Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Free School Meals - Edward Hartley (Bradford) 1908

 
 
  
 
 
 

How to Feed the Children

By Alderman E. R. Hartley. (Bradford)

1908 

 
 
 
 
 
 
" Whether there be one God, 
or three; no God or ten thousand,
little Children should be fed,
and their bodies kept clean." 
JOHN RUSKIN.  
 
 
The Citizen Series. 
 
This Pamphlet will be followed by others, dealing with various phases of SOCIALISM 
from the Practical Side. 


HOW TO FEED THE CHILDREN. 


NO measure of recent years does more credit to the work of the 
Socialists of Britain than the one giving power to feed the 
children. Not that the Act goes far enough or is at all 
adequate, but because it is the outcome of a demand made without 
ceasing for over a quarter of a century. 

The Act should be compulsory and not adoptive. It should 
give local autonomy by allowing the Local Authority to decide the 
amount of the rate according to the varying needs of the district 
concerned. The ratepayers themselves to decide the amount. 

Our present business is to see that the new powers are used to 
the utmost ; we have got the wedge in, it must be driven home. 

When Socialists first argued for the feeding of the children who 
were compelled to attend the Nation's schools on the ground that if 
they were obliged to go to school, we should at least be sure that 
they were physically fit to receive and benefit by what they were 
taught. We were told that the children were already fed. 

The Clarion Cinderella Clubs proved that large numbers of the children 
were not fed, or at least only partially or badly fed. The work 
grew, and children's holiday funds, &c, were quite popular. 

NOT BIG ENOUGH. 

The South African War, however, brought matters to a head ; 
when it was found that more than one-half of the young men offering 
themselves for service, in the time of the Nation's need, were not 
good enough to be shot at, or to wear the Nation's uniform, people 
began to think. The youths bred in our slums and reared in our 
factories and workshops, were so narrow across the chest and their 
general development too small, to be fair targets for the Dutchmen's 
guns, they might miss them ; and it was this serious problem that 
caused the first real consideration of the matter. A little enquiry 
soon showed the main reason to be under and improper feeding. 


2 HOW TO FEED THE CHILDREN. 

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. 

When the question of Public Feeding came to the front, we 
were at once met with the statement that " to feed w 7 ould take oft 
Parental Responsibility." Results had proved this to be nonsense 
for, if it was the parents fault, they had evidently thrown off the responsibility long ago. Any way the children were not fed. 
 
CONTINUED.........
 
 
11 HOW TO FEED THE CHILDREN. 11 

A GREAT SUCCESS. 

So far the work has been a great success, and while we 
Socialists can claim to be the initiators, we have not been alone in 
our efforts to make the matter a success. Men and women of all 
parties are soon in deadly earnest when it is something to help the 
children. Help them in the best of all ways, by helping them to be 
better able to help themselves at a later day. 

MAKE THE BEST OF THEM. 

Mr. Sleary's pregnant advice to Mr. Gradgrind always seems to 
me specially adapted to our children — 

" Make the best of us, and not the worst." 

To leave children unfed and unfit to receive the fullest 
benefit from our Educational system, seems very like making the 
worst of them. All History and experience are with us. '' Healthy 
body, healthy mind," is proverbial, and the ladies and gentlemen of 
high birth and culture, who like the others are only descendants of 
the cave dwellers, owe more of their present fine habits and 
manners than thev are aware of, to the fact that for many 
generations they have be^iL temoved from the first primal struggle 
to get food. What haj served in their case will hold good for the 
race. When men and women generally have not to spend their 
main energies in getting the bread that perisheth, they will have 
both time and inclination for higher things. In a wolfish struggle 
for food, there is no time or chance for the greater things which 
make for life. 

CHILDREN  V DREADNOUGHTS. 

The present serious decrease in the birth-rate, makes it all the 
more necessary that we should make the best of tho^e children we 
have. If we are merely struggling for Trade, I have far less fear 
of the German Navy than the growth of the German Schools. No 
possible Navy we can provide will enable us to keep our place 
amongst the nations of the world, if the masses of our people are 
physically and mentally inferior. 

With a Nation of men and women "full summed in all their 
powers," having intellectual pow r er to understand and physical 
power to perform, no outside force can do us harm. But, with a 
Nation strongly recruited from the British Barbarian, and with, as 
our doctor told us, 13 per cent, of the children underfed, and 
with little (if any) chance of a right development, there is always the 
greatest danger in the future. 

