Bedford School Children Help the War Effort

Clapham Rd School, Bedford [Z1306/9/2/14/3]

Friday 15th October 1915: The Bedford Education Committee has received a report on the war work carried out by the pupils of the borough’s elementary schools. The children have so far collected £30.5s.6d to buy comforts for soldiers and sailors and between them have made:

• 1041 body belts
• 335 pairs of socks
• 64 shirts
• 430 pairs of mittens
• 6 pairs of gloves
• 156 scarves, mufflers and caps
• 12 wool helmets
• 12 chest protectors
• 6981 respirators
• 200 sun curtains
• 248 canvas bags for soldiers’ personal effects

In addition they had mended and darned socks, repaired shirts, and cut out 1400 circles of net. Their teachers had also collected over £100 towards the war funds.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 15th October 1915