Petty Sessions – Yesterday (Wednesday)

(Before Mr. A. Motion in the chair; and Messrs. E. Parkes, W. J. Weld and J. Lean.)

Alleged Theft

Herbert Chilton, general dealer, Banbury, and George Prentice, labourer, were summoned for stealing at Avon Dassett on the 9^th October, ½ cwt of wood, value 1s. the property of Thomas Fleming of Gaydon. P. C. White said he saw the defendants in a cart coming along and stop and fetch the wood from a pile on the Banbury Road. Prentice went to the wood pile twice and fetched two armfuls and put it in Chilton’s cart and cover it over with sacks. He stopped them and asked Chilton if he had permission to touch the wood. He said, ‘No, I may as well tell the truth.’ Chilton pleaded not guilty and Prentice guilty. Mr. Fleming said the County Council surveyor, Mr. Thompson, gave him leave to stack the wood on the road. Mr. Motion said he considered it wrong to tempt any poor man by putting wood there. Defendants were fined 10s each.

Multum in Parvo

Edwin Spencer, farmer, Radway was fined 2s 6d. for not having a rear light on his trap at Kineton

Ernest Henry Carp, Leamington, was fined 10s for not having a rear light on a motor van at Kineton

Albert Spencer, farmer, Bishops Itchington, was fined 5s for not having a light on his trap at Gaydon, and 15s for being drunk and disorderly

Arthur Olds, Gaydon, was fined 2s 6d. for a like offence in company with Spencer

Neville Styles, Tysoe, carpenter, was fined 2s 6d. for having no light on his bicycle at Shotteswell

Edward Landsbury, farmer, was fined 2s 6d. for not having a rear light on a float at Kineton

Thomas Wood, labourer, Whatcote, was fined 2s 6d. for having no light on his cart at Oxhill

Harriet Brisker, Gaydon, was fined 2s 6d for an unlighted bicycle at Shotteswell

Sir – It is the custom in some of our parishes to observe November 5^th by bonfires. This year, in my opinion, it will be advisable to drop this custom. When the Government are prohibiting all unnecessary lights it will be well for all to fall in with their regulations. When in God’s good time we shall be able to celebrate the return of peace to our land by rejoicing of various kinds it may be reasonable to carry out a properly organised celebration as in the case of the Jubilee and Coronation bonfires. But in this time of distress and anxiety to waste good fuel would surely be a sinful proceeding, and I trust that all well-disposed persons of all ages will set their faces against anything of the sort, at any rate this year.

I am yours truly,

Hilaris

Banbury Guardian, October 1914

Lt Holbech was seriously wounded in action at Kruiseke Ridge, near Ypres. The Scots Guards had come under heavy attack from the Germans for over a week and were exhausted. On the evening of 25th October at 8.30 pm the Germans rushed their trenches and two companies were overwhelmed. The two remaining companies counter-attacked and retook the position but at a heavy cost. Nine officers, including Lt Holbech, were killed or wounded during the action.

Lt Holbech was evacuated to hospital in Woolwich.

Monday Next, November 2nd 1914

300 Fat sheep and lambs

20 Fat beast, calves and pigs

Sale at 2.30

John Margetts and Sons, Auctioneers, Warwick

Banbury Guardian, October 1914

 One shilling will give a man 150 cigarettes

It is obvious from the letters from our soldiers at the front, which have appeared in the public press, that the most prized of all gifts from home are cigarettes. Unobtainable out there, these comforts, in which the soldier seeks to find relaxation after the strain of the fight, and even during it, have become almost priceless treasures. It seems a great pity that our men, who are fighting so bravely should be denied what can be sent to them in abundance at little cost. The only, we are sure, which is required to ensure such a supply is to bring home to the public how easily they can assist in keeping Tommy Atkins supplied. It has been suggested that each county might very well keep the men of its own regiment supplied with tobacco and cigarettes, and the assistance of the press has been asked in making known how this can be done. We may point out that special arrangements have been made whereby cigarettes and tobacco sent to the Army in the fighting line can be supplied free of duty and free of postage, and hence the public can get them for this purpose at a greatly reduced cost, and consequently be able to send more for their money. They must, however, be sent through a recognised tobacco dealer, and must be for the fighting force, and not for any regiment at home.

We therefore appeal to Banbury to help keep the men of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry supplied with cigarettes. They can do so as follows:

Miss. A. M. Phillips of 19, High Street, Banbury, has made an arrangement with Messrs. Wills for cigarettes and tobacco ordered through her to be dispatched direct to the troops named by the subscribers.

She asks for subscriptions of any amount to enable her to order consignments to be sent to the Oxfordshire regiment.

A subscription of 1s. will send a packet of 150 cigarettes to the regiment; of 3s. 6d. a packet of 500, and so on, a subscription of £1 sending 3,000 cigarettes to the regiment.

In the case of tobacco, packets of two pounds will go duty free, and subscriptions can be accepted for tobacco instead of cigarettes.

Although primarily intended for the Oxfordshire regiment, subscribers interested in other regiments at the front can request that their money be spent on cigarettes or tobacco for the regiment they may name.

Friends wishing to send presents of cigarettes or tobacco to relatives or acquaintances in the fighting line can request that their subscriptions be spent on a packet to be addressed individually to the soldier named, but must supply the regimental number, rank, and name of the soldier, and the regiment to which he belongs.

Although Miss. Phillips only commenced this arrangement this week, she was able yesterday to send 6,000 cigarettes to the front for the Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry.

There are seven Belgian refugees at the Catholic school in Avon Dassett.