Photograph of Bertie Thale (Bert) Strange on motorbike 1923

This snapshot was taken of Bert Strange on his 350 CC Douglas motorbike outside the The Bell pub in Purton Stoke in 1923.

Bert is remembered as being quite a name in Royal Wootton Basset on account of his association with The Royal British Legion, formerly The British Legion, and as Secretary of the Wootton Basset Show.

Bert's Story

Born at Priory Field, Bert attended Hook School. On leaving he was sent to work for Lord Bolingbroke with the intention of becoming a Stonemason. However, that first winter was particularly cold, the pay was bad and he was laid off, perhaps because Lord Bolingbroke couldn't afford to keep him on. Young Bert went to work in one of the The Great Western Railway workshops in Swindon. He was clearly a fit young man, playing Goal Keeper for the Lydiard United Football Club.

In December 1915 he enlisted as a Gunner with The Royal Marine Artillery (known as Blue Marines). Following training, he was sent to fight on the Western Front. A story passed down in the family recalls him describing operating a large gun disguised as 'a barn on railway tracks'. A spotter plane would check where it had hit, reporting back so the soldiers could adjust its elevation as necessary. The gun was so loud that they had to face forwards when it discharged as turning sideways would have deafened them.

Bert was severely injured in the arm in 1918. Fortunately it was nearing the end of the war so he was able to return home and was treated at Bath hospital in Somerset. This involved his arm being encased in a rigid wooden frame. Despite this encumbrance, Bert rode his bicycle to and from the hospital, some thirty miles each way. His injury did mean that he was unable to take up his old employment at the railway works but the GWR gave him a 'bowler hat job assessing damage to the rolling stock.

Bert married Jess, from Purton Stoke, which is perhaps where he was heading in this photograph. Meanwhile he became very involved with Wootton Basset branch of The British Legion, keeping his military connections very much alive.