Page 11 - RVM-HB-KTHFB
P. 11
Keep The Home Fires Burning
In November 1914 superintendent Davis asked the council to replace the powerful street
lights with dimmer lights, as he felt that they could be of use by hostile aircraft. Mr Wright
responding said “he hoped the council would not make them ridiculous by doing anything
of the kind it would he contend invite panic among the people. If the Zeppelins come to
this country they would go over London and the East coast. The Germans were not with
them yet and were not likely to be with them”.
Life in wartime became normal, by Christmas it was obvious A recruiting station had been
opened in Redditch, the employment exchange was finding it difficult to fill places, and
the spectre of unemployment had gone away for the time being. Everyone was as Mr J
Huins boot and shoe emporia advertised “caring on business as usual”. Trade was brisk,
there were some factories that only had Monday, Christmas day off the rest of the holiday
was worked through. The weather was variable hoar frost Christmas day, heavy snow
boxing evening followed by a rapid thaw and heavy rain and the inevitable flooding in the
lanes of Bentley, Beoley and Ipsley.
There was an increase in the. Amount of Letters cards and parcels passing through the
town’s main post office. “The mail that had to be dealt with exceeded all expectation”.
Despite the dearth of temporary labour six indoor staff and 24 outdoor staff were
employed for the Christmas season., and all parcels were dispatched at the right time
despite the fog on Christmas Eve.
Churches and chapels held services each one decorated by the ladies of the congregation,
Smallwood hospital had nine patients in over Christmas, family and friends could visit and
two visitors could take tea with the patients. Mrs Cheap of Bentley provided the tree, Mr
Eveson Christmas lights and Canon Newton a turkey and crackers. At Smallwood Alms
houses gifts included tea and Texts. Boxing Day afternoon which was quilt spring like
before the snow arrived the town band played in the Kiosk to an applicative Audience.
The Belgium refugee children were not forgotten. On the day school broke up at Islay
Street Infants, the children invited the juvenile Belgians to a party. For the weeks before
the end of term the children had been collecting money and presents. There was a
Christmas tree which was striped and a present given to each child after refreshments and
there was a magic lantern show. On Christmas Eve at Chapel House and Roxbury house
there was a distribution of toys and clothes, Mr Guise JP, told the children,” the gifts had
come thousands of miles across the sea on a "Santa Claus ship" and had been sent by the
boys and girls of America.” The annual Boxing Day party was held at Small wood Hospital
for children that had been treated at the hospital over the year. The Belgium children were
invited and an anther Christmas tree was striped with a present for each child, a tea was
held and a bran tub was proved for the entertainment of the children. The presents were
paid for by the Christmas fund promoted by the Matron Miss Trust love. The final
Christmas party the Belgium children attended was hosted by the Second Redditch (St
Stephen's troop) Scouts. They had a concert and party all the children had a present and
all the guests an orange and the women a box of Chocolates and the men tobacco. The
last days of the year closed with no sign of the end of the conflict.
Source: Sue Tatlow Page: 11
In November 1914 superintendent Davis asked the council to replace the powerful street
lights with dimmer lights, as he felt that they could be of use by hostile aircraft. Mr Wright
responding said “he hoped the council would not make them ridiculous by doing anything
of the kind it would he contend invite panic among the people. If the Zeppelins come to
this country they would go over London and the East coast. The Germans were not with
them yet and were not likely to be with them”.
Life in wartime became normal, by Christmas it was obvious A recruiting station had been
opened in Redditch, the employment exchange was finding it difficult to fill places, and
the spectre of unemployment had gone away for the time being. Everyone was as Mr J
Huins boot and shoe emporia advertised “caring on business as usual”. Trade was brisk,
there were some factories that only had Monday, Christmas day off the rest of the holiday
was worked through. The weather was variable hoar frost Christmas day, heavy snow
boxing evening followed by a rapid thaw and heavy rain and the inevitable flooding in the
lanes of Bentley, Beoley and Ipsley.
There was an increase in the. Amount of Letters cards and parcels passing through the
town’s main post office. “The mail that had to be dealt with exceeded all expectation”.
Despite the dearth of temporary labour six indoor staff and 24 outdoor staff were
employed for the Christmas season., and all parcels were dispatched at the right time
despite the fog on Christmas Eve.
Churches and chapels held services each one decorated by the ladies of the congregation,
Smallwood hospital had nine patients in over Christmas, family and friends could visit and
two visitors could take tea with the patients. Mrs Cheap of Bentley provided the tree, Mr
Eveson Christmas lights and Canon Newton a turkey and crackers. At Smallwood Alms
houses gifts included tea and Texts. Boxing Day afternoon which was quilt spring like
before the snow arrived the town band played in the Kiosk to an applicative Audience.
The Belgium refugee children were not forgotten. On the day school broke up at Islay
Street Infants, the children invited the juvenile Belgians to a party. For the weeks before
the end of term the children had been collecting money and presents. There was a
Christmas tree which was striped and a present given to each child after refreshments and
there was a magic lantern show. On Christmas Eve at Chapel House and Roxbury house
there was a distribution of toys and clothes, Mr Guise JP, told the children,” the gifts had
come thousands of miles across the sea on a "Santa Claus ship" and had been sent by the
boys and girls of America.” The annual Boxing Day party was held at Small wood Hospital
for children that had been treated at the hospital over the year. The Belgium children were
invited and an anther Christmas tree was striped with a present for each child, a tea was
held and a bran tub was proved for the entertainment of the children. The presents were
paid for by the Christmas fund promoted by the Matron Miss Trust love. The final
Christmas party the Belgium children attended was hosted by the Second Redditch (St
Stephen's troop) Scouts. They had a concert and party all the children had a present and
all the guests an orange and the women a box of Chocolates and the men tobacco. The
last days of the year closed with no sign of the end of the conflict.
Source: Sue Tatlow Page: 11
