal E Graham of Cavendish have received news he is wounded and missing on November 25th.
Lance Cpl.Graham joined the London Scottish early in the war and reached the rank of Sgt.but owing to regimental rules he had to resign his stripes when he went on active service.

January 5th 1918

Mr H.Hutchinson of Cavendish has received communication from the Red Cross to whom he had written for information concerning his son Pte C.Hutchinson of the London Scottish Reg who has been missing since 1916

The society regrets that though they have made exhaustive inquiries in every direction, nothing definite has been heard.
They gave a short account of the engagement in which Pte Hutchinson was last in, the London Scottish stormed a trench to face a fierce barrage, they captured the trench and held it till next morning when they were relieved and as the fire from the guns was so intense it was impossible to send out a search party.

January 12th 1918

Cpl.E.Graham of Cavendish is a prisoner, he was reported missing and has now written from a P.O.W.camp in Germany saying says he is well.

January 12th 1918

A great number of Cavendish lads have received Christmas presents that were sent and have written to acknowledge the same. A number of letters written by the lads are pinned in the church porch.

January 26th 1918

At the Essex Tribunal at Colchester the National representative appealed against the decision of Belchamp tribunal to exempt a 19 year old farmers son, Mr C.L.Stunt of Munt farm. The father, Mr Stunt said he was unable to do much as he suffered from gout to which Dr Simon replied " you will get rid of that if the food difficulties goes on". Captain Howard said" did your son enjoy his day's skating last week", the father said he did not know. Mr Gray pointed out that there was a P.O.W.camp at Halstead and he had better get his name down for some prisoners. The son to join up on February 17th.

February 18th 1918

Mrs Wordley of Cavendish, mother of Pte W.Wordley of the Suffolk Regiment who has not heard from her son for two months on Sunday received a returned letter endorsed " killed and missing".

March 12th 1918

The following letter was taken from the Diamond Fields Advertiser (Kimberley). The death has occurred of Mr John William Page at the early age of 42 years, deceased was born in Cavendish, England, and has been residing in the Diamond Fields for twenty years and served through the seige of Kimberley with the Kimberley Regiment. He was a valued employee of the Singer company. He was the oldest of eight brothers(of these there is one now in Siam and he was on the Tyndereus when it met with an accident of Cape Town, as a result of which the Middlesex Reg. won universal praise for their conduct). He leaves a widow with five children. Mr Page was the son of Mr S.C.Page and was employed by Mr Garrett as clerk before he left England.

March 30th 1918

Pte Wordley has now arrived home in Cavendish after being nearly a year in a prison camp in Turkey and Austria, he has suffered a disability in one leg owing to bad treatment received and was one of a large number of prisoners to be exchanged. He was captured in Gazza by the Turks having been shot in the leg. He is now awaiting discharge.

May 18th 1918

Pte Argent of Cavendish is home on leave having been badly gassed. He was at first blind and dumb through the effects of gas but has now recvered both. Another Cavendish lad, Pte P.Angle, is also in hospital suffering from the same causes.

May 25th 1918

P.C.Nice discovered the body of David Seeley, a labourer in a pond about 100 yards from his house at Houghton Hall Cottages, Cavendish. He worked for Mr Dixon for all of his life and lived by himself, he had suffered low spirits for sometime. Eliza Diggens said deceased was her brother. Miss Ethel Wells, who lived next door to deceased, said she looked after him for seven years. George Wells said he had known him for 30 years and he was a good worker but his nerves were unstrung. There was blood on the floor of his bed chamber where he had tried to cut his throat and a razor was produced. The pond where he went to was at the bottom of his garden and was 12 feet deep. Dr. Ritchie said the wound was 1© inches deep in the throat. Suicide.

June 8th 1918

Mrs Parkes of Robbs Farm, Cavendish, has received news that her husband Sgt R.Parkes of the Scots Guards is seriously ill in the Canadian Stationery hospital at Doulleus, France, suffering from gunshot wounds in the chest, he was wounded on May 21st. Mrs Parkes has since heard that her husband has been removed to Bath and is seriously wounded with three pieces of shrapnel piercing his left lung he is also wounded in the leg.

June 22nd 1918

Cavendish man, George Chatters of the Suffolks who won the D.C.M. sometime ago has been badly wounded in the back, this makes it six lads from the village who have been broken in the war and got discharged, several more have been gassed and wounded. Upwards of 30 men have been killed, this is a large toll for a small village.

July 20th 1918

Pte Chatters of Cavendish who won the D.C.M. for conspicious bravery in the field sometime ago has just received his medal and ribbon. He had the option of having it sent to him or to receive it from the King. Pte Chatters said he did not want any fuss.

