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Thousands of letters, kept by the Superintendent of Epping Forest; Francis Fuller McKenzie, give an insight into how big an impact World War One had on the area.

McKenzie was Superintendent of the Forest between 1893 and 1932. His correspondence details the many facets of life affected by the war.

The Forest would be used by the military for training and manoeuvres, gun emplacements were set up and roads widened to allow vehicles greater access to a local munitions factory.

Many of the sports clubs which used land in the Forest 鈥� for football and cricket 鈥� were disbanded and there was even a request to supply willow in order to make false limbs for wounded soldiers.

At the end of the war McKenzie writes: 鈥�15 members of the staff have returned from the colours鈥�. Five of those had been wounded. Another man, a labourer named Joseph Trapp died, near Gaza.

Location: Epping Forest, Chingford, London E4 7QH
Image: Gun placement in Epping Forest, courtesy of London Metropolitan Archive

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