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When war was declared in August 1914 no-one could have envisaged the carnage which was to follow. It was the war which everyone thought would be over by Christmas.
In Timsbury a public meeting was immediately called at the Temperance Hall and it was agreed to set up a relief committee to give help to those in the district whose husbands and supporters had been called away on active service. The committee would represent Timsbury, Camerton and Farmborough.
The following week a meeting was held in the new Church Room in support of the proposed formation of a new Somerset Battalion in response to Lord Kitchener’s appeal. Lord Strachie proposed that a committee be formed in Timsbury to help recruit villagers for the great national struggle. Rev. Meade-King declared that the young men of Timsbury should offer themselves to fight for their King and country.
A special football match took place between Timsbury Athletic and a team representing the Army Corps Motor Transport Department from Avonmouth in aid of war funds. The soldier players accompanied by 50 supporters travelled to Timsbury in 2 motor lorries. After the game which Timsbury won 3-0, Rev. Meade-King laid on refreshments at the new Church Room followed by musical entertainment.
The year had begun with a fancy dress ball organised by the rector in connection with the weekly dancing class. A good number of those interested in the “fascinating art of dancing” were present from all over the area. The spectacle at the Church Room was said to have been one of the best ever seen in the village.
Both the Timsbury Unionist Association and the village Liberal Party held annual dinners in March. The speaker at the former gathering was J.W. Lewis, the prospective candidate for North Somerset who expressed his pleasure at the rapid progress being made by the party in this area. At the Liberal party dinner a public meeting followed presided over by Henry Cox with the chief speaker Mr. A.J. Beer, the party agent for North Somerset.
The young wife of Somerset cricketer and Timsbury resident James Bridges died suddenly at the age of 29. Mrs Bridges had been admitted to Winsley Sanatorium suffering from consumption and stayed there for 6 weeks before going to her parents’ home in Kent where she died. She left a young baby who was just a few months old. James Bridges was an all-rounder who represented his county from 1911-1929. He had a top score of 99 not out and a best bowling of 7-41. He died in Hackney in 1966.
Timsbury Athletic had a poor season and finished bottom of the Somerset Senior League (Section B), winning just one match. That was one win more than the Reserves who failed to gain a single point in the Chew Valley League, losing all 10 matches, scoring 4 goals and conceding 66. It was therefore not surprising that at the AGM it was decided to revert to Junior football.
A violent thunderstorm caused havoc in Timsbury in July 1914. Mrs J.S.P. Sambourne lost a valuable cow which was struck by lightning and several horses belonging to business men in the village were seriously injured. One in particular was severely lacerated by barbed wire probably due to the animals being frightened by the storm.
Finally the Timsbury and District Flower Show was revived after a gap of some 10 years. It was held in a field near the Temperance Hall and the exhibits were staged in a large tent. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs. H. Barker-Hahlo of Camerton Court who was presented with a bouquet by Ursula Bevir, daughter of the local doctor. Staged in July 1914. it was the last village social occasion to take place before everyone’s life was thrown into turmoil with the outbreak of hostilities.