Christmas in the Trenches

Xmas in the Trenches.

Boom of Guns on the Yser.

Christmas Day brought a hard frost and a heavy winter mist to Belgium and Northern France (says a Times correspondent). The weather did its best to produce the Christmas atmosphere, but the combatants would not take the hint.  In the early hours of Christmas morning the guns began to boom on the Yser, showing that there was to be no truce.  The Germans made a fierce night attack on the French and Belgian positions recently won to the north of Nieuport. The Allies, however, were ready for them, and the German marines were driven back by machine guns and rifle fire, losing many men.

The Allies then made a counter- attack in their turn, which proved successful and resulted in a little more ground being won in the dunes.  There was a desultory bombardment over the Belgian front, particularly to the south of Dixmude, where the Belgians have succeeded in establishing themselves on the farther side of the Yser Canal.

On the British front things were quieter.  Thursday had seen one of the most violent cannonades of the war, but on Friday there was only occasional shelling, and on the whole our men were able to eat their Christmas dinner in peace.  For most of them there seems to have been good things in superabundance.  Plum pudding was served out to all the troops, so that quite apart from private supplies from home, plum pudding was eaten wherever rations could be delivered to the trenches.  The Army has been so flooded with parcels from home during the last days that men had five or six puddings to themselves.  Stories of orgies which will no doubt become legendary are already current, but the gist of all the talk that one hears is that our Army did, in spite of war conditions, spend its Christmas very merrily.

Internees Knitting

From the Portsmouth Evening News, 30th December 1914. 

Interned Naval Men

“A Helper” ...  gives some details of the Christmas treat provided for the interned Naval men in Holland through the efforts of Commodore Wilfred Henderson, and his officers and friends.  The small appeal made by them to the public was most generously responded to, and it was made possible to provide a splendid Christmas dinner of turkey and plum pudding for the 1,500 men, as well as a small gift for each.  The interned men are clothed and fed and housed and every effort is made to keep them occupied and in good spirits.

Commodore Henderson, in answer to inquiries, asked that no ready-made woollen garments should be deflected from the men at the front, but that friends should rather give wool, or money to buy wool, so that the men should knit their own warm garments, and when those on the spot were provided, should go on knitting for their less well-provided comrades in the trenches and at sea.  This was done, thus giving a number of men useful and interesting occupation.  

Seasonal Yorkshire Pudding and Oxo

From the Cambrian Daily Leader, 29th December 1914.

[What sort of Yorkshire pudding was seasonal, and obtained from grocers?  None that I have heard of.]

[Many ads were beginning to refer to the war - especially ads for products that the people at home could send to their men at the front. Oxo was a meat extract, sold in a jar (like Bovril) or in cubes.  I think "Oxo is made in a moment" refers to making a hot drink from it.   The beef stock cube is still the main product sold under the Oxo brand, but it has diversified into other products as well.]  

"Knitsters"

From the Birmingham Daily Post, 28th December 1914.

“Knitsters”

It is already evident that one of the prime pantomime jests evolved from the war will be directed at the untiring industry displayed by so many ladies just now in knitting and sewing.  “Sister Susie’s sewing shirts for soldiers” is to be heard well-nigh everywhere, while the comic man tangles himself and all around in knitting of the wildest description.  This good-natured satire does not go very far beyond the mark, for some of the exhibitions of feminine zeal in this direction are almost of themselves a joke.  Perhaps it was carrying the joke a little too far when, at the recent State opening of Parliament, an indefatigable lady passed the time of waiting for the King and Queen by knitting in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster.  When, just as the picturesque procession was about to appear, she dropped her ball of wool, which rolled right on to the red carpet, and was rescued and restored by a gorgeously-clad official just in time, a humorous scene was provided which not even the most daring pantomime producer would have devised.  The overflowing industry, indeed, has led to a demand for the creation of a name to fit the myriads who practise it.  “Knitster” is suggested on the analogy of “spinster,” and it would have the advantage of meaning precisely what it indicated, while the latter has lost its original significance.  The new word, in any case, might be preserved in the language as one of the war’s results.

[“Sister Susie’s sewing shirts for soldiers” was a popular song of 1914.  The words are given in an earlier post.] 

Knitting and Shooting

From The Observer. 27th December, 1914.

COURT AND SOCIETY

Dinner parties are extinct as the Dodo in this new London; people dine together in twos and threes, and bring their knitting.  If they play bridge, the winnings go to the war funds. Only for those who come back on a couple of days' leave from the trenches is an effort at gaiety made; a play or a restaurant dinner and as much cheerfulness as can be got into the few hours of their stay among us.

It has been said of the Queen in old days that Her Majesty knitted at every spare moment: at meals, and in the evening when talking to anyone.  This may now be said of the major portion of the social world of London; every woman knits and most of the men.  Those who did not know before how to manipulate knitting needles have speedily learnt, and thousands of useful woollen garments—socks, comforters, belts and mittens — have been made in the West End and sent out to our troops in Northern France.

So much for London.  In the country the customary autumn house-parties, which in grouse districts begin in August and in partridge districts have their commencement in September were conspicuous by their absence.  Almost every suitable house was offered to the War Office as a hospital.  Some of them are empty still, but they are equipped and ready with all the necessities for sick and wounded.  Game must be shot, but partridges and pheasants, hares and rabbits go to hospitals, to camps, to the fleet.


[Although it doesn't say so openly, it seems that before the war the Queen had been thought a bit eccentric and perhaps old-fashioned for knitting in public - until everyone else joined in.

The account of what's going on in the country sounds a bit Downton Abbey (upstairs).   I'm not sure why all the game has to be shot - especially the hares.]  

Boy Scouts as Coastguards

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, 26th December 1914.

BOY SCOUT COASTGUARDS.

This week I had a chat with two of the 10th S.W. Leeds lads who have been on coastguard duty at Filey, and who, after being away from home for nearly five months were granted a week’s furlough for Christmas.  They returned to the East Coast to-day.

Tanned by the sun and breeze, and with frames hardened and strengthened, these lads have benefited immensely by the outdoor life, and they admit that the job of coastguard is far more congenial than that of tailor or printer, to which they have been accustomed hitherto.  The party at Filey is made up of six Leeds lads, one Bridlington and one Filey lad.  They have quarters at the coastguards’ house and though in this case the Scouts do not prepare their own food, they have to keep the station shipshape.

As to the nature of their duties and their experience, the lads are reticent, and rightly so.  Each is on duty about nine hours in the twenty-four, taking his share of night work: so that they have not a great deal of leisure time on their hands.  A local gentleman takes them on early morning fishing trips occasionally, and the party has returned with much as a stone [14 pounds] of fish after one of these excursions.

Instead of the cowboy hat and khaki shirt, they wear the round hat of the coastguard and a dark blue knitted jersey.  The cowboy hat is not suitable for coast duty, and even the tight fitting hat in use requires to be fastened with a band under the chin.  Each has his oilskin for dirty weather.

The Leeds lads at Filey will probably be on duty till the end of the war, and if one may take Patrol Leaders Barlow and Earl as a criterion, they will derive great physical benefits while fulfilling the duties of auxiliary coastguard.

[The school leaving age in 1914 was 12, which explains why Boy Scouts could have been previously employed in Leeds, before becoming coastguards.  And even though the writer of this article probably didn't imagine the war going on for four more years, it is possible that some of the boys could have continued as coastguards until the end of the war, and were then still under 18 (the minimum age for joining up).]     

Comforts for Welsh Troops

From the Cambrian Daily Leader, 24th December 1914. 

MRS. LLOYD GEORGE'S APPEAL.

(To the Editor).
Sir,—I shall be glad if you will kindly allow me to appeal through your columns on behalf of the National Fund for Welsh Troops.

The committee is anxious that all Welsh regiments serving at home and abroad should be provided with additional comforts, such as shirts, socks, mittens, and Cardigan jackets, also pipes, tobacco, and cigarettes.

