The Welcome Home Fund was set up during the war by Wivenhoe Urban District Council as an expression of gratitude to the men and women of the village who served in all branches of the services during the war. It was distributed in the summer of 1946 (when some recipients were still serving overseas) and came in the form of saving certificates, each person also received a Certificate of Appreciation.

The records themselves offer a unique insight into Wivenhoe during WWII and comprise of account and minute books, correspondence as well as approximately 250 Welcome Home slips. These slips record every person who was eligible for a share of the fund and as such virtually every person from Wivenhoe who served during the War.

Although the list is thought to include every person who was resident before the war a number of those who served settled here after it. Wivenhoe House was used as an Army base during the war and was home to a number of regiments including Tank regiments early on and 2nd Battalion SAS in the latter stages of the war. A number of former servicemen who were stationed at Wivenhoe House made Wivenhoe their home and two are added here, both Majors in the 2nd SAS and both commemorated in the New Cemetery.

Dedicated to the memory of all those who served.

Michael Smither,
Wivenhoe, 7 May 2020.

Read about the Wivenhoe men and women who served during the war - Welcome Home