3rd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
Not every soldier commemorated on our War Memorial perished in the heat and confusion of battle, a fact that will now be outlined in this, my third, commemorative profile. Nine years of age at the time of the 1901 Census, Hector Card was the first war-enlisted soldier from the village to lose his life having attested, early in 1915, at Wimborne, with the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment. Sadly, Hector’s military career ended almost before it began for he died on the 21st of February, 1915, aged 23, possibly from pneumonia, while undergoing basic training. At the time of his death, the 3rd Battalion, had training depots centred on Dorchester and Weymouth and it seems likely that he was serving at Lodmoor Camp, which came under the aegis of the Weymouth depot, this assumption being based on the fact that his grave is located in Weymouth Cemetery.
Tragedy had already struck the Card family, who lived at 120 High Street (now 11A and the home of Peter and Joy Stainer) for on the 30th May, 1906, his sister, May, died at the awfully early age of 20. Their parents, Harry and Ellen lived on with their grief, Ellen passing away in her 76th year on the 24th November, 1936, but Harry lived to witness the suffering of the Second World War and was aged 85 when he died on the 12th of September, 1949. The three now rest in the churchyard at St. Mary’s.
Returning to their son’s all too brief military service, Hector would have been amongst the first to respond to Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener’s call to arms (that famous poster, Your Country Needs You, is, I am sure familiar to you all). Needed they were for by the end of 1914, and with the war not yet six months old, the British Expeditionary Force in France had suffered 86,000 casualties, this figure representing over half of the force that had crossed to France in the August. Compared to the losses sustained by the French and German armies, ’86,000’ was, comparatively speaking, small; French casualties stood at around 854,000, while Germany is believed to have lost approximately 677,000. I should point out that these terrible figures do include soldiers who were wounded, or captured, but it is an unquestionable fact that the majority were dead. The slaughter, now associated with the First World War, had been set in train.
In preparing this profile, I am indebted for the help rendered from Charles Cooper, Administrator at The Keep, Dorchester, and his knowledgeable volunteer helpers; also to Rob Jesse for his expert knowledge of the re-numbering of the houses in the High Street and to Ron and Pam Wood of the vicarage for taking the time and trouble to look out the burial details of Harry, Ellen and May Card.
A middle-aged friend told me that he had been to his Doctor for a check up after which the Doctor said ‘You’re in good shape’ but Doctor he protested ‘Why do I keep getting so tired?’ ‘Youth Deficiency’ replied the Doctor, ‘Nothing but Youth Deficiency’
If like me you like reading poems look out in the near future for a new book being published. It’s written by a local lady. It is a moving, enjoyable book based on events in her life. ‘Poetry in Motion’ – the Light and Dark sides A selection of poems by Hazel.
Following my report in the last issue of The Downsman about my family’s events - a small update.
Sarah rode in the Hampshire County Trials and came fourth with her horse Sixpenny Forge.
Nicky finished the season with winning Champion and Reserve Champion with her Poll Dorset sheep at Newbury show.
Update on the dog problem –several names have been forwarded to the Dog Warden so beware you are being watched.
Lastly a big thank you for all the support at the Auction – we sold over 200 lots and should make over £600 profit for the village hall.
Thanks again
Just a quick note to tell you what we have been up to at Scouts………
Troop Nights
Troop evenings are active as ever at the Scout Hut. A favourite was the pumpkin carving Halloween week. The hut was a complete mess with 23 Scouts carving a pumpkin each – but the results were worth it. Thank you to Simon and Denise for the pumpkins.
Night Hike
On the 30th October 9 Scouts completed a night hike. We left the Scout Hut in cars around 10.30 pm and headed to Win Green. From Win Green we hiked along the Ox Drove for about 4 miles, then Claire and Chris met us for hot soup. It was then into Chase Woods and about another 4 miles to the Scout Hut. We arrived back at the hut at 2.30 am on Halloween morning. Some of the Scouts were tired and went straight to bed, the rest of us sat talking around the fire that Chris had lit for us. The last Scouts went to bed at about 5am.