All contributions of money and kind will be gratefully received by me at 11, Downing-street, Whitehall, S.W.-- Yours faithfully, 

Margaret Lloyd George, 

Chairman of Committee.

11, Downing-street, Whitehall, London, S.W., 

December 21st, 1914.

[David Lloyd George was Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1914 - 11 Downing Street is the official residence of the Chancellor.  He had been Chancellor since 1908, when he had introduced Old Age Pensions, and became Prime Minister in 1916.  Margaret Lloyd George was Welsh, like her husband, and she raised a huge amount for charities during the war.] 

Christmas Presents for Soldiers and Sailors

From the Colne Valley Guardian, 24th December 1914.

Text:

We are Specialising this Xmas on Presents for Soldier and Sailor Boys.

They are doing a great deal for us.  What are we going to do for them?  They cannot have a very Happy Christmas this year, but we can make it a bit happier for them by sending them something warm and comfortable.  Here are a few things suitable:

Sweaters, Pants, Body Belts, Cardigan Jackets,  Vests, Socks, Wool  Gloves, Mitts, Flannel Shirts, Sleeping Helmets and every recognised Clothing Comfort for Troops.

H. Calverley & Co., John Wm. Street, Huddersfield.

Christmas Post

From The Times, December 22nd, 1914

WAR CHRISTMAS AT THE POST OFFICE.

...The public has become more or less familiar with the effects of the "Christmas rush" on the General Post Office.  But this year the difficulties are enormously increased owing to the pressure which already existed as a result of the war. It is probable that what may be called the ordinary Christmas business will be less than usual, inasmuch as there will be less miscellaneous present-giving.  The postal authorities, indeed, are reckoning on this and are taking on less than the usual number of extra Christmas hands.  Last year 11,000 additional men were engaged.  This year it was decided that 10,000 would be enough, and there has been some difficulty in getting that number, in spite of the fact that salaries have been increased from 24s. to 26s. and 28s. a week for postmen and 28s. to 32s. for sorters, to which the pay for overtime has to be added.  ...

POST OFFICE MEN AS SOLDIERS.

...The Post Office had lost about 6,400 regular employees who are on service.  Of these about 1,000 were formerly in the Navy and 2,000 in the Army and have rejoined from the Reserves; the rest have gone as recruits in the new Army, with the Post Office Rifles or as Engineers, in which capacity they have done invaluable work in organizing the postal and telegraph services with the Army in France. ...In addition there are about 100 men, all necessarily expert, detailed for special telegraphic service at the Admiralty and War Office, besides smaller numbers detached on special duty in connexion with the various camps at home.  To replace these 6,400 there have been taken on 4,200 new men since the war began (though a proportion of them are women), the preference being given to married men and those over military age. ...

PARCELS FOR THE FRONT.

...Our Armies cause immensely more work and give much more trouble than would the same number of men in civil life.  For a long time past the number of postal packages containing "comforts" of all kinds sent to our troops abroad has been on the average about 20,000 a day. ... In the six days ended on December 12, which was the last date at which packages were supposed to be received for delivery to the men for Christmas, the parcels amounted to the appalling total of just upon 250,000.

The amount of inadequate addressing is deplorable.  The British people seems unable to get it into its head that a regiment is not a tactical unit and that it is insufficient to send a package to a man with no other indication than that he is a private in the Berkshires, the South Wales Borderers, or the London Scottish.

Sadder is the number of letters and parcels addressed to men who are "missing."  All these come back to the General Post Office.  There they are detained until the War Office releases them by information that the news of the man’s death or loss has been conveyed to his relatives at home.  The packages are then, whenever possible, returned to the senders....

And even greater and unnecessary is the burden of careless packing.

CARELESS PACKING.

The "hospital," where these mangled parcels are cared for and repacked to be sent to their destination, is an extraordinary sight.  Profoundly pathetic is the amount of loving care which has been expended on making up a package of "comforts," which is then, perhaps, wrapped in thin paper and tied with a single piece of frail string, so that it has fallen to pieces before it has even reached the London office.  The Post Office does all that it can to repack them properly and speed them on their way: but too large a proportion are crippled beyond repair.....

[There are also] some 2,000 packages a day received for British prisoners of war in Germany, and 1,200 a day from Germany for German prisoners of war in Great Britain.  All these have to be "censored"— i-e., examined to see that they contain nothing illegitimate, though the German Customs manifest, when it details the contents, is generally treated as sufficient.  It is to be hoped that the authorities in Germany are taking the same pains to see that the parcels for British prisoners there reach them with promptitude as are being taken by the Post Office in London.  On the other hand, it is a pity that the British public does not emulate the carefulness with which the Germans do up their packages, each one of which is admirably packed....

[Interesting that the report says that 4,200 new men have been taken on, before mentioning that some of them were actually women.  

Also interesting that there was the Post Office was handling post for British and German prisoners of war, just as normal postal business, and that the German Customs were trusted to state the contents of parcels honestly.]

Christmas Crackers

From the Glasgow Herald, 21st December, 1914.

[Tom Smith invented the cracker in 1847.]

Newspaper Comforts Schemes

From The People’s Friend, Dundee, 19th December 1914. 

[Extracts from a much longer article on schemes set up by the papers and magazines published by John Leng & Co. of Dundee:  the “Dundee Advertiser”, the “People’s Journal”, the “People‘s Friend”, “My Weekly” and “The Happy Home”. ]

WHAT WOMEN ARE DOING IN WAR TIME.

HOW THE “PEOPLE’S JOURNAL” HAS HELPED THE TOMMIES.

Let us first look at the programme of beneficence initiated by the “People’s Journal” – Scotland’s greatest weekly.  Under the heading of “Comforts for the Soldiers” the editor has received and despatched thousands of pairs of socks, hundreds of body belts, helmets, mufflers, shirts, gloves, mitts, cuffs, and bootlaces. ….  When donations of money came to hand wool was purchased for socks, the knitting being undertaken by readers all over the country, and by the staff of young ladies attached to the “People’s Journal”.  The packages, needless to say, were, and are, gladly welcomed, and many letters from officers speak of the goods arriving in the trenches in the nick of time, and being balloted for among the men.

The Tobacco Fund has also been an unqualified success, the sum subscribed being beyond all expectations, and as the “weed” was purchased at wholesale prices, duty free, from recognised firms, and distributed among all the Scottish regiments, it can be readily understood that the quantity forwarded had the merit both of quality and weight.  Thousands of boxes of matches have also been supplied to the troops. … A number of [tobacconists] placed boxes upon their counters bearing the request “A Fag for Tommy.”  The response of the customers has been liberal, and several tobacconists have been able by this means to supply the “People’s Journal” with many thousands of cigarettes.

Next there is the Christmas Gift Scheme.  … It was .. made possible to present each Scottish regiment in France with a huge hamper of mufflers, gloves, buns, shortbread, chocolates, candies, &c.

“People’s Friend” Excels.

Ever since the war began, the lady readers of the “People’s Friend” have been working enthusiastically for the benefit of the soldiers and sailors, their wives and families.  They have turned out some 1600 pairs of socks, 170 shirts, 750 body belts, and nearly 2000 helmets, mufflers, cuffs, gloves, mittens, &c.  Besides this, they have sent vast bales of cast-off clothing to the soldiers’ wives and children, and to the Belgian refugees all over the country.  They have also given money generously.  In quite a short time £200 was subscribed for Christmas puddings for the men at the front.  Four thousand puddings have been sent, and .. each pudding is enough for two men.  Money has also been given generously for the purchase of cigarettes and tobacco, whilst large numbers of pipes and tobacco pouches have been contributed.  

[People's Friend and My Weekly, both women's magazines, are still published from Dundee, now by D. C. Thomson & Co.] 

Raising Money to Buy Wool

From the Bucks Herald, 19th December 1914. 

