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HOW WE USED TO LIVE - National Events

WORLD WAR ONE - In 1914 a war was looking imminent. Already serving men were hastily readying themselves for the probability, and reservists and former reservists, were being called to arms, but it soon became clear there was going to be a huge shortage of manpower. The non-military men of Norfolk, and elsewhere, joined up in their thousands. Some even in the first few weeks. After all the war would be over by Christmas, and it was a chance to travel and do a bit for King and country. Life would then go back to normal. Now it is well known that just didn't happen. The initial volunteers, or the survivors of them, were not nearly enough. More and more men had to be got together and sent to the front. The war dragged on for over four long years, and the life people knew before it commenced had gone. It never did, or could return. It has been estimated by some that when World War One, or the Great War, as it was previously named, was eventually over, one man in every three fighting men had received some sort of injury, and one man in every seven had lost their lives. The dead, so far from home, were left forever lying in a foreign land.

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A FAMILY AT WAR - Every family today had an earlier generation creating a unique story during the 1914-1918 war. My grandfathers Charles and Leonard Gilding, of Sporle, Norfolk, served, as did some of their male family members and those of their future wives, my grandmothers, Elizabeth Twite of Grimston, Norfolk, and Mary Ann Littlewood of Harwich, Essex. So from personal documents and various archives this is my family's story.

SWAFFHAM AT WAR - THE NEWS - The vicar of Swaffham took a keen interest in the serving men of Swaffham, Nfk. as did the local newspapers.

SWAFFHAM AT WAR - THE FIRST YEAR - When Britain declared war in August 1914 the men already serving were quickly moved to Europe, and those on the Military Reserve list, and serving in the Territorial Army, were called up. These were followed by the forerunners of the many men from Swaffham who would eventually enlist before the war ended. This project will be continued as more men or more information comes to hand.

VILLAGES AT WAR - THE NEWS - The serving men of the 1914-18 war, as mentioned in the local newspapers, from the parishes of Castle Acre, Necton, North Pickenham, Great Dunham, Little Dunham, Newton by Castle Acre, South Acre and Sporle with Palgrave. More to come.

SPORLE WITH LITTLE PALGRAVE - Men from this parish served in the 1914-1918 war. References to earlier serving men included. Being updated.

SOUTH ACRE, CASTLE ACRE AND NEWTON BY CASTLE ACRE - Men from these three parishes served in the 1914-1918 war. More to come.

LITTLE DUNHAM, GREAT DUNHAM, NECTON AND NORTH PICKENHAM - Men of these parishes took part in the 1914-1918 war. More to come.