Minutes of the Newton Servicemen's Welfare Fund Committee Jan to Sept 1940

Just catching up here on transcribing the Minutes of the Committee. We start to see more names not only of committee members but also of the men who have joined up or been drafted. And we see the progress of the door to door collections, the funds donated, the Postal Orders sent to the servicemen and the beginning of a sock knitting project. Sorry there are no photos to break up the script so if you have photos of any of the men named, please submit them...a picture paints a thousand words....

Minutes of meetings of the Newton Servicemen's Welfare Fund

......................................................................................................

 Meeting held December 12th 1939

 1 Mr W J Ford moved and Mr T Kiddy seconded a vote of thanks to Mr T Cotton for his kindly help in having cards printed

 2 Proposed seconded and passed that Newton servicemen be included in comforts scheme only as far as the bridges .(A N S Mann is one who joined up from Newton.)

 3 Mr T Kiddy and Mr T Cotton proposed and seconded that secretaries draught a letter to the Soldiers

 4 Proposed seconded and passed that the secretaries have the power to add names to list of servicemen if found

 5 Meeting of collectors to be held on Mondays at 8.30 p.m.  in wardens post where secretaries will receive the monies

 6 Next meeting first Tuesday in the New Year at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting held 2nd January 1940

Mr RB Butler presided

 The minutes of the previous meeting were read and passed as correct

A statement of accounts showing a balance in hand of £14 14s 41/2 d was submitted to the meeting and considered to be satisfactory

 Resolved a further grant of 5 shillings be forwarded to those serving and if the names are obtainable to include the brothers Sheasby in the list

 Secretary to issue statement of accounts after grants have been forwarded

 It was agreed to hold the next meeting on Tuesday January 23rd 1940 at 6:30 p.m.

 

 Signed off J W Jacquest 23/1/40

Meeting held January 23rd 1940

Mr Jacquest presided     7 present

 The minutes of the previous meeting were read and passed as correct

 A statement of accounts showing a balance in hand of 8 pounds 4 shillings 2 1/2 pence were submitted to the meeting and considered to be satisfactory

 Resolved that five shilling orders be sent to the Sheasby Brothers

 Passed that further payments be deferred until after the next meeting arranged for Tuesday February 13th and that the committee be notified of same

 Signed off R Butler 14 / 2 / 40

Meeting held February 14th 1940

 A full committee Mr Butler presided

 The Secretary showed a balance of £21 16 s 1 1/2 d which was considered highly satisfactory

 Mr Jacquest moved and Mr Cotton seconded that a further five shilling PO be forwarded to the NS men -- carried

 Mr Cotton proposed Mr Jacqest seconded that Secretary asked “The Metro” people to give matinee some Sunday ….first thanking for offer of help

 Mr Jacquest proposed and Mr Cotton seconded that we ask soldiers whether they prefer part of the fund being devoted to buying wool for the local ladies to knit comforts

 Carried that secretaries be given power to hand over money for purchase of woolen comforts to needy cases

 Signed off R Butler

 Minutes for meeting held March 13th 1940

Mr Butler presided 

1. Mr Jacquest proposed and Mr Coupe seconded that Newton serviceman be recipients of another five shilling PO forEaster...carried

2.  Mr Kiddy proposed and Mr F Ford seconded that people of Mount Pleasant be invited to come into  The Comforts Fund Scheme .

3. Leaflets to be handed round to each householder to be called for when they would have either accepted or rejected invitation. Also an invitation to a general meeting -Mr Kiddy and Mr Peake be responsible for issuing and collecting of leaflets

4. The secretary to interview Mrs Wallis re wool for 6 pairs of socks.

5. See Mr Storer re school Room March 20th

Meeting held March 20th 

1. Mr Kiddy showed that of 101 houses that have been visited 60 people were in favour of joining the Newton SC Scheme. 14 unmarked, 18 not willing while 9 were queried?

2. Proposed by Mr Wallis & seconded by Mr Webb that we welcome Mt Pleasant as part of the NSCF Scheme.

3. Mr J Thomson and Mr Bingham volunteered to collect in one district from the bottom of Blackwell to Chip Shop including S St.. Secretary to ask Mr F Hesketh & W Wheedon if they would volunteer to collect from North St to upwards

4. The question of wool to be left in hands of Mrs F Ford & Mrs Peake, who would also see girls working at Lea Mills with a view to obtaining wool.