WADDESDON WESLEY GUILD. --An entertainment arranged by the Guild was given in the Wesleyan Sunday School on Thursday evening, Dec. 10.  A good number attended, who highly appreciated the excellent programme given by the girls.  The object of the entertainment was to raise more money to buy wool for knitting soldiers' comforts, in which work the girls have been engaged for some time.  The programme commenced with the National Anthems of the Allies, very nicely sung by a few young girls.  Glees, solos, recitations, and patriotic songs followed, amongst them favourites being "Land of hope and glory," and "Be proud that you're fighting for England."  The programme concluded with an amusing sketch "Mistresses and maids." — The Chairman, Mr. Holland, thanked all who had taken part, especially Mrs. Rushton for training the girls and Miss Newman for accompanying.  The amount raised was £1:2:8, and 10s. 6d. is to be sent to the "Daily Telegraph" Glove and Mitten fund, the remainder to be spent in wool.

Paying Dressmakers' Bills

From The Times, 18th December 1914.

A Word to Some Ladies.

We have received, and continue to receive, letters on a subject which we wish to bring to the notice of our feminine readers.  It is appropriate to Christmas and the end of the last quarter in the year.

They are pathetic letters, appealing on behalf of a struggling class which has been very hard hit by the war and can find no help in any quarter.  We refer to the dressmakers, and particularly those who work for themselves or for small employers, who have no financial resources to carry them over a prolonged period of depression and no alternative lines of business, like the large houses.  Such small employers have struggled to keep their establishments going, but have been compelled to dismiss the girls they employ one after another because there was nothing for them to do.

They appeal not so much on their own behalf as for the girls who have been discharged.  These workless girls—and the dressmakers who work at home on their own account are in the same plight—go to the committees which are administering public funds for the relief of war distress, but they go in vain.  They are sent from one committee to another, with the same result.  There is no work for them, although there may be ladies there doing for nothing work which they would be thankful to do for a very modest wage.  They naturally ask why they should not be employed if the object for which the money is subscribed, and the organisation exists, is to help persons in their position.

We do not suggest that any committee or other organization should give them work, because it would be futile.  What we suggest is that their former customers should rouse themselves for a moment from the absorbing pursuit of war activities and remember the existence of the unfortunate dressmaker.  She is not a person of whose existence it is necessary to remind them in normal times.  They remember her very well indeed, think of her very often, and demand her aid with an importunity which is bestowed upon few other people.  It is not kind or fair to forget her altogether when a superior interest supervenes.  To forget her bills, too, is something much worse, deserving a different description.  We are informed that ladies whose names have appeared in the lists of one or other of the war funds for large subscriptions have not paid their dressmakers' bills.  This is not charity or patriotism; it is affecting both at someone else's expense.  A good resolve for Christmas would be to pay what we owe and to pay the smaller people first

[It was a long-standing practice for well-off people to receive goods from tradespeople before they paid for them, and to run up a bill which would be paid later.  In many situations, the tradespeople were in a very weak position if they were not paid - they could not afford to antagonise their customers by making a fuss.  And there are many references  in literature to people owing large sums and being very slow at paying.  

The article also mentions again the problem of volunteers doing work for nothing when there were women who could be paid to do it. ]  

Condensed Milk for the Front

From the Daily Record (Glasgow) 17th December 1914.

COMFORTS FOR THE TROOPS

Apropos the strength of our periodicals and their value as advertising media, I may mention that the editress of “Home Chat” conceived the idea of sending tins of condensed milk to our soldiers at the front.  The scheme was not only approved by the War Office, but they also undertook to send the milk out for us.

Although the scheme has only been running a little more than a fortnight, and only 1s subscriptions were invited from our readers, you may be interested to learn that we have already received close on £400 from “Home Chat” readers alone.

Ten thousand tins were despatched last week; another ten thousand will be despatched this week; and a further twenty thousand are on order.

I have no doubt that in a very short time we shall have increased this quantity four or five times.

["Home Chat" was a weekly magazine for women, launched in 1895.  The amount asked for was one shilling (1s) - see my earlier post on the currency of the time.] 

Appeal for Bovril

From the Amman Valley Chronicle, 17th December 1914 - a similar appeal appeared in other newspapers. 

BOVRIL FOR THE SOLDIERS

To the Editor of the “Amman Valley Chronicle”.

Sir,
In memory of Lord Roberts, who was ever thinking of the welfare of our troops, I am starting a fund to provide Bovril for our soldiers who are suffering so greatly from exposure in the trenches.  I am offering to the public the Lord Roberts Post Card, which contains a facsimile of the great General's handwriting, his photograph, and his address to recruits.  The entire profits from the sale of these cards will be devoted to the above purpose.  By arrangement with the War Office the Bovril will be dispatched without delay and distributed equally among the soldiers in the trenches.

I am delighted to say that I have already received support which has enabled me to supply over 10,000 cups of Bovril.  Her Majesty the Queen is greatly interested to hear that such a large amount has been sent for the comfort of the soldiers at the front.

A sixpenny Postal Order and a stamped addressed envelope for six "Roberts" Cards will be received by me with sincere and grateful thanks.

Yours faithfully,
GLADYS STOREY.
89, Broadhurst Gardens,
South Hampstead, N.W.

[Gladys Storey was an actress and continued her Bovril Fund throughout the war.  Bovril was (and is) a concentrated meat product - it was intended by Miss Storey to be used to make hot drinks for the troops. 

Lord Roberts had served in the British Army throughout the second half of the 19th century, including leading the British forces in the South African War from 1899 to the end of 1900, and became Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in 1901 until the post was abolished in 1904.  He had died of pneumonia in France, in November, at the age of 82. ]

Seen at the Shops

From The Observer, 13th December 1914.

SEEN AT THE SHOPS

Dickins and Jones, Regent-street.

In paying particular attention to Christmas gifts of a thoroughly serviceable order, Messrs. Dickins and Jones are once again evidencing that fine spirit of discrimination so characteristic of the house.  Emphasis is laid, for example, on warm gifts for soldiers and sailors, a capital khaki wool sleeping helmet, 2s. 6d.; wool jackets, with sleeves for wearing under tunics, 12s. 9d.; natural wool body belts, 2s. 6d.; and warm knitted gloves, 1s. 11½d., being among the most reliable offerings that are equally well adapted to our men serving abroad or at home.

Practicability and daintiness are charmingly allied in a fine ecru lace blouse, mounted over pale pink or ivory ninon, the high back collar finished with a chic little black velvet tie, a possession anyone would prize, and costing only 20s. 6d. Then a most fascinating choice prevails in fashionable neck wear, such as pleated aerophane collars, with velvet tie 4s. 6d., the new striped silk collar, with vest attached for wearing under an open fronted coat, 4s. 11d.; jabots of fine cream lace, 5s. 11d.; and the latest thing in wired Medici collars in cream or black lace, 5s. 6d.

A fur-lined travelling coat, for those who can afford the necessary expenditure of 5 guineas, could not possibly be received with anything but gratitude, as also a smart little ermine cravat at 49s. 6d., or one of the numerous other fur sets procured by Messrs. Dickins and Jones at exceptionally moderate prices.

Appealing, too, is a useful work bag, fitted with rings to sling over the arm, that starts in cretonne at 1s.11d, and rises in value, according to the quality of the material used in its construction, to 7s. 11d, the shape in every instance being the same practical style for holding knitting, &c.  Handbags, always a feature here, start off with a charming little model in dull shades of leather, the interior fitted with inner division, 4s. 11d., a particularly handsome bag, in fine seal leather, with centre division and vanity case, costing 25s. 6d., an extremely nice moire bag, with metal frame, lined rich corded silk and fitted with hanging mirror, striking a happy mean at 13s. 9d.

[There's an interesting contrast between some of the prices given here, and the wages earned in relatively good times by the women featured in the previous post.]

A "Work for Women" Workshop in Bethnal Green

From The Times, 12 December 1914.

THE QUEEN'S WORKROOMS REVISITED.

