Inspection of Canteens for the Troops

BTNegOB45/3, Corn Exchange, with notice 'Bedford Borough Recreation Committee Central Recreation Hall Open daily for soldiers only' , c.1916 (Bedfordshire Archives & Records Service)

Wednesday 14^th March 1917: Major-General Inglefield paid a visit to 13 of the 15 canteens and recreation halls open to the troops in Bedford. The first call was made at the Bedford Park hut, where a canteen is opened each evening and concerts are arranged for men billeted in the area. Miss Dutton was in charge, providing porridge, sandwiches and other food at cheap rates. Next on the list was St Peter’s Hall, the first canteen opened in Bedford following the declaration of war. Here the original billiard tables were worn out and the piano had lost its keys and was being played like a harp!

The Goldington Road hut, ‘Bunyan’ and Mill Street Baptist Recreation Room were next on the tour, then the Women’s Temperance.Association’s cosy tea rooms in Tavistock Street where Mr Seamark and Miss Capon were busy with hot puddings and boiled eggs. The Wesleyan Schoolroom on Bromham Road was so full that it was difficult to get in. Mr Rolfe was in charge and a group of women handed around toothsome home-made confections. The remaining visits covered the YMCA hut at the corner of Hurst Grove, St Mary’s Church Schoolroom, St Paul’s Church House, St Paul’s Wesleyan Recreation Room and the Corn Exchange. St Paul’s Wesleyan Room is the newest and best equipped canteen in town. This room was filled with a large and jovial crowd who were writing, playing games and eating. At the Corn Exchange a huge crowd were enjoying the humour of Mr John Goddard and his khaki doll, which has entertained many soldiers in Bedford. The lending library was also full and bath tickets were being distributed to the men (kindly provided by residents of the town).

The efforts of the ladies running the canteens was greatly appreciated by the General, which brought home to him the magnitude of the work being done in Bedford in the interests of the troops.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 16/3/1917

Appeal for Books for the Troops

Z1306/10/17/1, View of the General Post Office on Dame Alice Street, Bedford, c.1911-1918 (Bedfordshire Archives & Records Service)

Tuesday 20^th February 1917: Mr Lewin, the Postmaster of Bedford, has received a letter from the Postmaster-General making a renewed appeal for members of the public to send books and magazines to the troops via the Post Office. This scheme had gone very well until Christmas, when there was a considerable reduction in material received by the Post Office. Currently, only 600 bags per week are being received, and the target is 1,500 bags per week. Sir Douglas Haig is a big supporter of the scheme, writing:

‘Those who have not visited the Army in the field can scarcely realise what books have meant during two years of war to men in the trenches, in billets and in hospitals. So I hope those at home will buy books very freely…and having read and enjoyed them, as freely pass them on to the “Camps’ Library” for circulation amongst the troops'.

Leaflets have been issued pointing out that books and magazines can be handed over the counter to any Post Office, unwrapped and unaddressed, and there is no postage to pay. Most of the material is sent to the Camps’ Library, the organisation recognised by the War Office for the distribution of literature. So far, the Camps’ Library has dealt with over 8,500,000 publications and requires 75,000 a week to meet the demands of the various theatres of war. It is hoped that existing supporters of the scheme will induce others to participate and make the donation of books and magazines a ‘war habit’. 

Source: Bedford Record 20/2/1917

Troops at Leighton Buzzard

Hockliffe Street Wesleyan Church, Leighton Buzzard [Z1306/72]

Tuesday 12th January 1915: A batch of new recruits for the 63rd Brigade have arrived at Leighton Buzzard from Lincoln.[1] To free up billets in the town for the new arrivals 362 men who are already well advanced in their training have been moved out to the villages of Stanbridge, Tilsworth and Eggington.

The Wesleyan Schoolroom in Hockliffe Street is being used by the troops for various purposes. On Sunday evenings a regular social hour is held there which is attended by a large number of soldiers. The bandsmen of the West Yorkshire Regiment practise in the Schoolroom and since last Friday it has also become the paymaster’s office. Thanks to a spell of wet weather it is even being used by the Somerset Regiment for drilling and signalling. On Sunday the services at the Wesleyan Church were conducted by the Wesleyan Chaplain to the 21st Division, Rev. G. H. Crossland, who is stationed at Aylesbury.

Across the road in the Hockliffe Street Baptist School Hall concerts were given for the soldiers on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Wednesday’s entertainment had a popular theme while Thursday’s concert by the Church choir was more classical. The highlights were a solo with instrumental effects titled “The Bassoon” performed by Mr H. O. Kitchener, and renditions of “Your King and Country want you”, “You are my baby” and “On the Mississipi” by Miss Dulcie Griffin.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer and Linslade Gazette, 12th January 1915

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[1] The 63rd Brigade was part of the 21st Division and was made up of the following battalions:
8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
8th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
12th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment
4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment
10th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment.
The Brigade arrived in France in September and first saw action at the Battle of Loos at the end of that month.

