Reading Standard Etc 02-1918

The late Bdr. F.E. HEWETT, Berks R.H.A., 29, Liverpool Road, Reading. - Died of wounds.

The late 2nd A.M. E.V. MORRIS, R.F.C., Basingstoke. - Drowned at sea.

The late WILLIAM G. HENSLEY, E.R.A., 1st class, H.M.S. "Staunch," T.B.D., late of Windsor. - Died of wounds.

Sergt. J. RUDDLE, Royal Berks Regt., 148, Wilson Road, Reading. - Gassed.

Trooper W.J. GOATER, Yeomanry, Walcot Kennels, Kintbury. - Missing.

The late Pte. SIDNEY SHAW, Royal Berks Regt., late of The Terrace, Knowl Hill, Twyford. - Killed in action.

Sergt. ALBERT SHEPHERD, Royal Berks Regt., Hermitage. - Sick.

Sergt. S.S. LUSTED, R.M.P., late of the Royal Berks Regt., 70, Elm Park Road, Reading. - Invalided.


PROMOTION FOR BERKS OFFICER.

In the London Gazette Suppliment of Feb. 4th the War Office announces the promotion of Sec. Lieut. J.A. Brain, Royal Berks Regt., from second lieutenant to lieutenant. Lieut. Brain, son of Mr. S. Brain, was mentioned by Lieut.-Col. Dimmer, V.C., in his recent address in Reading on the work of the Royal Berkshire Reg.: under his command.


BERKSHIRE PRISONERS OF WAR.

Relief Committee's Work of Mercy.

We have received a copy of the third report of the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 8th Battalions of the Royal Berks Regiment Prisoners of War Fund which states that prisoners belonging to the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 8th Battalions, for whose food and clothing this committee is entirely responsible, now number 260, as compared with 176 last year. In addition to these, 19 prisoners have died in captivity, three have been transferred to Switzerland, one has been repatriated direct from Germany, one has been repatriated from Switzerland, and one has escaped to this country from Germany. The committee is also responsible for the bread for all men of the Royal Berkshire Regiment who are prisoners in German hands. There now number 323, as compared with 216 last year.

Food and Clothing Parcels.

Each of the 260 prisoners has been adopted by one or more adopters, who pay for the six 8s. parcels of food that are sent to each prisoner every twenty-eight days. Owing to the enormous increase in the price of all food stuffs, the Central Prisoners of War Committee found last October that they had to raise the price of their 6s. parcel by 2s., kindly stating, however, that they would be willing, out of their own fund, to make the 2s, difference when necessary. From acknowledgements received it is satisfactory to be able to record that the greatest majority of the food parcels have arrived and in good condition. At the beginning of 1917 each of the prisoners were sent 6lbs. of bread a week from Berne, at the cost of 7s. 6d. per man per month. In the summer biscuits were substituted for bread owing to the difficulty of bread arriving in good condition during the hot weather. In the autumn the bread ration was again increased to 6lbs. a week, at the cost of 7s. 6d. a month. The bread bill for the 323 prisoners now amounts to considerably over £125 a month. Funds are earnestly needed to meet this monthly bread bill. Each of the 260 prisoners has been sent the following clothing directly he was reported a prisoner of war at a recognised camp:- 2 vests, 2 shirts, 2 pants, 3 socks, jersesy, gloves, 3 handkerchiefs, 2 towels, 3 balls of mending wool, 3 darning needles, boots, shoes, suit, great coat, cap and kit bag. All these articles of clothing are renewed every six months with the exception of the great coat, cap and kit bag, which are renewed every twelve months. All the underclothing, great coats, and caps have been packed and dispatched by the Misses Eastwood. The number of parcels packed them during the year amounted to 1027. The boots, suits and shoes have been packed at Wasing Place by the butler, Mr. R. Mitchell. The number of parcels packed by him during the year amounted to 947. Between Jan. 1st and OCt. 1st 1,426 parcels 1.099 have been acknowledged, 25 of which had been slightly tampered with. The percentage of parcels actually received is probably higher, as allowances must be made for the prisoners who do not acknowledge them. Each prisoner is also allowed to receive half-pound of tobacco or 300 cigarettes. In order to send tobacco or cigarettes it is necessary to get a permit from the hon. secretary Mrs. Mount. Relations are now also allowed to send what is known as a personal parcel once a quarter. Coupons and particulars for these personal parcels can be obtained also from Mrs. Mount.

