Letter from a Grateful Soldier

Wounded soldiers at Hinwick House Auxiliary Hospital, 1915. Faith Orlebar is to the right of the Red Cross Nurse  [X464/91]

Wednesday 9th December 1914 (Podington): Hinwick House at Podington has been operating as a military hospital since 21st November.[1] Mrs Faith Orlebar, who is serving as commandant, has received a grateful letter from one of the hospital’s first patients:[2]

Rifleman Kennedy
1st Rifle Brigade
7.12.14

Dear Mrs Orlebar

Just a line to tell you that I arrived home quite safe – Mrs Olebar I am sorry I did not write before. I have had a lot to do since I have been home. Mrs Orlebar I write to thank you for having looked after me well at your Dear Old House and I must say If I had been a Lord’s son you could not have done more for me. I did enjoy myself very much. Mrs Orlebar, I hope you and Major Orlebar and Mr Beecham Orlebar and all your Dear Family are in good health, as it leaves me at present and please remember me to all. Mrs Orlebar my hand is about the same. I cannot use it yet but I hope to soon. I am pleased to say my wife is going on fine and my family. My wife ws pleased when she saw me, and when the wife had a proper look at me she said how well I looked and when I told her about all the nice food I had she said no wonder you look well. Mrs Orlebar, if Major Orlebar do have to go to the front I hope he will have a safe journey and a safe return and good health and good luck. So now I must close so goodby.

I am yours truly
Private Kennedy
1st Rifle Brigade

Source: X464/91

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[1] For more on Hinwick House as  a military hospital see this website produced by the Rushden and District History Society Research Group http://www.rushdenheritage.co.uk/Villages/BDFvillages/hinwickVAD.html
[2] Faith Orlebar was the wife of Richard Rouse Boughton Orlebar, son of Richard Orlebar, the owner of Hinwick House.

Care Packages for Indian Troops

Indian troops, December 1914 [Wikipedia]

Tuesday 8th December 1914: The Bedford Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association has received a letter of thanks from Lieutenant-Colonel H. Hennessy, the assistant director of supplies and transport for the Lahore Division for ninety packages sent for the benefit of Indian troops at the Front. Forty have been given to muleteers of the 2nd and 9th Mule Corps; twenty were passed to the Assistant Director of Postal Services with with Lahore Division for his Indian staff; the remainder were given personally to “deserving cases”, individuals attached to smaller units who are often overlooked. The men are delighted with their presents, which included gloves, binder, shirt, vest and more. Many of the Indians have walked several miles to ask for thanks to be passed the ladies who made or collected the clothing. The muleteers who were given parcels included seven who have been recommended for the Indian Order of Merit for gallant conduct.

The Bedford Depot has already sent a second consignment of parcels and a third is ready for dispatch. However, Eleanor Paine, the Honorary Sec. Superintendent of the St. John Ambulance Association tell us that the Centre’s funds are now exhausted. She asks for help from anyone with a special interest in the Indian Army so that they can continue to supply comforts for the brave Indian soldiers. Any gifts of money or handiwork can be handed in at the Association’s depot at 53 Harpur Street between 11 and 1 or between 3 and 4.30. Thursdays are dedicated specifically to the Indian Fund.

Source: Bedffordshire Times 11th December 1914

New YMCA Facilities at Stopsley

Camp Kitchen at Stopsley, 1914 [Z1306/75/16/4]

Monday 7th December 1914 (Stopsley): The artillery training at Stopsley now have the benefit of a room opened for them this morning by the YMCA. Lady Wernher has allowed the use of the old school and with help from Stopsley residents it has been fitted out to provide amenities for the troops. The room has space for reading and writing, with materials available at no charge. Refreshments of tea, coffee and cakes are provided from 10 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. for a modest price. The Vicar has lent a piano with which the men can amuse themselves and concerts are being planned. The cost of rooms such as these is subsidised by the YMCA and subscriptions to help with the work are gratefully received.

