Page 721 - Reading Mercury

AID TO CHINA FUND FLAG DAY
The Mayor of Wokingham appeals to all who can help him with the above Flag Day
to kindly send their name to Mr. Andrews, 39 Station Road, Wokingham.
So many who have helped previously are now on other duties or away from the
Town that anyone who can only give an hour or so would be a great help to this
deserving cause.
LOST MAILS
The following surface mails to the United Kingdom have been lost as a result of
enemy action:
Letters and printed papers from Cyprus, posted about July 15-21; Egypt, July 21-24;
Kenya, August 7-11; Palestine, July 21-26; Sudan (Anglo-Egyptian,), July 17-21;
Syria, July 17-24; Uganda, August 5-8.

WAR-TIME NURSERY RHYME
How very good
Of Robin Hood
To keep his men so merry
Good humour’s bow
Can often throw
An arrow straight at Jerry

th
Fri 7 May
H.M.S. GARTH PLAQUE PRESENTATION AT WOKINGHAM
Commander Southby R.N. says “This is Victory Year”
“With this piece of oak goes the well wishes,, of the district, to the officers and men
'of H.M.S. Garth.” With these words the Mayor (Ald. E. W. Reeves) presented the
Plaque'(given by Wokingham Borough and Rural District Councils) to Commander
Sir Archibald Southby, Bart., D L M P., at the Town Hall before a large representative
gathering from the Borough and district.
The Aldermen and Councillors, dressed in their robes of office, were present,
together with the Chairman of the Rural District Council! (Lt.-Col. C. D. Burnell,
D.S.O., J.P.) and representatives of the Council.
This exchange of Plaques is the sequel to the successful culmination of
Wokingham’s Warships Week which exceeded the target of £.400,000 and the
adoption of H. M. Destroyer “Garth”.
Cut from an oak grown in the Windsor Forest, the plaque, presented to Commander
Southby, was carved by His Majesty’s carver at Windsor with Wokingham’s
symbolic Acorn at the crown, on the one side and the County Crest representing the
Rural District Council on the other.
In receiving the Plaque, Commander Southby voiced his very great thanks for the
pleasure he was afforded in being present on such an occasion as this, and went on to
say “Here today is the result of the very successful Warship Week, The world owes a
debt that can never be repaid to the men of the sea--the Royal Navy and Merchant
Services and it is through the efforts of such men, men like these in His Majesty’s
Ship “Garth” who you have taken to your hearts, that we, who are here today, are well
fed, well dressed, and in comparative peace”.
After being thanked for coming to the presentation. by Lt-Col. C.D. Burnell and the
Regional Savings Commissioner, Captain Tasker, Commander Southby responded by
saying these words.

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