The British First Army makes a successful attack between Richebourg l’Avoue and Festubert, breaking the German line over a two mile front and the following day make a further advance in the same region, capturing a large number of prisoners. The Germans evacuate the position they had occupied west of Yser Canal. While the German advance into Western Galicia had compelled the Russians to fall back to a new line on the San and evacuate the Carpathians the latter’s counterstroke in Eastern Galicia develops successfully and the Austrian army is reported to have retired precipitately beyond the Pruth, vigorously pursued.
In a notice to farmers the Board of Agriculture say attention has been drawn to the fact that prevailing conditions are causing farmers to experience difficulty in maintaining a normal standard of production of their holdings, especially with regard to live stock. Shortage of labour and increased cost of feeding stuffs and high prices are tempting farmers to make immediate profit at the expense of future output. Many breeders are marketing stock before maturity, and several dairy farmers are reducing or disposing of herds to a regrettable extent. The slaughter of female animals suitable for breeding is particularly undesirable. The Board possess strong evidence that there is a tendency to fatten an unusual number of heifers, ewes and sows, and to send cows in calf and sows in pig to the butcher. This practice, if general, would seriously reduce flocks and herds. The Board trust that the production of milk for market will remain a primary consideration, and with this object the employment of women milkers might be greatly extended. The cost of pig feeding might be reduced by allowing them to run on grass. Another matter brought to the notice of the Board was the intention of some farmers to reduce the area of grass to be mown for hay. Any action of the kind would be most regrettable when the needs of the farm have to be considered, and also supplies for the army, which must be maintained at all costs.
The death is announced as having taken place at St. Mary’s Priory, Princethorpe, of Mother Bertilie O’Connor, sister to the late Right Hon. the O’Connor Don. The O’Connor family claims to be one of the four oldest families in Europe. The present O’Connor Don, who is a grandson of the late Mr. Thomas Aloysius Perry, of Bitham, is a direct descendant of Turcough O’Connor, King of Ireland.
The congregation at this church had a treat on Sunday, when Mr. Gervaise Elwes who, with Lady Winifride Elwes was staying for the weekend with Miss Perry, of Bitham House, sang during Mass and at Benediction Gounod’s Ave Maria.
Gervase Elwes, c. 1918
On Saturday an interesting wedding took place at the church, when Mr. Henry Sealey, who left Bitham House to drive a motor ambulance at the war, was married to Miss Fisher, who has also been at Bitham House for several years, and the couple are widely known and esteemed in the neighbourhood. The nuptial Mass was said by the Rev. W. Dobell, and Miss Perry gave the wedding breakfast.
The Germans continue to make desperate attempts to break through to Ypres, but the attacks are all repulsed by the British. The French capture the entire village of Carency and the wood to the north of it, over 1,000 prisoners being taken and the enemy losing besides hundred killed. The French also gain further ground near Neuville and capture Ablain Nazaire while the Belgians repulse an attack on the Yser.
General Botha with the South African forces occupies Windhuk, the capital of German South-West Africa.
The British again repulse the enemy’s attacks on Ypres, inflicting severe punishment. French progressed east of Carency and attacked Neuville St. Vaast.
In the eastern area the German advance is maintained in West Galicia, the Russians being compelled to fall back in the direction of the Uszok Pass and Stry. The Russians develop an important advance in Eastern Galicia.
Lord Bryce’s committee publishes its report on the atrocities by the German army in Belgium which shows that they were systematically carried out under authority.
Admiralty announces that H.M.S. Columbia had been sunk by German torpedo boats, 16 officers and men being lost.
The pre-Dreadnought battleship Goliath torpedoed and sunk in the Dardenelles, with a loss of over 500 lives.
Submarine E14 sinks two Turkish gunboats and a transport in the Sea of Marmora.
Sir – Will you be so kind as to include in the next issue of your paper the following report of the work of the Banbury depot of the National Egg Collection:-
The Board of Education have issued a circular to local education authorities asking for a return of the number of children excused from school attendance for purposes of agricultural employment in respect of the period February 1st to April 30th. The return is not to include any children who entered employment before February 1st, or any who are properly exempt from school attendance under by-laws formed under the Robson Act.
The numbers exempt under the Robson Act are to be filed in a separate return. The Robson Act is a measure passed in 1899, the general purpose of which was to raise the age at which children were allowed to go to work half-time, from eleven to twelve years of age. It provided, however, for by-laws whereby children in rural areas over eleven years of age could be totally exempt from school attendance for six months of the year for agricultural employment provided they attended school regularly for the remaining six months.
Banbury Guardian May 1915
A Year in the Life of Avon Dassett, 1914-15
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