Source: Luton News 10th December 1914

News from the Villages

Old Parish Church, Clophill [Z50/31/83]

Sunday 6th December 1914

Barton-le-Clay

After a six week wait for news of her husband Private Thomas Martin of the 3rd Beds Regiment, Mrs Martin received a letter stating that he was prisoner in Germany. He is in good health but in need of socks. The mother of George King of the 9th Lancers was notified that her son is ill in a convalescent camp, suffering from an abscess in the neck. George was one of the first to go out when the war began. A. Nichols, H. Ashby and F. Peck have returned to England wounded.

Thanks have been received for the cigarettes sent to the front by Mrs F.Timms. F.Baker  of the 1st Beds writes: “Imagine how thankfully the cigarettes were received by us all lying in newly dug trenches for days at a time, defending the dear old country and flag from the inhuman Germans”.

Mr Cocks has lent Red Barns house to provide a temporary home for a Belgian family. Generous gifts of money and loans of household goods have been received, but bedding and some kind of floor covering are needed. If the house is not needed for a family, the money given will be sent to help the starving Belgians still remaining in their own country.

Gravenhurst

A meeting was held in the Village Hall to consider how to provide for a few Belgian refugees. Mr Barnes has offered one of his cottages rent free. The village is to be canvassed for weekly subscriptions, and loans of furniture, crockery and other necessary items will be requested later.

Westoning

A cottage has been offered for the use of Belgian refugees by Mr Leathes and furniture promised. A Concert in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund was given in the New Schools to a packed audience. Special thanks go to the soldiers of the 4th and 5th  Gordons and Bute Artillery who came over from Bedford and gave their services for such a good cause.

Clophill

£12.13s was collected in Clophill Church in response to the appeal for the Belgians, “our noble allies who have literally saved Europe”. If Belgian Refugees are to come here it will be used to help them, otherwise it will be sent to The Daily Telegraph Fund. Mrs Matthews has been learning toy-making to teach the girls. The end of the German toy trade with this country leaves a splendid opportunity for a new industry in country areas. For the time being Mrs Matthews intends to teach the girls of the Girls’ Club during Club nights so that they, along with those who are making babies’ clothing,  will be able to help the “poor little homeless, often fatherless, Belgian babies” who have been brought here for safety.

Silsoe

A collection of clothing has been made and sent to one of the Secretaries of the Belgian Relief Fund who responded with thanks to Miss Elsie B Jones of Silsoe House saying “the distress is at present most acute in Holland where so many of my poor compatriots have found shelter. I am sending out clothing both to Rotterdam and Flushing for distribution among these poor people, many of whom have lost all they possessed”. The members of the Girls’ Friendly Society are still busy knitting socks, gloves and mittens for our soldiers and many have been sent to the various depots.

Wrest House has been transformed from a Convalescent Home into a base Hospital and some far more serious cases of wounded soldiers have been admitted, many coming practically straight from the front. The wards are bright and clean and well lighted. Wonderful cheerfulness is displayed on all sides, even by those obviously suffering considerable pain. Their gratitude is most touching.

Source: Monthly Magazine for the parishes of Barton-le-Cley, Clophill, Flitton and Greenfield, Gravenhurst, Silsoe, Westoning, December 1914 [P21/30/16]

Luton Industry

George Kent Biscot Road factory at night, c.1920s [Z1306/75/17/22]

Saturday 5th December 1914: The Luton Chamber of Commerce met last night and received reports from several of the town's manufacturing companies on the effect of the war on their trade.

Commer Cars

The Commercial (“Commer”) Cars company is enjoying unprecedented demand for its vehicles. The whole of the company’s output has been commandeered by the War Office for an indefinite period. The company has also received hundreds of repeat orders which it will fulfil in strict rotation. The company believes that as a result of the war it will be working day and night for the next two years.

Messrs T Balmforth and Co.

With the outbreak of war the company’s trade declined considerably in sympathy with the building industry. However, it has now received orders from the War Office and the Admiralty which will keep it busy for some time. As 38 employees have now left to join the forces the company’s capacity has been reduced. A new plant producing high-class electrically smelted steel castings will be operating within a few weeks. It is hoped these will find a ready market as supplies of these materials previously came from Germany.

