May 2021

14 Buckden Roundabout May 2021 The War Years Articles always wanted! Are you a budding writer? Buckden Roundabout is always looking for articles to be included in the magazine. • Maybe you have something interesting to share about the history, geography or nature of the village? • Do you run a local group, society or activity (that is essentially non - commercial) and are looking to either attract new members or raise the profile of the group? • Do you have a short - story, poem or fan fiction to share? Whatever the topic, send your articles to editor@buckdenroundabout.info for consideration. The Parish Council - The War Years The Parish Council through the Great War and the Second World War If the activities of the Parish Council in the years leading up to 1914 are a guide then they were not very active other than continuing in the various tasks that were involved in keeping the residents of a small rural village happy. The accession of King Edward Vll was marked by the crea- tion of a green at Hunts End. This had formally been the site of a pond and of the village stocks and pound. The trees planted at the time – lime, chestnut and plane - grew to a splendid maturity, although the chestnut was blown down in 2001 and replaced by an oak. The village remained a qui- et place although a certain degree of prosperity was created with the growing popularity of the bicycle and the increas- ing number of cars using the Great North Road which ran through the centre of the village. The hotels, pubs and the small drinking places in Lucks Lane still did good business. Perhaps it is surprising that neither the start nor the end of the First World War or the Second World War are recorded in the council minute books. It was not until late 1915 that any mention was made of the ‘ Great War ’ and then there were discussions about support for the The Star and Garter Fund to provide accommodation for (originally) paralysed soldiers. A fund was started for ‘ Christmas comforts for men of Buck- den who were serving the King and Country and at present far from home ’; sixty - four parcels were dispatched. A War Agricultural Committee was formed which distributed ad- vice and seed potatoes. A notice from the Food Production Department offered rewards for killing rats, sparrows, rab- bits and rooks to prevent ‘ deprivation committed upon crops by these pests ’. In October 1917 the council was asked to nominate ‘ Representative Women ’ to assist in the setting up of a dis- trict wide nursing association to promote maternity and welfare care. Eight ladies volunteered, they were mainly the wives of councillors or of ex - councillors. The following year the council discussed the provision of cottages and small- holdings for soldiers and sailors on demobilisation at the cessation of hostilities. As early as 1936, as the clouds of war gathered over Europe, the council discussed air - raid precautions (ARP), and first aid training. On a somewhat macabre note, they purchased a new hearse. The discussion was prompted by a Home office circular and other guidance issued to local authorities the year before which instructed them to start ARP planning - but not to spend more than the bare minimum of ratepay- ers ’ money on it. One of the parish councillors, Surgeon Commander (Retd) Arthur Bell, would no doubt have grum- bled about such a cheeseparing attitude. He was already hard at work as the county ’ s chief ARP officer and in 1938 and 1939 was Honorary Secretary of a national body, the Association of Air Raid Precaution Officers. There is no mention in the council minutes of the Second World War until February 1941, when fire - watchers were appointed and a list of other civil defence duties was rec- orded. In August, a Buckden and Diddington Parish Invasion Committee was formed to co - ordinate all aspects of civil defence in case of an enemy invasion. The minutes record that exercises were carried out ‘ to be a solemn test of inva- sion arrangements ’. Reserve food supplies were delivered and stored in the village, with councillors organizing deliv- ery plans. In 1943 there was a large and heated public meeting, which aired obvious disquiet about the number of people (especially male) who were not making enough effort to- wards the war. The minutes record a concern about ‘ moral laxity ’ especially among the young people. Perhaps, surprisingly, there is no mention in the minutes about the influx of refugees although there were complaints about damage caused by a ‘ small refugee ’. As at the end of the First World War discussions started on how to provide suitable housing for returning servicemen. By 1948 thirty houses had been built in Lincoln Close. Not withstanding the war the council still found time to complain about the inadequate bus service with Huntingdon and the poor mail delivery. - Terry Hayward