Thanks to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette for the following news from Abingdon 100 years ago in December 1918. ( © Successor rightsholder unknown. All Rights Reserved.)

Week 1

Brigadier-General Wigan was elected unopposed for Abingdon MP.

• He was against the return of colonies to Germany
• He demanded our enemies pay the cost of the war
• He sought punishment of those guilty of gross violations of international law

At home he wanted:

• our first claim on national resources to be soldiers and sailors who had given up their lives for the country
• improvements in housing and health generally

Around 180 Chinese workers employed at the R.A.F stores at Milton left the depot to return home. They were sailors who got trapped here during the war.

Roy Gilbert from Shippon returned from being a prisoner of war where he underwent severe hardship being employed as a coal miner on very meagre fare. Other prisoners of war were also reported as coming home.

Week 2

The Bishop of Oxford (Dr. Gore) held a confirmation service at St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, when 96 candidates presented themselves; 60 females and 36 males, including six from the R.A.F., at Milton Depot. The Bishop also preached in the evening to a crowded congregation.

Lieut. C. L. Coxeter, of Abingdon, was promoted to a Captaincy in the Tanks Corps. He joined the Army as a private in August, 1914.

‘Our Day’ celebrations, raising money for Red Cross funds, in Abingdon took place on the Saturday. In addition to the sale of flags, there was a procession, with the R.A.F. Band from Milton Depot. A dance was held in the Corn Exchange in the evening from 7 till 11, which was well patronised.

Week 3

At the Abingdon Borough Bench on Tuesday, a labourer, of no fixed abode, named Maurice Stapleford, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in the Vineyard, Abingdon, on the Saturday, and was fined 7s 6d.

At the Abingdon Christmas Cattle Market on the Monday there were 44 beasts, 15 of which went to Reading. There were also 74 sheep and 20 fat pigs. There was a rather small supply of poultry.

Our Day collections in Abingdon and District realised up to £324 and donations were still coming in.

Miss A. Randall, Abbey House, Abingdon, had done good work as Hon. Secretary to the Belgian and Prisoner of War Funds in Abingdon, which had closed. The Belgian Fund, which started in February, 1915, and continued till November, 1917, reached a total of £485. The Prisoner of War. Fund, started in September, 1916; and continued till November 1918, received £408. Of this sum £361 was expended in parcels sent to 18 men of the Royal Berks, through the Prisoners of War Committee in London.

Week 4

During the Christmas season the Tesdale House Red Cross Hospital closed and the patients dispersed to their respective homes, having been granted 12 days’ leave in order to spend Christmas with their relatives. The Hospital had been open for nearly four years, the number of patients passing through the Hospital being 1,021. The staff and patients return to the Hospital on December 31st.

The Abingdon Post of Comrades of the War took over the old British School premises, Ock Street, for their headquarters and club. Brigadier- General J. T. Wigan, M.P., consented to be the first President of the club. It was intended to establish a Labour Bureau as well as writing and reading rooms. (Picture of Captain J T Wigan from his wedding in 1911.)

Thanks to the https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk for this information and the picture of MP J T Wigan as a younger man.

This is the bridge, rebuilt in the 1920s, over the Thames at Abingdon, with a view towards Nags Head Inn.

This is the view across the river to St Helen’s Wharf with the Plane trees and almshouses.

A detectorist was searching for treasure round a tree root. The Detectorists TV series was one of the best comedy programmes I have seen in recent years. For every Saxon Abingdon sword there could be thousands of modern ring pulls down there. But because of Abingdon’s long history there is more treasure beneath our feet than in most places.

Culham Bridge is no longer part of the highway and was how Abingdon Bridge looked before the 1920’s rebuild. The side walls are only about two feet six inches high.

This is the view across the river and empty car park towards a huddle of old buildings including the Abbey Buildings, Unicorn Theatre, and mill.

Thanks to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette for the following news from Abingdon 100 years ago in November 1918. ( © Successor rightsholder unknown. All Rights Reserved.)