In the poor districts of London the Central Committee on Women's Employment in connexion with the Queen's Fund have started model workrooms, which are relieving local distress where it is most bitter.  These workrooms do not in any way interfere with existing employment, as the work done is in all cases given away to necessitous women and children.

[At the] Bethnal-green workrooms ... in Viaduct-street, where the work of making cradles for the maternity outfits for poor mothers is in progress, a representative of The Times was given some idea of the dire poverty with which the fund is coping, and also of the great courage of the poor women who come to the labour exchanges and the distress committees, not with the plea that they are hungry and want relief, but with an urgent demand for work.

Seeing them in their little groups at tables in the long room that holds about 75, working away in the main silently, one realizes what the sudden stoppage of work means to many of them....  The trades of these women had been trouser-making, boot sewing, paper folding, feather curling, or French polishing.

From one table in that room one may select a few typical cases.  There was Mrs. P--, a clean-looking old woman of 64, painfully thin.  She was the doyenne of the room and the best worker in it, though the work was new to her.  A trouser-maker by trade, she had lost her work on the Saturday before Bank Holiday—that was the black date in the calendar of most in that room—and for eight weeks, until the Queen's workrooms opened, she had been out of work.  At the best of times she had not been well off.  She used to make 5s. 6d. or 6s. a week finishing trousers at 2¾d. a pair, a farthing of which was stopped for sewing on the buttons by machinery.  Her husband was a cabinetmaker, but he was too old for work, so he was told, and her earnings kept the meagre home together.  When they ceased she had been pawning and selling until the home was almost gone.

A PATHETIC CASE.

Next to her was Mrs. D--, a young-old woman looking wretchedly ill, speaking with difficulty because of an abscess in her mouth, but clean and tidy and strangely patient.  She had been a house-worker, and her husband was in the infirmary with a wasting disease.  But she was intensely proud of him, and was most desirous to have it known how anxious he was to go to the front.  He had been a sergeant in the Surrey Regiment, and after serving his time had become a tea-packer.  “His poor legs are getting fatter,” she said, “and he says he'll soon be able to be up and fight for the old flag again. He's that restless to be up.”

On the other side of her, a strange contrast, was a very pretty girl of 17, the eldest of a family of eight, whose father, a comparatively young man of 39, was a permanent invalid in the infirmary.  She had been a French polisher, but explained that, though cabinet-making was not quite stopped, French polishing was, because the furniture was only polished when it was going to be sold, but not if it had to be stored.  She had been out of work since August Bank Holiday.  A young sister had got some work making “patriotic buttons,” but that was now at an end.  There was a young married woman near her, who got married on the Bank Holiday, the great wedding day of the East-end, and she and her husband had both found themselves out of work ever since.  The room was full of such stories.

At 138, Piccadilly, there is a workroom ...[where] the workers are those who have lost their work owing to the closing of West-end workrooms, and most of them belong to the special class of skilled tailoresses and dressmakers who are suffering from the vaunted economy in buying new clothes of their richer sisters.  In all the workrooms arrangements for cheap meals have been made.

.... Many thousands of homes throughout the country are depending on women's energy, and would long since have been broken up but for the work of the fund; hundreds of workshops have been kept open which would otherwise have been closed; and thousands of women have been given employment which has not displaced other women.  In addition, where work cannot be carried on along strictly commercial lines the products of the women's labour— clothes and so on—are distributed to women even poorer than themselves.

.... The amount reached by the [Queen's "Work for Women"] Fund last night was £96,588.

[The Bank Holiday referred to was August 3rd 1914, the day before the start of the War.  Throughout the country, many workers found themselves without a job to go back to after the holiday.]

Mittens, Caps and Tea Tablets

From the Cheltenham Chronicle, 12th December 1914.

WITH THE 1st GLOUCESTERS.

The following letter has been received from Colonel A. C. Lovett by Colonel J. C. Griffith, of Cheltenham, dated Dec. 5th :—

"Dear Griffith.—I write to thank you all on behalf of the regiment for so kindly sending out to the men such welcome gifts of socks, mittens, etc., etc.  We are all most grateful to our good friends in Cheltenham, and if time permitted we should like to acknowledge their generosity individually.  But I feel sure they all know that this is impossible.  The Government issues are now being made very liberally to each man, who gets a warm undervest, shirt, sweater, belt, hairy Canada coat, great coat, socks, and pants all new.  With all this a man should be warm, but mittens and woollen caps are ever welcome, as they get worn out, also warm socks.  If donations are ever received they could be spent well on tea tablets, soup squares, or small tins of potted meat, rather than on cigarettes, of which we have now two months’ supply.  We have had bright weather lately, but now it is colder, and we expect some snow.

“We are now over 900 strong, with twenty officers, a good lot.  His Majesty inspected us on the 3rd inst. and presented Pte. Law with a Distinguished Conduct Medal. --Again thanking you very much, yours sincerely,
A. C. LOVETT."

[ Along with the previous post, this suggests that the men at the Front  were by now adequately clothed for the winter.  Don't know what a 'hairy Canada coat' was.

A request for plum puddings is conspicuous by its absence - but perhaps December 5th, when the letter was written, was a little early to be thinking of Christmas in the trenches.]


 

Cigarettes and Plum Puddings

From the Lichfield Mercury, 11th December 1914.

COMFORTS FOR THE 2nd SOUTH STAFFORDS.

[Extracts from a letter from Colonel C. S. Davidson, Commanding 2nd Batt. South Stafford Regiment.]

The consignment of comforts, chiefly consisting of warm clothes, that reached us the day after we got into rest camp has more than satisfied the present needs of my men; indeed, I brought out some things my sisters had made and collected and could find no one this morning who would accept anything in the way of shirts, socks, mits, scarfs, cap comforters, etc.  It is no use sending out more comforts in the shape of warm clothing until after January 1st.

The one cry from the men is for cigarettes (Woodbines) and matches.  .  .  .  Small one pound plum puddings in parchment covers would be most acceptable at Christmas time; they would be lighter than in tins and much easier to open, and each man could have one.

[Around Christmas 1914, Punch had at least one cartoon suggesting that the men at the Front were being overwhelmed with gifts of clothing and tobacco.  From this letter, it may have been true that the men of the British Expeditionary Force were by this time adequately equipped for the winter weather.]    

Gifts for Soldiers and Sailors

From the Perthshire Advertiser, 9th December 1914.

Text: 

YOUR GIFT TO A SOLDIER OR A SAILOR

Recognising .the demand for something useful and comforting as an Xmas Present for our defenders, we have encouraged our employees to utilise every spare movement [moment?] during business hours in knitting and making articles that are sure to be appreciated.
They have a range of

Hand-Knitted Socks, Mittens, Belts, Sweaters, Gloves and Sleeping Helmets; also Flannel Bed Jackets and Nightingales, for Wounded in Hospital.

The materials employed are the best for the purpose, and in most cases the prices asked do not include any charge for labour, which is given ungrudgingly.
There is now great difficulty in obtaining yarns, so that we are unable to accept any special orders for the knitted goods.
Along with these Special Articles we show an excellent range of

Knitted Balaclava Helmets, Gloves and Scarves, Woven Belts and Helmets, Sleeping Socks, Khaki Mufflers and Handkerchiefs.

INSPECTION INVITED.

W. BRYDSON, 23 St John Street, Perth.

[It seems an odd idea to have shop assistants knitting items for sale, while at work. It's not clear whether the other items, i.e. not the 'Special Articles', were machine knitted, but presumably they were, if 'Hand-Knitted' was considered to be special and worth stating.

There are occasional mentions at this time of a shortage of knitting yarn.] 

Keating's Powder

From the Huddersfield Examiner, December 8th, 1914.

FROM THE TRENCHES

Writing to his wife, a customer of mine assures her that he gets as much good food as he can eat, more clothes than he can wear, more tobacco and cigarettes than he can smoke.
The only thing he asks her to send him is two boxes of Keating’s insect powder.  There’s a hint, an unpleasant one, I admit, but none the less useful, for those who are anxious for the comfort of the men who are doing the drudgery of the war. – Yours &c.

