For some informants, the scars of war were not just physical, but emotional. The fieldworkers’ notes paint a heart breaking picture of the losses endured by communities across the United Kingdom.
In Clifton-upon-Teme, Worcestershire, 87-year-old Alf Roberts, a lifelong farm worker, mourned the loss of his only son in the First World War. Charles Horns, 72, of Cradley, Herefordshire, also lost his only son, in the Second World War, at Dunkirk.
Alf Roberts, Clifton-upon-Teme, Worcestershire. Response book.
Perhaps the most poignant example in the collection is that of Mr Bert Jarvis, a 79-year-old farm worker and baker from Kersey, Suffolk. His fieldworker noted: “Lives alone. A good informant but slow. Lost a son in late war and always returns to stories about him. Very friendly and glad of company.”
These brief glimpses into the lives of those left behind serve as a reminder that the impact of war extends far beyond the battlefield. The grief and pain experienced by these families is a testament to the enduring legacy of the wars, and the importance of keeping memories alive of those who had been lost.
Alf Roberts, Clifton-upon-Teme, Worcestershire. Response book.
Bert Jarvis, Kersey, Suffolk. Response book.
