Lord and Lady North, of Wroxton Abbey, have kindly given shelter to, and are providing for, a number of Belgian refugees. The first party arrived on Monday last week, Lady North meeting them at the station. The party consisted of eight persons, two men with their wives, and one child each, and two old ladies of sixty-five and sixty-six. They all come from Louvain, speaking French and Flemish. Just before the Germans arrived at Louvain, they were sent out of the town by order of the Burgomaster, and were ordered to take the train to Ghent. They stopped some days in Ghent, but here they were told they must go to Ostend, and from there to England. These poor refugees have lost all their possessions, as they had to leave everything behind, and since the Germans have burned Louvain, they have practically no hope of recovering anything. They have terrible stories to tell of things they heard when they were detained in Ghent, but most of these stories have been published in different papers. The second party arrived on Sunday afternoon, and Lady North again met them at the station. This party was made up of two mothers, one with one, and the other with two children, and a young girl of sixteen. They all come from Malines, and speak both French and Flemish; they left Malines railway station when the Germans were bombarding it. The would-be passengers hid in the cellars and tunnels of the station, and when a train was ready to leave, the station-master went into the tunnels and cellars, shouting sauve qui peut, and then there was a wild rush for the train. In one of these rushes they were separated from their husbands, whom they think must have gone to Holland. One can better imagine than describe, the troubles and anxieties and cares of these people, who have lost everything and have nothing but what they stand up in. However, everything is done to make them comfortable and happy, and one can see how extremely thankful they are for Lord and Lady North’s hospitality and kindness. Another party is shortly expected.

Banbury Guardian, September 1914

At Michaelmas, a general Farm Labourer, with one or two sons. Good cottage, near to farm and village.

Apply H. Wadland, Avon Dassett, Leamington.

Eight soldiers of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment who were wounded at Mons on the 23rd ult. arrived in Leamington on Thursday evening on the way to their homes in Coventry. One of the men said that in the retirement from Mons the Royal Warwicks, the Lanceashires, and the King’s Royal Rifles got on the wrong tack. “We found ourselves in a slaughterhouse,” he added significantly. “There were 3,000 of us, and we were so overwhelmed by the German forces that we were ordered by our officers to look out for ourselves. I don’t know how I got away from it, but I know I shook hands with myself when I found myself at our base. We were then taken to Havre and then brought back to Netley.” All the men were suffering from bullet wounds in the legs.

Under-carter for Farnborough Estate.

Apply R. Holbech, Estate Office, Farnborough.

Strong, quiet mare, for business van, about 15 hands.

Harrison, Northend, near Fenny Compton

Banbury Guardian, September 1914

Wednesday, August 26th

(Before Mr Ernest Parke, in the chair, and Mr V. Mills.)

Swine Fever: Francis W. Fox, farmer of Radway, was fined 2s. 6d. for failing to deliver his license granting the removal of swine on completion of movement.

Bad Language: William Gardner, labourer, of Shotteswell, was fined 5s. for being drunk and disorderly at that place on August 8th.

Alleged Trespass: Albert Shepherd, labourer, of Pillerton Hersey, was fined £1 for game trespass at Pillerton on August 21st.

Banbury Guardian, September 1914