The Great War News from
Lancaster in 1914
16th October 1914
These pages include reports from the local press in Lancaster and
district from October 1914.
Official Advertisement/Notice:
GR
To All Ex NCOs
Ex-Non-Commissioned Officers of any branch of His Majesty’s forces are
required for the duration of the War, their assistance in training the
New Army being urgently needed.
Terms of Service
Promotion to non-commissioned rank immediately after enlistment. Age no
obstacle so long as competent. No liability for service abroad if over
45, or in special cases 40.
Pensioners.
Pensioners may draw their pensions in addition to pay of rank at Army
rates.
Apply for information or enlistment at any recruiting office, or ask OC
Depot to re-enlist you in your old corps.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
Shirts Needed at the Front
We are requested to state that an officer of the King’s Own Regiment at
the front writes to say that both officers and men are badly in need of
flannel shirts and odd vests. If people will kindly send contributions
of these garments to the OC at the Depot, Bowerham Barracks, they will
be forwarded immediately.
Recruiting at Bowerham Barracks
Four hundred men left on Sunday evening and early on Monday morning to
join the 8th (Kitchener’s) battalion of the Royal Lancaster Regiment at
Codford. Lieutenant Col Thorne was in command. There is still great need
for ex-non-commissioned officers. It is proposed to form a special
battalion in connection with the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, now
stationed at Saltash.
Territorial Reserve Battalion Commander
Lieutenant Colonel Compton Hall, who in private life is bridgemaster for
the Lancashire County Council, has been appointed to the command of the
Territorial Reserve Battalion of the Royal Lancaster Regiment whose
headquarters are at Lancaster. Colonel Compton Hall was introduced to
the officers yesterday by Colonel Lord Richard Cavendish, and is
expected to take up his duties on Monday.
King’s Own Casualties
A long list of casualties reported from the base, under dates 15th,
16th, and 17th September contained the name of 8275 Private J Eaves
(wounded).
Admitted to 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln, 6th October:
1208 Private J Preston, 3rd King’s Own (seriously wounded).
To General Hospital, Leicester, 21 Sep:
9025 Private A Goff.
To General Hospital, Glasgow, 21 Sep:
11071 Private G E Fowler
Territorials’ Thanks for Comforts
Sir, - Please allow me to thank the following ladies and gentlemen for
their valuable gifts of comforts for the men stationed at Didcot and
along the Great Western Railway, and to assure them that their
generosity and thoughtfulness is highly appreciated by both officers and
men:- The Mayoress of Lancaster and Mrs Wigley, Lancaster, housewifes;
Mrs Gordon, Morecambe, socks, scarves, mufflers etc; The Mayor of
Lancaster and the Mayor of Morecambe, blankets.
Richard F Cavendish
Commanding 5th Battalion, The King’s Own R L Regt
Didcot, 9th October 1914.
A Meteor and What It Created.
A great many people in the Garstang district, as well as in Manchester
and Liverpool suburbs, were alarmed on Tuesday evening by the sight of
an unusually brilliant meteor dashing across the western sky. Its
appearance gave rise to many rumours in Garstang, as in the other places
named. The minds of nervous folk at once flew to Zeppelins, and people
less inclined to believe in the possibility of Zepplins clung to the
theory that an aeroplane equipped with a searchlight or some such
aircraft was visiting the coast. Inquiries, however, revealed the fact
that the visitant was nothing more warlike than one of many meteors
which the earth has lately been seeing.
Only a proportion of our collections
are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display
in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of
our collections which are held in store.
