Influenza Causes Bedford Schools to Close

Ampthill Road School, Bedford 1922 [Z1306/9/2/14/1]

Tuesday 31st October 1918: The outbreak of influenza in Bedford has resulted in very poor attendance at local schools. By the middle of October as many as 50 percent of pupils at the Queen’s Park and Goldington Road schools were absent and all elementary schools in the town were closed. They subsequently reopened but the situation is now so bad that they are to close again from today and remain shut until November 11th. There is also considerable sickness among the teachers, with at least seventeen now absent. Some are reported to be very ill, and Mrs. Davis, a teacher at the Priory Schools, has died. The Borough Education Committee has also asked that all Sunday schools should be closed and that picture palaces should refuse admission to children under the age of fourteen while the epidemic continues. Picture palaces and theatres have also been put out of bounds for the troops. Dr. Willmer Phillips, the School Medical Officer recommends that people get plenty of fresh air and avoid going into stuffy places. Anyone feeling at all feverish and then chilly should go straight to bed. Due to the epidemic the out-patients department of the Bedford County Hospital has been closed until further notice.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 18th October and 1st November 1918

Teaching Foreign Languages

Luton Modern School c.1910 [Z1306/75/2/3]

Wednesday 10th July 1918: The Governors of the Luton Modern School and Technical Institution held a meeting yesterday afternoon at the Town Hall, at which one matter under discussion was the teaching of modern languages,. Until now the first language studied by pupils at the school has been Latin or German, and many pupils without sufficient aptitude were learning two languages. After considering a Government Committee report on the issue a committee appointed to look at the matter made this recommendation to the governors: “As from the Autumn Term, 1918, French shall be the first foreign language taken in the Luton Modern School … for a second foreign language the pupil shall have the choice of German or Latin, but, as a general rule, a second language cannot be taken before entering Form III, and only then on showing aptitude for languages, and provided the pupil is remaining at school for at least a further two years”.

Alderman Williams argued that the current policy of taking German first and following on with either French or Latin, learning two languages simultaneously, had not been as successful as they hoped. The Headmaster thought it would be better if pupils were allowed to thoroughly master one language before learning a second. He regretted the loss of German as a first language due to its commercial benefits, but recognised that it over all it would be better to start with French. Councillor Primett suggested that there was a need to teach Spanish as there were good business openings in South America. After concluding the discussion, the governors agreed to adopt the recommendations in the report.

Source: Luton News, 11th July 1918

A Royal Visit to Bedford

Bedford Girls’ High School, 1905 [Z1130/9/2/3/25]

Thursday 27th June 1918: Bedford has been honoured today with a visit from the King and Queen. Their Majesties arrived in Bedford on the royal train at 11.00am and were met by a reception committee including the Mayor and Mayoress, the Lord Lieutenant and Mrs. Howard Whitbread, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Town Clerk, the Chief Constable and the Stationmaster. A guard of honour from the Royal Engineers presented arms and the national anthem was played by the Engineers’ Band. Their Majesties’ first visit was to W.H. Allen’s engineering works where the Guard of Honour was made up of men who had been in the firing line and those who had been discharged due to wounds. A tour of the works followed, to the delight of the girls employed there. A number of engines were seen in various stages of construction, as were dynamos for electric lighting; a very brief visit was paid to the Test House, where the vibration and noise of the running engines put paid to any attempts to speak; and the tour included the Women’s Dining Hall, where the mid-day meal was being prepared. Their Majesties were offered refreshments in the Board Room. Mr. Richard Allen said later that the King had expressed very great pleasure in what he had seen, and had especially remarked on the arrangements made for the welfare of the women.

At 12.00pm the royal party made its way to the High School, where they King and Queen were cheered by the girls as they entered the school hall. Outside in the grounds were a large number of old girls in V.A.D. uniforms. A beautiful bouquet of carnations was presented to the Queen by the head girl, Kathleen Tulloch. Their Majesties were then given a tour of three classrooms where lessons were in progress. The girls of the Modern School were also present, and their head girl, Hilda Howe, gave the Queen a bouquet of sweet peas.

