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Tower and Town, November 2018

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Editorial

One hundred years ago this month the guns fell silent - guns that had raged and roared for over four years across large parts of the whole continent of Europe and further afield as well. This issue is dedicated to the memory of all those, especially from the neighbourhood of Marlborough, who fought and died and survived in the Great War.

There is inevitably a bit of History to remind us of what went on and why 1914-1918: Michael Hart has given us a very clear and concise assessment of what it was all about; I have attempted to explain why it went on so long and was so destructive; and Allan Mallinson explores the issues around the end of the war. Barney Rosedale reminds us of the part the Quakers played one hundred years ago; Andrew Ross has unearthed from the archives a picture of Marlborough on November 11th 1918; and Jane Nicholson recalls the impact a visit to Western Front had on her four years ago.

To bring the focus of this issue to bear on local people, I have included four stories from the parishes of Minal, Preshute, St Mary's and St Peter's from one hundred years ago. The names of those from here who sacrificed everything are inscribed in our churches and churchyards, as well as on the town memorial.

In addition to the many parades and services that will mark the centenary of the Armistice, there are many events locally to commemorate this historic occasion - you will find these itemised separately from What's On - and I hope that many will be able to take part, so that we can all truly say - “We will remember them.”

Front cover (clockwise from top left): the memorial cross at St George's, Preshute; the names of some of the missing from the Wiltshire Regiment on the Menin Gate in Ypres; the Lutyens monument to the missing on the Somme; the names of the dead on the Marlborough town memorial.

David Du Croz

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