Children to-day i Nation to-morrow ! ! Let us never forget 
that in a few short years the world's work will have to be carried 
on by those who to-day are in our schools and playgrounds. 



12 HOW TO FEED THE CHILDREN. 

What we make those children to-day, that the Nation will be 
to-morrow. 

Amongst the most intelligent people of to-day, the greatest 
scorn is felt for the father who neglects to give his children the 
fullest opportunity of education ; whilst scorn would change to 
anger and contempt, if it were known he also refused to give them 
proper quantities of food. 

The Nation can no more afford to neglect the children as a 
whole, than the parents. 

The tremendous economy to be made in feeding large numbers 
like these is already proved, and will lead — no one knows where. 
The Staff, at the Cookery Centre at Green Lane, prepare food for 
nearly 2000 persons. The same Staff do all the washing-up. 

Relief for Hard-Worked Mothers. 

Now ye tired mothers ! (a great part of whose lives are now 
spent in preparing meals and clearing them away) ! When Robert 
Blatchford showed in Merrie England the great saving of time and 
money, to say nothing of the saving of the lives and opportunities of 
our women by collective cooking, there were many scoffers. 

Yet, here we have a staff of six, three men and three women, 
preparing and cooking for nearly 2000, and in addition doing all 
the washing up for the same number. What a chance of relief for 
our tired mothers ! 

There are great possibilities in the future for you, where more 
leisure shall be your lot, under a wiser dispensation. 

The children will be as well, and in many cases better fed. 

The general economy will be great, and many an overburdened 
mother will have cause to bless the clay when an answer was given 
to what had often seemed a fruitless prayer for children — 

" Give us this day, our daily bread !" 


H. BEAUMONT, Printer, 18a, Laisterdyke (T.U. 48 Hours) 
 
Full text at
 http://home.us.archive.org/stream/howtofeedchildre588hart/howtofeedchildre588hart_djvu.txt
 Edward Robertshaw Hartley (1855–1918) 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


REUNION OF BRADFORD ILP LABOUR STALWARTS 1939


Greetings from the Lord Mayor (Alderman T. J. Robinson), a most happy reunion of former Labour members of the Bradford City Council took place to Branford last night.


Pioneer members of the party were present. and the earnest hope was expressed that faction would be obviated and that the Labour workers would once more present a united front.


The hope was also expressed that this would prove the forerunner of many such gatherings. A decision to hold a further reunion next year, to which members of the Bradford City Council Labour group are to be Invited, was unanimously adopted and Mr. A.T. Sutton was appointed convener. Mr. Sutton, who organised last night's gathering, revealed the fact that the idea of the reunion came from Mrs T. W. Stamford, wife of the chairman of the Bradford Labour Party


Mr Sutton sent out forty two invitations, those present


Walter Bateson, Michael Conway, Willie Crossley, Frank Duce, George Green, William Hirst, Joe Hainsworth, J.M. Halliday, Alfred Heaton, Eli Jenkins, George Muff MP, Mrs Amy Meggison, Arthur Shaw, A.T. Sutton, Mrs M.J. Sutton, Tom Stamford, Arthur Stott, R.J. Smith, Percy Thornton, Robert Varley, Theodore Warner


Guests

Mrs Palin, Mrs Alfred Pickles, (ex lady Mayoress) Mrs Stamford, Mrs Hirst, Mrs Stott, Mrs Duce, Mrs Jenkins, Mrs Shaw, Mrs Hansworth, Mrs William Leach


Mrs Conway was unable to attend to illness and apologies were given from

E. Bush, Robert Hill, Harry Mitchell, C.H. Tarbuck, E.O'Neil, Vincent Tewson, Mrs Jane Clayton,J. Bailey, J. Cox, F.W Jowlett, F. Import, Mrs Amy Sykes, Mr Foster of Sunderland


Conway stated "It was 27 years last November since he entered the City council and he soon came to the conclusion that Mr Joe Hayhurst was the real leader of the Council. He recalled Harry Palin the best fighter he had ever seen when everything was lost... and Willie Leach and Alfred Pickles , the later was "geniality and persuasiveness". Billy Land a very able man and the redoubtable E. J. Smith who bludgeoned his opponent mercilessly



