55th Medical Battalion - Aston Hall, Oxfordshire - June 1944

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Peter Barton was a 9-year-old evacuee to North Aston Hall in 1944 and briefly met some of the servicemen and, as a tribute to them, and to the late owner of the Hall, Mrs Hermione Hichens, wrote a children's fantasy based upon that time.
Hermione was a voluntary nurse in WW1 and gained the nursing Red Cross medal. One of her sons, Capt John Hichens, Royal Artillery, was sadly killed shortly after the D-Day landings and the memorial service will also be held in his honour.
At one point in the story a group of children accidentally project themselves forward into 2007, where they observe a church service in remembrance of the American servicemen.
He wrote: 'Subsequently it occurred to me that this event could become a reality and the church authorities have kindly agreed to conduct this service.
Proceeds from the book 'To See a Fine Lady' will be donated to 'Water Aid', who help those in deprived areas of the world to have access to clean water.
For further book information please go to www.toseeafinelady.net' (in May 2007 it cost £10.99 plus £2.50 p&p, available from Peter.)

If you would like further information on the D-Day Memorial Service, or if you are a relative of one of the servicemen billeted at North Aston in 1944, please contact Peter Barton via e-mail at peter.barton4@btinternet.com

Left, Peter Barton (Beal School 1945-50, Ilford, Essex) in 2003 at the Thanksgiving Service for our former Beal School Art Master Bill Finch, who died on 15 Apr 2003 aged 98.

The images below are from the Banbury newspaper, www.banburycake.net

Click the images to enlarge.