From the High School the King and Queen moved on to the Town Hall for a civic reception, before returning to their train at the Midland Railway station for lunch. Their final visit in the town was Bedford School. Their route from the station was lined with cheering crowds, including hundreds of school children waving Union Jacks. On the way to the School their Majesties inspected a long line of wounded soldiers and their nurses, When they arrived they were greeted by the Headmaster, before the School Corps and the Officers Training Corps presented arms. Three cheers were given for both the King and the Queen before the School Corps formed up for a “March Past”. After the staff of the School were presented individually, the party moved to the edge of the cricket pitch where the staff and senior boys of the Modern School were gathered. The King spoke to these boys regretting that they had not been able to visit the Modern School, and congratulated Bedford School on its splendid record. He announcing that he wished to give the boys of both schools an extra week’s holiday to celebrate the royal visit. The Royal party returned to the station and left Bedford at 4.00pm.

Source: Bedfordshire Times, 28th June 1918

Overcrowded Classes at Leighton Buzzard Boys School

Beaudesert Boys’ Council School 1913 [Z50/72/21]

Friday 19th April 1918: Bedfordshire Education Committee has received a report that the number of scholars registered in the fourth and fifth classes at the Leighton Buzzard Boys’ Council School is more than sixty, the maximum permitted in a single class. The school managers, after discussion with the headteacher, have submitted that the class sizes are unavoidable and have been caused by the number of children who have arrived in the town from air raid areas. As these children had already been attending fourth and fifth classes in London they had to be put into the same classes in Leighton Buzzard. On 28th May last year there were 63 pupils in class four and 67 in class five, and on October 10th classes three, four and five all had more than sixty scholars. It was accepted by the Committee that the headmaster, Mr. Currie, had arranged things in the best way possible – to put pupils into classes for which they were not suited when the large numbers were only temporary would have been absurd, and the headmaster could not refuse admission without reasonable grounds. The Education Committee therefore decided to inform the Board of Education that they believed that in the circumstance this temporary breach of regulations was fully justified.  

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 30th April 1918

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

Win-the-War Exhibition

Beaudesert Boys School Group c.1925 [Z1432/3/6/5]

Saturday 26th May 1917: The Win-the-War Exhibition held this week at Leighton Buzzard Institute has been a great success, as housewives flocked to the Institute to discover new ways to economise on food. Miss Cobon of the cookery school gave lectures on war time cookery twice daily to large audiences, with accompanying demonstrations – hay box cookery was of particular interest. Two large rooms were filled with a collection of food substitutes, all labelled and with recipes attached to the cakes. The Council Chamber held the work of elementary school children. Boys from Beaudesert showed examples of the bed rests and splints they have been making for the war depot. The also exhibited a collection of coal, wood and match substitutes, with novelties including the use of dried potato peelings as fire-lighters. Girls from the cookery school demonstrated bread substitutes, including rice bread, oat cakes, sugarless maize pudding, eggless cakes, and oatmeal biscuits.

In the second room Miss Draper of the High School showed eighteen varieties of vegetables which could be used instead of potatoes. These were mostly grown in her own garden and included the rarely used but excellent root salsify. There were also mixtures of potatoes and parsnips, potatoes and rice, and so on. Pupils from the High School had a stall of wartime dishes, puddings and cakes, decorated with carnations from Ascott. Another large stall featured economical cakes made by a group of ladies using only a small amount of flour and sugar, including a date cake which used neither. Carefully weighed and measured daily and weekly rations were on display, and hints and methods for preserving and bottling fruit were provided. Mr. Herbert Turney of the Vandyke Road bakery also exhibited bread and cakes made from flour substitutes.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 29th May 1917

Schoolmistress Injured by Falling Chimney Cap

St. Andrew's School, Church Street [Z1432/2]

Friday 22nd December 1916: Mrs. Rose, headmistress of St. Andrew’s School in Church Street, Leighton Buzzard was seriously injured on Wednesday night when a large chimney cap fell through the roof of the School House as she lay in bed. The cap fell from a large chimney stack between the school buildings and the School House. These chimney stacks are finished with an overhanging coping of stone blocks, each weighing four hundredweight. While there were no obvious signs that anything was wrong with this coping, it seems that the cement had crumbled due to recent frosts, and a sudden thaw and rain storm caused the masonry to fall onto the tiles of the School House below. Mr. and Mrs. Rose were sleeping in the room immediately below when the chimney cap fell through the roof, hitting the bed and “crumpling it up as though it were matchwood”. Mr. Rose says he at first thought that a Zeppelin bomb had fallen on the building.

