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Key dates over December 1914

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Lives lost on this day: 0

Mainland Britain bombed - Scarborough

16th December 1914 - Mainland Britain bombed - Scarborough

The first bombing of British civilians. German warships shelled the east coast of Britain. In Scarborough 119 people were killed.

Rolling casualty count: 552

1st Batt: In Billets ready to move at ‘short notice’; 2nd Batt: Waiting to move at 1 hour’s notice; 3rd Batt: E. Kemmel: In trenches.

Indignant Villagers’ Protest: The weekly lectures on the War given by the Archdeacon of Worcester (Ven. JH Greig), in Hartlebury Parish Room, have drawn large audiences and been full of interest. At the conclusion of the first series on Monday evening, there was a very indignant protest by a body of men against what can only be regarded as misguided patriotism. Notices had been posted about the parish giving the names of 27 young men who have not enlisted (although some of them have tried to do, but had been medically rejected), stating that they had joined “the Feather Bed Brigade,” and suggesting that gifts of feather beds, footwarmers, etc should be sent to them. After the Archdeacon’s address, a young man asked if it was known who had issued these “patriotic notices.” A lady with a flash-light was seen sticking one up at night. Another man said some insulting postcards had also been sent to some of the young men. Mr Jones, a farmer, said he was greatly annoyed that the placards had been posted on his property. A secret bill-posting society seemed to have been at work. He was annoyed, because very good friends and neighbours of his were mentioned in the placard, and he had had an insulting postcard suggesting that he had posted the placards up. ..A Voice: Lots of people are suspected of doing it. Mr Jones: Perhaps it was somebody who could not knit. This sally caused a good deal of laughter, as most of the ladies present were knitting, and someone started the singing of the National Anthem, which closed an unpleasant incident.

The Mayor (Ald HA Leicester) will preside at a meeting to be held at the Guildhall on Thursday evening, at 8 o’clock, to form a branch of the Volunteer Training Corps.

Recruiting is proceeding steadily for the additional men required for the 8th (Reserve) Battalion. On Tuesday 22 men were enrolled. Another 40 or 50 can be accepted.

Following a good day on Monday, when 49 recruits were enrolled, there were 56 recruited at Norton yesterday, thus showing that the resources of the county are by no means exhausted.

The men of the 11th Battalion are having 6 days’ Christmas leave, which they will take in batches, 20 per cent going away at one time. So far we understand that no definite arrangements have been made concerning the Battalion leaving the city.

Information researched by Sue Redding