I should have added that all profits will be donated to the Royal British Legion. 600 names, 200 pages and over 100 photos Plus a promise to publish our errors and omissions Michael Allbrook -----Original Message----- From: oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Michael Allbrook Sent: 04 October 2011 13:08 To: OXFORDSHIRE@rootsweb.com Subject: [OXF] Deddington News You may have gathered that over the last couple of years I have been researching War Memorials and, in particular, the Deddington War Memorial, initially publishing a pamphlet about it to attract local comment and histories.   As a result of this I found I was being stopped in the street and comments like – “hey you didn’t say anything about my granddad and he lost a leg” and “do you know Fred never slept inside a house for the rest of his life” – all this made me conscious that I had neglected those who had returned.  They too, and their families, had suffered grievously and still, years later, it was a topic usually avoided.  So a Roll of Honour of everyone who served in the wars developed and when Rob Forsyth added the information to our village website www.deddington.org.uk,the number of comments increased so dramatically it made us consider whether it was worth writing a book!. Unusually, our War Memorial remembers a man who died at the hands of Malaysian terrorists whilst a National Serviceman, which prompted us to include all National Servicemen and then it was obviously wrong to exclude the Regulars! Rob has beavered away recording the memoirs of many ex-service people which moved the book into a social history of the Parish and my original expansion of the cryptic initial and surname on the memorial has become a record of every serviceman (and woman) that we could find who has a connection to this Parish; totalling more than 600 people. Incidentally, Rob established a research technique that I commend to you; find one ex-serviceman and get them to host a tea party for their friends.  Three stories from each and apparently some really good home baking! We do gloss over the “visit” of King Charles who stayed overnight after the Battle of Croperdy Bridge, mainly because it seems to me that he and Cromwell stayed in most parts of the Realm!  The Parish’s contribution to the Battle of Waterloo and the Crimean Campaign were probably limited to just one guy at each but, from then on, our military numbers swelled.    However, we have tracked down Evacuees, Jewish Refugees and members of the Emergency Services, as well as members of the Forces. If you want to buy a copy we would be delighted and an email to michael@allbrook.com would result in the order form Michael Allbrook