After the War


The war ended on 11th November 1918 when the armistice was signed although the peace treaty was not signed until the following June. At the school the National Anthem was sung and prayers said around the flag pole. In October (1919) an offical week’s holiday was granted to the children at the King’s request. Round the country celebrations took a place; in nearby Tisbury, there was a children's procession, followed by a tea-party, and dancing.


Demobilisation started, many local soldiers being demobilised from the camp at Fovant, some not reaching home until the following year.


A change in the fundamental traditional structure of the village began to change after 1918. Death duties and land taxes soared and estates over £2 million were taxed at 40%. Many landowners including the Wyndhams at Clouds decided to sell off surrounding farms to reduce their estates. By 1921 a quarter of land in England had been sold changing the tradional class structure forever. Many sons of the aristocracy and landed classes had fought and lost lives whilst leading their battalions and were often the first to fall.


The War Memorial


The memorial cross, designed by Mr Herbert Maryon, warden of Wantage Hall, University College Reading, was erected at Knoyle House Corner. Of slender design, rising 16ft from a plinth. On the front of the square base is the inscription “To the Glory of God and in memory of the men of this parish who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918”. On one side panel are the words “Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his


life for his friends” and the opposite panel records the names of the men commemorated. The cross was erected as a memorial to their bravery, to record their great deeds, and to perpetuate their memory. It was hoped that this memorial would bring to their children and their children’s children, the knowledge that in these days the inhabitants of East Knoyle did their duty to their King and Country.


Additions were made as part of the memorial scheme to the Village Hall. A kitchen, bar and cloakrooms were added as a further memorial. The Trustees of the Seymour Estate made the handsome gift of £1,000 and the balance of £450 was raised by subscriptions.


Over 20 young men of East Knoyle were lost but many survived and came home to carry on their lives. Whether they were ever the same again, we shall never know. Here are some stories of men from our Village who came home.


REGINALD BERKLEY LAMPARD BORN 25TH OCTOBER 1896


In the census of 1911, Reginald was 15 and was working as a shepherd in East Knoyle. He lived with his family at The Green. At the outbreak of war he was determined to join up as soon as he turned 18, joining the Royal Marines. He took part in the campaign against the Turks in 1915 at Gallipolli, designed to capture the capital of Constantinople and to create a safe southern sea link for our Imperial Russian Allies. Bad planning and atrocious conditions led to disaster and death was a constant companion and Reginald came under heavy fire when moving from his trench. He did not discover until later that his rifle could not be fired. Despite this he survived though many of his comdrades were killed either by snipers or insanitary conditions. The Allies lost 140,000 dead or wounded.


He was later posted to the Western Front and fell victim to a German gas attack with serious effects. He was awarded three medals: 1914 Star, The British War Medal (1914-1916) and the Victory Medal although Reginald did not apply for his.


He had strong Christian values and after the armistice and demo- bilsation he sought to become a Church of England Lay Reader but was not successful. He then applied to the Primitive Method- ists and was successful and along with his wife Elsie began service in East Knoyle’s Methodist Chapel until curtailed by illness.


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