This letter appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette on 23rd December 1914. It is interesting how the expectation of the writer was that every recruit would wear gloves and carry a cane when off duty.
The King and Soldiers Gloves.
Sir,
I notice the King has sent £25 to the fund for supplying gloves and mittens to the troops, which was started by the Grand Duke Michael, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir. F. Ponsonby, Keeper of the Privy Purse, in forwarding a cheque to the Grand Duke, writes; “The King is glad to hear what a success the fund has been and how grateful the troops are for the gloves which have been supplied to them.”
May I express a hope that all recruits will make a point of wearing gloves and carrying canes when they are off duty, it is the custom for the troops in garrison towns to do this and we want the new soldiers of the King (Kitchener’s Army) to cultivate briskness and smartness I every detail.
Yours faithfully
Veteran.
Eastbourne, Monday.
Showing posts with label War Fund Raising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label War Fund Raising. Show all posts
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The National Christmas Card.
The Eastbourne Gazette published the following article in November 1914 encouraging it’s readers to purchase the new “National Christmas Card" with proceeds going to the Prince of Wales fund.
The National Christmas Card.
WE have just received a copy of the National Christmas Card, to be sold for the benefit of the Prince of Wales fund.
The first page, entitled “Defenders of the Empire” shows a picturesque representative group of our defenders with a background of battleships and aeroplanes.
On the inside leaf is a super-dreadnought passing and saluting Nelson’s “Victory” and with the Kings message, “Once again the sure shield of Britain and her Empire,” and a text from Shakespeare – “What’s brave, what’s noble, let’s do it.”
The cover is Khaki coloured and each card is stamped with the Prince of Wales feathers.
The National Christmas Card.
WE have just received a copy of the National Christmas Card, to be sold for the benefit of the Prince of Wales fund.
The first page, entitled “Defenders of the Empire” shows a picturesque representative group of our defenders with a background of battleships and aeroplanes.
On the inside leaf is a super-dreadnought passing and saluting Nelson’s “Victory” and with the Kings message, “Once again the sure shield of Britain and her Empire,” and a text from Shakespeare – “What’s brave, what’s noble, let’s do it.”
The cover is Khaki coloured and each card is stamped with the Prince of Wales feathers.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Eastbourne Glee Club
This article from the Eastbourne Gazette dated 9th August 1916, is about the Eastbourne Glee Club raising funds for the war effort.
Perhaps this side of the 21st Century it is with amazement that money should be sent on sending soldiers cigarettes and tobacco. How times have changed!
“Eastbourne Glee Club
Parcels for Soldiers and Sailors
In the spring of 1915 Mr. J.F. Gardener (hon. Secretary of the Eastbourne Glee Choir) set on foot a movement for the supplying comforts for (1) the men of the Army and Navy on active service and (2) prisoners of war in Germany and elsewhere. Through this agency many thousands of cigarettes have been sent, besides tobacco and pipes. Last Christmas parcels of food to the value of £20 were purchased with the proceeds of a concert and were despatched at the men at the front.
The total value of the goods sent out exceeds £100. Among the contributors to the fund we may mention Colonel W.A. Cardwell V.D., Mr. Sydney Hudson, Mr. E. A. Sutton, the Rev E.W. Wright, Councillor F. Hollins, the Rev E.L. Browne, and others. Mr James S. Garrard has contributed 10s 6d a month for cigarettes for local footballers at the Front, and the Rev. E.L. Browne and Councillor Hollins have presented several footballs which have been greatly appreciated by the Eastbourne Engineers at the France. In fact the Engineers have “asked for more”.
Mr. Gardner has received upwards of 500 letters expressive of gratitude from sailors and soldiers. To the prisoners of war the parcels of food have been of inestimable benefit. The patients in the 12th General Hospital at Rouen have received no fewer than 8,000 cigarettes and a long written list of recipients has been received.”
Perhaps this side of the 21st Century it is with amazement that money should be sent on sending soldiers cigarettes and tobacco. How times have changed!
“Eastbourne Glee Club
Parcels for Soldiers and Sailors
In the spring of 1915 Mr. J.F. Gardener (hon. Secretary of the Eastbourne Glee Choir) set on foot a movement for the supplying comforts for (1) the men of the Army and Navy on active service and (2) prisoners of war in Germany and elsewhere. Through this agency many thousands of cigarettes have been sent, besides tobacco and pipes. Last Christmas parcels of food to the value of £20 were purchased with the proceeds of a concert and were despatched at the men at the front.
The total value of the goods sent out exceeds £100. Among the contributors to the fund we may mention Colonel W.A. Cardwell V.D., Mr. Sydney Hudson, Mr. E. A. Sutton, the Rev E.W. Wright, Councillor F. Hollins, the Rev E.L. Browne, and others. Mr James S. Garrard has contributed 10s 6d a month for cigarettes for local footballers at the Front, and the Rev. E.L. Browne and Councillor Hollins have presented several footballs which have been greatly appreciated by the Eastbourne Engineers at the France. In fact the Engineers have “asked for more”.
Mr. Gardner has received upwards of 500 letters expressive of gratitude from sailors and soldiers. To the prisoners of war the parcels of food have been of inestimable benefit. The patients in the 12th General Hospital at Rouen have received no fewer than 8,000 cigarettes and a long written list of recipients has been received.”
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Miniature Tank Week
Field Marshal Lord Roberts, who had won the Victoria Cross in 1857, had long campaigned for more to be done for ex-servicemen, especially those who had been disabled. He took a keen interest in the Workshops and became one of the Trustees. Following his death in 1914 while visiting troops in France it was decided, as a memorial to him, to expand the workshops and to name them after him.
By 1920 there were eleven Workshops around the country producing a wide variety of goods including basket ware, toys, beds and bedding and all types of furniture.
