ODIHAMS SACRAFICE
Odiham’s recorded population in the 1911 census was 2674: 1306 male and 1368 female residents
The population in 1914 was thus probably circa 2800: maybe 1320 male & circa 1380 female.
67 military deaths are recorded on the war memorial. This represented approximately 5% of the total male population of Odiham, though all were aged 18-50 years. Everyone had or knew of sons, brothers, grandsons, nephews, husbands, fiancées and former school friends or work colleagues who had served and may have died.
Approximately 12% of those mobilised in UK are believed to have died and approximately twice that number were wounded. Odiham’s fatalities may have been slightly higher due to the number joining the infantry. In the absence of more detailed research, a rough estimate of the total number mobilised from Odiham is circa 450, meaning circa 350 returned to Odiham as civilians, perhaps including 130 wounded.
Whilst the great majority of those mobilised were men, including some underage, women were also drawn into the armed forces. Undoubtedly all women were affected by the war and many were directly involved in occupations such as nursing and armaments/munitions production – as demonstrated by the Mary Brooks and Ellen Scarrott listed on our war memorial.