MOVEMENT MEANS SERVICE


Memories were stirred by the roll-call of departed colleagues, which was read by Mr. Sutton:


Sam Shaftoe, C. Leonard Robinson, Arthur Priestman, Edward Hartley, Tom Delbridge, Joseph Hayhurst, Tom Grundy, A. Tuke Priestman, Charlie Glyde, R. Roberts, Wailter Barber, George Minty, Willie Mackinder, A. Pain,. Hall Seed, Frank Egan, Harry Wood, Tom Blythe, Ernest Fox, Robert Hiles, Arthur Goodison, Edward Siddle. Willie Rushworth, Harry Palin, Alfred Pickles, A. R. Ellis, Tom Ashworth. and Willie Brooke.


A pathetic feature about the last named is that he was alive when invited to last night's gathering, and wrote that a chill would prevent his attending.



Alderman Titterington wrote: We cannot let you be gathering together without saying how glad we are to hear of your reunion.


"When records and epitomes are turned up from time to time, the group recalls many made by all of you in the several spheres of local government activities, on behalf of the Socialist movement .. . . But that is only a small proportion of your labour, and the lifetime contribution which this gathering represents. - "


" To be in the Labour movement is synonymous with unremitting service for the common weal . . . The sum total of your service can never be recorded, other than In the minds and lives, the memories and the emotions of your associates and those workers whose interests you have served so long, so loyally, and so well."


the reunion concluded with singing of

When wilt thou save the people,

Hark the Battle Cry

England Arise


Bradford Observer 31 January 1939


Monday, October 29, 2012

Bluebirds & Hillingdon House Canadian Convalescent Hospital


HILLINGDON HOUSE - WORLD WAR 1

CANADIAN CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL 1915-1917
 
Hillingdon House, Uxbridge, Middlesex was a large rambling mansion set in its own park, close to what is now Uxbridge town centre.
 


The mansion was built in 1845 and belonged  to Colonel Cox of the famous Banking Institution, His family put the mansion and its 50 acres of grounds up for sale in 1914 and it was acquired by the British government.
 
The British Government initially considered the property and its grounds ideal for a Prisoner of War Camp. However after opposition from locals the site was acquired on behalf of the Canadian army as the Hillingdon House Canadian Convalescent  Hospital,  which officially opened on the 21st September 1915.
 
The original hospital catered for 115 Canadian military patients housed in the main buildings and another 400 in the sixteen “Salonika” huts which had been erected in the extensive grounds.
 
In total 500 Canadian patients could be catered for at any one time.
 
In October 1915 the Hospital admitted 87 patents, in November 308 and December 307.

Conditions at the hospital were sparse with “only five antiquated baths” no lights in the huts, lighting was initially by  candle light and had few toilets".
 
The hospital personnel were drawn from the Canadian No5 General hospital and No2 Field ambulance unit.

(below French Canadian nurses WW1)

Bluebirds
The nurses at the Canadian hospitals wore blue dresses and white veils on their nursing caps, and were known by the Canadians as "Bluebirds". 

The Nurses lived in the Nurses Home at  “Dragonfield “ High Street, Uxbridge.

A serious measles outbreak March 1916 led to 32 staff being quarantined.
 
The Hillingdon Canadian hospital had its own Cricket team who played against against Canadian hospital teams at Hounslow and Southall. The hospital also boasted a Baseball team which played by 1916 in a league which including baseball teams from Taplow, Pay & Record Office and London American, 
One important luxury was the Bovril and Milk Coca drinks proscribed by Nursing Sister Miss MacCallum

On 27th December 1917 Hospital Diary reports that all nurses are to report to D.M.S. as quarters taken over by RFC

The hospitals equipment was shipped to Bexhill Candaian Hsospital and the Pay Office to Bushy Park.
 
On the 13th January 1918 the unit and detachment left Uxbridge at 7am arrived at its destination Bexhill at 3pm
 
Uxbridge and Ramsgate hospitals consolidated at Bexhill.
 
Personnel of Uxbridge Unit absorbed into the Princess Patricia, Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Cooden camp, Bexhill.
 
