DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE
Fenny Compton
Fire at Fenny Compton Wharf
On Tuesday a fire occurred at Fenny Compton Wharf on the premises of Mr Guest Brown. The outbreak occurred in the packing room and only slight damage was done and the loss covered by insurance in the County Fire Office (agent Mr F. Awken)
Banbury Guardian Dec 31st
December 30th 1914
We are at our billet, have a bath and a change, received a Xmas card from King and Queen and one from the General of our Division, am sending them home as souvenirs.
Diary of Private W Tapp, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, November 1914- January 1915
Imperial war Museum Archives
Road Offence: Charles Griffin, farmer of Farnborough, was fined 2/6 for allowing two swine to stray on to the highway at Farnborough.
Banbury Guardian Dec 31st
December 28th 1914
At 2am this morning we were working on our barbed wire but of course they could hear us and I guess they thought we had been at it long enough so they sent one of their lights over but no bullets, which I think was very sporting of them.
Diary of Private W Tapp, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, November 1914- January 1915
Imperial war Museum Archives
December 27th 1914
Another day and night goes by and still they walk about on top of their trenches, but they don’t come over we have been told that this friendship has got to stop, so we keep apart, although we walk about on top without fear of being shot…eight of them come to surrender but we send them back as I think we are out for larger fish.
Diary of Private W Tapp, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, November 1914- January 1915
Imperial war Museum Archives
| Date | Name | Parents Forenames | Surname | Abode | Occupation | Clergyman |
| 27th December | Frances Mary | Harry | ||||
| Ethel Anne | Wyten | Hornton | Publican | V.W.Philpott |
Avon Dassett Parish Registers
December 26th 1914
Get up 7.40 had to be called as the officer was waiting for his breakfast, I am surprised to see the Germans and our fellows still walking on top, it’s too ridiculous for words, we are all mixing up again, 8.40 one of our officers tells them to get back to their trenches as our artillery are going to shell them at 9am, some of them say “We will get in your trenches we will be safer”…
…I forgot to say that both sides took advantage of the holiday to bury the dead, some of the bodies had been there more than a month.
Diary of Private W Tapp, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, November 1914- January 1915
Imperial war Museum Archives
December 25th 1914
9am Xmas morning a mist comes over and their men and ours are ordered to the trenches, about an hour after the mist suddenly lifts and we catch them putting barbed wire out and they catch us doing the same thing, but there is not a shot being fired here today we have another gathering of Germans and us, it was one mass about 150 of them and half as many of us all in a ring laughing, talking, we are trying to arrange a football match with them for tomorrow, boxing day, they say they are not going to fire again if we don’t, but of course we must, and shall do, but it doesn’t seem right to be killing each other at Xmas time…
…its Xmas night how different to the Xmas nights I remember especially the one 4 years ago when I stood under the mistletoe with the girl I married later.
Diary of Private W Tapp, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, November 1914- January 1915
Imperial war Museum Archives
Seven British airmen, assisted by warships, attack enemy warships off Cuxhaven.
Banbury Guardian January 1915