Page 12 - WW1 - 1916

Redditch Local History Society Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1

st
The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger – Saturday 1 January
1916

Tardebigge V.A.D. Hospital – The inmates of the above hospital, 26 in number,
celebrated their Christmas in a right royal manner. Santa Claus opened the ball for them on
Christmas Eve by distributing his gifts – with no stinted hand – consisting of warm woollen
gloves, pipes, tinder lighters, trench mirrors, air cushions, photo cases, etc., and during the
day the Countess of Plymouth visited the hospital and presented each man with a razor, and
Messrs. Cadbury and Co. gave each inmate a box of chocolates. A quarter of beef was
received from “Squire” Cheape, of Bentley Manor; another kind friend gave the Christmas
breakfast; and other generous donors sent turkeys, hams, Christmas cake, crackers, mince
pies, eggs, sweets, fruit cigars, tobacco, cigarettes, pencils, pencils, writing requisites, and
silk handkerchiefs. Breakfast was served at 9.0am., and dinner at 1.0pm. The dining hall
was a veritable fairyland, and the dining table a sea of luxury. Tea was served at 5.0pm.,
and afterwards the staff and patients spent a most enjoyable evening by keeping up the old
Christmas games, and when “cot time” arrived every “Tommy” felt that he owed a deep debt
of gratitude to the staff and all the numerous donors of presents, for all that had been done
to make his day a truly happy Christmas.

Page: 12 © RLHS 2014