THOS. B. BLACK.
2, Cecil Street, December 6th, 1914.

Ad for Keating's Powder

["Keating's Powder Kills with Ease, Bugs & Beetles, Moths & Fleas."  Although  the ad doesn't specifically mention lice, I imagine that that was the problem that the soldier writing from the trenches had. ]   

Plum Puddings for Tommy

Extract from Christmas Number of the Lady magazine, quoted in the Dundee Evening Telegraph, 8th December 1914.

PLUM-PUDDINGS FOR SOLDIERS.

I am firmly convinced these wholesome puddings would be what Tommy declares “filling,” and many a housewife could spare the materials to make at least one to send out with her usual parcel of shirts and knitted comforts.  Here is my recipe.  It is a very homely one, but if you boil the pudding for six or seven hours it looks rich and tastes delicious:—Two pounds of bread-crumbs (stale bread being best), one pound of flour, one pound of apples (weighed after peeling and slicing), one pound of chopped suet, half a pound of currants, half a pound of raisins, half a pound of sultanas, a quarter of a pound of candied peel, a level tablespoonful of ground ginger, the juice of a lemon and the minced rind of two, half a pound of Demerara sugar, two ounces of almonds cut into small cubes, and two eggs, sufficient milk to mix.  Mix breadcrumbs, suet, and flour, add the fruit, ginger, chopped peel, and almonds.  The latter ingredient is not strictly necessary, but improves the puddings.  Add the beaten eggs, the juice of the lemon, the sliced apples (remember to cut them thin), the lemon rind, then mix to the ordinary consistency with milk.  Put into small greased moulds, cover with a greased paper, then with a cloth, and boil tor six to eight hours.  Take out of the moulds and tie up in clean, dry, floured cloths.  When sending abroad I pack mine in a cardboard box with thin sides and fill up with shavings of paper.  As they are made in small sizes Tommy will need only to slip them into his pan of boiling water and heat them through.  I am sure our brave boys will bless you if you send a few of these to be added to their ordinary menu, as one recipient wrote, “They are uncommonly good cut in chunks and eaten cold; and you've no idea how hungry a man gets out here.”

Mittens for Breconshire Soldiers

From the Brecon & Radnor Express, 5th December 1914.

WAR CLOTHING DEPOT. 

Will the knitters of Breconshire help again and make 300 pairs of mittens for 2nd Bn., S.W., [South Wales Borderers?] now marching into Germany.  Germany is very cold.  Col. G. Raikes, D.S.O., is begging for mittens.  There is wool at 89, The Watton, Brecon, and here is the recipe for knitting:--
Eight pairs should be made of 1 lb. wool.  Please begin at once.

Pattern for Mittens :-- 4 No. 12 needles. Cast on 48 stitches. Knit 24 rows 3 purl 3 plain.  Knit 20 rows plain.  To make hole for thumb.  Turn and purl all 3 needles.  Turn and knit all 3 needles (as for back of heel in sock).  Do this 12 times.  Knit plain all round 6 rows, 12 rows, 3 purl, 3 plain, cast off loosely.

ALICE M. DE WINTON.

[Miss de Winton was evidently a woman of few words. I think the mittens are intended to be knit in the round, although she doesn't make that clear.

I'm sure the South Wales Borderers were nowhere near marching into Germany at this point in the war - or for several more years.]

Clothing for Sailors

From the Sunderland Daily Echo, 4^th December 1914.

Regular Fat Boys.

Stay-at-homes who feel the cold may get some notion that it is colder in the North Sea by glancing at this list of clothing worn by officers of the Fleet at present: --

Thick woollen underclothing.
Chamois leather waistcoat.
Flannel shirt.
Sweater.
Lifebuoy waistcoat.
Naval tunic.
Waterproof.
Duffel overcoat of heavy frieze.
Muffler.
Balaclava helmet.
Oilskin hood.

"We do look regular fat boys with all these on,” said an officer.

Shoddy in Khaki

From the Huddersfield Examiner, Thursday December 3, 1914.

SHODDY IN KHAKI

SPIRITED DEFENCE OF HEAVY WOOLLEN DISTRICT FIRMS

The recent criticism in the House of Commons by Sir Joseph Watson regarding the quality of khaki made in “the home of shoddy” was referred to at a meeting of the Dewsbury Chamber of Commerce, which was attended by Sir Mark Oldroyd, who explained that he was willing to be catechised by any member of the Chamber.

He added that there was some foundation for the allegations regarding the inferior quality of some of the khaki supplied, but it was not sent from the Heavy Woollen District, and Sir Joseph Watson’s insinuation was that the Heavy Woollen District should be avoided.

In the course of a discussion it was freely admitted that khaki, which had been submitted by manufacturers to the War Office and rejected, had afterwards been accepted from other quarters for the use of the Territorials.  It was, however, stoutly denied that the cloth in question came from the Heavy Woollen District, one member asserting that it was made in the Leeds District.

It was further stated that more wool had been used in the Heavy Woollen District during the past two or three months than ever in the history of the trade, and as a proof that shoddy was not being used in making khaki, it was pointed out the whilst spinning machines were running night and day, rag machines for the manufacture of shoddy had practically nothing to do.

[Shoddy is cloth made from recycled wool, and Dewsbury was one of the main centres of production. The Heavy Woollen District is an area of woollen manufacture consisting of  Dewsbury, Batley, Heckmondwike, Ossett, and surrounding smaller towns.  It seems a typical reaction to say that poor quality cloth must have come from  Leeds, i.e. blame the neighbours.]        

Lyddite Works Explosion

From the Huddersfield Examiner, Thursday December 3, 1914.

LYDDITE WORKS EXPLOSION

---o---

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT NEAR HECKMONDWIKE

-----

SIX KILLED, FOUR MISSING, AND TWELVE INJURED

-----

Six persons were killed, four are reported missing, and twelve have been more or less seriously injured as the result of the disastrous explosion of lyddite on Wednesday at White Lea, a district situated between Heckmondwike, Dewsbury and Batley.

The works, which were owned by Messrs. Henry Ellison, Ltd., were wrecked, considerable damage was done to buildings in the vicinity, windows more than a mile away were smashed, and the explosion itself could be heard as far away as Leeds and Bradford.

It appears that three lyddite magazines exploded in a field near the works.  So terrific was the explosion, however, that not only were the whole of the works involved in ruin, but property within a radius of  hundreds of yards suffered damage.  …. [list of dead missing and injured follows.]

Among those employed on the premises was Jim Gath, the famous forward who played with Yorkshire when the star of the Batley Football Club was in the ascendant.  The discovery of his insurance card in the remains of a coat among the ruins led to the assumption that he had been killed, but it was afterwards discovered that he had gone quietly home to nurse injuries which were not serious.

Messrs. Ellison’s factory was situated on the brow of a hill overlooking the Spen Valley, and the force of the blast, travelling straight across the intervening gap, smashed in shop windows at the other side two and a half miles away. ....

The explosion obliterated all trace of its origin, and as presumably the men nearest the magazines lost their lives, it is very doubtful whether the cause will ever be ascertained.  The manufacture of explosives was not a new undertaking at these works.  Lyddite was made there during the South African War.  The production of powerful explosives had been resumed since the outbreak of the present war and an extension of the premises was being made in order better to cope with the work.  Lyddite, the modern military high explosive, is chemically much the same as picric acid.  The consignment of picric acid – a yellow solid crystalline – stored in the magazines had only just been prepared for delivery to the Government.

A 'Work for Women' Workroom

From The Times, December 1st 1914

THE QUEEN AND EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN.

The Queen yesterday visited the workroom which has been established at the Royal Institute of Public Health in Russell-square as a branch of Queen Mary's Needlework Guild.....

