At Fenny Compton, the Boy Scout troop, under Miss Hayter, the Scoutmistress, have been guarding bridges on the Great Western Railway and attending a class in first aid under Dr Elkington’s direction. A sewing party meets on Tuesdays and Fridays in the Reading Room, to make clothes etc. for those at the front. Mrs Dickens takes charge of the party. Dr Elkington is lecturing on nursing and First Aid in the district (Red Cross), and Mrs Elkington is the representative for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Association. A bell is tolled daily at noon to remind people of the need of their intercessions, and, in common with the rest of the country, a special service of intercession was held on Friday. The call on the horses has not been sufficient to hamper agricultural or other work.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

On Friday, August 21^st, national supplication day, there was a special intercession service at Northend Church at 11 and 7 pm, both being well attended. Our people have most generously responded to an appeal made for the cost of materials for making garments for the wounded, and very many of our women and children have promised to work in cutting out and sewing. On Sunday August 23^rd a collection was made in our churches morning and evening for the Prince of Wales National Relief Fund.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

The National Patriotic Association of which the King is the patron, have issued the following watchwords to influence public opinion in the direction of doing business as usual:

Trust in God.

Serve your country.

Be patriotic. Don’t be excited.

Be enthusiastic. Don’t be in a hurry.

Pass on. Do something. Don’t swell an idle crowd.

Shoulder your own share. Don’t put your responsibilities onto others.

In victory and defeat alike practice self-control. Don’t despair or “maffick.”

Learn to encourage and to be helpful. Don’t poor cold water or be content with criticism.

Be economical and insist on economy. Don’t waste anything or permit waste in your household or your business.

When spending money think how much good you can do to others. Don’t buy foreign goods if you can get British.

Do all you can to keep down the prices of commodities by buying less quantity than usual. Don’t allow any individuals or syndicates to corner, collect, or control necessaries for the poor, or things required by the forces.

Do all you can to provide employment for men and women. Don’t do anything which will increase the number of unemployed or make people objects of charity.

When it really becomes necessary to reduce expenses, put people on partial work and partial pay. Don’t discharge them and swell the ranks of the unemployed.

Take your servants and workpeople into your confidence and explain the position to them. Don’t be content with bald notices or drastic action.

Influence every single able-bodied young man in the country to volunteer immediately. Don’t allow any of them to be playing games if you can prevent them.

Keep their situations open for those who are serving their King and country, and don’t forget to see their dependants are provided for whilst they are away.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

On August 25th 1914 Walter George Cooper, a groom aged 20, enlists with The Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Scarborough.

Walter is the son of George, a carter, and Emma his wife. In the 1911 Census he appears in the household of Grazier, Thomas Acland Madge of Chapel Street, Southam as a groom and gardener.

Warwickshire Hunt

Kineton Show Abandoned

The committee of the above show was called together at the Red Lion Hotel, Kineton, on Wednesday-week, to consider the propriety of abandoning the show under the present circumstances. Lord Willoughby de Broke presided. After discussion it was decided not to hold the show this year owing to the war.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

Mr W. J. Weld (of Avon Dassett) presided at the meeting on Thursday and there were also present – Messrs. Ridley Brown, A. Spencer, W. H. Jarvis, H. Barfield (acting clerk), G. Elkington (surveyor) and J. Smith (inspector).

Financial

Mr Barfield said that the balance in hand amounted to £233 13s

The Radway Drainage Question

Mr Barfield read a number of letters with reference to the drainage situation in this village.

The Census of Traffic

The Clerk read a letter from the Warwickshire authorities to the effect that the proposed census of traffic on the roads had been postponed.

Miscellaneous

The Surveyor said that with regards to the drainage at Farnborough he did not know what Mr Beanford was going to do with the upper part, but he (the Surveyor) had seen Mr Duuckett with regard to what the Council had ordered at the lower part. The drain would require to be trapped.

The Inspector said that he had sent a notice to Mr Gwyer with regard to the ditch at Radway.

The Inspector reported that a case of tuberculosis in a cow had been reported on Mr Fox’s farm at Radway.

Abstract of Accounts of the Receipts and Payments for the above Rural District Council for the half-year ending 31^st March 1914

PAYMENTS

Dated 10 August 1914

Arthur Fairfax, Clerk to the said Council

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

In view of the present position of affairs the Oxford County Council have issued to parish councils a circular drawing the attention of small-holders, allotment holders and others to the desirability of sowing and planning every available piece of land without delay, with such crops as there may still be time to sow before the autumn. It is essential, it states, that the food reserves of this country should be as large as possible to meet any emergency which may arise in the near future, and it sets out the following crops which may be grown at once:

Cabbages – for early spring and summer use. Varieties such as Flower of Spring, April and Imperial.

