Once I have recuperated from my knee replacement, I hope to be back at the New Windmill Ground and providing short match reports. Meanwhile, here is the article I wrote for the Stratford Town programme.
Between Christmas and the New Year in 1916, officials met with Warwickshire farmers to discuss how agricultural production could be increased and made more efficient to boost the war effort. What immediately came up was ‘The Drink Question’. The Chairman of the meeting pointed out that Germany had reduced the production of beer to 25 per cent of the total quantity consumed before the war. Alderman Metters said that this ‘was a matter which should be faced manfully and at once if we wanted to win the war.’ Some farmers did not want to curb profitable barley production but it was argued that ‘The great waste of barley in brewing could not possibly be justified.’ What is now often forgotten is that in some parts of the country such as Carlisle the pubs were nationalised to curb drinking and they remained in state ownership until the 1970s.
The 213th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers, all Leamington men, enjoyed a good Christmas Day menu on the front. For breakfast they had fried bacon and sausages, bread, butter and tea. For dinner (lunch) they had roast pork, boiled potatoes, cabbage, plum pudding, rum sauce, stewed fruit, custard and bread. Tea was bread, butter, cake and jam. Supper was biscuits, cheese, boiled beef, pickles, hot rum and coffee. Presumably, as an engineers’ battalion, they were a little way back from the front line.
A more sombre note was provided by news of local men killed in action. Private Hepton of Portland Street had been employed at the Leamington Skating Rink and left a wife. Corporal Avis had been the chauffeur to the Vicar of Stoneleigh and was well known as an athlete. Writing to his mother, his commanding officer said, ‘It may be some small consolation to you to know that your son suffered no pain, being killed instantaneously by a machine gun bullet through the brain.’ At the end of these reports, the Courier mentioned that they were selling a special series of naval and military In Memorial cards at their offices.
On a more cheerful note, what was described as ‘good old English pleasure’ took place at the Town Hall on New Year’s Day in the form of a party for 200 local children organised by the Mayor and Mayoress. The large hall had what was described as a ‘beautiful illuminated Christmas tree – bright with red., gold and silver’ on the stage. Punch and Judy started the party. They then played games such as ‘Fox and Geese’, ‘Kiss in the Ring’ and ‘Oranges and Lemons’. Cakes were then made available in the council chamber, but without icing because of the war. Tales told by ‘Roma the Storyteller’ were followed by musical chairs. A beautiful sleigh, designed by the manager of the Theatre Royal, was then drawn in by three teddy bears. On the sleigh were Father Christmas and a fairy queen. Each child received a silver medal with the borough arms. A conjuror was next on the programme and then, by popular demand, there was another session of musical chairs. The event concluded with everyone joining hands to sign Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem. This was some party and, as the Courier observed, ‘one in which it was good to be for a few hours and forget the world of sorrow and suffering.’
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