Our Boys From the Villages (Part1) – The First and Second World War Casualties from villages around Wellington. Compiled by Mike Perry and Ray Hitchcock, Wellington Local History & Museum Society

THE latest in the series of booklets on local war casualties has been printed and will be available from Wellington Museum from Saturday (November 11).

The original book ‘Our Boys’ covered those from the First World War who are listed on Wellington war memorials. Another followed covering the Second World War and then a smaller booklet with the names of people whose names appear to have been missed on the memorials.

The latest book, ‘Our Boys from the Villages (Part1)’ covers casualties from both world wars for the villages of Bradford-on-Tone, Heathfield, Hillfarrance, Nynehead and Oake and, like the others in the series, throws up some surprising facts. Who was aware, for example, that Keith Lloyd Davies, whose name is on the Bradford-on-Tone war memorial, was the cousin of Guy Gibson of Dam Busters fame.

In all 57 men and one woman are listed, many with photographs. As always some families seem to have been especially unlucky. The vicar of Hillfarrance, Edward Spurway, for example, had five sons who all went off to war. Three of them were killed, which must have been devastating.

The book, also available from HT Perry & Son & Granddaughter in Fore Street, costs £4 and all proceeds go to the museum.