Page 683 - Reading Mercury

Wokingham-born men who took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk were on
Wednesday evening, at Wokingham Town Hall, presented with cigarette cases as
mementoes of the historic episode. The men were: Cpl. E. Austin, Pte. A. Barnes, Pte.
J. Baker, Pte. H. Banks, Pte. R. Beazley, Pte. G. Brant, Pte. T. Brant, Pte. W. Butler,
Pte. A. Carey, Pte. G. Cox, Sto. J. Dance, Lce/Cpl. Dollery, Sgt. R. Edwards, Sgt.
Edan, Pte. Gains, Pte. L. Gilbert, Pte. D. Goble, Pte. C. Gomm, Pte. C. Green, Sgt. J.
Hulton, Ldg. Seaman P. Hattow, Pte. J. Harris, Sgt. H. Ings, Pte. A. Ives, Cpl. C.
Kirby, Lce/Cpl. C. Keech, Bandsman H. Langlay, Pte. E. Lawrence, Spr. E. Lush,
Sgt. A. Maslin, Pte. J. Morris, Cpl. J. Prentice, Bandsman F. Phelps, Pte. A. Pester,
Pte. C. Prior, Lce/Cpl. F.J. Quick, Yeo. Of Signals W. Sear, Pte. C. Steel, Pte. E.
Smith, Pte. G. Smith, Pte. E. Spratley, Driver A. Wilson, Pte. D. White, Ptes. Eagle,
McEwan, and Morissy whose homes are in Wokingham, but who are not natives of
the town, received presentation pencils bearing the civic badge of the borough.
Funds to defray the cost of the presentations were raised by means of a baby show
organised by Miss E. Benson. Certificates instead of prizes were awarded at the show,
and the prize money, together with additional donations and subscriptions, were used
to purchase the cigarette cases and pencils. Each of the cigarette cases was engraved
with the initials of the man for whom it was intended, and was embossed with the
Wokingham civic badge.
The hall was full of the relatives of the men when the presentations were made by
the Mayor (Cllr. E.W. Reeves), who was accompanied by the Mayoress. A number of
the men were unable to be present, and in those cases the gifts were received on their
behalf by relatives. The proceedings were introduced by the Band of the Royal
Berkshire Regiment, under the direction of Mr. J.E. Needham, playing the regimental
March. “The Dashing White Sergeant,” followed by “Rule Britannia.”
TOWN’S GRATEFUL THANKS
The Mayor said that the town offered its grateful thanks and sincere tribute to the
men, who took part in the glorious episode of the evacuation from Dunkirk. He
thanked Miss Benson for the energetic way in which she had organised the scheme for
showing in a practical way their appreciation of the gallantry of the men. He also
thanked the mothers for the willing way in which they had assisted in the scheme.
However much they might regret the necessity for the evacuation there was no doubt
that the wonderful rearguard action had upset the German plans for the destruction of
the British Army. Wokingham was proud of the men from that town who had played a
part in the action.
He regretted that some Wokingham men were still reported missing. The sympathy
of that great gathering would go out to the relatives, together with the hope that good
news would soon be received about the following: Pte. Culley, missing; Pte Goble,
missing, believed prisoner of war; Pte. Oram, Pte. Rodgers and Pte. Woover, missing.
After the presentation ceremony the thanks of the meeting were expressed to the
Mayor and Mayoress, and Miss Benson and the band, by Dr. H.F. Curl. “These gifts
have been given by the babies of Wokingham, because we hope that the babies will
grow up in a land which is free and will ever be free. When they reach the age of
these young lads who have fought so gallantly I hope they will not have to fight,” he
said.
The band played, “There’ll always be an England,” which was sung by Mr. Maurice
Willis. During the afternoon the band played at the Langborough Recreation Ground.
Some fourteen members of the band had taken part in the evacuation.

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