Hillingdon Canadian Hospital
Sisters in Charge 1915-1917

Jean Stronach
Brenda Florence Mattice
Florence Elizabeth May Mc Callum
Mary Elizabeth Fletcher
Harriet Tremaine Meicklejohn

Nursing Sister Florence McCallum was born 24th May 1890 , the daughter of Sarah Hutton, Barrifield, Ontario. She enlisted at le Touquet, France
 
Nursing Sister: Brenda Mattice of Quebec, enlisted in Quebec

Nursing Sister: Harriet Tremaine Meiklejohn, Mother, 155 Maple Avenue, Quebec, enlisted London

Nursing Sister: Jean Stronach daughter of Catherine G. Stronach, 173 Stewart Street, Ottawa, Ontario; Enlisted Quebec

Nursing Sister: Mary Elizabeth Fletcher: Mother A Fletcher, Paisley, Bruce county, Ontario






WW1 OVERSEAS NURSES - ROLL OF HONOUR

REMEMBER NURSING SISTER - ADDIE TUPPER


Canadian Nursing Sister buried at Uxbridge (Hillingdon)


Nursing Sister: Adrienna or Adruenna “Addie” Allen Tupper
Canadian Army Medical Corps
Born Yarmouth Nova Scotia 13th October 1870
Daughter of Mrs Mary E Trefry of Bridgend, Nova Scotia, Canada.
 
Addie Tupper from Bridgewater Nova Scotia
Enlisted Quebec

UPPER, Addie Allen (Adruenna), Royal Red Cross (RRC
Graduated General Hospital Concord, New Haven
  No. 2 General Hospital, Le Treport, France

Died of illness 9th December1916 aged 46


Buried at  Uxbridge (Hillingdon) Cemetery, Middlesex, England plot UC: 8

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

WW1 German POW War Memorial - North London


German Prisoner of War (POW's) World War One (WW1) War Memorial, New Southgare Cemetary, North London, England

 Deutsch Prisoner of War (Kriegsgefangene) World War One (WW1) Kriegerdenkmal, New Southgate Cemetery, North London, England

Click on picture to enlarge 



WW1 German POW's  1914-1919


Freidrich Aminski  22/10/1915
Karl Bitter 5/1/1915
Christain Johann Blank 23/12/1916
Franz Wilhelm Blaeser 8/3/1919
Kurt H.E. Bocker 25/4/1917
Franz Borger 20/10/1916
Peter Buck 21/10/1917
Karl Burkhard 26/5/1917
Wilhelm Derenthal 9/3/1919
August Deilitzki 1/8/1917
Relnnold Dickie 20/2/1919 ?
Franz Erfurt 1/11/1915
Karle Findeisen 11/11/1917
Hermann Floersheim 30/5/1918
Arnold A.M.G. Garlach 1/2/1917
Heinrich Gobel 15/2/1919
John Cross 17/3/19
Becker Diedrich Edvard 4/12/1918 ?
Karl Hellwing 5/3/1919
Joseff Max Herberle 17/11/1917
Joseph Hirschmuller 9/3/1919
Martin Jung 15/8/1917
XXXX Karle 27/2/1919
Max Bruno Keischt 4/7/1918
Heinrich Knein 8/8/1917
Addo Von Kobbe 4/3/1919
August F.P. Lippert 11/6/1916
Karl Lippert 27/11/1917
F Liber (Oder Veith) 14/2/1919
Karl Lutz 6/3/1919
Ernest Muller 24/12/1917
Karl Muller 6/3/1919
Gerhard Muller 13/10/1917
Heinrich Polenz 15/2/1919
August Salchow 12/7/1926
Fredrich Scharioth 18/8/1917
Karl Schibal 7/7/1917
Hans H Sculdt 9/4/1917
Eric M.A. Schumann 31/12/1918
George Seredszun 10/9/1917
Richard Spitzer 9/3/1918
Ernest Stein 31/4/1917
Andreas Tauber 17/4/1918
John Ulbrich 28/3/1919
George Vogelsang 27/10/1917
Johann Waida 26/9/1917
William Walker 6/3/1919
Emil Witteck  6/11/1917
F.K. Wolmersiger 30/6/1917
Herman W Wolter 14/12/1916
Adolph Zimmermann 5/5/1917
Albert Wanner  20/7/1918 ??




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