Secretarial Department.

Owing to the increase in the number of prisoners, the book-keeping and secretarial work has become very heavy, and miss L.A. Fowler has latterly most kindly been helping the secretary with this work.

Accounts.

In order to comply with the War Charities Act, the accounts have been made up to Michaelmas, 1917. Since that time the bread bills have been increasingly expensive, and the balance now is considerably reduced. The balance in hand on Dec. 31st amounted to £426. This sum will only meet the bread bill for less than four months, and the treasurer would therefore earnestly appeal for more subscriptions and donations. An appeal to the clergy in the Berkshire Archdeaconry was made for collections, and met with a most generous response, over £400 being subscribed. The South Berks Women's Unionist Association kindly made a collection for the Bread Fund, which amounted to £120 11s. 1d. The thanks of the committee are again due to Mr. Blake P. Allnatt for kindly auditing the accounts gratuitously.
The Committee would like to express their gratitude to all the adopters for the great personal interest and kindness they have shown to their prisoners, It would lighten the work considerably if it were possible to again build up a waiting list of adopters, and the secretary would be more than grateful to anyone who would be willing to send in their name for this purpose. The Committee would also like to express their gratitude to the Central Prisoners of War Committee for their valuable assistance and cooperation, and to record the unfailing help and courtesy which has always been accorded to the Secretary by Major Field, at the Depot in Reading.
A number of highly appreciative letters have been received from numerous prisoners.
£1,316 2s. 7½d. has been received in subscriptions and the total receipts amount to £1,589 16s. 2½d. The principal item of expenditure was £845 for bread.
Since the report was drafted information has been received of over 180 prisoners, who were captured in the heavy fighting in November last. This involves a heavy addition to the Committee's financial responsibilities and fresh adopters are appealed for. These prisoners formed part of a division which was complimented by their General for the manner in which, though heavily outnumbered, they held up the German counter-attack at a very critical time.


The late Gunner HARRY B. MANN, R.H.A., for some years a servant at Wallington College, and a former member of the Reigate and Southend Constabularies. - Killed in action.


"THE DIARY OF A U-BOAT COMMANDER."

"The most remarkable, the most fascinating document to come out of the war" has been obtained for publication in the February number of the "Strand Magazine." It is the narratice of Lieut.-Commander Hans von Tuebinger, in charge of U-13 and afterwards of the bigger U-34, and is an extra-ordinary combination of love, romance, drama and tragedy. By accident von Tuebinger killed his sweetheart when destroying a neutral ship, and this so affected him that some little time later - cursing the Kaiser, von Tirpitz and the war - he jumped from his craft into the sea and was lost. Among the other articles are: "What is the Greatest Deed of Valour?" in which four well-known writers - Morley Roberts, Max Pemberton, E. Ashmead-Bartlett and Edgar Jepson - give their opinions; "Sporting Thrills," dealing with sensational episodes in all branches of sport; and "Max Beerbohm as a Caricaturist," illustrated with a selection of his most famous drawings. The fiction, as usual, is well varied, perhaps the outstanding feature being "The Passing of the Seasick Cow," a thrilling Tank story by "Sapper."


Henley Town Council have decided to start a municipal piggery.


Pte. A.W. OLIVER, Somerset L.I., Basingstoke Road, Swallowfield. - Sick.

The late Pte. W.E. WILLIS, Oxford and Bucks L.I., 55, Hemdean Road, Caversham. - Died of wounds.

Pte. F. LOVEGROVE, M.G.C., 25, Chesterman Street, Reading. - Missing.

Pte. DAVID FORD, Royal Berks Regt., 413, London Road,m Reading. - Missing.