Page 713 - Reading Mercury

Major Lewis Hastings, M.C., R.A., of White House, Wokingham, has broadcast two
war commentaries to date.

MISSING AT SINGAPORE
Pte. Harold Spratley, 100 Evendons Lane, Wokingham, who has been officially
reported missing at Singapore, believed prisoner of war, served in a convoy on anti-
aircraft duties. He had been in the Army two years, and before that worked for the
Town Council.

RENOVATIONS TO BAPTIST CHURCH
The generosity of two members of the Baptist Church in giving £100 has resulted in
the renovation of a damaged wall, and the supply of a large number of revised hymnal
books for the use of the congregation. It was expected that this would be completed
by today. In addition, the doors of the church will, in the near future, be regrained.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
On Thursday there will be a service at 7 p.m. in the Market Place, when the Mayor
and corporation, members of the Home Guard, Civil Defence, etc., will attend. All
denominations will be represented. At All Saints’ there will be Holy Communion
services at 7.0, 8.0, and 11.15 a.m., and that there will be a special service at 12.0
mid-day. There will also be services at the other churches.

“TANKS FOR ATTACK” CAMPAIGN
No figures are yet available in connection with the Wokingham “Tanks for Attack”
th
campaign, which ends on September 26 and will then have lasted ten weeks. The
target for the town is £35,000, and for the whole rural area £220,000. On Wednesday
there was a whist drive at the Town Hall, and at the Barkham Road Recreation
Ground today (Sat) there will be a football match between the Home Guard and the
N.F.S.

ALLOCATION TO CHARITY
The following allocations to charity have been made from the Sunday takings of
three local cinemas: Royal Berkshire Hospital, £200; King Edward VII Hospital,
Windsor, £50; Wokingham Orthopaedic Clinic, $45; British Red Cross and St. John
War Organisation, Prisoners-of-war Department, £25; Sonning Deanery Moral
Welfare Association, £20; Ambulance Fund of th St. John Ambulance local branch,
£15; Bracknell Nursing Association, £10; All Saints’ District Nursing Association, £7
10s.; St. Paul’s District Nursing Association, £7 10s.; and the Berkshire Discharged
Prisoners’ Aid Society, £10.

th
Sat Sept 12
KILLED IN ACTION
Marine Kenneth John Stark, of 73, Fairview Road, Wokingham, was killed while
serving in H.M.S. Cairo during the last Malta convoy battle. He was first reported
missing, presumed killed, but his parents have now received news from the captain,
Royal Marines, H.M.S. Cairo, stating that their son was killed instantly by torpedo
explosion while he was manning his gun. He was in his twentieth year, and had been
two-and-a-half years in the Service.

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