Troops Arrive at Leighton Buzzard

Billeting at Leighton Buzzard postcard c.1914 [Z1306/73]

Tuesday 6th October 1914: Soldiers from Lord Kitchener’s Army have now arrived in Leighton Buzzard and the townspeople are making every effort to provide them with comfort and amusement. A concert is being given each evening at the Town Hall, which is also providing reading, writing and games facilities for the troops. A reading table has been stocked with magazines and newspapers, and paper and writing materials are available for the soldiers’ use.

The temporary hospital at the Corn Exchange is now treating twenty soldiers, all suffering from minor illnesses such as rheumatism, bronchitis, influenza and chills. They are being well looked after by the local branch of the British Red Cross Society who are all providing their services on a voluntary basis. Tonight the men have been promised an entertainment arranged for them by local artistes including Miss Dunford, Miss M. Halford, Miss K. Halford, Miss Hayhoe, Mrs M. Gurney, Mr M. Gurney and Mr W. E. Durrell. Those who are well enough have been passing the time playing games of draughts and dominoes, lent by local residents who have also provided gifts of nourishing food for the hospital.

Source: Luton News 1st and 8th October 1914

A Lassie O' The Vale

Weldon’s Practical Knitter: Men’s Socks and Women’s Stockings. Knitting pattern c.1914-1918. [Z160/60]

Thursday 24th September 1914 (Bedford): A consignment of knitted socks was received from Scotland this week and distributed to some of the Territorial soldiers. Inside one of the socks was this letter:

The hand that knitted these
Has also penned this note,
So keep your mind at ease,
In that foreign land remote. 

I know not who or where you are,
Don’t even know your name,
So whether you are near or far,
My feelings are the same. 

My heart goes out to every seed
Of Scotland’s noble sons,
Who in the hour of direst need
Have shouldered up their guns,

And sallied forth to meet the foe,
At home or yont the seas,
To whatever land you go,
Be sure, Remember me. 

Signed: “A Lassie o’ the Vale”

The letter was found by a Colour Sergeant. Unfortunately for the young lady author he was a married man!

Source: Beds Times 25/9/1914

Excitement in Wardown Park

Lake and bathing pavilion, Wardown Park c.1910 [Z1306/75/8/3]

Sunday 30th August 1914 (Luton): Both soldiers and civilians gathered at Wardown Park this afternoon to listen to the band. After the concert there was some excitement when a small boy fell into the lake and had to be pulled out by the Territorials. When the soldiers removed his wet clothes they realised he was wearing little more than rags and dressed him in one of their coats, much to his delight. Later in the evening there was pandemonium when a group of soldiers were seen chasing two men wearing civilian clothes. Everyone naturally assumed the men must be German spies. It turned out however that they were just local Luton men who had been giving out cigarettes to the Territorials. The soldiers had heard stories of a man travelling the country giving drugged cigarettes to troops so had became suspicious. After the men were identified they had to be sent out of the park by a back way to avoid the crowd.

Source: Luton News 3rd September 1914

Rugby Fixtures Cancelled

Goldington Road Stadium. Image: Wikipedia

Friday 28th August 1914, Bedford: Many of the young men of the town will be disappointed to hear that all Rugby football fixtures for Bedford have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. The team were due to play both Harlequins and Northampton in September but both those matches have been called off. Many of the team are already serving in the forces and others have joined up as volunteers. Even if there were enough players to make up a team, the Goldington Road ground cannot be used as the premises have been taken over by the army. The scrum hall is being used to store food for the troops, the grandstand is full of fodder for the horses, and the pitch itself has been badly damaged by horses and vehicles. It seems unlikely that there can be any matches at Goldington Road before Christmas.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 28th August 1914

News from Leighton Buzzard

Wednesday 19th August 1914

Leighton Buzzard Corn Exchange and Lake Street [Z1130/72/61-62]

The war is beginning to affect life in the market town of Leighton Buzzard now that Territorial soldiers have been billeted there. The Wesleyan Sunday School in Hockliffe Street has been open during the week for the men to use for recreational purposes with an entertainment has been laid on for them every evening. The Corn Exchange in Lake Street has been turned into a hospital with the help of the Leighton Red Cross and has been operating with a staff of ladies from the Leighton Voluntary Aid Detachment. The dozen inmates are all suffering from either minor illnesses or injuries suffered while on duty. The soldiers are due to leave today and it is expected that the patients from the Corn Exchange will be taken to the Military Hospital in Bedford.

Source: Luton News 20th August 1914