Turnips – early six weeks and other quick growing varieties, such as Orange Jelly or Early Snowball; good keeping varieties such as Red Globe and Green Globe.

Beetroot – Turnip-rooted, Red Globe and Egyptian.

Carrots – Early Horn or Stump-rooted varieties.

Onions – both early and late varieties.

Potatoes – carefully selected seed of the earliest varieties, provided the weather is fairly open, may be expected to give about half an average crop.

Other useful Crops which may be sown are Cauliflowers (requiring winter protection), Dwarf Beans (in a cold frame or on a south border), Brussels Sprouts, Spinach, Lettuce and garden varieties of Swedes.

Surplus plants of any varieties of cauliflowers, broccoli, savoys, kale, cabbages, leeks and late celery should be planted.

A meeting of ladies was held yesterday afternoon, under the presidency of Mrs Molyneux. The meeting had been called for another purpose, but in consideration of the international crisis, the gathering devoted its attention to ways and means of assisting the Red Cross Society, and the wives and families of the men who have been called to the colours. The following announcement has been handed to us:-

In view of the critical situation, it is proposed to hold a special meeting of all those in Banbury and the neighbourhood interested in the Red Cross work and in the work of the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association, to be held in the Town Hall, Banbury on Tuesday August 11^th at 2.30 pm. (Signed) CAROLINE MOLYNEUX, VALERIE A. NORTH, SALISBURY A. C. ROTHE, MARY PEMBERTON, FREDERICA BEATTIE, FRANCES HOSKYNS, H. BEATTIE (Commandant No. 4 Detachment), N. D. PENROSE (Commandant No. 30 Detachment), SYDNEY J. MAWLE (Assistant County Director).

Banbury Guardian, August 1914

On Thursday it was apparent that a crisis had been reached. Banbury market reflected the condition. Farmers asked for an increase of 5s. for their wheat, and buyers were nervous. As a result but little business was done and no sales were reported officially with the result that the Inspector of Corn Returns has been unable to issue an official average. The other local corn markets of the weekend showed similar conditions and local markets may be said to have been paralysed.

At all the places of worship on Sunday prayers for peace were offered and in many places special reference was made to the crisis. At the Grimsbury Brotherhood a resolution was passed recording the desire of the members to strengthen the strenuous efforts that England was making to limit the area of conflict, maintaining their own peaceful relations with the nations of Europe and preserving their freedom to act for peace as opportunity offered.

Increasing interest was placed in the special telegrams posted at the Banbury Guardian Office. On Sunday and Monday they were awaited and read with anxious interest, especially Sir Edward Grey’s statement in the House of Commons on Monday, while each day since our office has seldom been for more than a short time without a crowd of people anxious for the latest information.

On Monday at midday, the Territorials returned from the camp at Marlow, whither they had gone the previous day with instructions to await mobilisation orders. The Order in Council calling out the Army Reserve and embodying the Territorial Force was issued during Tuesday and the copy posted at the Town Hall became another centre of interest.

The streets on Tuesday presented an exceedingly animated appearance. All day a crowd occupied the streets shopping or awaiting the latest news and distributing it. The ordinary householder had awakened during the weekend to the possibilities of the conflict as regards food supply and there was a general rush to lay in stores. A few prudent housekeepers had, in the latter days of last week, stocked an increase of necessities, but on Tuesday there came a greatly enhanced demand both here and in the country generally.

On Tuesday the provisions were obtained at only slightly increased prices, but by last evening (Wednesday) very many of the articles had, owing to the general demand, increased considerably. People have been buying absurdly and laying in stores for months ahead in some cases, with the result that they have exhausted the stocks and forced up the prices. It seemed the general opinion that a fall would accompany the repletion of stocks and a saner feeling among purchasers.

Yesterday morning the town awoke to the realisation of the most serious development, viz. the declaration of war by Britain against Germany. The local squadron of Yeomanry concentrated in the town at an early hour, and the two companies of the 4^th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry paraded at the Drill Hall. A large crowd collected to see them depart for Oxford, which they did at about eleven o’clock.

On all sides the seriousness of the war is recognised and an excellent spirit is shown. Differences of party are sunk before the national emergency, and it is gratifying to record that in this town and neighbourhood the same unanimity has to be recorded as is shown throughout the Empire as a whole.

Banbury Guardian, August 1914