August 10th 1918

The following is the list of Cavendish men who have fallen during the war. O.Adams-G.W.Argent-S.Argent-J.Ballard-W.Ballard- J.Brown-V.Bullock-C.Clark-F.Fitch-C.Hutchinson-F.Johnson-J.W.Parmenter- S.Parmenter-W.Parmenter-R.Savage-C.Slater-A.Stett-A.Wells-E.Wells- F.Wells-C.Wordley-W.Wordley-O.Hale-P.Hartley-H.Maxim-W.Maxim

September 14th 1918

Mrs Clarry of Cavendish has received the following letter from the Prisoners Help Committee. " I am sorry to inform you that a telegram has been received from Copenhagen that your son Pte S.Clarry of the Suffolk Regiment has died at Doeberitz on 16th of August, no further information given. Pte Clarry was a reserve soldier and was called up directly war commenced, he was one of the Old Contemptibles and was taken prisoner at Mons 4 years ago. His death is a big blow to his friends as in some of his letters home he stated he would soon be coming home being one the exchange prisoners.

September 14th 1918

Mrs T.Wells of Cavendish, has received notification that her son Ernest has received wounds but is now progressing.

September 28th 1918

Wounded soldiers of Cavendish were entertained on Wenesday last by Mr K.Waring and Mr Waring at the " Greys". The soldiers nine in number spent an enjoyable evening, Mr Goddard of Ipswich the well known comedian and himself a silver medalist got a small concert party together, there were songs by Miss Boyne, T.B.Ambrose, F.Hale and K.Waring, each soldier was presented with a box of cigarettes.

October 5th 1918

Mr F.Underwood of Cavendish received a telegram intimating that his son Frank was lying dangerously ill in St.Lukes hospital, Halifax. He has wounded and gassed in France and the poor fellow has now passed away before his parents could reach him. He was wounded on March 18th and sent home to recover and again went to France, being there only three weeks when he received his fatal wounds. The body was brought to Cavendish and buried on Monday. Six men from Regimental Headquarters at Bury St Edmunds acted as bearers. The Volunteer Squad fired a volley over the grave and sounded the Last Post.

November 2nd 1918

The following letter has been received by Mr Hutchinson of Cavendish from an old scholar, Signalman C.Wordley, serving in France." You must excuse me for not writing before, but we have been busy following Fritz in this evacuation, it is tiring but interesting to pass through some of these villages, they give us a hero's welcome and they are delighted to be out of the captivity of the Huns who treated them harshly. During the night of the 18th, a sergeant and a private of my regiment were killed and they were laid outside the house where we were stationed, in the morning the women came up with a pail of hot water and washed the bodies completely and wrapped them up in white cloth and prayed over them, they then picked them up and buried them in their burial plot. It was very touching".

November 2nd 1918

Mr Long of Robbs Farm, Cavendish, has received the following notice from the War Office. " The Military Medal has been presented to Lance Corporal A.E.Long for gallant conduct on August 22nd 1918, during the operation near Meaulte. Lance Corporal Long enlisted on March 16th, after he had finished his training he was sent to France in July. He was enrolled in the R.F. attached to the French motor battallion.

November 9th 1918

Mr W.Beeton of Cavendish has had intimation from the War Office that his son, Albert is lying in Manchester Hospital severely wounded. Pte Beeton was in the M.G.C., having joined up 18 months since, and has been serving in France for 6 months. Mr Beeton has also received news that his other son, Edgar, has died from the influenza, he had only been in the army for a week and leaves a young widow.
Pte R.Johnson is reported wounded and missing.

November 9th 1918

Mr and Mrs Pearl from Cavendish were involved in a nasty accident in Water Lane, they were returning from Glemsford when on a nasty corner they met a motor car in which were a lot of German prisoners being driven back from work. It seems that the bright lights from the car dazzled Mr Pearl and he pulled onto a bank overturning the trap. They received some small cuts.

November 23rd 1918

Clement Edward Page, grandson of the late Mr Robert Page of Cavendish, has been presented with the Croix de Guerre and the D.C.M. for conspicious bravery in bringing in wounded men at Zeebrugge.

November 23rd 1918

A thanksgiving service was held in Cavendish church on Sunday morning. The Volunteers attended and an appropriate service, and music was played. Offertories were taken towards the fund for Cavendish lads killed and wounded, these ammounted to £ 4.

November 30th 1918

Influenza is rife in Cavendish, there is at least one case in every family and three fatalities. Two brothers, Albert and Edward Johnson have had the misfortune to lose their wives and the third is an infant named Ince.

December 14th 1918

On Monday morning.Pte Harry Coyne of the R.D.C. was proceeding along the road toward Hundon with a party of German prisoners when he saw one of his comrades, Pte John Hooker lying beside the road dead. He sent word to his Sergeant and the body was conveyed to the P.O.W. camp at Kedingdon. Pte Coyne said at the inquest that he had escorting a party of German prisoners to work on the road at Hundon when they saw deceased lying beside the road 200 yards on the Hundon side of the Plough Inn. Heart Failure.

