On the Home Front - Chapter Eleven

Major General Sir George Burns
Image courtesy of The North Mymms Cricket Club

The following details are about some of the people mentioned in the book and a list of all those involved with St Mary's Church, North Mymms, when WW2 broke out.

REV.LEONARD BUXTON
Ch.Ch.Oxford, BA 1900; MA 1904. Ridley Hall Cam.1901. C.of St.Ann, Nottim. 1902-04; St.Peter's, St.Albans, 1905-08. V. of Redbourn, 1908-14; R. of Sheldon 1914-23; T.C.F. 1917-19; V. of St. Mark's, Southampton 1922-23; N. Mymms from 1930-Oct 1944.

SIR OLIVER LEESE
3rd Bt. created 1908 KCB,CB,CBE,DSO.
b. 1894. Educated Eton. Served European War, wounded three times. Distinguished military career, commanding the Eighth Army in 1944 and Commander in Chief Allied Land Forces South East Asia and GOC Eastern Command. He retired form the army in 1946. d. Jan. 1978.
In the parish magazine of February 1944 it was stated 'that we are proud to know Sir Oliver Leese an old North Mymms boy has been appointed to succeed General Montgomery in command of the Eighth Army in Italy. His father Sir William Leese lived at Welham Lodge and helped to start the First North Mymms Company of the Boy Scouts and his son was an enthusiastic member of the Company.'

LORD CLAUSON
1st Baron created 1942. Kt.cr.1926.CBE. Educated Merchant Taylor's School; St.John's College, Oxford; King's Council 1910; Bencher 1914. Judge of Chancery Division, High Court of Justice 1926-38; Lord Justice of Appeal, d. March 1946.

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR GEORGE BURNS
KCVO 1962.CB,DSO,OBE,MC.Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire 1961-86. b. Jan 1911. s. of Walter Spencer Morgan and Evelyn Burns. Educated Eton, Trinity Coll. Cambridge. Commissioned Coldstream Guards 1932. ADC to Viceroy of India 1938-40.Ajt.1st Bn.1940-41 (MC) Brigade Major 9 Inf.Bde.1941-42, Sp. Gp. Gds. Armed Div.1942; 32 Gds Bde.1942-43; CO 3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards, Palestine 1947-50;AAG HQ London Dist. 1851,1952; Regimental Lt. Col. Coldstream Gds.1952-55; Comdg 4th Gds Bde. 1955-59' GOC London District and Household Brigade,1959-62' Col.Coldstream Guards 1966-
In a letter dated February 1944 quoted in the parish magazine he wrote 'please remember me to all my friends in the village and tell them I am in the best of spirits and hope to see them all again soon.'

St Mary's Church, North Mymms 1939
Vicar: Rev L.Buxton, M.A.
Lay Reader: Captain H.L. Miles, C.A.
Churchwardens: Capel, C.Berger and H.J. Shadbolt.
Organist and Choirmaster: F.C. Waller, L.V.C.M.
Secretary to Parochial Church Council: T.J. Lock.
Verger and Clerk: R. Honour.
Sexton: H. Nash.
Free Will Offering Hon. Treasurer: W.J.P. Jay.

On The Home Front - The People and Parish of North Mymms 1935-45
Index - On The Home Front
Chapter One - A Message From The Vicar
Chapter Two - The Special Constabulary
Chapter Three - The War Comes Home - Parish Bomb Damage
Chapter Four - The Auxiliary Fire Service
Chapter Five - Children in the Parish
Chapter Six - Keeping Busy on the Home Front
Chapter Seven - The North Mymms Auxiliary Hospital
Chapter Eight - The Secret Visitors
Chapter Nine - Church and People
Chapter Ten - Epilogue
Chapter Eleven - People

Bibliography
North Mymms Parish Magazine
Crockford's Clerical Directory 1939
Who's Who 1988
North Mymms Auxiliary Hospital 1940-46: A brief description by H.M.Alderman
Who Was Who (various years)

Note: Many thanks are due to Dick Colville and Leslie Abbott for allowing their reminiscences of the war years in the parish to be published. Also to Mr Colville for allowing the essay by his wife Dorothy to be reproduced. The North Mymms Local History Society

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