St. Annes Express
THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 31st, 1914.
THE WAR AND
LOCAL RELIEF
Immediately war was declared
with Germany meetings were
convened by the Chairman of
the Council for the purpose
of organising relief. The
Relief Committee,
representative of all
classes and creeds, is doing
its work silently but
thoroughly, and altogether a
sum of £2,500 was raised in
five months for the various
funds. Belgian refugees, to
the number of 140 were
housed at the North Drive
Camp, and by the Roman
Catholic Church, St. Thomas'
Church, and the Drive
Wesleyan Church. Seventeen
wounded Belgian soldiers
were entertained by the
Parish Church and the
Catholic Church. Funds and
sewing parties were
organized at all the
churches, by the Primrose
League and the Ladies'
Guild, and some thousands of
garments have been forwarded
to the Red Cross and other
organisations, besides
useful gifts by schemes
carried out by individuals.
Christmas parcels were sent
to all local men serving the
colours on land and sea. A
force of 140 special
constables was formed under
the command of Coun. J.W.
Hallam and a Training Corps,
170 strong, was formed under
the command of Mr. James R.
Gibbs, which has since been
affiliated with the central
association. A branch of the
Blackpool Volunteer League
was also established (60
strong) through the efforts
of Mr. George Bentley.
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ROLL OF HONOUR
The St. Annes Roll of Honour,
of men who are serving the
colours and who have
volunteered for service,
contains 217 names, and the
war has already taken its
toll of their number. Two
are reported to have been
killed in action—Private
Isaac Street, of Clifton
Street [now Curzon Road,
St.Annes], at La Cateau,
on August 26 and Private
William Ball, of Clifton
Street [now Curzon Road,
St.Annes], in Northern
France between December 4th
and 12th. Private J.
Unsworth, St. David's' Road
North, was wounded at the
Battle of the Aisne; Private
George Pollard, of Hope
Street, is also reported
wounded. Stoker Martin
Stenton, of the 1st Naval
Brigade, is interned at
Gronengen, Holland; and
Private Richard Crook, of
Albert Road, is a prisoner
of war at Gustro, Germany. |
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