5. Next meeting April 10th in School Room

Signed off W J Ford

Minutes for meeting held April 10th 1940

 

Mr W J Ford presided

1. Mrs Wallis proposed and Mr Kiddy seconded that the secretary write to Lea Mills re wool for soldiers...carried

2. Moved Mr Kiddy and seconded Mr E Butler that minutes for last meeting were a true record

3. Income shown to the end of March was £57-12-6 and expenditure £33-10-9 - which consisted of 4 allotments ..29 @ 5/-, 31 @ 5/-, 33 @ 5/- & 36 @5/-, leaving a Balance in hand of £24-1s-9d.

4. Mr Kiddy moved and Mrs Wallis seconded that secretaries be given power to purchase stationery necessary to carry on communicating with the servicemen.

5. Mr Cuthbertson moved Mr Webb seconded that a sub committee be nominated which was as follows: 1.Mr R Butler,  2 Mr Hesketh 3 Mr Kiddy

6. Mr Kiddy moved and Mr Cuthbertson seconded that the next allotment of 5/- PO be sent as soon as possible.

7. Mr E Butler proposed and Mr Webb seconded that Mr Childs be invite to succeed Mr Jacquest as collector for Littlemoor & Wire Lane along with Mr L Philips.

Next Meeting to be held Wednesday May 22nd at 6.30pm

Signed off T E Kiddy Act Chairman 22/5/40

Minutes for Meeting Held May 22nd 1940

        Mr Kiddy presided.

1. Mr Cuthbertson moved and Mr Webb seconded that minutes of the last meeting were a true record - passed.

2. Mr Hesketh moved , Mr Cuthbertson seconded a resolution that wool be bought from Messrs Marks and Spencers.Mtrs Wilson volunteered to purchase this for the committee - 3 lbs of grey wool @6/8 per lb. 

3. The secretary made a statement of account up to May 22nd: Income £85-1-10 Expenditure £45-6-6 Balance £39-15-4

4. Resolved that 6 balancer sheets should be displayed- in the are throughout which collections are made

5. Secretary reported other names of Newton Servicemen namely:H Bailey, G Riley Underwood, R Butler, JE Braybrook, M Titterton, N Bates,HS Johnson, L Morrel & HP Cuthbertson making  total of 52.

6. Mr Hesketh proposed & Mrs Webb seconded that the next allotment of 5/- should be remitted as early as possible

Next Meeting to be held June 26th 7pm

Signed off F Ford Act. Chairman 3/7/40

Meeting Held 3rd July 1940

Mr F Ford presided

Resolved that minutes of last meeting be passed as a true record

Mr Coupe issued a statement of accounts. Mr Bingham proposed & Mrs C Webb seconded that Financial position be accepted as highly satisfactory

New names brought forward were:

W Pitts, Maurice Ward, Frank Rockley, & Mr Storer

Mr Cuthbertson proposed & Mr Bingham seconded that the next allotment be made July 20th.Resolved that Mr Cotton be invited to attend the meeting in his capacity as Treasurer.

Next Meeting to be held on Wednesday July 31st at 6.30 pm

Minutes for meeting held July 31st 1940

1. Mr R Butler presided

2.  The minutes of the previous meeting were read & passed as correct

3. A statement of accounts showing income of £117-0-2 Expenditure £75-10-11 leaving a balance in hand of £41-9-3 was submitted to the meeting & considered to be satisfactory.

4. Resolved a further grant of 5/- be forwarded to those serving about August 26th

5. Names of 2 new servicemen were submitted: Mr Dove New St. Mr Alan Hall 37 Alfreton Rd.

6. Resolved that no collections should be made during St Dunstan Week ( 3rd Wk in August)

7. A donation of 5/3d was received from Mrs Walters per Miss Smith.

8. Resolved that formal notices should be displayed in prominent places - notifying public of the next Comfort Fund Committee Meeting which it was agreed to be held on Sept 4th at 6.30pm

Signed off F Hesketh Sept 4th 1940

Minutes of Meeting Held Sept 4th 1940

Mr F Hesketh presided.

1. The minutes of the previous meeting were read & passed as correct.

2. A Statement of accounts showing income of £135-19-2 Expenditure of £93-4-6 leaving a balance of £42-14-8 was submitted to the meeting & considered satisfactory.

3. Resolved a further allotment of 5/- be forwarded to those serving about the first week in October.

4. Mrs Wildgoose submitted the names of ladies knitting for soldiers:- Mrs Rockley, Freeman, H England, Childs, Cook, Walters, Pollard, Straw, Heathcote, Wildgoose, & Misses Marriott, Smith, Briggs, & Wildgoose.

5. Mrs Wildgoose proposed Mr Webb seconded that 2 pairs of socks be sent to some soldiers instead of money in next allotment.

