Fuel was still in short supply.
30th April 1919
The school is still without coal so there was no meeting. Only 30 boys put in an appearance. Temperature of the room 44 degrees.
Hurst C of E Boys School log book (D/P73/28/23, p. 43)
All posts for the month April, 2019
Still without coal
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 30 April, 2019
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“I am afraid he will not stay”
Postwar wages had not kept up with price rises.
Ap 29th
Visit of Charles and Cecil Burningham who have just been demobilised, and Robert Tompkins and Leslie Booth who were demobilised some time ago.
New scale of salaries came from Office, but teachers are not very satisfied. Mr Robbins has £142.10s which he says is not enough, and I am afraid he will not stay.
St Mary’s CE School, Speenhamland (C/EL119/3)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 29 April, 2019
https://berkshirevoiceswwi.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/i-am-afraid-he-will-not-stay/
A welcome to returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen of the Parish
Church of England Men’s Society
On April 29th, the CEMS decided to arrange a welcome to returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen of the Parish, on the Vicarage Lawn on Saturday, June 14th. It is hoped to have a concert, a band, and light refreshments.
Maidenhead St Luke parish magazine, May 1919 (D/P181/28A/28)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 29 April, 2019
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Ready for Peace or Empire Day, whichever comes first
Flagstaff
Mr Rogers of Furze Platt has kindly given the National School (Boys’ Department) a flagstaff. The boys, out of the profits of the School garden, have paid for its fixing and purchased a flag. So they are ready for Peace or Empire Day, whichever comes first.
Maidenhead St Luke parish magazine, April 1919 (D/P181/28A/28)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 28 April, 2019
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Still alive but no chance of getting home yet
Farrier Harry Blackall had been co-opted by the army. His wife passed on news of him to her in-laws.
27/4/19
8 Lowestoft St
Swindon
Dear Mother, Father & Nellie
I am glad to tell you I had a letter from [her husband] Harry yesterday, he says he is still alive but no chance of getting home yet. Too much to do, he is fed up. He has got 140 horses & mules to keep shod. He is the only man left in his unit. All others were applied for [by their employers] and got home now. There are no shoes left, but he hopes when they get to Constantinople there will be a few stray ones about. They are moving in a day or so.
He sent me his photo. He looks very old and thin & worried, poor fellow. I wish he was home, it’s no joke being left all this time alone…
I remain your loving [illegible] Judy
Letter to the Blackall family of Cane End, Caversham, from their daughter in law (D/EX1485/2/16)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 27 April, 2019
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VADs to Reading for a meeting
26 April 1919
Took my VADs to Reading for meeting – Mary, Phyllis, Lottie, Mrs Mead & Katie Paine. Had tea at Heelas.
Found 3 Canadians arrived on our return! 2 brothers Erb & one Williams.
Diary of Florence Vansittart Neale of Bisham Abbey (D/EX73/3/17/9)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 26 April, 2019
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A torpedo as a war memorial
A torpedo might have been an interesting choice of war memorial, but it was not allowed.
Report of Highways Committee, 26 April 1919
WAR MEMORIALS
Cookham.
With reference to the application for consent to erect a war memorial at Cookham – referred to in the last report of the Committee – the County Surveyor has since inspected the proposed site, which is the centre of the triangular piece of waste land adjoining the main road from the Moors to Cookham village.
The Committee recommend that no objection be raised to the erection of the memorial on the site suggested.
Pangbourne.
An application has been received from Miss Waddington for permission to erect a War memorial at Pangbourne, in the middle of the Square.
As the erection thereof would cause danger to the traffic, the Committee recommend that such consent be not given.
An application has been received from the Pangbourne Parish Council for permission to place a torpedo (which has been presented to them) on the parapet of the bridge over the River Pang as a War Memorial.
The torpedo being approximately 22 ft in length, 18 in wide, and about 1 ton in weight, the Committee recommend that consent to its erection on the bridge be not given.
Berkshire County Council minutes (C/CL/C1/1/22)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 26 April, 2019
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Death has now been officially presumed
We regret to learn that the parents of Arthur Longhurst, reported missing many months ago, have been informed that his death has now been officially presumed.
Ascot section of Winkfield District Magazine, March 1919 (D/P 151/28A/11/4)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 25 April, 2019
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War Bonuses for doctors at home
War bonuses were still a hot issue.
24th April 1919
War Bonuses
The Clerk presented a Statement in connection with the Salaries of the three Medical Officers of the Board, and it was ultimately resolved that War Bonuses to each of the Medical Officers (Dr E Fielden, Dr Mawhood and Dr J Russell) be granted at one-third of the full Civil Service Scale, as from the 1st April 1919.
Minutes of Easthampstead Board of Guardians (G/E1/14)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 24 April, 2019
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“In honoured memory of the officers and men who laid down their lives in the Great War”
Remenham approved a small memorial.
The Easter Vestry meeting was held in the Parish Hall on Thursday, April 24, at 7 pm….
A resolution was passed approving of the erection of a Brass Tablet to be placed in the Church “in honoured memory of the officers and men of this Parish and those connected with it who laid down their lives in the Great War”.