Mr. Rose escaped with cuts to the face and legs, but Mrs. Rose was so seriously hurt that she was unable to speak. While she was being moved to another room her daughter, Miss Rose, went for a doctor. He found Mrs. Rose was suffering from pain and shock, having been struck a glancing blow by the block of masonry as it fell on the bed. At first internal injuries were feared but she has since spent a comfortable night and it is hoped she will soon be out of danger. The bed rail on the side Mrs. Rose was sleeping was bent almost to a right angle, and probably saved her from worse injury. The block fell end first through the bedroom ceiling, and after hitting the bed landed in the fireplace, smashing the gas stove and fender to pieces. A second block from the top of the chimney lodged in the ceiling joists, and two more fell into the front garden and the schoolyard.

All her pupils will hope that Mrs. Rose is well enough to return to school after the Christmas break. She has been headmistress at St. Andrew’s for thirty two years, and the school has thrived under her leadership. A recent inspection report concluded that the school “is in excellent order and continues to do well in all ways. Instruction in Needlework and in other branches of Home-craft is especially worthy of praise.”

Sources: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 26th December 1916; Bedfordshire school inspection reports 1910-1937 [E/IN1/1]

Luton Modern School Master Killed

Luton Modern School, c.1914 [Z1306/76/2/3]

Sunday 29th October 1916: All connected with Luton Modern School have been sorry to hear that former schoolmaster Ernest Isaac Barrow has lost his life on the Somme. Mr. Barrow joined the school in September 1911 as a teacher of maths and science. He was among the first to join up in August 1914, as a private in the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment, and had since achieved the rank of Lieutenant. During his absence the school has held his post open for him, and has supplemented his Army pay with an additional £80 per annum. He has kept in regular contact with the school. His last letter, written in July, was full of optimism:

“Just at present we are having a slack time, but under present conditions that is not likely to last much longer. We have plenty of men and ammunition to make use of, and I think, this time, we have broken the back of Fritz’s resistance. There is sure to be very hard fighting before he is finally beaten, but we shall soon have him out of his last strongly fortified line, and Heaven help him when we do get him into the open … I was slightly wounded the other day – at least, I suppose I shall be reported in the casualty list as such, and it is because some of you will notice that, that I mention the matter, just to let you know that it is nothing to worry about. A piece of shell casing hit me on the chest. It was considerate enough to hit me flat side on, which was lucky for me. As it was, it knocked me head over heels, raised an enormous bump, and broke a rib. I refused to go into hospital and am still ‘carrying on’. Apart from this little dent in the framework I am very fit.”

Sources: Luton Modern School Magazine Dec 1916 [SDLutonSFC2/12]; Rhubarb & Custard: Luton Modern School and Luton Grammar School for Boys (James Dyer)

Belgian Matters

Corn Exchange and Plume of Feathers, Lake Street, 

Leighton Buzzard c.1905 [Z1306/72/9/6]

Saturday 22nd July 1916: Belgian refugee Lambert Giebels, who was sentenced to three months imprisonment for theft in May, has appeared in court at Bletchley charged with assaulting a police inspector. After completing his gaol sentence Giebels was taken to a detention camp in London to await deportation, but on Thursday morning he escaped, despite being “scantily clad”. Giebels returned to his cottage at 7 Plantation Road, Leighton Buzzard, but the Leighton police had been informed of his escape and were on his trail. Yesterday afternoon a special constable spotted him walking towards Bletchley with his wife and baby. The constable fetched Inspector Callaway, who told the court that he found the prisoner and his wife in a field. He accused the man of being Giebels and took a pair of handcuffs from his pocket, but when he saw them the prisoner said he would go quietly; however Giebel’s wife got between them, allowing her husband to run away. The Inspector chased him and after a violent struggle the escapee was arrested and taken to Bletchley Police Station. While he was being searched he took a piece of paper out of his pocket, tore it in half and tried to eat it, but Inspector Callaway seized him by the throat and hooked the paper out of his mouth with a finger, getting badly bitten in the process. Giebels was remanded in custody, shortly before two Belgian military police from London arrived in search of him.

Despite this incident, which is most unusual, the people of Leighton and Linslade have great sympathy for the suffering Belgians. The girls of Linslade Council School recently held an open day in support of Belgian Day, which collects money to help Belgian children who are still in their own country. The girls brought cakes, fruit and vegetables for sale, raising nearly £2. They gave a performance of drill, songs and recitations, and two little Belgians sang the French and Flemish national anthems. Altogether the day raised a total of over £4. Two days later the children of the Infants’ School also held an open day for the same cause, which raised a further £1.11s. The Leighton Buzzard Observer has also published an appeal (in French) by Charles Piron, a Belgian refugee staying at the Plume of Feathers Hotel in Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard. On behalf of his son, a prisoner of war, he has asked for help in sending food parcels to Belgian prisoners of war who are unable to receive them from home.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 18th and 25th July 1916

