Tuesday, March 28, 1916, saw most of Britain hit by storms and blizzards that caused extensive damage.

Here in Marlow, there was no snow but the gale-force winds were the worst that locals could remember.

Fields up near Bovingdon Green still housed the army training camp.

A terrible storm in Marlow, in the midst of the First World War “Buoys”) had departed for the front lines of battle, but newer troops were now on site, housed in tents, except for the officers who had more substantial wooden buildings, or occupied Spinfield House.

Very few tents survived the storm.

Half a mile south, Chalkpit Lane, much narrower than today, was blocked by several falling trees.

No chainsaws or lorries with heavy lifting gear in those days, so a body of troops marched down from the camp and equipped only with ropes and hand saws eventually cleared the road.

The main picture above has only been recently discovered; I had not seen it before.

On the right, the two officers are content to supervise rather than getting their hands dirty.

These first three pictures were taken just beyond the bend from the top of Oxford Lane, soon to be retitled Oxford Road. Only a short distance away was the Marlow Water Works.

The last picture, a view from only a couple of hundred yards further south, is a postcard just after the war, and shows Chiltern Cottages, originally built for Wethered Brewery employees, with open countryside beyond.

Again, at this point, the road/lane is still very narrow.

On the internet can be found various pictures of the March 1916 storm devastation all over Britain.

There is one of Luton Town FC's ground (Kenilworth Road) with the grandstands in total ruins.

It looks a bit better today, but not much: a contender for the Football League ground most in need of replacement or rebuilding!