Page 740 - Reading Mercury

COMMANDER SCAIFE AT TOWN HALL
Commander John Scaife, O.B.E., R.N., spoke on “Over to France” in the
Wokingham Town Hall on Wednesday. He was introduced by the Mayor of
Wokingham, Cllr. G. A. Cheeseman, as the Navy’s Raconteur. The talk was arranged
by the Ministry of Information.

th
Sat 11 Nov
REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
A Remembrance service at St. Paul’s on Sunday was conducted by the rector, the
Rev. R.H. Scott, the Mayor and members of the Town Council were present.

SAVINGS PLAQUES PRESENTED
A presentation of plaques by the War Office in commemoration of the success of
the Wokingham and district Salute the Soldier week took place at Wokingham on
Saturday. The Mayor, Cllr. G.A. Cheeseman was in the chair and the plaques and
scrolls were presented on behalf of the War Office by Lieut.-Col King Salter, D.S.O.,
a resident of the town.
The Mayor congratulated all officials connected with the success of Salute the
Soldier week. Mrs. Baxter, Hon. Secretary of the Wokingham and Rural District
Savings Committee, said that whatever the civilians were asked to do, it could be
nothing compared with what the armed forces were doing. She presented a
constitution, which has the object of maintaining a vigorous savings organisation, and
said it was proposed to form a committee—to be called the Wokingham Rural District
Savings Committee—which would be in operation after the war. A chairman hon.
Secretary, and treasurer would be elected annually, and the committee would
represent all sections of the Community.
A resolution to adopt the constitution was proposed by Cllr. Fullbrook, seconded by
Ald. F.J. Barrett, and carried unanimously. Cllr. Fullbrook said that money was now
needed more than at any other time, for if the war is to come to a successful
conclusion, there must be money to complete it.

th
Sat 25 Nov
LOCAL GUNNER IN STIFF FIGHT
After successfully supporting the withdrawal of the Airborne Forces across the
River Lek in Holland, gunners of a West Country Field Regiment, fighting with the
rd
43 (Wessex) Division, were engaged for days on end in an effort to smash a
dangerous German counter attack. During two hectic days a battery commanded by
Major S.G.H. Loosley, fought and eventually smashed the enemy attempt to infiltrate
in force across the river,’ writes a Military Observer. Directing the operations of his
battery from a forward position, with observation officers out on both flanks
overlooking the river, Major Loosley was at one time faced with the problem of
engaging enemy troops who had got in behind one American company position in a
small area, bounded on one side by a railway embankment and on the other by a dyke
road. So near were the Germans to our troops that anything but the most skilful
command of the battery fire would endanger the lives of our men. Up with the
Americans as a forward observation officer was Capt. E.C. Gilders, who had as a
signaller, Lance-Bombardier W. Bridgeman, Elms Lodge, Denmark Street,
Wokingham.

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