Couple met Westbury during WWI

WESTBURY’S University of the Third Age (U3A) recently heard from a local woman whose parents met in Westbury during the First World War.

Maggie Skyrme reports, “Members listened entranced as Liz Argent of Westbury Heritage Society traced the early lives of Dora and Teddie, showing how they were part of both local and world events. The talk was illustrated with photographs, old posters and  newspaper cuttings

“Dora was born in 1894, Teddie in 1896; they were children during the Boer War, young adults during WW1 and around 50 by the end of WW2.

“Born in Westbury, Dora and her family lived in Church Street and her father was a clerk at Laverton’s Mill. Elementary education was compulsory and so Dora attended the primary school for girls.

“She later won a scholarship to a secondary school in Trowbridge, and subsequently went to University College London.

“Westbury was a thriving community in the early 1900s, a new station being built on 1900, the London line opening in 1901, whilst in 1903 Buffalo Bill and his show arrived in four trains.

“The local press commented that the ‘White Horse needed grooming’, a recurring theme since then!

“Westbury life revolved around the local industries and farming, the annual social calendar included the church fete and annual town carnival. Many of the men including Dora’s father belonged to the Wiltshire Volunteer Rifle Corps.

“Meanwhile, Teddie was growing up in Essex where he attended the local grammar school subsequently becoming a clerk in Ipswich.

“The declaration of war in 1914 brought officers and men of the Army Service Corps to Westbury, Teddie being one. The people of Westbury welcomed the incomers and Dora and Teddie probably met at one of the many social events arranged.

“Eventually Teddie was sent to France and then Greece whilst Dora joined the VAD. Heywood House had been turned into a hospital for recovering soldiers, possibly Dora worked there.

“In any event she received postcards from Greece almost daily. Dora and Teddie married in 1919 in Westbury Parish Church. On being asked if they had any descendents, Liz answered simply, ‘Yes, me’.”

U3A’s next meeting, on Tuesday 14th February, the subject will be “The seamier side of Bath”, an intriguing talk about parts of Bath in Regency times.

All are welcome to join  in the United Reformed Church Hall at 1.45pm for a 2pm start. The lunch club will meet between 12pm and 12.15pm on 6th February at The Railway Inn.