Page 9 - RVM-HB-KTHFB
P. 9
Keep The Home Fires Burning
They were able to requisition a large number of horses which had been collected by the
local police; these were brought to Church Green Thursday evening. The horses were
examined by both the army vet and local vet Mr J. A. Gold , who had his veterinary
surgery in Church Green ,’50 of the most capital type of animal was purchased ‘, the
horses were housed by local publicans until they were dispatched by rail on the Monday
morning. The Friday before the guns had been drawn from the drill hall in East moor road
and down to the station to be loaded on to a waiting train, the men followed the next
morning. It was thought they would be on garrison duty at the isle of White.
Meanwhile the townswomen were organised themselves, they held a meeting at the
council house and it was decided that materials would be bought and the different church
and chapel groups would hold meetings in their school rooms to make garments for the
Army and Navy. Some may have knitted Withy band for Horses after an appeal was
published in the indicator for these items From the Birmingham society for cruelty to
animals. The Queens work for women had opened a workroom to help out wives of
solders by paying them to sew, however Redditch women were needle makers not needle
workers.
The Redditch Voluntary Aid Detachment in connection with Red Cross Society looked for
suitable premises to have a hospital for the care of the sick and wounded men. The
Countess of Plymouth offered the new village hall at Tardebigge. The Hewell estate would
pay for the upkeep and repair The Redditch branch of the National Union of Women’s
Suffrage Societies, would work with the Red Cross to help with any way that was needed,
cooking, washing, and anything else that was required. By the end of the war 1,262
soldiers and 1 sailor had been treated there.
The Reality Of War
In the first weeks of the war a million Belgium people left their country, as refugees. Most
sort sanctuary in France some Flemish speaking moved to Holland and over 200,000
sailed across the English Channel to Britain. A national committee was set up and an
appeal was made to towns and villages across the county to take the refugees in. The
British public responded fired up by the horrid storeys in the papers; and the refugees
were soon dispersed in cities and town across the country including Redditch.
A local committee was formed an appeal in the churches chapels and the local paper was
made and by the end of October two houses had been provided Chapel House and
Roxbury house loaned by Major Tonbridge. House hold goods, clothes and food were given
and loaned to help the fitting out of the houses and £97 raised for the maintenance of the
Refugees. About forty Belgium’s settled in the town some were in family groups one even
brought the family dog with them. There seems to have been a group of children who
were in the care of an order of Sisters. The gas and water companies provided free water
and gas and local factory workers such as those at the Royal Enfield gave a weekly gift of
Money.
A county war relief committee was formed and Mr J Wills Bund, County chairman asked
for two members of Redditch Urban District Council to sit on the County Advisory
committee that was being formed. Redditch and District Trades and Labour Council, held
a meeting at the Women’s Social Club. “Were the question of distress and unemployed
meant caused through the war was discussed “. Delegates were chosen for the Shire hall
meeting, and it was suggested citizen committees, should we formed to help with putting
into operator of the feeding of the children act.
Source: Sue Tatlow Page: 9
They were able to requisition a large number of horses which had been collected by the
local police; these were brought to Church Green Thursday evening. The horses were
examined by both the army vet and local vet Mr J. A. Gold , who had his veterinary
surgery in Church Green ,’50 of the most capital type of animal was purchased ‘, the
horses were housed by local publicans until they were dispatched by rail on the Monday
morning. The Friday before the guns had been drawn from the drill hall in East moor road
and down to the station to be loaded on to a waiting train, the men followed the next
morning. It was thought they would be on garrison duty at the isle of White.
Meanwhile the townswomen were organised themselves, they held a meeting at the
council house and it was decided that materials would be bought and the different church
and chapel groups would hold meetings in their school rooms to make garments for the
Army and Navy. Some may have knitted Withy band for Horses after an appeal was
published in the indicator for these items From the Birmingham society for cruelty to
animals. The Queens work for women had opened a workroom to help out wives of
solders by paying them to sew, however Redditch women were needle makers not needle
workers.
The Redditch Voluntary Aid Detachment in connection with Red Cross Society looked for
suitable premises to have a hospital for the care of the sick and wounded men. The
Countess of Plymouth offered the new village hall at Tardebigge. The Hewell estate would
pay for the upkeep and repair The Redditch branch of the National Union of Women’s
Suffrage Societies, would work with the Red Cross to help with any way that was needed,
cooking, washing, and anything else that was required. By the end of the war 1,262
soldiers and 1 sailor had been treated there.
The Reality Of War
In the first weeks of the war a million Belgium people left their country, as refugees. Most
sort sanctuary in France some Flemish speaking moved to Holland and over 200,000
sailed across the English Channel to Britain. A national committee was set up and an
appeal was made to towns and villages across the county to take the refugees in. The
British public responded fired up by the horrid storeys in the papers; and the refugees
were soon dispersed in cities and town across the country including Redditch.
A local committee was formed an appeal in the churches chapels and the local paper was
made and by the end of October two houses had been provided Chapel House and
Roxbury house loaned by Major Tonbridge. House hold goods, clothes and food were given
and loaned to help the fitting out of the houses and £97 raised for the maintenance of the
Refugees. About forty Belgium’s settled in the town some were in family groups one even
brought the family dog with them. There seems to have been a group of children who
were in the care of an order of Sisters. The gas and water companies provided free water
and gas and local factory workers such as those at the Royal Enfield gave a weekly gift of
Money.
A county war relief committee was formed and Mr J Wills Bund, County chairman asked
for two members of Redditch Urban District Council to sit on the County Advisory
committee that was being formed. Redditch and District Trades and Labour Council, held
a meeting at the Women’s Social Club. “Were the question of distress and unemployed
meant caused through the war was discussed “. Delegates were chosen for the Shire hall
meeting, and it was suggested citizen committees, should we formed to help with putting
into operator of the feeding of the children act.
Source: Sue Tatlow Page: 9