Bedford School Officer Training Corps

Bedford School OTC exercise, July 1914 [Z1306/94/22]

Thursday 8th June 1916: The Officer Training Corps (OTC) of Bedford School have had the honour today of marching past Field Marshal Lord French, the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces. The march past took place along Bromham Road, with the OTC in front of the 68th Division. Afterwards the boys stood at the side of the road to watch the Division go by. They were then allowed to make use of the trenches in Queen’s Park where an Old Bedfordian, Lieutenant Litton, gave them instruction in bombing attacks. This was followed by a very realistic and exciting fight in the trenches, using sand bag bombs and blank ammunition. The exercise finished with Lt. Litton showing the boys how to blow up a barricade across a trench.

This has been a busy week for the OTC, who were given their Annual Inspection on Tuesday by Major Stevens, the Second in Command of the Duke of Bedford’s Training Camp at Ampthill. The Corps was inspected in company drill, rifle exercises, and extended order drill; and advanced and rear guards were put out. Major Stevens gave the boys some very useful advice, and made some complimentary remarks about the Corps.

Source: The Ouzel 9th June 1916 [Z447/23]

Empire Day Celebrations

Empire Day Celebration, Podington 1908 [Z1306/89/6]

Wednesday 24th May 1916: Empire Day has been celebrated today in schools across the county. At Dunstable Road School in Luton the celebrations were presided over by the Mayor and Mayoress, and attended by a number of honoured guests including one 16 year old boy who, despite his age, has returned wounded from the Front. The children sang hymns and choruses, and the Mayor gave a speech explaining the meaning of Empire and its stand for right and justice. At Christ Church Infants school each child wore a daisy, the emblem of the Empire, and most wore red, white, and blue ribbons and carried flags. They sang patriotic songs including “Rule Britannia”, and the top class entertained the others with a game of soldiers and nurses. The soldiers had rifles and marched in order to battle, while the Red Cross nurses, wearing aprons, caps, and crosses, bandaged up the wounded. In the afternoon the children made daisy chains.

Source: Luton News, 25th May 1916

News from Stevington

The old school, Stevington 2008 (© Bedfordshire Archives)

Tuesday 9th May 1916: Harry Read, the schoolmaster of Stevington, has written a circular letter to his former pupils with news of many of their former schoolmates. A number are now serving in Egypt, where Fred Dawson has managed a ride on a camel and Walter Cox is enjoying himself immensely, living in a very large house which has been taken over for the officers’ mess. Several of the men serving in France had been expected home on leave for some time, but none have arrived. Bert Seamarks has been “getting a good share of trench work”, and Ted Cox is “in the pink”, despite serving as a bomber in trenches only ten yards in places from the Germans. Hermon Hulett has been in trenches which had been taken from the French by the Germans: “they were in a terrible state – badly battered and full of mud and water in the bad weather”. Mr. Read also reports that, “The awful Irish Rebellion is at an end, I’m glad to say, and a number of the leaders shot. Several thousand prisoners have been brought to England. Germany is at the bottom of it, of course.”

Source: P71/28/21/11 

Objections to Conscientious Objector as Schoolmaster

Image: Westoning School, 2009 [CR/PH © Beds Archives]

Saturday 8th April 1916: At a meeting yesterday of the Bedfordshire Education Committee a deputation was present to object to appointment of a conscientious objector, Mr. R. R. Fordham, as headmaster of Westoning School, and the following resolution passed by the Flitwick group of School Managers was read:

“The local Managers of the Flitwick Group of Schools desire to protest against the appointment of Mr. Fordham as headmaster of Westoning School on the ground that he is a conscientious objector. They are of opinion that in the interest of the nation children should be taught their duty to the State, which includes the right of defending it against oppression, and that while parents and brothers are fighting for the state it is not advisable that children should be under the influence of a conscientious objector. They desire to point out that two names were submitted to them by Mr. Baines suitable for the vacancy of headmastership. They refused to recommend Mr. Fordham by reason of his being a conscientious objector. As they were doubtful whether the only other candidate was entirely suitable, not having had charge of a school, they recommend his appointment on trial. They do not see what other course was open to them. The Managers fail to see the usefulness of their continuing to act as Managers if their recommendations are disregarded.”

