100 Years ago today, Britain declared war with Germany.

In the modern Wokingham, with so many new roads and neighbourhoods it can be hard to conceptulise what that meant. So, with help from Wokingham Remembers I have grabbed the image of the map of victims from around Wokingham station.

Clearly the older areas around Havelock and Barkham Road were quite strongly affected, while other roads seemed untouched – this is just because they didn’t exist in 1914.

These were all young men of Working age. Most of them had never been abroad before and didn’t have access to telephones, email or the instant information that we are used to today. Many women left behind took on roles traditionally done by men.

This isn’t just about those that died as 3/4 of those that went away, did return. But, many returned disabled and traumatised with experiences that shaped their lives forever.

However, one big thing did change from all of this. Most of the men who went to war did not have the right to vote, but by 1918 as a result of the war, this was extended to all men over the age of 21 and some women.

Out of adversity, can come great things.