Rushden Research Group: Wartime Snippets WWI 1918

Wartime in Rushden WWI

1918

Rushden Echo, 18th January 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

Soup Kitchen - Last night, at a meeting dealing with the food problem, Mr. G. W. Coles stated that the Rushden Co-operative Society had decided to open soup kitchens for the children and to sell the soup at as reasonable price as possible. The Society did not mean to make a halfpenny profit on it, their idea being that the children, at any rate, should have sufficient food to keep them warm.

Rushden Echo, 1st February 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

An Interesting Photograph has been received by Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Button, of Rushden, from their son, Mr. Percy Button, who is a wireless telegraphist on board the S.S. ---. The photograph which was taken off the coast of German East Africa, shows Mr. Button on an “oil tank,” reading a copy of the “Rushden Echo.” The particular issue he is reading contains a report of the lamented death of Lieut. Thomas Litchfield, of Rushden, one of his old schoolfellows. Mr. Button is able occasionally to pay a visit to an old Rushdenite in the person of Mr. A. E. Long. The photograph may be seen in the “Rushden Echo” Office window.

Rushden Echo, 8th February 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

A Soup Kitchen, intended mainly for the children of the town, was opened by the Co-operative Society on Wednesday and Thursday, and 36 gallons of excellent soup was dispensed at 3d. a quart. The kitchen will be opened (at the High-street stores) each Wednesday and Thursday from 11.30 to 12.30, until further notice.

Rushden Echo, 22nd February 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

An Army Biplane, bearing the inscription “Presented by His Majesty the Sultan of Johore,” descended in Mr. Ashwell’s field off the Wellingborough-road on Tuesday about 2p.m., and was placed under the guard of men of the Rushden Platoon Volunteers. The men, in reliefs, remained on guard throughout the whole of Tuesday and Wednesday nights and yesterday.

Northampton Mercury March 29^th 1918, transcribed by Susan Manton

New time – the putting on of the clocks came as almost second nature on Saturday night. There is a story of a “Special” who forgot and failed to get to drill, but most folk were too anxious to gain an hour’s daylight in the evening to forget the clock.

Rushden Echo, 12th July 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

War-Time Plots at Rushden - Prizes for the Cultivation of Waste Land
The judging of the crops on the war-time plots of land in Rushden has resulted as follows:-

Windmill field—Section1: 1st W. Fitzhugh, 2nd F. Reynolds, 3rd H. Wood, 4th Powell, 5th W. Cox. Section 2: 1st J. Harlow, 2nd J. Skellham, 3rd R. Pearson, 4th G. Smith, 5th A. King.

Bedford-road—1st J. F. Cook, 2nd A. G. Payne, 3rd Johnson.

Victoria-road and High-street—1st B. Willmott, 2nd F. Clark, 3rd A. Pettitt, 4th E. Lawson, 5th Miss Wooding.

Upper Queen-street—Left hand side: 1st J. Stainbridge, 2nd J. Wildman, 3rd T. W. Leach, 4th H. Auger. Right hand side: 1st L. Turner, 2nd J. Reynolds, 3rd F. Denton, 4th J. Herbert. Large pieces: J. W. Watson.

Allen-road and Lawton-road—Section 1: 1st A. Odell, 2nd L. Wilby, 3rd S. Pearson, 4th T. Packwood. Section 2: 1st J. Dickens, 2nd A. Endersby, 3rd J. Sharpe, 4th E. Brown.

Blinco-road—Section 1: 1st W. Bazeley, 2nd R. Gilbert, 3rd J. Wrighton, 4th J. Odell.

Blinco-road (Section 2) and Portland-road—1st S. W. Bull, 2nd J. Wrighton, 3rd E. Knighton, 4th A. Bazeley.

Carnegie-street—No 1 Section: 1st Lovell.

Rushden Echo, 13^th September 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

Coal and Wood Competitions—In connection with the Hospital Parade, the coal (137lbs. 14ozs.) was won by Mrs Upton, junr. The wood (1ton 2cwt. 8lbs.) was won by Mr. T. Perkins.

The Rushden Echo, 1^st November, 1918

Rushden Urban District Council
The Joint Area Food Control Committee - Sharp Criticism

Wednesday, present Councillors T. Wilmott, J.P. (chairman), F. Knight, J.P. (vice-chairman), C. Bates, J. S. Clipson, J. Spencer, J.P., T. Swindall, J. Claridge, J.P., C.C., J. Hornsby, F. Green, and J. Tomlin, with the clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), and the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin).

The meeting was held to appoint three members of the Joint Area Food Control Committee.

The Clerk said that the business of the Joint Area Committee had not been carried out at all in a satisfactory manner. It was expressly laid down in the Order that arrangements should be made to arrive at a basis on which the payment of expenditure should be made. No scheme had been arrived at, but a precept had been issued for £110 for Rushden’s share. The Order allowed only expenses authorised by the Food Controller and the appointing authority, which was the Council. The Rushden Council had not authorised the expenditure of any money, and the Order stated that the appointing authority should only bear the expenses authorised by it.

Mr. Spencer said the amount paid was fair. It was what Rushden had spent, with the Joint Committee expenses added in proportion. The mistake was in consenting to the Joint Committee being appointed.

Mr. Bates asked if it would be possible for Rushden now to withdraw.

The Clerk said they could not withdraw, and he did not think they would get any money back.

The members of the Joint Committee, Messrs. Claridge, Spencer, and Bates, were re-elected.

Rushden Echo, 13th December 1918

Milk Prices—At a meeting of the Rural District Food Control Committee, the Executive Officer stated that dairymen from Wilby, Wollaston, and Irchester had forwarded letters complaining that they were paying 2s. 3d. per gallon for milk and were selling at 8d. per quart, whereas at Rushden, Higham Ferrers, and Wellingboro' the retailers were paying 2s. 3d. per gallon and were allowed to sell at 9d. per quart. They wished to be put on the same footing. It was decided to recommend to the Joint Area Committee that those paying 2s. 3d. per gallon be allowed to sell at 9d. per quart.

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