2nd November
The influenza epidemic in Abingdon is still very prevalent and several deaths have occurred during the past week. Many tradesmen have experienced difficulty in keeping their shops open through loss of the help of their assistants. ‘Our Day’ celebrations for the British Red Cross, and other items, have had to be postponed.

At the Abingdon County Bench on Monday, T. Hodnett, farmer, of Marcham, A. Cox, of Victoria Road, Abingdon, and Percy Dickinson, of Garford, were fined 1 shilling each for unlawfully buying and selling a horse, at Garford, against the Defence of the Realm Act during the last six months.

9th November
Captain H. R. Hobday, R.F.A. of Broad Street, Abingdon, has been wounded the second time, and has had his left foot amputated.

Up to the end of last month, by house to house collections in Abingdon, nearly £18 has been raised for the National Children’s Orphanage.

Collections are being made under scheme carried out by Committee of ladies, to provide funds for sending Christmas parcels to Abingdon men serving with H.M. Forces.

A meeting of the Abingdon Rural Tribunal was held on Monday at the Roysse Room in Abingdon, Mr H. W. Weaving was presiding. Percival Spencer, aged 38. Grade II, working at Milton Red Cross Hospital, was granted conditional exemption until January 1st, 1919 : A. E. Benwell, aged 45. Grade II., employed as farm labourer by the Earl of Abingdon, was granted exemption and excused V.T.C. untril February 1st  1919; and William Hale, aged 44, Grade II, from Kingston Bagpuize, huntsman at the O.B. H. Kennels, was exempted until May 1st, 1919, and also excused the V.T.C.

16th November
The news of the signing of the war armistice on Monday evoked great rejoicings in Abingdon, when almost a general half-holiday was given. The Pavlova Leather Works hooter sounded the news to the inhabitants. A thanksgiving service was held in the evening at St. Helen’s Church, at which the Mayor and Corporation, Borough Magistrates, Fire Brigade, and soldiers and staff of the local Red Cross Hospital attended. Suitable hymns and the Te Deum were sung. The service closed with the singing of the National Anthem.

23rd November
Sergeant James W. Parker, 22, Royal Berks, eldest son of Mrs Parker, West St. Helen Street, is reported to have died of wounds received on the last day of the war in Italy. He belonged to the Abingdon Volunteers, and was drafted out at the commencement of the war. He was an apprentice at Hughes Printing Works, Abingdon, and was a very promising lad.

Private E. W. Savage, Canadian Regiment, second son of Mrs Henry Savage, of West St. Helen Street, Abingdon, is reported wounded in the left eye.

A singular coincidence of two Abingdon lads is reported. They are the sons of Mr Ambrose Stone, The Vineyard, Abingdon. Early in the war one was officially reported amongst the victims of H.M.S. Natal when an explosion occurred, but was afterwards found amongst those saved, and just recently the other son belonged to the last ship that was torpedoed by the enemy, the Brittania, which was sunk on Saturday, November 9th, but was fortunate to have been granted leave, and was on his way home.

Thanksgiving Services for the end of the War were held in the Churches and Chapels in Abingdon on Sunday last. The Warden of Radley College was the preacher at St. Helen’s Church in the morning.

30th November

The Food Controller has sent £l2 to the children of the Dorchester Elementary School for having picked 970 lbs. of blackberries this season.

The funeral took place on Saturday at Sunningwell, of Mr Thomas Sherman, aged 36, who died the previous Tuesday from illness contracted during the flu epidemic. He was a professional golf player at Frilford Heath Golf Club, in the early part of the war joined the Royal Berks, being made corporal of that Regt. He saw considerable service in France, and was severely wounded, subsequently receiving his discharge.

Lieut. Bernard Aldwinckle, R.F.A., of Shippon, serving with the North Russian Expeditionary Force, died of wounds on November 3rd, at the age of 26. joined as a cadet, in the R.F.A., and went through the battles of Arras, Somme, and Cambrai. After leave the beginning of the present year, he proceeded to Russia on October 5th.

All details from https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ including one picture of rejoicing in Nottingham. A souvenir edition of the Abingdon Herald will be published to coincide with the end of the war and will include a lot more.