1914

1914 August 14 Cambridge Independent Press

‘Preparing for the Wounded’: Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) formed, and has started making stretchers & bedsteads, erecting shelters, field kitchens etc. ‘It is probable that there will be a joint hospital for the detachments of Shepreth, Shelford, Foxton, Harston & Trumpington; provision for 75 – 100 patients’.

1914 August 28 Cambridge Independent Press

British Red Cross Society, collection and donations for ‘war work’, £10 16s 7d collected by Mrs A Hurrell.

1914 September 4, 11 Cambridge Independent Press

‘Roll of Honour’, Cambs. recruits for Lord Kitchener’s Second Army, ‘Splendid Response’, including (from Harston), Robert Collins, labourer (20), Frank Carter, bricklayer’s labourer (24), John Henry Wilson, farm labourer (19), Valentine Harry Northrope, mill hand (20), Edward Charles Northrope, farm labourer (21), Eric Wilfred Haylock, carpenter (19, William Starling). William Ives had already left his wife & children, a week ago, to enlist. Mr Hurrell assisted with the recruitment process.

1914 September 4, 11 Cambridge Independent Press

A Harston man, Peter Thompson, was sent to prison for 2 months for buying a bicycle, the property of the Army, from a soldier

1914 September 18 Cambridge Independent Press

Brotherhood meeting, Mr Burnett gave an ‘earnest address’ on the war, ‘devotional meeting’, re the men called up & Roll of Honour;  hymn ‘For the Men at the Front’, prayers, collection. (remainder illegible).

1914 September 25 Cambridge Independent Press

‘National Relief Fund’, gift of £21 from TH Smith & Sons, Harston.  Re: ‘Transit of Troops’, War Office Requirements Improvements to Cambridgeshire Roads: ‘a large slice was taken off the Vicarage garden and a smaller piece from the opposite side of the road (to enable military vehicles to pass).

1914 September 25 Cambridge Independent Press

Arrival of wounded men (around midnight) at Cambridge Station, Harston ladies, members of the Red Cross, (commandant, Miss Smith) plus VAD members, were helping with ambulance duties & refreshments, plus stretcher-bearing, ‘crowds cheering’. Motor ambulances and vans were lent for the purpose. Wounded were taken to First Eastern General Hospital at Shelford, their wounds having been caused by shell fragments & shrapnel, most had been wounded on the Aisne and had returned via Le Havre. Reports of ‘heavy and desperate fighting, German cruelties’.

1914 October 2 Cambridge Independent Press

Parcels of clothes donated to the Red Cross, including from the ‘Harston Working Party’.

1914 October 9 Cambridge Independent Press

Harston Working Party sent 107 garments to the Cambridge Red Cross depot.

1914 October 30 Cambridge Independent Press

Recruitment meeting at Harston School, Mr T Smith presiding. Addresses etc by Sir George Fordham, Colonel Howard Marsh, Major CW Stanley, Mr Burden, Commander Sergeant Ranson. Themes: National Crisis, Rally to the British Flag etc.

1914 November 6 Cambridge Independent Press

Relief Funds Concert, arranged by Mr CC Legge in the schoolroom in aid of the Red Cross in Belgium Relief Funds. £9 was raised. Huge attendance, hall overflowing, many turned away. Flags of the Allies were flying, and National Anthems of Great Britain, France and Russia were played. Accompaniment by Miss Benstead< Miss Smith & Mr Legge.

1914 November 13 Cambridge Independent Press

Special Constables Emergency Committees appointed; ‘military cooperation’, included Clement James Jude, Tom Hays, WT Rowley, TH Smith, of Harston.   Waifs & Strays Society: ‘At Home’, given by Mrs WH Phillips at Harston House  –  ‘War Emergency Fund’  – taking children ‘to help men who had to go to the front, especially reservists’.  (See also , on 4/12, ‘Cambridge Home of Mercy & Church St. Mission, gifts of clothing etc from Harston.)  Pig Club Dinner, hosted by the Haylocks at the 3 Horseshoes pub, songs etc.

1914 November 20 Cambridge Independent Press

Recruitment to the Cambs. Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, one recruit (William Taylor, farm labourer), from Harston during the past week.

1914 November 20 Cambridge Independent Press

The following have enlisted in Kitchener’s Army: William  Taylor (19), farm labourer, Harston.

1914 December 11 Cambridge Independent Press

‘In Case of Invasion’ – instructions to the civilian population and duties of eligible men, status of the Volunteer Training Corps.

1914 December 18 Cambridge Independent Press

Brotherhood, monthly meeting in the chapel, address by Mr A J Impey, solos by Mr Ernest Dickerson. Harston Clothing Club, supper at The Three Horseshoes, music etc.

1914 December 25 Cambridge Independent Press

‘Victims of the Advance in Belgium’, 150 wounded, mention of the Red Cross & RAMC Detachment no. 24 from Harston, under Miss Smith. 50 stretcher cases arriving from France via Southampton.

This page was added on 14/11/2018.

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