Page 16 - Life in Langham 1914-1919

Neighbours on Well Street

Prince, Rowett, and Nourish. Three of the 'lucky' families in

Langham whose children returned from the war.

Lily’s war work was agricultural, producing enough food had

become a real problem in Britain. Probably it is this year that Joe’s

cousin Ebenezer was in France with the Leicesters. They had been

withdrawn for rest after a very rough time at the Front when an

officer said there might be a change of job for him. Ebenezer

hoped he wasn’t to be appointed company runner. At bedtime that

night a Sargent said “We are sending four home for three or four

months of the harvest. Can you be ready at eight o’clock in the

morning?” Ebenezer replied “I’m ready now Sargent.”

Aug 28th - Sept 9th 1918 - Joe came, we had a splendid time.

News has just been received that Pte T. Rowett, London Regiment, second son of

Mr and Mrs J. Rowett, has been wounded for the second time. On the present

occasion he was injured in the chest and head, and is in an American Hospital in

France. Mr and Mrs Rowett have received a very nice letter from the Chaplain of

the Regiment, speaking in the highest terms of their son. His many friends will be

pleased to hear that he is going on favourably.

Grantham Journal 28 September 1918

Nov 11th - Armistice signed.

Nov 14th - Nance went away. The girls came to me. [Nance’s daughters,

London Lily, Bobbie, and Ivy, were a similar age to Lily and spent a lot of

time at Langham during the war].

Nov 23rd - Had a party for Bobbie’s birthday.

Dec 9th - Tom, Minnie, and baby came for ten days.

Sat the New Year in - Ivy and Bobbie working.

Jan 1st 1919 - Had tea at home, letter from Joe, weather dreadful.

Jan 6th - Jack and Tom and Olave here. Had a lovely time, all drove to the

football match.

Jan 11th - Tom and Jack went away the same day.

Feb 5th - Joe came home, started work on the 10th.

Joe should have returned earlier. The food situation was worse.

The area of arable land had increased but threshing had become a

bottleneck so the local War Agricultural Committee applied for

Joe’s early demobilisation and he was sent back. He only got as

far as Rouen before the snow stopped all transport and he had to

wait under canvas for a freezing fortnight.