Volunteers

Mike Cross

Research Volunteer

Mike is proud of his military heritage despite only pushing a pen during his working life. In WW2 father was in the RAF Regiment whilst mother was a WRAF. One grandfather spent his career in the Royal Navy, having joined aged 16, and the other served with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in the Great War. Grandmother's brother began the Great War in the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars and that is where his interests lie. Always gathering information about Oxfordshire Yeomen from their formation in the late 18th century right through to the modern day but focussing his main efforts on the Great War. He also helps with both the management of our archives and our extensive database of men who have served with the County Regiments over the years.

John Sheldon

Research Volunteer

John Sheldon is an Honours graduate of the University of Manchester, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Trustee of the Bucks Military Museum Trust.
He lives in Stewkley, Buckinghamshire, and retired in 2009 as CEO of a division of the John Lewis Partnership. In retirement he has written two books about the Stewkley men who fell in the Great War and in WWII, the research for which was aided by volunteers at SOFO, leading him to become involved as a volunteer himself, and to lead the research and writing for the Prisoners of War gallery in the permanent exhibition at SOFO. He is currently working as a volunteer with the SOFO Museum soldier enquiry service.

David Rushton

Research Volunteer

David Rushton spent his career in Air Traffic Control, mainly at London Centre, with the last 12 years as an Operations Manager. During this time he gained his pilot’s licence and
worked closely with the RAF.

A family historian for 40 years, his lifelong interest in military history grew when researching his father’s experiences in WW1 and has since acted as battlefield guide on several tours of the Western Front. Active in Local History, he has researched the names on several War Memorials including Benson & Woodstock, and has produced a list of all Benson men who served in WW1.

Ian Wright

Volunteer

I am a proud Welshman coming from Wrexham. I am a avid Wrexham AFC fan going to matches as and when I can. I spent 12.5 years in the Military - Royal Welch Fusiliers - and was present in Berlin when the Berlin wall came down. After leaving the Army I put myself through Law school and got my degree. I am a member of the Western Front Association and a Graves volunteer for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. I currently work for the civil service in Milton Keynes

I am passionate about Military History. Throughout my army career, and after, I have been fortunate to visit numerous historical sites associated with the First and Second World Wars, ranging from Ypres, Somme, Arnhem, Auschwitz, Buchenwald, River Kwai, to name but a few. I especailly like going beyond what is visible and field walk what is normally not seen or easily accessible. From this I have come across some surprises and on one occasion found messages left by escaping US airman in a cave in a remote part of Northern France.

To me, the most important aspect of military history is the men and women who took part. I enjoy learning about them. Who they were, what they did not just in their period in the military, but before and after. The personal effects that they took with them on operations all tell a story, and I enjoy learning as much as I can about them.

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Find out more >>>

Volunteers