Remenham parish magazine, May 1919 (D/P99/28A/5)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 24 April, 2019
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A Committee for “Welcome Home”
A Methodist Church in Reading welcomed home its men who had gone to war. The building is now the Sikh temple.
24 April 1919
Resolved…
That the following form a Committee for “Welcome Home”.
Messrs M Timbrell, A W Reed, F Charlton, H G Butler, W J Hambling, J S Neale, E W Butler, J Kimber.
Mesdames Slyfield, H J Butler, H G Butler, G Peach, H Gill, M Timmbrell, B Charlton, M Wise.
Cumberland Road Primitive Methodist Church, Reading: trustees’ minutes (D/MS55/1A/2)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 24 April, 2019
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Hope springs eternal
This poem may have been inspired by having lived under the shadow of war for years.
“Hope Springs Eternal.”
YOUTH looks upon the world and sees it fair;
Exultant in his strength, he fears for nought;
The years behind seem as a mounted stair,
The years before are rosate in his thought.
He dreams of fame, success, the world’s applause,
Of love, maybe, and deeds of high romance,
Obedient ever to his nature’s laws
Bidding him hope, nor doubt of what may chance.
When age is drawing on, he muses o’er
The retrospect of shattered hopes, and sees
How barren proved his dream’s enchanted shore,
The strand whereto he voyaged through troubled seas;
Dark and uncertain looks the future: yet
He needs must hope until his sun be set.
T.G.W.
The Newburian (magazine of St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury), April 1919 (N/D161/1/9)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 24 April, 2019
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A Memorial for Peace
Old Girls of a private school in Clewer wanted to remember the war.
St Stephen’s High School Guild
The Annual Meeting of SSFHG took place at the High School on Tuesday, 22nd April, 1919.
It was the largest gathering of the Guild for some years, and only showed how very many of the members had been prevented by war work from attending previous meetings.
…
V Truman … announced the suggestion discussed at the General Meeting, “That the Guild should find some means of helping the funds for the new School building.” She explained the ideas which had been put forward by members, but added that it had been suggested that the Old Girls’ effort might take the form of a Memorial for Peace. She thought that a written appeal might be sent to all who had been in any way connected with the High School, and the Old Girls should endeavour to raise the sum of £100. This was agreed to, and Mrs Ogilvie kindly undertook to draw up an Appeal, and to send it to all whose addresses were known.
Clewer: St Stephen’s High School Magazine, 1919 (D/EX1675/6/2/2)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 22 April, 2019
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The first claim upon our offerings before even War Memorials
Parochial Church Councils, still the central meeting for all Anglican churches, were a post-war innovation.
The Vicar’s Letter
Dear Friends and Parishioners…
On Easter Tuesday [22 April] at 8 pm the Easter Vestry will be held in the Parish Room at the Vicarage; it will be followed immediately by the Easter Meeting of Parochial Church Electors. I hope for a very good muster at the Meeting, as if enough support is given, we hope to start a Parochial Church Council for this Parish. The Councillors would have to be Communicants, the Electors have to be confirmed and eligible for Holy Communion. If we decide, now our Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen are many of them home again, to form such a Council, the Election would probably be held at a later date, probably early in May. The Council, like the Sub-Council or Church Committee at St Paul’s, would probably consist of men and women in equal numbers, but the Clergy and Churchwardens would sit ex-officio. It has been suggested that it might be a good thing if the various Church organisations were asked to nominate Candidates. For example, the Choir, Sidesmen, CEMS, Mothers’ Union, Sunday School Teachers, etc, might propose names. In this way we should get a Council that, while we hope it would still be ornamental, would also be useful. Please think this plan over.
Lastly, may I press on you the urgent need of supporting the Free-Will Offering Fund for the maintenance of the Assistant Clergy. We have (may I say what they cannot say?) most earnest and capable shepherds and priests in Mr King-Gill and Mr Thurland; but quite apart from any question of personal excellences, the first claim upon our offerings before even War Memorials or Parish Organisations is the proper support of the Ministry. I try to do what I can personally, sometimes I have to do rather more than I can afford. May I, therefore, with clean hands, urge upon every Communicant and regular worshipper the need, not so much of a large as a regular contribution to the Free-Will Offering Funds…
I remain, Your faithful friend and Vicar,
C E M Fry
Maidenhead St Luke parish magazine, April 1919 (D/P181/28A/28)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 22 April, 2019
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In memory of two sons
The two Sulhamstead parish churches each received a gift in memeory of a fallen soldier.
The Vestry Meetings were held at the Schools on Tuesday, April 22nd. The Rector presided.
Sulhamstead Abbots:
… The Rector stated that Mr G Leake desired to insert a window in the chancel of St Mary’s Church in memory of his son, Lieutenant George Leake (acting captain), DSO, from the design originally made with the corresponding three. The Vestry gave authority for this being erected …
Sulhamstead Bannister:
… The Rector reported that Mrs Tyser was presenting the church with an organ in memory of her son, Major George Beaumont Tyser, East Lancashire Regiment, who was killed in France on July 6th, 1916. He was authorized to obtain a faculty if such were required, and was directed to convey to Mrs Tyser the thanks of the Vestry for her munificent gift.
Sulhamstead parish magazine, July 1919 (D/EX725/4)
Posted by berkshirerecordoffice on 22 April, 2019
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