Come the morning the smell of frying bacon and tea woke all the Scouts up and it was back home for a restful morning and perhaps a sneaky kip in the afternoon
Remembrance Day
A total of 21 Scouts attended Remembrance Day this year. This is almost double the number that attended last year and reflects the growing numbers that attend the meetings every Monday night. We had practised marching the Monday before, with the help of Tony Bishop, and definitely looked smarter for it.
Fireworks
This is now a major fund raising activity for the group and this year raised just over £1500 for the funds. This activity could not happen if it were not for the help of many people within the village, notably –
Steve Judd for the use of the field.
Chris and Bronia and everyone at the shop for selling the tickets and badgering people to sign the gift aid form. These forms allow us to claim back over £200 from the government, thank you to everyone that took the time to fill in their details.
Clarke the Butchers for selling tickets and supplying the meat for the barbecue.
There were over 35 volunteers working on the night, ranging from people taking the money on the gate, lighting the fireworks to selling food from the barbecue.
On behalf of the members of the Scouts Group and the fundraising committee I would like to thank everyone that was involved with the evening and thank those that came and supported the Scouts in this fundraising activity. The money will be used to undertake vital repairs to the roof and kitchen of the Scout Hut.
Since the completion by Ashe Construction (Southampton) Ltd of their wonderful new hall, classroom and other facilities, pupils at Sixpenny Handley First School have been collecting everyday items to be sealed into the school time capsule. Head teacher, Mrs Alison Latchem, has been asking the pupils to consider what would interest children in the future and give a good idea of our daily lives. Finally, at a special assembly, the capsule was buried with ceremonial blessing from Rev Ron Wood and the commemorative stone, which HRH the Duchess of Gloucester unveiled at the opening of the new building in the summer, was laid. The capsule now awaits eager investigators in future years to open it up and find out what life was really like in 2004.
All readers will by now know, that unfortunately Mr. Bush has been re-elected to the American Presidency and therefore will not be coming to live in Woodcutts. (If you think that the above statement is rather ambiguous, it is for the reader to interpret in his or her own way.) We, the international, jet setting members of this exclusive, countryside community were a little worried that his presence and influence here could have affected "our economy". We were also worried, that the site of oil wells and the infrastructures of the oil industry, would in fact be rather out of place here, especially as we don’t have any oil.
Having got the international news out of the way, we turn to the more pressing local news. To start with, although it has not yet been released to the general public, the area now referred to as ‘Woodcutts’ has in fact increased. From now on, the bungalow to the east of the by-pass, known as Gilly Hill, will feature in all future negotiations and official announcements including the annual census, which takes place every-so–often.
The results of the Spring Census 2004 (Completed on the first day of November 2004) is as follows:-
| Year | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| Total Residents. | 17 | 23 | 28 | 24 | -- | 27 |
| Adults | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | -- | 17 |
| Schoolchildren | -- | 2 | 8 | 8 | -- | 9 |
| Pre-schoolchildren | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | -- | 1 |
| Total Av. Age | 41.84 | 30.56 | 26.40 | 32.50 | -- | 31.30 |
The more observant reader will note, that there are no figures for the year 2003, this was due purely to the lack of funding and any talk of a plague is shear nonsense.
It can clearly be seen, that some inconsiderate bodies have up and left us, fortunately however more fresh air and country loving people have descended upon us. Although it can be seen that anno domini is in fact getting the better of us, in three years the average age has increased by 4.90 years. If any one can explain this please write to the Demographic Department at the appropriate Ministry, Woodcutts.