Her Majesty inspected the workroom, in which 30 girls and women were engaged in making and remodelling clothes, and conversed with many of the workers.  In the library of the institute a number of garments were displayed.  Some of these were new, but others had been remodelled.  There were petticoats made out of tea-gowns, a girl's dress made out of a man's dressing-gown, and, notably, a number of clothes for boys and girls which had been fashioned from golf capes.  Some hundreds of garments have been sent from the workroom to our soldiers and sailors and to the Belgian refugees.

The undertaking has an excellent educational value, as the women to whom employment is given are taught the work of remaking clothes.  The Queen expressed her appreciation and approval of the work that is being done.

Mittens for the Troops

From the Glasgow Herald, 1st December 1914.

COMFORTS FOR THE TROOPS.

1st A. and S. [Argyll and Sutherland] Highlanders. – Mrs. Adair Campbell, Rockbank, Helensburgh, has been asked by Colonel Henderson of the 1st A. and S. Highlanders to collect 400 pairs of mittens for men of the regiment, which has just returned from India and is shortly going to the front.  All contributions from work-parties or from those interested in the regiment will be most gratefully received at the above address.

Christmas Fare. – The Scottish Branch of the Queen Mary Needlework Guild (St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association), 180 West Regent Street, Glasgow, will be very grateful for gifts of plum puddings and fruit cakes to be forwarded to our Expeditionary Force and Home Regiments for Christmas.  It is advisable that the puddings should be cooked and tied in a buttered cloth, and packed in cardboard boxes, and sent in before December 5.  It is felt that such gifts will be appreciated by our soldiers, and the making of an extra pudding will not entail much extra trouble.  

How to Knit Sock Heels

From the Manchester Courier, 28th November 1914. 

HOW TO KNIT SOLDIERS' SOCKS

Now that most of us are spending the winter evenings knitting comforts  for our gallant soldiers who are fighting for us on the Continent, it may be useful to give a few hints on the gusset heel which is recommended to stocking knitters by an expert, because it is not a blistering pattern, and is eminently suitable for men on the march.  To make the gusset heel:

Divide the stitches in half, leave one half on two needles for front of foot, with the other half knit 3 inches for back of heel, one row plain and one purl alternately, remembering to slip the first stitch of each row.  Now in plain row, if you have 36 stitches, knit 21 (i.e., 3 more than half), slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit 1, turn, slip 1, purl 7, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn.  Slip 1, knit 8, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit 1, turn.  Slip 1, purl 9, purl 2 together, purl 1, turn.

Continue thus, taking 2 fresh stitches each time, till you have used all the stitches, pick up the side stitches, and knit the foot as usual.

All wool should be scalded with boiling water before winding, to remove the loose dye and shrink the wool.  Do not knit a seam stitch.  Do not make knots, knots make blisters; to join on fresh yarn lay the two ends together and knit four or five stitches with double yarn.

[Another terse and obscure set of sock-knitting instructions.  I've been trying to visualise how the heel works, but it's hard to do without actually knitting it - and I don't know what 'pick up side stitches' means.  Where from? How many?  What do you do next?  But if you were an experienced sock knitter, who would know how to 'knit the foot as usual', perhaps it would make sense.  

The recommendation to scald wool before starting to knit is interesting - if it was essential to do that, why didn't the spinners do it?  It would be much easier to add an extra step onto the manufacturing process than to oblige every knitter to do it themselves.]   

Princess Mary’s Gift Book

From the Dewsbury Reporter, 28th November 1914.

PRINCESS MARY’S GIFT BOOK

There has just been published at 2s 6d a very entertaining volume, proceeds on the sale of which will be given to the Queen’s Work for Women Fund.  Its literary contributors include Sir J. M. Barrie, who writes “A Holiday in Bed”, George Birmingham, Sir A. Conan Doyle, Mr A. E. W. Mason, and Mr. Rudyard Kipling (with a poem, “Big Steamers”).  The frontispiece is a capital reproduction of Mr. Shannon’s portrait of Princess Mary, and other illustrations (many in colour) are by such well known men as Messrs. C. E. Brook, C. N. Henry, Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, Norman Wilkinson, Joseph Simpson, and Claude Shepperson.  Several charity volumes appear annually in aid of worthy causes, but it may be safely said that in this case the combination of talent will make the book as memorable as the situation that has called it forth.

[The Gift Book was aimed at the Christmas market, I think.  An earlier report on its printing had appeared in The Observer on  November 15th, 1914:]

The demand for “Princess Mary's Gift Book” is so great that the printers are working night and day on the first enormous edition.  As some evidence of the interest taken by the bookselling trade in “Princess Mary's Gift Book” it may be mentioned that Messrs. W. H. Smith and Son have placed a first order for a minimum of 60,000 copies (one of the largest first orders ever given for a book), while Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Co.'s first order is for minimum of 25,000 copies.

Get Your Eyes Tested

From the Morpeth Herald and Reporter, 27th November 1914. 

Text:

 During the War - Most people are doing some sewing or knitting for the comfort of our brave soldiers fighting in the trenches this cold weather.  Those who find the work tedious or causing headache should call any Wednesday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,  on J. W. Platten, D.B.O.A., London, Sight Testing Specialist, of 67, Beach Avenue, Whitley Bay, 100, Newgate Street, Morpeth.  Sight Testing FREE.

Work Amongst the Women

From the Huddersfield Examiner, 26th November, 1914

[Extracts from a much longer article.]

WORK AMONGST THE WOMEN.

MUCH ACTIVITY CENTRALISED AT THE PAROCHIAL HALL.

...The members of the Huddersfield and District Women’s Committee for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers and Sailors arranged to be “at home” at the Parochial Hall on Tuesday and again to-day.  At the first of the series of four “At Homes” which took place on Tuesday afternoon, the Mayoress (who is president of the Women’s Committee) presided over a very large gathering of ladies. .....

A VAST UNDERTAKING

Mrs. Demetriadi read the report [of the work of the Committee].... She invited all present to inspect the work rooms below, particularly the Belgian refugee clothing room, where a capable lot of workers, under the supervision of Mrs. Crowther and Miss Willans, had done an enormous amount of work.  From that room more than 320 Belgian refugees now in Huddersfield had been clothed.....
In the main rooms an enormous number of garments had been cut out, despatched to the various work centres, and returned made up.  Mrs. Marshall and Mrs. Guy Crosland had cut out and arranged the work, and Mrs. Kaye had searched Huddersfield over in buying wool for socks, mittens, etc.
Goods had been sent all over the British Isles, to the army in France, to the navy, and to all the Red Cross societies, British, French, and Belgian, and to the St. John Ambulance Society.  She hoped that many ladies would undertake to knit jerseys, for which Lady Jellicoe had appealed on behalf of the men in the navy....  
The committee hoped that the energies of the ladies would not be relaxed.  The women could not fight, but they could see that the men were well provided with the necessities of life, to prevent as much as possible death from pneumonia, exposure, and cold.

STITCH, STITCH, STITCH

Miss Hickson [reported on] the work of the Needlework Guild Sub-committee. She stated that forty districts, extending as far as Holmfirth, Marsden, and Delph, were working in conjunction with the guild, and material for making garments had been distributed amongst 400 individual workers. Very valuable assistance had been given to the committee by several clothing firms, whose employees had cut out the garments. Gifts averaged about 1,000 weekly. Difficulty had been experienced in obtaining knitting wool, and the only way of obtaining sufficiently large quantities had been by ordering direct from wholesale firms. All flannel, etc., and as much wool as possible, had been bought from local tradespeople.  The needlework depot had been opened as a receiving and forwarding agency for the front and the Navy, and in connection with that department a sixpenny fund had been started in order to buy wool for mufflers and mittens for the soldiers and sailors.  The total number of articles sent away was 22,644, consisting of 6,650 bandages, 3,519 pairs of socks, 2,292 flannel shirts, 202 mufflers, 261 dressing gowns, also bed-jackets, helmets, mittens, etc., but such things as cigarettes, writing paper, postcards, etc., were not included in the figure.....  The Needlework Committee was still working as enthusiastically as ever, and was prepared to continue as long as there was need, and they hoped to receive the same generous support as in the past.