There was discussion as to whether the objection to Mr. Fordham was because he was a member of the Society of Friends [Quakers]. It was pointed out that the Managers did not object on religious grounds, but on patriotic grounds. The committee decided to invite both the deputation and Mr. Fordham into the room. Mr. Spensley, one of the managers from Westoning, said their objection was simply that at times like these such a person should not be sent to teach in any village school. In his view it was essential that the children should be taught patriotism, and that they should not have a man who would teach the children not to fight.

Mr. Fordham said he was 31 years old, was a member of the Society of Friends and a conscientious objector. He would never dream of teaching children not to fight for their country. He would not mind serving with the Friends’ ambulance unit, but would not serve under the military. The Rector of Blunham, where Mr. Fordham was currently teaching, had written stating that he had always acted loyally and within the traditions of the Church School. It was stated that there was no other position open to Mr. Fordham.  The Chairman of the Committee pointed out that Mr. Fordham had the right to conscientiously object, and another member said that no man should be penalised for holding opinions which were recognised in law.

The matter was referred back to the Committee for further consideration.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 14th April 1916

Linslade Knitting League

Mittens knitted to the official 1915 pattern

Saturday 1st April 1916: A meeting of the Linslade Knitting League has been held at Mrs. Labrum's to discuss ways in which the group could obtain more wool. During the last two months they have supplied 55 pairs of socks, together with mufflers, mittens, and so on. Some of these knitted articles were contributed by Linslade school children. The ladies of the League intend to carry on their activities through the summer months and will continue to send these woollen comforts to local men who are on active service. Any lady from Linslade or Leighton Buzzard who would like to join the League is welcome, and anyone who would like to knit for the troops at home will be supplied with wool.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 4th April 1916

Oranges for the Navy

Boys from Stotfold Council School with 

fruit and vegetables for the navy [Z1306/115/19/4] 

Sunday 12th March 1916: The village of Stotfold has responded admirably to an appeal to provide oranges for the Royal Navy, sending a grand total of 3,078 to the Fleet. The boys of the Council Schools gave nearly 500 oranges, while the girls and infants of the Day Schools gave five shillings and seven pence to the collection. The district as a whole has sent over 15,000 oranges.

Source: Stotfold Parish Magazine [P83/30/1]

Closure of Elstow School Announced

Elstow School, 1912 [Z1130/9/2/8/14]

Tuesday 7th March 1916:  An unlooked for effect of the war has come in the announcement that Elstow School is to close at the end of this term. This well known public institution has done splendid work under its headmaster Revd. C. F. Farrar, but it has been hit hard by the recent conditions. Many of its boys have always come from abroad, and the class of families from which it drew its pupils has been forced into stringent economies. Pupil numbers have fallen, expenses have increased, and it has become impossible to fill gaps in the staff.

The County School was founded in 1866 by a number of landowners and others, and a Limited Company was formed in which the Duke of Bedford took shares to the value of £10,000. The school opened on August 16th, 1869, with 70 boys, under its first headmaster Revd. William Groome. By the end of its second year numbers had risen to 330 boys. Revd. Farrar was appointed the fifth headmaster in 1893 and was an assistant master at the School for some time before. In 1898 ownership of the school passed from the Company to Revd. Farrar. During these five years the number of boys at the school had nearly doubled and a number of improvements to the premises and equipment had been made, including the installation of electric light. During his time as headmaster the name was changed to Elstow School. In 1914 it was estimated that over 4000 boys had been educated there. It will be greatly missed, especially by the boys of Bedford Modern School who enjoyed a keen sporting rivalry with the Elstonians.

Source: Bedfordshire Times, 10th March 1916

Complaint Made Against German Teacher

Modern School, Bedford c.1910-1920 [Z1130/9/2/2/1]

Tuesday 29th February 1916: During an outburst of anti-German feeling in Bedford last May, moves were made to have Dr. M. L. de la Motte Tischbrock,  the naturalised German teacher at Bedford Modern School removed from his post, despite the protestations of the headmaster Mr. Kaye and the support of his pupils. To the annoyance of Mr. Kaye, information has now been deposited with the military authorities against the teacher. He writes with feeling to the informer:

“My dear Bradly[1]. To my intense surprise I have been officially informed that you have “laid an information” against Dr. Tischbrock to the military authorities here. I cannot conceive why, if you thought the information worth givein at all, you did not give it 18 months ago, nor why you have done it without a word to me. I have had a most difficult and delicate position in the matter, and this “evidence” ought to have been dealt with – whatever view one takes of it – at the beginning of the war, or at latest when the question of Dr. Tischbrock’s position, like that of other aliens, was first raised. Raising it now is to me inexplicable, but it certainly does not make the situation easier for me.”