Sorry to have to go through all the above, but we must stick to a very rigorous and regular routine. However we can now proceed with the more pleasurable aspects of our refuge, in this quiet and secluded suburb of Sixpenny Handley. I am sorry but there is to be another short interlude, Emmerdale is about to start on the television and I need a coffee………………
Please note that there is only one line missing, this is because I did not take time out to watch my other favourite, Last of the Summer Wine. Again the more observant will say on what date were those two programs broadcast together, O.K. I’m late again.
.................Anyway I’m back, nose to the grindstone, with dates from the Woodcutts’ natural history diary:- (Or I would be if I could find it. My filing system appears to have failed again, I hope it was not included in the last heap of recycled paper, but that is another issue which I hope to cover later in this article.)
Found at last:--
23rd October. The ‘last’ Brimstone, butterfly of the year appeared in the garden. In pristine condition, as if just hatched.
4th November. The ‘last’ Red Admiral, butterfly on yellow, buddleia bush, which is still producing fresh, new flowers. This butterfly too was in first class condition.
10th November. Beech leaves in a hedge in Tollard Royal appear to have just burst from new buds.
12th November. Willow in the garden has freshly produced leaves.
13th November. A slow-worm found in the middle of the lane, appeared to have died from the cold, but what was it doing out and about in mid Nov. Later in the day Meg found a cobwebbed, common lizard crossing the kitchen floor. In may have come from the cellar, but why at this time of year.
14th November. An old shoot of a elderberry bush cut to about six inches of the ground in August, now has two fresh shoots with five new leaves.
November. Other non-seasonal occurrences - rhubarb bolting in the vegetable garden, marigolds and nasturtiums in flower in middle of month, lesser periwinkle flowering far more abundantly, despite the fact that it often flowers the whole year round. Copious numbers of white deadnettle and herb Robert still flowering. Picking tomatoes in an unheated greenhouse during past week, ripe and ready to eat. The list could go on and on. Surely this indicates that there is a definite change in our weather pattern.
This brings us to the reason for this quite dramatic change in our seasonal fortunes, "Global Warming". If you don’t believe in it, you could regret it later, because global warming generally, could actually create new cold ocean currents of melt water from the Arctic, which in the short term of possibly several hundred years, (a mere pittance when the age of the world is concerned) would make our climate similar to Alaska’s. Don’t be fooled by those who ‘know’, this is a definite possibility.
With this in mind, we come to the important matter of what to do with our garden waste and organic matter generally. All gardeners can help ensure that this material does not go to the land–fill sites, where not only does it take up space, but on decomposing creates the gas methane. Methane will escape into the atmosphere and is a very serious greenhouse gas, possibly the worst after water vapour and carbon dioxide, which are the two gases produced when methane burns in air.
Not only is methane production something that needs to be controlled, but so is the carbon monoxide and dioxide, together with the carcinogenic particulates produced when private vehicles are used to cart garden waste to council collection points, and the heavy goods vehicles used to collect from these points and transfer your gardens fertility to Hurn, where it is converted to compost, mulch, chippings etc. for you to buy back in very expensive non-biodegradable bags, after spending more money driving to the garden centre to get your garden’s fertility back. At the same time burning fossil fuels and producing more greenhouse gases and harmful particulates.
What can we do about it?
There isn’t one a simple answer! However the village can help by starting its own. community composting site. How, I hear you ask? Here are a list of topics already looked at:-
Site, one has already been offered to the village by a local landowner.
Advice, who from? Both the East Dorset District Council (EDDC) and Dorset County Council (DCC) are only too eager to help, as are the National Community Composting Network, DEFRA, Health and Safety, and the Government Funding Organisation.
What the village has to do is form an official group or committee, who then as representatives of the village, produce a plan with the help from the DCC, EDDC and the National Composting Network and apply for grants. It is then up to volunteers to get the site up and working. Eventually it is hoped that some local, employment could result for local people, particularly those who are in good health but have other disabilities and to whom finding a job presents a problem.
Are You Interested?
If you would like to be part of the Sixpenny Handley Village Community Composting Group, as a volunteer, a supplier of raw products for composting, a buyer of the resulting organic products or a member of the "BOARD", I would appreciate your phone call, on .