6. Next Meeting was arranged to be held in the School on Wednesday Oct 16th at 6.30 pm.

Signed off by R Butler Chairman.

Newton Men lost in Far East and a Blackwell POW

On the anniversary of VJ Day, it is fitting to remember 2 young men from Newton, both killed within 2 months of each other in the Far East and commemorated on the Singapore War Memorial. Both were serving with the 1st Battalion the Leicestershire Regiment. These are the only 2 Blackwell Parish men we know of who lost their lives in the Far East.

Reginald William Cuthbertson appears on Newton’s War Memorial; he was the second son of Herbert Cuthbertson and Daisy ( maiden name Meakin), and had 7 siblings: Herbert Douglas, Joan M, Ronald, Ena, John, Robert and Margaret. In 1939 the family were living on Main Street Newton.

Reginald William was Corporal 485845 when he was lost and presumed dead on 14th December 1941 aged 24. Reginald William has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial in Kranji War Cemetery.

Walter Hind, son of Walter Hind and Florence nee Hayes, we believe was the youngest son of 10 children born between 1899 and 1918 in Tibshelf and then Newton, where they lived at the Malthouse on Town Lane. His siblings surviving infancy were Percy, Reginald, Margaret Elizabeth, Grace Dorothy, George Vincent, Thomas and Florence Mary.

Walter was Private 4860135 with the 1st Battalion when he was lost on 12th February 1942, just 8 weeks after Reg Cuthbertson .Walter is also mentioned on his parents grave in St Werburgh’s churchyard.

If anyone has a photo of Reginald or Walter which we can publish, please contact us.

According to Wikipedia, the 1st Battalion Leicestershire was a Regular Army unit stationed in the Far East on the outbreak of the Second World War. The battalion fought the Imperial Japanese Army in the Malayan Campaign in early 1942 and sustained heavy casualties, temporarily amalgamating with the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment to create the British Battalion which was, however, later captured and the men of both battalions remained as prisoners of war (POWs) for the rest of the war.

One reader of our post told that a Mr R Miles of Blackwell was a POW in the Far East and we are interested to find more about Mr Miles.

Victory over Japan, and a letter to the Welfare Fund from F Rockley, South East Asia Command

 

75 years ago this week saw the Japanese Surrender and so an end to WW2.

From the letters from Newton and Old Blackwell servicemen in the Far East to the Secretary of the Servicemens’ Welfare Fund, it is known that the following residents served out there..(there may be others so far unknown. If you have more information to share please comment on this page)

John Druce, Leading Aircraftman RAF, South East Asian Air Force

F Rockley, Corporal, HQ Squadron 3rd Carabiniers, South East Asian Command ( See Letter below)

R Walker, Captain, Z Force Communications Group, India Command

A G Wilkinson, Tpr, 207 Corps, South East Asian Command

Ron Flint, Leading Aircraftman, RAF, South East Asian Air Force

H Dickens, Private, Admin Coy 9th Border Regt , South East Asian Command

H L Oldfield, Leading Aircraftman, 15/17 Billet RAF Station, Jodhpur, South East Asian Air Force

R Rockley, Corporal, 20th Indian AMD Brigade, South East Asian Command

The following is a transcript of a letter from F Rockley to Mr Coupe, Secretary of the fund, on the day the Japanese surrender was signed, 15th August 1945:

15/8/1945

4981943 Cpl F Rockley

HQ Squadron

3rd Carabiniers

SEAC

Dear Sir

Once again I should like to take this opportunity of Thanking You and All Subscribers to the Fund for giving these Gifts of Money to My Mother for Me .

Its great to think you remember us stuck away out here, and I hope to be seeing some of you before long, as my Repat should be Here in the Near Future .

Its Great News to hear of this Japanese Surrender over here now. Lets all get Home again, to Normal Times, and Peace once more.

I hope you all manage a “ Victory Celebration, and everyone soon forgets such things as War.

Heres Thanking You and All, once again

I Remain, Yours Faithfully

F Rockley

Derek Hemingray of Westhouses Wireless Operator

Following our picture of Bernard Johnson, relatives of another Blackwell man, Derek Hemingray of Westhouses, who served on Bombers as a wireless operator have shared photos and his log. Many thanks for these contributions: In the group photo Derek is on the left.

Bernard Johnson of Newton in RAF

 Thanks to Pete Johnson of Newton for sharing a photo of his dad Bernard and fellow crew of a Lancaster Bomber . Bernard was wireless operator. From Left to Right names are D McKenzie, R Bell, F Mitchel, Ricky Rice, B Johnson, R Twyford, R Holmes.

