Blackberry Collection by Bedfordshire Schools

Blackberries [Image source: Wikimedia]

Tuesday 9th October 1917: About 120 Bedfordshire schools are taking part in  a scheme to collect blackberries which will be used to make jam for soldiers and sailors. Both children and teachers have been gathering blackberries enthusiastically, regardless of the weather. By the end of last week the county had collected nearly 25 tons of the fruit. The most successful schools last week were Eaton Socon and Cranfield, which each sent in over 7 hundredweight, Wootton with nearly 6 hundredweight, Toddington Voluntary and Council Schools with over 7 hundredweight between them, and Sharnbrook and Marston Moretaine with 5½  and 5 hundredweight respectively. Three small schools, at Pulloxhill, Pertenhall and Lidlington, deserve particular mention for sending over 2 hundredweight each.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 12th October 1917

The Finest Team in the World

Saturday 29th April 1916: Private W. J. Berry of Wootton, who is serving in France with the 11th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, has send a sporting take on the war to the Bedfordshire Times in an effort to encourage new recruits:

You may think we have no football matches out here, but we have the finest team in the world. If you don’t mind I will tell you our team. 

George Ground is our goalkeeper, and he stops some very hard shots. Then come our backs, Sam Sandbag, who never gives an inch of ground, and Bob Barbwire, a player you can always get entangled with.

Then we have our half-backs, a fine trio; Jack Starlight, a fine illuminating player who enlightens all the spectators; Jack Sniper, a very good shot, who is always popping at goal and seldom fails to score, and Pip Squeak, who puts in some useful work.

Then come the forwards. We have Harry Rifle, a very good player indeed, and Walter Bayonet, a very dangerous chap at close quarters; Joe Whizz-Bang, who comes in with a crash; jack Shrapnel, who is up and down the field in grand style; and Jack Grenade, who does some very clever work in the open.

Now if anyone wishes to see this game he has only to call at the nearest Recruiting Office; and I can assure you there are a few empty dug-outs left. He will see the grand final shortly, Krupps versus Munition Works. I know there used to be some good teams in Bedfordshire. Try and pick a team to compete with this one and send them along. We have special accommodation for class teams.

Source: Bedfordshire Times, 28th April 1916

Death of a Wootton Volunteer

Private Herbert Moore [Bedfordshire Standard]

Sunday 10th October 1915: Before the War Herbert Moore of Wootton was employed at Messrs. Forder and Son’s works at Wootton Pillinge. At a recruiting rally held on 7th August last year he was the first of 35 men to step forward and volunteer to join the Forces. After twelve months in training he was sent with the 5th Bedfords to the Dardanelles. Within two or three days of landing he was wounded by a piece of shell which cut through a writing pad in his breast pocket, cut his chest and knocked off his hat. He recovered from this wound but fell ill soon afterwards with dysentery and was taken to hospital on the island of Malta. Tragically his parents, Alfred and Ann Moore of Hall End, Wootton, have now received news that he has died of this illness.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 15th October 1915

"I Am Nearly Heartbroken"

Bedford Road, Wootton c.1910 [Z1306/136/1/2]

Tuesday 22nd December 1914: Mrs L Goff [1]  has received a letter from Lance-Sergeant William Goff [2], son of Mr George Goff of Keeley Lane, Wootton, telling her the tragic news of the death of his brother Lance-Corporal Joseph Goff of the Rifle Brigade:

“Joe was killed in action on December 17th in the small hours of the morning by machine gun fire, getting 3 shots in the head and 2 in the neck. His death must have been instantaneous. When I was informed about it I could not believe it, so I went and saw his Commanding Officer, who gave me the details. I then went and saw his body. I tried to take his things away from him, letters, etc., but I found that I could not do it so I had to get another man to do it for me. If God spares me to go out of these trenches alive I will send his things home if it costs me my pay for a year. If God spares me to come out of this war safely, and I can get back home again, I will try and bring the old folk out to this place to see his grave. I did my best for him, but it was nothing. I saw him put in his grave, and then I had to go back to my duty in the trenches. He did his duty as a soldier and a man, for he was shot while looking through a loop hole. I have got the sympathy of all his comrades, but it is very hard for me to write this letter. I informed the old people by a P.C., which I found on his body, but you might go over for my sake and help to cheer them up a bit, for I am nearly heart-broken to have to tell you.”

His mother [3] has received the following letter written by Second Lieutenant C. Hunt of the Rifle Brigade:

“When censoring the correspondence of this Battalion I noticed this card informing you of the death of your son, Rifleman Goff. Since this card was written I deeply regret to have to inform you that your other son, Sergeant Goff, was killed while advancing against the German trenches. His loss has been deeply felt by his brother Sergeants. This took place about 7 p.m., December 18th.” [4]

Source: Ampthill News 26th December 1914

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[1] This appears to be William Goff’s half-sister Mrs Lydia Goff (nee Pulley).

[2] His service papers show that William George Goff joined the Rifle Brigade in October 1907 and before the war had served in Egypt and India. In 1911 he had was severely reprimanded as a corporal for neglecting his duty in allowing his men to drink water from a native well.

[3] Emma Goff (nee Pulley) of Keeley Lane, Wootton.

[4] Joseph Zachariah Goff had joined the Rifle Brigade shortly before his 19th birthday in February 1907.