Ring now, help save the World. If you want to know more, there is a paper on the subject, nine pages on "Sixpenny Handley, Garden Waste, Composting & Alternatives". If that doesn’t satisfy your curiosity, there are a number of names, addresses and web pages listed on the back page, enough I am sure to satisfy everyone. Please if you have any interest at all, if you believe you are a conservationist, if you buy organic foods, if you believe in the natural world give me a ring, your help is vital. No matter how little, even just a name on the list as a sympathiser would be a bonus, go on help the world become a better place for your children, your grandchildren etc. etc.. "Oak trees from little acorns grow."
To finish off this article, I must tell you a story about roast chestnuts. At the beginning of October Meg and I were fortunate to be offered, by very kind relatives, the use of their house in the Dordogne region of France. We accepted gladly and made our way in borrowed car to Poole, where we caught the ferry. In France all went well until on approaching Rennes, we joined a convoy of vehicles all driving as near to the maximum speed limit as possible. Then we noticed a car of the Gendarmarie in the convoy, and immediately realised why everyone was staying within the speed limit. Then another police car appeared, then another all at the rear of our convoy, it was then we noticed three more cars at the front, and then police cars at every junction passed. They were even on the bridges we passed under, whatever was happening we wondered. Then police motorcyclists appeared, one rode up alongside us, switched on his blue flashing light and gestured in no uncertain way that I should accelerate and pass the remainder of the convoy. To exceed the speed limit on a French dual-carriageway is not difficult but to do so at the insistence of a Gendarme seemed rather bizarre, but I did as I was told and shot out into the fast lane, then we saw that two lorries in the convoy, unsign-written, had notices on their tail gates, "Radioactive Materials". We had been travelling with Plutonium imported from the USA, much to the consternation of many French people. The moral of this story is, "You can’t escape from Mr. Bush, not even in France.
Since I am well overdue, I must finish now but may I say once again if you are interested in the composting system, please give me a ring, "Your Countryside Needs You." Thank you for reading to the end. God Bless You All.
P.S. Sorry I didn’t get around to the roast chestnuts
Dr. Zoe Harris writes:
"The Health Service had just started when my husband Dr Paul and I came to our scattered Dorset practice.
It was a time of great goodwill: patients knew they could now afford to call a doctor, and for doctors there was the satisfaction of being able to treat patients without money coming into the equation.
The Cranborne Chase was still recovering from wartime shortages. There were very few cars, which meant that most patients had to be visited at home - 49 calls in one day was our record - and there were many night calls too.
Sixpenny Handley had no electricity, no mains water and no sewers. Later we made our own electricity with a generator, but it was evening surgery by lamplight before that.
We did our own dispensing for the whole practice, making up large jars of stock medicines. Antibiotics were new and very precious. To help outlying patients, medicines were left in Post Offices, village shops and friendly porches. None ever went astray.
The district nurse was also the midwife. Normal confinements took place at home.
The older patients were still wary of hospitals. One old lady with a broken femur flatly refused to go, and was treated with traction provided by the weight from our grandfather clock. She made a complete recovery.
Our practice was very much a cottage industry, but it was a very happy one with undemanding goodwill on both sides."
Drs. Paul and Zoe Harris had not long retired and Dr Geddes had taken over as village GP when we moved to Sixpenny Handley in 1978. For all those years we knew Zoe first as a trusted locum doctor, and later as a friend.
Zoe has now left the village and gone to her new home in Devon. After she and Paul retired and moved to St Mary's Court she became a Trustee and then Chairman of the Residents Association, always giving calm reassurance and help, in all sorts of ways, to anyone in need including me the secretary.
She also faithfully attended and took part in the Monday Prayertime and Search housegroup. Her deep faith and calm presence helped all who shared these times and were inspired by her prayers and advice.
We shall miss her, and wish her well in the future.