Mr. Kaye has been asked by an officer of the 68th (Welsh) Division, now based in Bedford, to keep him informed if Dr. Tischbrock decides to go to America, or if he gets any other information about him which could affect the case.

Source: Letters of Cecil Kaye, BMS/CWK/82/5-6

---

[1] No further information is given and it has not been possible to identify the informant. Dr. Tischbrock was forced to leave the school, although it is not clear at what date. Writing in the 1970s a former pupil said: “Hounded from B.M.S. in spite of Mr Kaye’s protests, he obtained for a brief spell a post at Manchester Grammar School. But becoming stone deaf, badgered from pillar to post, he turned to market gardening in Surrey, and met with a fatal accident when attempting to take too much of his produce to market on a bicycle. I do not know the year of his death but I am told that his widow died only recently at a very great age” [BMS/CWK/98/3; Tischbrock’s wife Lily died in 1971].

Nursery Rhymes for 1916 Children

Z1306/16/35/8

Sunday 30th January 1916:

By an anonymous contributor from Moreton House School, Dunstable.

I. 

Ride a cock horse

To Victoria Cross,

Be a brave soldier

Whatever it cost.

Gallant in khaki,

A gun in your fist,

You shall have honour,

As soon as you ‘list.

II. 

Tom, Tom, the Englishman,

Took a gun and away he ran,

The music rolled, the drums did beat,

As Tom went marching down the street.

III. 

Belgium the Buffet,

Sat on a tuffet,

Just in her usual way.

There came the great Kaiser,

Who sought to bestride her,

And drive little Belgium away.

Source: The Moretonia, December 1915 [Z930/1/2]

A War Alphabet

Kindergarten classroom at Moreton House School, Dunstable, c.1910 [Z1306/36/13/5]

Friday 31st December 1915:

A is for Armies whose brave deeds we sing,B stands for Belgium, we honour her King,
C for our Colonies, flocking to fight,
D for the Dardanelles. Did we do right?E is for England who’s “seeing it through,”F for fair France who is trusty and true;G is for Germans, whose cause is so rotten,
H stands for Honour, a word they’ve forgotten.
I stands for Italy, come to our aid,
J Jellico, who will see sea-debts paid.K for Lord Kitchener, on whom we rely,
L is for Loos, where the Germans did fly.
M is for Mons, where some thousands fell, N for our Navy- where? No one can tell.
O stands for Officers, brave men indeed;
P is for Privates who follow their lead.
Q stands for Quarrel, which we never sought,
R is for Russia, how bravely she’s fought!S is for Serbia, not lacking in bravery,
T for the Turks who’ll soon be in slavery.
U is for Unity, shown by Allies,
V is for Victory, surely their prize;
W for Winter, a dreadful time then,
X is for Xmas which brought “Peace to men.”Y is for Year, may the New Year bring peace,
Z is for Zeppelin, whose visits must cease.

(from a V and VI Form Competition, Moreton House School, Dunstable)

Source: The Moretonia, December 1915 [Z930/1/2

Munitions Work at Bedford School

Work on munitions at Bedford School [Z447/22]

Monday 20th December 1915: The boys at Bedford School are contributing to the war effort by carrying out munitions work. Through the assistance of Mr. F. Yarrow at the end of the summer term the Headmaster was able to obtain from Yarrow’s about 50 high pressure valve bodies to be machined and 50 bolts and nuts for the casing of turbines for the Navy. During the summer holidays about 50 boys volunteered for this work, working in three shifts. Each shift of boys worked for 3½ hours every other day under the supervision of Mr. Davison; an extra shift of amateurs worked two afternoons each week. The task was completed early in the autumn term to the complete satisfaction of Messrs. Yarrow. Arrangements were also made with the South East Midlands Munitions Board to manufacture 13lb shells. Work has been carried out on these since the beginning of term by the boys and amateur works, to whose numbers some ladies have recently been added. A large number of boys have volunteered to work during the afternoons outside school time, and others to work during the Christmas holidays. Extra machinery has been required to manufacture the shells, with a large amount of preparation in the manufacture of gauges, chucks and special tools, only made possible by the skill and devostion of Mr. Davison. The gauges and chucks for some of the final operations are not yet complete so no shells have yet been finished. A large number are nearly complete, and nearly all have passed the tests so far applied to them by the Government Inspectors.

Source: The Ousel (Bedford School Magazine), 20th December 1915 [Z447/22]