Alderbury & Whaddon Local History Research Group
Home		REMEMBERING PASSCHENDAELE
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Village history			THE ALDERBURY HERO WHO FELL AT PASSCHENDAELE July to November 1917 saw what has been described as the bloodiest battle of the First World War: Passchendaele. Most will have seen the moving ceremonies on television marking the centenary of this Third Battle of Ypres which was launched on July 31^st 1917. Torrential storms turned the already battered land into a quagmire of knee- deep mud in which many were killed or drowned. Frank Harper was a Private in the 2^nd Wiltshire Battalion B company. He lived on the Lower Road in Alderbury with his wife and two children aged 11 and 9. A few days before the battle his battalion was entrenched outside Ypres at Abeele. On July 30^th their positions were targeted with gas shells. Frank Harper’s B Company suffered some losses. It was dark when his B Company launched its own attack at 3.40am on the 31^st. Heavy shelling continued throughout the day. Frank Harper was reported missing. Later it was confirmed that he had been killed in action. He is buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery, 4 Kilometres east of Ypres. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. To read more about all the Alderbury and Whaddon men who fell in both World Wars please read our book “ Alderbury War Memorials : In Freedom’s Cause” with text , maps and photographs , available from Brian Johnson (01722 710430) or the village shop. MPH
					Memories of local people Life in times past, in Alderbury and Whaddon
The post office
					Trafalgar Park & House Given to Lord Nelson’s family after the Battle of Trafalgar
Inns & Alehouses
					Longford Castle A principal influence on the village and its people
Village war memorial
					Alderbury’s war heroes Read our archive about Alderbury war heroes
St Mary’s Church
					River & canal navigation Read about the Avon Navigation and the ill-fated canal
Historical walk
					Alderbury clubs & societies Read about football and cricket in Alderbury
Views of Alderbury
					Old news ! Extracts from old newspapers on Alderbury & Whaddon
Current research
					Domesday – 1086 What was Alderbury like in the 11th century?
Publications
					The Saxons in Alderbury Was there significant Saxon activity around Alderbury?
Links
					The Alderbury branch line Did trains stop in Alderbury?
FAQs
					From pre-history to the Romans What was Alderbury like in ancient times?
Archive articles
				OUR LATEST PUBLICATION NEW! MEMORIES OF THE OLD ALDERBURY SCHOOL This is the third in a series of books under the heading Village Voices, enabling village residents past and present share their memories of life in Alderbury and Whaddon. In this book, villagers who have a story to tell share their memories about the old school. Compiled by Mary Hinchcliff, the book contains contributions from many of the school’s past pupils.	Village names The origins of the names for Alderbury & Whaddon
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