As a fund raising scheme Miniature Tanks were produced to collect money, Mrs. Erskine a successful Eastbourne fund raiser started the scheme rolling in Eastbourne.
This editorial appeared on 11th September 1918 in the Eastbourne Gazette
Miniature Tank Week
"In another column will be noticed an appeal by Mrs. Erskine for support in connection with a special “Week.” She is arranging to commence on September 30. The object is a most worthy one, viz, to assist the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops Fund, which provides practical training for men who have been disabled in the service of their country. It will be remembered that last summer the tireless Mrs. Erskine organised a fete which proved extraordinarily successful. Such a project cannot be repeated this year, and Mrs. Erskine, stimulated by the result of Eastbourne Tank Week, has decided to make weeks collection with the aid of miniature tanks. There is a scheme in progress for the establishment of a workshop at Brighton for the training of disabled and limbless men belonging to our own county regiment and the regiments to two neighbouring counties, and it is to this object that the collections will be devoted. The least Sussex people can do is to provide for their own countrymen who have paid all but the full price for England and Eastbourne must cheerfully bear a share of the burden. We must see that those who have suffered the supreme agony of war-disablement are made care-free and a happy as possible. A means to this end the Lord Roberts Memorial Worksops Fund, which will give the broken soldier the opportunity to learn and work at a trade suitable to his disability, and thus, with the aid of his pension, make him self-supporting and free from the stigma of charity. Such a scheme cannot but be very near the hearts of Eastbourne people and Mrs. Erskine must inevitably achieve success in her Miniature Tank Week."
A week later Mrs Erskine wrote to the Gazette (18th September 1918) and they published her letter.
The Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops.
Sir, - The Tanks have come. I hope Eastbourne will remember that, though I have not got a flag day in aid of the above, I am waiting for people to take a “tank money box” and collect during the week, September 30 to October 5. Messers. Chadwick Ltd. Have generously lent me 38 Grove road as my office. Two disabled men will be there from the Brighton workshops for that week to answer all questions. The reason why it is so costly to equip the workshops with the machinery is that it has to be specially designed to fit the requirements of one-armed and one-legged men. Patronise the entertainments got up during the week. Show the disabled men your enthusiasm and zeal. They are looking for it.
The Sussex, Kent and Hants men are to be provided for at this big workshop in Brighton. Look at the plan of it, which will be on view in my “Shop.” The sooner the money comes in the quicker it can be built. Your money is a thank offering to these men: make it worthy. I wish I could stir you all to give generously. Their generous giving meant life itself and failing life, a broken body; for you and me. The only ask now to be enabled to earn a living for themselves and those they love. I pray you give it. Let us also say, as they did: “We are at your disposal to death.”
Yours truly, M. Erskine.
Local Hon. Secretary, Treasurer and Organising Secretary.
By 1920 there were eleven Workshops around the country producing a wide variety of goods including basket ware, toys, beds and bedding and all types of furniture.
As a fund raising scheme Miniature Tanks were produced to collect money, Mrs. Erskine a successful Eastbourne fund raiser started the scheme rolling in Eastbourne.
This editorial appeared on 11th September 1918 in the Eastbourne Gazette
Miniature Tank Week
"In another column will be noticed an appeal by Mrs. Erskine for support in connection with a special “Week.” She is arranging to commence on September 30. The object is a most worthy one, viz, to assist the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops Fund, which provides practical training for men who have been disabled in the service of their country. It will be remembered that last summer the tireless Mrs. Erskine organised a fete which proved extraordinarily successful. Such a project cannot be repeated this year, and Mrs. Erskine, stimulated by the result of Eastbourne Tank Week, has decided to make weeks collection with the aid of miniature tanks. There is a scheme in progress for the establishment of a workshop at Brighton for the training of disabled and limbless men belonging to our own county regiment and the regiments to two neighbouring counties, and it is to this object that the collections will be devoted. The least Sussex people can do is to provide for their own countrymen who have paid all but the full price for England and Eastbourne must cheerfully bear a share of the burden. We must see that those who have suffered the supreme agony of war-disablement are made care-free and a happy as possible. A means to this end the Lord Roberts Memorial Worksops Fund, which will give the broken soldier the opportunity to learn and work at a trade suitable to his disability, and thus, with the aid of his pension, make him self-supporting and free from the stigma of charity. Such a scheme cannot but be very near the hearts of Eastbourne people and Mrs. Erskine must inevitably achieve success in her Miniature Tank Week."
A week later Mrs Erskine wrote to the Gazette (18th September 1918) and they published her letter.
The Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops.
Sir, - The Tanks have come. I hope Eastbourne will remember that, though I have not got a flag day in aid of the above, I am waiting for people to take a “tank money box” and collect during the week, September 30 to October 5. Messers. Chadwick Ltd. Have generously lent me 38 Grove road as my office. Two disabled men will be there from the Brighton workshops for that week to answer all questions. The reason why it is so costly to equip the workshops with the machinery is that it has to be specially designed to fit the requirements of one-armed and one-legged men. Patronise the entertainments got up during the week. Show the disabled men your enthusiasm and zeal. They are looking for it.
The Sussex, Kent and Hants men are to be provided for at this big workshop in Brighton. Look at the plan of it, which will be on view in my “Shop.” The sooner the money comes in the quicker it can be built. Your money is a thank offering to these men: make it worthy. I wish I could stir you all to give generously. Their generous giving meant life itself and failing life, a broken body; for you and me. The only ask now to be enabled to earn a living for themselves and those they love. I pray you give it. Let us also say, as they did: “We are at your disposal to death.”
Yours truly, M. Erskine.
Local Hon. Secretary, Treasurer and Organising Secretary.
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