SPRATTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Alwyn was born in Spratton in October 1885, the son of William Wykes, a farm labourer, and his wife, Hannah (née Manning, a long-established family in Spratton).  He lived in a cottage on the corner of Haynes Lane and Manor Road, Spratton, with his brothers John Andrew (known as Jack), Harold and Bert and sisters Sarah Ann and Emily Ellen. He worked as a farm labourer and also as a market gardener. Both Alwyn and his brother Jack served in the First World War. It was unusual at that time, that Alwyn and his brother both signed their Attestation papers with a cross, rather than signing their own name.

Alwyn joined the 5th Bedfordshire Regiment Reserve on 16 February 1916 and was mobilised on 1 May 1917. He was posted to France and served as a stretcher bearer. The following year he was reported missing on 28 April 1918, but was found injured three days later. He was discharged on 12 March 1919 and awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

In April 1920 he married Isabel Florence Green (née Keeber) and a daughter Rita Lucy was born in 1921. Isabel was the widow of Benjamin Green of First Turn, Spratton, who had been killed in action in France in 1916.

Alwyn died in Northampton on 12 December1951, aged 66, and is buried in the new Parish Cemetery in Spratton with his wife, Isabel.