Page 454 - Reading Mercury

Wood through Broad Street. Loud cheers greeted the men all along the route. About
400 of the convalescent soldiers from Bear Wood were present, and the Cycle Corps,
with gaily decorated cycles. The cars conveying the returned warriors were decked
with flags and ribbons, and at a great many houses along the route the Union Jack was
flying.

Sat 17th Nov
CASUALTY
Mrs Ballard of 5, Gipsy Lane has received news that her son, Private, W.E. Ballard
(Canadians) has been wounded in action. Mrs. Ballard has three sons serving, and one
has been killed at the front.
Private Arthur Strange, Grenadier Guards, has been wounded for the second time.
Towards the end of October he was shot through both thighs by an enemy sniper. He
is now in hospital in England.

MILITARY MEDAL WON
The Military Medal has been awarded to Sergt. Robert Brooks, Kings’ Royal Rifles
(son of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks), of Plough Lane, for conspicuous bravery near Ypres.
Sergt. Brooks enlisted soon after the outbreak of the war and has been wounded three
times. He was recently promoted to sergeant.

TOWN HALL WORKING PARTY
A sale of work for the benefit of the Town Hall Working Party will be held on
Wednesday and Thursday next week. This organisation, which is under the
supervision of the Mayoress, is recognised by the War Office; it is greatly in need of
funds and it is doing, and has done, very valuable work in providing garments for our
soldiers and sailors.
The sale will be opened by Mr. Ernest Gardner. Contributions will be gratefully
received by the Mayoress, Mrs. Hammond, Miss Ellison, Miss Blandy, Mrs. Barry,
Miss Amyatt and Miss Cooper

“OUR DAY”
“Our Day” effort on Saturday in aid of hospitals for our wounded sailors and
soldiers, through the Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem proved
a great success, thanks to the untiring efforts of the flag sellers. The collection
amounted to £25 18s. 3d., made up as under Mr. T Darbourn, £3 18s. 9d.; Sister
Shepherd, £3 10s. 3d; Miss E. Fielder, £3 4s. 7d.; Mrs. H. Blake, £2 11s. 7¾d., made
up by her to £3; Mr. T. Bow, £2 7s. 6d.; Miss Boddington, £2 5s. 9d.; Miss Hurdwell,
£1 13s. 8d.; Mrs. R. Anderson, £1 0s. 9d.; Mrs W. Alexander, £1 0s. 3d.; Mrs. G.
White, 19s. 5d.; Mr. T. Douglas, 18s.; Master Lush, 15s.; Mrs. H. Butler, 13s. 10;
Miss E. Butler, 10s.; Town Hall box, 6d.; Total: £25 18s. 3d. A collection at All
Saints’ Church at the morning service, attended by the Mayor on Sunday, amounted to
£10 15s. 9d., making the total £36 14s. The Mayor at the counting on Saturday, at
which were present also Councillor Hammond, Messrs C. Lush, G. Darbourn, G.
Bale, and T. Douglas, thanked the flag sellers for their efforts, also all others who had
assisted. The money was for the Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of
Jerusalem, who were doing noble work. Mr. Darbourn said he had been asked to say
that £35 had been sent up from Pinewood Sanatorium for the Red Cross work.

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