Page 441 - Reading Mercury

the Drill Hall have been of particular interest, and the large hall has been packed
every evening.

RECRUITING MEETING
On Friday evening in last week Mr. A.C. White, a representative of the joint
Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, held a meeting in the Market Place, and spoke
to a large gathering on “The War.” The speaker arrived in an armoured motor-car, and
spoke from it. The Mayor (Alderman H.C. Mylne) introduced the speaker in a few
well-chosen words. Mr. White gave a masterly address, and emphasised Lord
Kitchener’s request for “more men, and still more men.” Married men had well
responded to the call, which should appeal to every man. The time has gone for
talking about the causes of the war: everything must be done to bring it to a successful
issue for the Allies. To save our land from Belgium’s fate, to crush the Prussian
Junkerism, and to restore the rights of small States, men, and still more men, were
required. The enemy to be got and kept “on the run,” required great forces, which
must be kept at strength. The conditions of service were such as would enable
dependents to be provided for. A vote of thanks was passed to the speaker on to the
motion of the Mayor. Names were taken of volunteers for the army at the close of the
st
meeting. The Boys’ Brigade, 1 Wokingham Co., under Captain the Rev. J.W.
Blencoe, and the Scouts, under Assistant Scoutmaster W. Seaward, kept the ground
around the armoured car.

Sat 17th April
th
5 BATTALION ROYAL BERKS AT WOKINGHAM
On Saturday afternoon, amid some excitement, upwards of 2,000 men, with 60
officers
Members of the local fire brigade met on Monday evening and presented Fireman
Lord Hillsborough with a firemen’s axe of silver steel (chased) with an ebony handle
suitably inscribed on the occasion of his Lordship attaining his majority. Deputy
Captain Caiger made the presentation.

Sat 22nd May
EGGS FOR THE WOUNDED
Mrs. Dunne, wife of Major Dunne of Toutley Hall, has organised a scheme for the
collection of eggs in the district for the use of the wounded at the front. 38-40 dozen
per week are being sent but more are needed.

th
Sat 5 June
COLLECTION IN AID OF RECREATION TENTS
The collection on Whit Sunday for the recreation tents for soldiers at Windsor Great
Park camp and military works at Didcot, etc. realised £28.

G.F.S.
The annual festival of the Sonning Deanery branch of the Girls’ Friendly Society
was held at Wokingham on Wednesday afternoon. A large number of members from
various places in the deanery met at The Holt, by permission of the representatives of
the Heelas family, for tea. Evensong was said at St. Paul’s Church at 7 p.m., when an
address was given by the Rev. Percy Nott (rector of Bear Wood). The offertory was
divided between the sick funds of Battersea and local branches.

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