Berkshire and The War: the "Reading Standard" pictorial record. Volume 4. p 875

SUTTONS' SEEDS IN FRANCE.

The accompanying photograph, reproduced by the kind permission of Lieut.-Colonel Richardson, Commanding R.G.A. Base Depot, B.E.F., will be interesting as illustrating what is being done by our troops in France towards providing their own supplies of vegetables, an important department of army organisation in which Reading is rendering good service in addition to having borne her share in furnishing such large numbers of men for the fighting line. The picture represents vegetables grown at the Royal Garrison Artillery Base Depot in France in 1918 from seeds procured from Messrs. Sutton and Sons. In sending the photograph Sergeant Fright, R.G.A., under whose charge the crops represented have been grown, writes as follows:

"The tomatoes are Sutton's Early Market. A better crop I have never seen. Three hundred and seventy plantes yielded 1,600 lbs of fruit of a real good shape absolutely free from disease. At the show we were awarded first prize for kale, first for leeks, first or a collection of salads, beside five other distinctions. We have supplied the troops with 800 lbs. of radish, 10,000 lbs. marrow and pumpkins, or roughly 22 tons (not including potatoes) of vegetables, altogether - cabbages, greens, etc."

It may be mentioned that during 1918 several thousand acres in France were under cultivation for the production of vegetables for the armies serving there. For carrying out this important work the Government organised an Agricultural production Department, to which several members of Messrs. Sutton's staff previously serving with the fighting forces have been transferred in order to obtain the benefit of their expert knowledge.

[photo, group, exterior] A FINE DISPLAY.

SHOT BY AIRMAN.

Tragedy at a Military Hospital.

Corpl. Robert Aldridge, late of 2, Sherman Place, Reading, met with an untimely end at the hands of an airman in the Latchmere House Military Hospital for mental cases, Ham Common, Richmond. The airman, Lieut. Sidney Hume, who had been a patient since August last, rung his bell, and when Corpl. Aldridge appeared, shot him with a revolver, and in the resulting confusion made his escape from the building. He was, however, captured, and is in custody for the crime. Corpl. Aldridge was for many years an ambulance driver at the Royal Berks Hospital,and when he joined the R.A.M.C. was some time stationed at Netley. He was 38 years of age and was known as a pleasant and kind-hearted man.

[photo, portrait] The late Pte. [sic] ROBERT ALDRIDGE, R.A.M.C.

A "FAVOURITE".

[photo, portrait] Mr. GEORGE SMITH, the popular secretary of the Favourites Concert Party, who have given so many concerts at the Reading War Hospitals, on joining the army was the recipient of handsome presents from his colleagues and other friends.

RIVER TRIP FOR NURSES.

{photo, group, exterior (boat)] In addition to the weekly river trips for wounded soldiers arranged by the Reading Care and Comforts Committee, the nurses of the Reading War Hospitals were treated to a trip on the "Britannia". [Photo by Drake, Friar Street, Reading.]