FOR THE REFUGEES.

Miss Willans read the report of the Belgian Refugee Clothing Committee... Parcels of all sizes and descriptions had poured in containing a tremendous assortment of clothing of every description, from a baby’s cap to the contents of the lockers of a large golf club.  Splendid gifts of cloth had been received from various manufacturers, as well as special articles of clothing, boots, etc., from manufacturers and various shops in the town.  The contents of the parcels had either been given away to the refugees in the town or sent away.  Altogether twelve consignments of clothing and two rolls of cloth, amounting to 8,224 garments, had been sent away either to the central depot in London or to other towns....

GIFTS FOR TERRITORIALS

Mrs. Cooper read a report stating that on the mobilisation of the 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment the wives and relatives of the officers decided to raise funds to provide underclothing for the non-commissioned officers and men of the battalion.  A committee was formed to carry out the work from the recruiting area, viz., Huddersfield, Mirfield, Kirkburton, Shepley, Holmfirth, and Meltham...
The committee has already dispatched 1,299 flannel shirts, 1,495 pairs of woollen socks, 1,007 pairs of canvas shoes, and various articles, viz., helmets, towels, body-belts, scarves, mittens, etc.  There was another consignment at the Drill Hall ready to be forwarded, consisting of 1,117 flannel shirts, 1,106 pairs of woollen socks, and various other articles...

Afternoon tea was kindly given by Mrs. F. W. Sykes, and the decorations of the hall were provided by the lady members of the Lindley Golf Club, who have also sent 240 garments to Lady Jellicoe for the use of the men in the Navy. Miss Nancy Dyson, in costume, recited a topical composition by Mr. Arnold W. Sykes, entitled “For the boys at the front.”  The ladies were also “At Home” in the evening.

[The Women's Committee had evidently expanded the scope of their work from Sick and Wounded Soldiers and Sailors to include sailors at sea, soldiers at the front, soldiers in training (the Territorials), and Belgian refugees.]   

Comforts for the Seaforth Highlanders

From the Perthshire Advertiser, 25th November 1914. 

COMFORTS FOR SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS

The Work Committee of the Seaforth Highlanders' Association, of which Mrs Pelham Burn is President, have despatched during the past two months the following comforts to the men in France:— 5000 tins of tobacco, 4500 pipes, 40,000 cigarettes, 3740 pairs of socks, 1380 shirts, 1083 pairs of mittens, 209 mufflers, 541 under-vests, 717 belts, 500 handkerchiefs, 295 helmets, 720 cardigans and jerseys, 2000 towels, and a large supply of chocolate, sweets, Butter Scotch, boric powder, vaseline, soap, notepaper, writing tablets, safety lighters, matches, and dubbin.

The following letter has been received from an officer acknowledging the gifts sent:—"Consignments of pipes, tobacco, socks with presents have arrived lately but we have been so busy fighting that I fear it is impossible to have let you know of each consignment as it has arrived, but from the number I think all must have come.  I cannot tell you how deeply grateful the men are for these comforts and for the knowledge that those at home are thinking of them; on behalf of them all I beg to thank you and all the workers who have so generously contributed and worked their thoughts and well wishes for us all so labouriously with their knitting and sewing needles.--Yours, etc. (Signed) E. CAMPION for O.C. 2nd Seaforths.

Mrs Pelham Burn is very grateful to the many friends who have already so generously sent her donations in cash and quantities of clothing, but the number of men who must be provided for is so large that further comforts are required to enable the men to face the severity of a Continental winter under service conditions.

Parcels and remittances should be addressed to her at the Seaforth Highlanders' Association Club, 12 Albany Street, Edinburgh.

[The numbers here are an interesting indication of the volume of 'comforts' that a single regiment could easily consume.

The 1st Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders was in India at the start of the war, and arrived in the south of France early in October, while the 2nd Battalion had been in France since late August.  (Information from here.)  Presumably, Mrs. Pelham Burn was by November attempting to supply both Battalions with additional comforts when the War Office issue was insufficient.   The two Battalions together would have consisted of approximately 2,000 men at the start of the war.  Equipping them for the winter must have been a daunting task - and several more Battalions had already been formed and were in training.] 

Knitting Wools in Stock

Text:

 Knight & Lee, Ltd., Have a Stock of Navy, Grey, Natural, and Khaki Wools for Knitting Comforters, Gloves, Socks and Belts for our Soldiers and Sailors.  Knitting needles in bone, wood, steel, and celluloid.  25, Palmerston Road, Southsea.

Extras for the Swansea Battalion

From the Cambria Daily Leader, 21st November 1914. 

6th (Service) Battalion Welsh Regiment

SPECIAL SUPPLIES FUND.

“We must see to it that our men go in want of nothing that we can supply.” 

A Committee has been formed for the purpose of affording such assistance as may be desired to the men now serving abroad with the 6th (Service) Battalion Welsh Regiment.  The men are performing arduous duties in the King's service, and are far away from places where they can get the little "extras" to which they have been used, and which are so necessary to their comfort.

....There are many people who rightly regard the 6th Welsh as the especial Battalion of Swansea and the immediate district.  It is felt, however, that the many relatives and friends of the men would like to assist in a movement for assuring to them direct supplies from time to time.

A Ladies’ Committee..... is at work for the purpose of providing shirts, socks, sleeping helmets, mittens, belts and other suchlike articles, whilst a Men's Committee is formed for the purpose of assisting to raise funds to further the work of the committee, to provide tobacco, &c., and to render such help as may be required in other directions from time to time.

A Central Bureau is opened at “Leader” Buildings, where gifts in money and in kind will be received and where assistance will be rendered in sending for relatives small parcels in a manner that will ensure the most speedy and certain delivery to the men for whom the parcels are intended....

[The 6th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment was a Territorial Battalion, and was serving in France by November 1914, but not, apparently, in the front line.

It's noticeable that while the Ladies' Committee had a very clear role, i.e. sewing and knitting, the role of the Men's Committee is less clearly defined, including the vague 'rendering such help as may be required from time to time'.]   

Winter Clothing for Soldiers

From the Glasgow Herald, 18th November 1914

COMFORTS FOR TROOPS

For Indian Soldiers. – Mrs. Steel, the novelist, makes an earnest appeal to Scotsmen and women to aid her Indian Soldiers’ Comforts Fund.  Under her supervision warm garments of all sorts are made up from correct native patterns by out-of-work business women, who are paid for their labour, thus benefiting a section of the community who have been very hard hit by the war, as well as supplying comforts to our Indian troops.  Donations, no matter how small, will be gratefully received by Mrs. Steel at 12 Henrietta Street, Strand, London.

Socks for the Territorials.—The committee of the organisation for the supply of socks to the Edinburgh and Leith Territorials has issued an interim report... The work continued to progress with great vigour, and on October 24 it was announced that no fewer than 16,583 pairs of socks had been sent in. ....The total number of socks to date [is] up to almost 20,000 pairs.....  As the demand for wool was greater than the supply, the work was by no means finished.  Constant appeals were being made by commanding officers for socks for their battalions, and as winter advances more supplies would be required.

 Gloves Wanted. – Fighting a ding-dong battle in a blizzard is a severe test of our soldiers’ endurance.  The additional warmth of a pair of woollen gloves will make all the difference in the fighting capacity of each man.  Of the £25,000 required to provide the entire British Expeditionary Force with these comforts, nearly £7000 has been subscribed, and an earnest and urgent appeal is made to the public for the remainder.  Fifty thousand gloves and mittens have been despatched already.  All letters and parcels should be addressed to the Grand Duke Michael, 39 Portland Place, London, W.