Davis Gas Stove Co. Ltd.

Until the war broke out the company had been enjoying very favourable trading conditions. It is now struggling to execute orders because of the large number of men who have left to join the forces. It has been able to secure some of the business in enamelled goods which previously went to the continent.

Skefco Ball Bearing Co. Ltd.

The company was busy before the war and is now busier still thanks to the elimination of competition from Germany. Its prospects are now particularly bright.

George Kent Ltd.

A £3,000 building contract has been placed by the company. It also wishes to employ 350 girls to operate capstan lathes.

Master Builders’ Association

Unlike the manufacturing companies, the building trade is undergoing a slump. There have been enough contracts to keep most builders employed, but there is less speculative trade and the prices of materials have risen.

Source: Luton News 10th September 1914

Luton Volunteer Training Corps

Volunteer Training Corps Proficiency Badge [Wikipedia]

Friday 4th December 1914: A meeting was held yesterday evening at the Luton Corn Exchange to discuss the formation of a local detachment of the Volunteer Training Corps. Now the government has officially recognised the Central Association Volunteer Training Corps it will ensure that members are recognised as combatants under the Geneva Convention and protect them from some of the horrors that befell those Belgians who tried to defend home and hearth after the German invasion. The meeting was warned that if the Germans took Luton and people tried to defend themselves without being members of a properly constituted force the consequences would be dire – they could expect the Mayor and the members of the Corporation to be lined up on the Town Hall steps and shot (this drew the comment “good job!” from a member of the audience).

The proposition to form a Luton detachment was passed unanimously. The expectation is that the volunteers will come from those men of military age who are not able to join the forces because they are kept at home by the demands of their employment, with many already working for the War Office. There will be no enlistment or attestation for volunteers joining the Training Corps. Members will be required to wear an armband with the letters “G.R.”, in order to meet the requirements of the International Convention.

No equipment will be provided by the government and volunteers will need their own rifles and ammunition; once the cost of uniform is added it is expected that the initial expense will not be less than £5. Rifles must take service cartridges; a supply of Martini-Enfields is available which would cost £2 10s each. To be classed as “efficient” a member will have to complete forty one-hour drills. The plan is to set up a general fund from which expenses, including the purchase of equipment, can be met. Those who can afford to pay the full cost of their equipment are to contribute that amount to the fund. Anyone who can pay more will be helping other less affluent members.  Volunteers will also have to pay a weekly subscription of 6d to cover the cost of ammunition and running expenses.

Source: Luton News 10th December 1914

Christmas Gifts

Meltis Ltd Christmas brochure 1923 [X853/20/3/1]

Thursday 3rd December 1914: The Bedfordshire Times has made an appeal to the people of Bedfordshire to contribute towards sending Christmas gifts to all the men serving with the Bedfordshire Territorials. The number of these patriotic men already amounts to more than four thousand so the gift will be a small token. The suggestion is that each of them should be sent a Bedfordshire product, paid for by the people of Bedfordshire, and carrying greetings to the Bedfordshire Territorial. The works manager at the Meltis Works in Bedford has arranged to provide each soldier with a packet of chocolate biscuits packaged with a suitable label.

The cost of providing this gift for all the men is estimated to be at least £100. Those wishing to subscribe are asked to do so as soon as possible. The biscuits will be sent first to Territorials of the 5th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment  and the Engineers as they will be away from Bedford at Christmas. Next in line will be the Yeomanry and the E.M.B. Field Ambulance, and if enough money is given then packets will also be sent to Bedfordshire men in the Special Reserves and other battalions of the Bedfordshire Regiment who are away from home.

In Luton, Sergeant J. Horne, the Quarter Master of A Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, has written to thank the members of the Luton Town Working Party for the presents of shirts which were received by the company while it was in the trenches. He has also appealed for help to be given to families left behind in Luton so that soldiers’ children will still receive the toys and other presents they hope for at Christmas.

Source: Ampthill Times, 5th December 1914; Luton News, 3rd December 1914