Battle of the Frontiers in France and Belgium begins.
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Mobilisation of the Local Forces
The King’s Order in Council embodying the Territorial Force was posted here on Tuesday afternoon. Immediately all ranks of the Yeomanry regiment and Territorial Infantry had to report themselves to their headquarters.
The C and G Companies of the 4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry under Captain E. C. Fortescue had left Banbury about ten o’clock on Sunday morning for the annual brigade camp at Great Marlow, where they arrived in the early afternoon. Their stay was, however, to be short. The same evening, news arrived that the brigade, which consisted of the 5th Gloucesters, 4th Oxford and Bucks, the Bucks Battalion of the same regiment and the Royal Berks should return to their several headquarters and await the expected order to mobilise. The brigade left camp early on Monday morning, the Banbury companies reaching here at noon. The presence of the men in uniform about the town during the rest of the day and on Tuesday emphasised the character of the time of crisis. On Tuesday morning, Lieut.-Colonel A. Stockton, commanding the battalion, left for the headquarters at Oxford, and during the day orders were issued for the battalion to concentrate there on the following day.
Banbury Guardian, August 1914
Local War Items
The extended Bank Holiday applies, of course to the local banks, and businesses will not be resumed until tomorrow (Friday) morning. The Lord Chancellor ordered the extended holiday to apply to the County Court Office, and this has been closed since Saturday, and will re-open tomorrow.
The local gentlemen appointed under the War Office scheme for the purpose of collecting remounts have been instructed to proceed to collect them, and are requisitioning horses from private individuals in Banbury and the district.
Mr F. J. Wilks received the following telegram from Euston on Monday afternoon:- “Regret cannot now run your excursion to Clacton, August 14th.” The excursion of the Conservative Club is consequently cancelled.
A patriotic incident occurred at the Grand Theatre on Monday night. The theatre was crowded and at the commencement of the performance, a photograph of the King was placed on the screen. The audience immediately rose and joined in the singing of the National Anthem which was followed by cheers.
Several of the postmen in Banbury and in conjunction with the sub-offices, being Reservists, have left for their respective regiments.
The Borough Police Forces loses two of its members in P.C. Adkins and P.C. Shattock, who are Reservists and have been called to their regiments.
The Banbury Branch of the Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies have called an emergency meeting at the Windmill Adult School on Saturday evening to consider what the members can do in rendering assistance during the war, more particularly with a view to procuring information respecting any cases of distress.
The Great Western Railway Company announce that the issue of tourist, excursion, weekend, market, picnic, and other reduced fare tickets, except workmen’s, is suspended until further notice. Up to late last evening neither of the local stations had been notified of any alteration in, or suspension of, the ordinary passenger train services.
Banbury Guardian, August 1914
Lieutenant Holbech of Farnborough Joins the Reserve Battalion of the Scots Guards
Lieutenant W. Holbech, of Farnborough, has joined the Reserve Battalion of his old regiment, the Scots Guards.
Banbury Guardian, August 1914
The Collection of Horses for the War
In this neighbourhood, the residents in the country houses, farmers, and tradesmen have all willingly co-operated with the local representatives of the War Office in providing horses for the war. Colonel F. Hurt-Sitwell, Captain Yates, and Mr Wood Page have been responsible for the purchase of the horses for some miles around Banbury. The regular forces have been supplied with about 40, and the Yeomanry with about 130, and there are several more about to be purchased. We have been informed that there has not been the slightest difficulty in procuring horses suitable for guns, and a few heavy draft horses for Yeomanry purposes. The gentlemen mentioned have been out in the country districts every day since Wednesday, and Mr Wood Page has made an inspection of all the horses for Major the Hon. Eustace Fiennes, M.P., Squadron of Yeomanry. A valuable van horse was procured from Messrs. Hunt, Edmunds, and Co. In all the villages the purchasers have been well received, and met with no difficulty of any kind. Bakers, or people working only one horse, have not been asked to sell. Everybody has been treated with consideration. As regards the rumour to the contrary, we have been asked to state that the purchasers have taken no horses which can be used for harvest work at all, and as far as horses are concerned, the ingathering of the harvest need not be interfered with. In a few instances there may be a dearth of labour, but it is by no means a general experience. There will be many labourers out of work, probably, in Banbury, and they would be wise if they availed themselves of any opportunity for procuring healthy work for a few weeks in the country.
Banbury Guardian, August 1914
Baptism – Leslie Favly Cooper
| Date | Name | Parents Forenames | Surname | Abode | Occupation | Clergyman |
| 16th August | Leslie Favley | William James | Cooper | Sibford Gower | Carrier | V.W. Philpott |
| Fanny |
Avon Dassett Parish Registers
England Arise!
Written August 10th 1914
From crowded city
From lonely plains,
From northern highland,
From circling mains;
England, arise!
Fishermen, leave the oar,
Hind, the flock-feeding,
Scholar, your book no more,
Lover, your pleading;
England, arise!
Quarrels afar, be thrown,
Envies, aside laid,
On England’s altar-stones,
Be all our pride laid;
England, arise!
Strong man and woman fair,
Younger and older,
Let each war’s burden bear,
Shoulder to shoulder;
England, arise!
When might disowneth right,
Shall we stand idle?
Bids us not honour bright
War to unbridle?
England, arise!
Aye though the war blast blow
Sorrow and pain for us,
Bear them, for only so
Peace shall yet reign for us;
England, arise!
The All-Father God on high,
All hearts who knoweth,
Even when His children sigh,
His peace bestoweth;
England, arise!
R.E.L.
Banbury Guardian, August 1914
Newsflash!
Fall of Liege.
Newsflash!
Russian invasion of East Prussia begins.
German Arrested
Karl Meyer, a well-dressed German subject, aged about thirty, was on Friday arrested and brought before the Kineton magistrates by Inspector Pack, and charged with begging food and alms. Letters from Germany addressed poste restante to several naval ports were found on him, also a passport and a map of England. He was ordered to be detained for one month.
Banbury Guardian, August 1914