[Mrs Steel is presumably Flora Annie Steel, who wrote novels set in India, having lived there for many years.  

Who was the Grand Duke Michael, and why was he collecting gloves for the British Army?  I have no idea.] 

Wives' Club opened in Swansea

From the Cambria Daily Leader, 17th November 1914.

TO CHEER THE WOMEN-FOLK.

CLUB OPENED AT SWANSEA FOR WIVES OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

On Monday afternoon a new venture was started in Swansea.  The occasion was that of the opening of a club at the Central Hall for the wives and mothers of our soldiers and sailors, where they can go in and have light refreshments at a very moderate cost, such as tea, coffee, or cocoa at ½d. per cup,  see all the latest papers, have a little music, and also have a little chat, to try and forget their troubles for a while.

The room to be given over for the use of the club has been comfortably furnished; a nice piano has been placed there, and the place made bright with the Allies’ flags and flowers.  The prime mover in this new venture is Mrs. Watkin Williams, aided by her husband, the Rev. W. Watkin Williams and a committee consisting of [several] ladies...

The club was formally declared open on Monday afternoon.  The Mayoress (Mrs. Dan Jones) presided, being supported by Mrs. Corker (ex-Mayoress), Mrs. Morgan B. Williams, Mrs. Watkin Williams...   Others present included ….

Mrs. Watkin Williams explained the objects of the club, stating that though a great deal had been done for our brave soldiers and sailors, and rightly so, nothing had been done in Swansea for their wives and mothers. She hoped that the club would be a place of cheer for them.

A GREAT BOON.

The Mayoress (Mrs. Dan Jones), in formally declaring the club open, said she sincerely hoped that good use would be made of it, and felt that it would certainly cheer the wives, sweethearts, and mothers of those who were fighting for us.

Mrs. Morgan B. Williams said she thought the club would be a great boon for those who would use it, and speaking on behalf of Lady Mond, she could assure them that it had her full sympathy and support.  Mrs. Williams also promised to help in any way possible.  Miss Llewelyn spoke on behalf of Lady Llewelyn, who was not well enough to appear upon the platform, saying that Lady Llewelyn was very glad to hear of the club being opened, wished them all success, and assured them of her full sympathy.  Among others who spoke were ... Mrs. Walter Watkins (president of the British Women's Temperance Association)....

During the afternoon solos were sung by Miss Hetty Davies and Miss Williams (Dulais House), and a pianoforte solo was given by Mrs. Jones.  The accompanist was Miss F. Jones Sketty. Afterwards tea was served to all present.

[Of all the ladies mentioned, and several others whose names I have omitted, there is no suggestion that any of them will use the club themselves - it is clearly intended for other women.  There is no hint, either, that anyone has asked the other women whether they want a social club, and if so, what it should offer.  

The mention of the British Women's Temperance Association makes me wonder whether the hidden agenda is to keep working class wives of soldiers out of the pub - there was a concern at the time that some wives were spending some of their separation allowance on drink, and this was considered immoral and unpatriotic.] 

Glasgow Appeal for the National Relief Fund

From the Glasgow Herald, 16th November 1914. 

GLASGOW IN 1914

Changes the War Has Made

Listen to the Financial Call

To realise the difference in the spirit which pervades Glasgow as compared with the earlier years of the century one has only to dip into that very racy little volume, "Glasgow in 1901."  If a leisured class exists in Glasgow, say the authors, "it contains only nine-and-twenty persons, and these are not professors at all, but infantry officers stationed at Maryhill Barracks.  And this is why the military man, whom of a Saturday afternoon you recognise by his flannels, his straw hat, and his fox terrier, has an air so wearied and listless . . . .  Think of it!  Alone of 750,000 people, he of the straw hat and flannels has no 'job.' "

In Glasgow in 1914 one of the men who has more jobs than he can very well overtake is the military man.  If you live near a drill hall in the city you may hear bugles and words of command practically all day long.  And if you were on the streets of Glasgow on Saturday afternoon you would hear the tread of the young city men who have given their services to Kitchener's Army and who hope soon to be in the trenches fighting for the safety of their native land.  Everywhere every day you may see recruits who have given up everything in response the the call for men.  "I want more men," says Lord Kitchener, and Glasgow is giving them. 

If you cannot answer Lord Kitchener's appeal you may answer ours.  We want more money, and the more men Lord Kitchener gets the more money we shall need.  The spirit of Glasgow in 1914 is vastly different from that of 1901.  There is great generosity, great consciousness of the fact that we live in an epoch-making time.  Let the financial response to the calls of the hour be at last as noble as the personal one.  Keep up your subscriptions!

Although our week-end collection is not up to the average, it has to be remembered that this is a time at which many demands are made upon the pockets of all classes.  It is therefore very creditable to the many works staff who have consistently subscribed to the Fund that their weekly contributions continue "as usual." From Constantinople we have received a contribution of 100 shillings from Mr A. S. Duncan, a Scot in the service of the Telephone Company of the Turkish capital.  We acknowledge to-day £132 2s, which brings the total since the opening of our Branch of the Prince's Fund to £33,371 1s 3d. 

All Subscriptions should be addressed to

THE GLASGOW HERALD

(National Relief Fund),

Buchanan Street,
 Glasgow.

[This is just one in a long series of appeals for the National Relief Fund published in the Glasgow Herald - an earlier one appears here.  The writer  has a lively style and is endlessly inventive in thinking of new ways to ask for money.]  

   

The Queen's Appeal Now Closed

From The Observer, 15th November 1914.

QUEEN'S FUND FOR BELTS AND SOCKS.

The fund dealing with the Queen's appeal for belts and socks for the troops at the front is now closed.... Her Majesty has intimated her desire to re-open the appeal early in 1915 to send similar or other comforts to our sailors and soldiers.

Half a million belts and socks have already been landed in France and the response to Her Majesty's appeal has been so great that there is a large surplus.  The Queen, at the further request of Lord Kitchener, has decided to place a considerable portion of this surplus at the disposal of the Principal Medical Officer at the War Office.

Eighty thousand knitted belts for the Queen's present to the troops at the front have been procured through the Central Committee on Women’s Employment.  Work has been found by this means for large numbers of women in Kidderminster, Stroud, Belfast, London and other places.


[The Central Committee on Women's Employment was responsible for spending the money raised by the Queen's "Work for Women" Fund.  I assume that the 80,000 knitted belts procured by the Committee were machine-knitted - they are simply a tube of knitting, with no shaping.  They would be easy to make by machine, and very tedious to knit by hand.]  

From Weldon's Practical Needlework No. 346. 

Sweaters again

From The Times, 14 November 1914. 

SWEATERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—May I trespass on your space once more to answer the many inquiries as to whether I am still dyeing sweaters and sending them to the troops?  I am indeed.  In fact the adjutant's acknowledgments of those I have sent are such that I have no choice now but to go on to the end of the war.  I am promised sweaters from Canada and Ceylon—which is pleasantly symbolic if a little disconcerting to my efforts to maintain some equality of thickness.  But this good help must be long upon the road.

I asked for 150, and your readers sent me 5,000.  May I now modestly ask for another 150 —with the same result?  And if all the old sweaters in the British Isles have already been given to me or other persistent beggars, will not more of your readers follow the generous example of some and send me a few new ones?

Let me here acknowledge nearly 400 that have come with no deducible means of acknowledgment.  Let me acknowledge them in a sentence of a letter just to hand.  “I wish to write once again before we move to tell you how immensely the men appreciate the sweaters—they are quite the most useful garments they could have."  Well, the vats are empty but not the cash-box.  May I not go ahead till the Colonial help comes?

Yours faithfully,
JOHN PENOYRE.
8, King's Bench-walk, Inner Temple, E.C., Nov. 13.

[This is the next in a continuing series of letters from John Penoyre asking for old sweaters - previous appeals are here and here.  

A card sent out by John Penoyre acknowledging the gift of a sweater is shown below, from an archive at the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster.]