January 4th 1919

Sometime since a committee was formed to get funds for Christmas presents for Cavendish soldiers. Money came in pretty freely and a sum of £ 50 was collected to be disbursed to the Cavendish boys.
Prisoners in Germany, soldiers in Salonica, Mesopotamia and East Africa, a parcel valued at £ 1-boys in France, value 12s-in England 7s 6d-land workers in uniform 5s- silver badge men cigarette cases valued at £ 1.

January 11th 1919

Cavendish soldier, Sgt R.Clark of the 1/2 Battalion, Suffolk Reg,(T.F.)has been awarded the D.S.O. for service in Egypt.

May 10th 1919

At May day celebrations at Belchamp Walter, the children voted for the May Queen and the King to crown her. Miss Florence Cowdrey was elected Queen and George Chatters was crowned King.

May 24th 1919

The subscription list towards a war memorial to men fallen in the war in Cavendish is going very well. £ 200 has been collected in subscriptions ranging from £ 30 to 2s 6d.

May 31st 1919

Nurse Cooper of Cavendish has just received intimation that she is to receive the Royal Red Cross Medal. She joined up at the begining of the war and has spent two years in France. It is to be presented by the King on his return from France.

July 5th 1919

News has just reached Cavendish that peace has been signed, the place was soon astir with flags in evidence and an impromptu band. Accompanied by demobilised and discharged soldiers there was a parade of the village, a demobilised Q.M.S. lined them up and tried to get them to march in orthodox style but they got too excited and some broke ranks. Fireworks of all sorts were discharged and towards dusk an effigy of the once " all highest" was burnt on the green. This was an introduction to what was to come on Monday when a really pretty procession paraded up the street, this was headed by five pretty young ladies representing Britian, France, Belgium, Roumania and Serbia. A lot of lads wore fancy costume and the children were provided with flags, there was the inevitable bonfire in the middle of which was an effigy of the Kaiser. Proceedings were kept up to a late hour and the inhabitants are looking forward to the peace day which will be celebrated in this loyal village.

July 26th 1919

Peace celebrations in Cavendish The village was prettily decorated with flags flying, flowers and evergreens, a triumphal arch was erected by Mr Brockwell. In the morning discharged soldiers paraded at the railway station under Sgt.A.Ince M.M.
of the 2nd Suffolks to be inspected by Brigadier General Gilpin, they marched headed by by the General to the strains of the Fife and Drum band through the street to the school where a capital dinner awaited them. About seventy sat down, there was a short toast list, General Gilpin toasted the King, the Rev Barnard proposed the toast to the United Services, Lieut J.Offord of the R.A.F. and Pte Walker of the East Yorks proposed a toast to the women of England. The men were then formally welcomed home by Mr Hugh Clarke, chairman of the Parish Council.
Sports and amusements, pillow fights and obstacle races were held on the green and caused a good deal of interest. The chidren sat down to tea on the green then sports resumed and a procession through the street which resolved into an impromptu carnival. Cavendish jazz band made its debut with a lengthy programme gone through, there was a display of fireworks which concluded with a flare which lit up the countryside for miles around.

August 16th 1919

It may be of interest what part Cavendish had in the war, 160 of the lads joined up, 32 were killed and 42 wounded, besides these a Cavendish man was killed in the first Zeppelin raid on London.
Pte G.Chatters won the D.C.M., Sgt.Ince and Pte Long received the M.M., Sgt, Ince was recommended for the D.C.M. but his H.Q. was captured by the Germans and his recommendation did not get through. On the financial side the War Savings Committee issued certificates of £ 1.500 and private investments we believe amounted to £ 2000. Sales of work produced £ 200 for the Red Cross. £ 40 each year was collected for parcels to the boys. £ 320 was collected for a memorial to the fallen lads.
£ 70 for Peace celebrations.

September 6th 1919

The committee responsible for Peace Celebration at Cavendish held a meeting to decide what to do with the balance from the Peace celebrations, it was decided the balance of £ 5 11s to be divided between widows who had lost their sons in the war.

October 4th 1919

George Sparkes aged 17, a bricklayer of Glemsford, Bertie Suttle 17 and Wilfred Golding 18, labourers of Glemsford were summoned for playing gaming cards on the 14th. The defendants did not appear but Sparkes was represented by his father and Suttle by his brother. P.C.Manser stated that he and Inspector Goodchild were in the public pleasure gardens on Sunday afternoon and they saw defendants playing pontoon. After watching them for half an hour he ran across and seized 22 cards and 6© d in coppers. Sparkes and Suttle fined 5s with 4s costs and Golding 10s 4s costs.