Minutes of the inaugural meeting of the Newton Servicemen's Comforts Committee

 This is a transcript of the first entry in the minutes book for the Newton Servicemen's Comfort or Welfare Fund, retrieved along with accounts , letters and receipts from the loft of a home in Littlemoor Lane, home of Mr Coupe mentioned in the minutes as Asst. Secretary. Other names will be known to the older residents, among them Thomas Cotton who rescued Newton Old Hall, and Mr Jacquest, headmaster of the school.

Newtons Servicemen's Welfare Fund

Minutes

Public Meeting Thursday December 7th 1939

Mr R Butler presided. 29 present

Proposed by Mr Cotton seconded by Mr J W Jacquest that Mr R Butler be chairman. Carried unanimously.

Proposed and seconded Mr J W Jacquest be vice chairman .

Proposed seconded and carried that Mr H L Oldfield be appointed secretary and Mr A Coupe assistant secretary.

Proposed by Mr W J Ford seconded by Mr J Johnson that Mr T Cotton be appointed treasurer.

All present were voted to committee en-bloc.

Auditors were appointed namely Mr W J Ford Mr T Kiddy Mr J Johnson

Mr Jacquest proposed and Mr J W Ford seconded that people who were desirous of joining this organisation should be admitted.

Mr A Coupe promised to ascertain whether or not Mount Pleasant was being included in the Blackwell organisation.

Mr J W Jacquest moved a resolution that postal orders of 5 shillings together with a letter asking for their preference of postal order or parcel should be sent by this organisation to Newton servicemen at home or abroad. Seconded by Mr T Kiddy.

Mr Cotton proposed and Mr Ford seconded that house to house collections should be made weekly. Carried.

Mr Jacquest promised To circulate the village warning all householders that collections would be made and explaining for what purpose.

House to house collectors volunteered to cover the following districts:

Sherwood St. Mr T Kiddy, Mr C Webb, Right Hand Side

Miss Smith, Mr N Bamford, Left Hand Side

All Littlemoor Mr Philips

Wire Lane Mr JW Jacquest

Hall Lane ) Mr J Lees

Cragg Lane ) Mr C Ellis

Main St

From Mrs Molyneux Mrs F Ford

To New Inn Mrs Parr

Both sides

Bamford St M Ellis (?)

To Mr Fords Misses J Butler and J Cuthbertson

New St to

Bottom of Newton Mr J Ford & Mr W Buxton

Mr Cotton kindly offered to have cards printed for each householder.

Mr Cotton promised to arrange the printing of cards and books to be kept by each subscriber.

Resolved that a Balance Sheet should be issued periodically.

Mr T Cotton expressed desire to have his name added to the list of guarantors: namely

Mr J W Jacquest

Mr A Coupe

Mrs Wallis

Mr Johnson

Mr F Ford

Mr R Butler

Mr E Butler

Miss Smith

Mr T Kiddy

Mr T Cotton

Date of next meeting Dec 12th 6.30 pm."

Arthur Ball and RMS Lancastria

 Ball Arthur (35) Pte 46 Coy AMPC 2188568 Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps

80 years ago next week, on 17th June 1940, Arthur Ball lost his life on his 35th birthday, when the RMS Lancastria was sunk by enemy action. Arthur was born In Old Blackwell in 1905, youngest son of John George Ball and Charlotte nee Moakes of Old Farm Cottage. His siblings were Luke, Frederick, Mary ( Polly), Samuel, John George, Joseph, William, George, Albert, Harry, and Edward. Both parents, as well as Joseph, Albert and Harry had passed away by 1940, Harry as a child of 5 years. Many of their descendants live on in our villages.

Arthur had moved from Blackwell, and is thought to have lived at Holmewood, but his name is not listed on the Newton or Holmewood war memorials, so it is fitting to remember him here. His name is on the Dunkirk memorial to the missing.

The story of the sinking of the RMS Lancastria, the worst single disaster in British maritime history, and why that is almost unknown, is told in the website http://www.lancastria.org.uk/ which includes a short video. In summary there were between 2500 and 6000 lives lost, and the news at the time was hidden from an already demoralised public. The Lancastria was a Cunard liner, drafted to the services for the evacuation of France, and up to 9000 men and refugees had been ferried to her by a fleet of smaller vessels off the west coast of France near St Nazaire

As 2188568 Private Ball, with the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC), it is believed that Arthur had been evacuated from France to The Lancastria. The site https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/royal-pioneer-corps details the background to the AMPC. An extract reads:

In September 1939, Works Labour Companies were formed from Reservists. A month later, these were grouped together to form the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC).

From its inception, this was ranked as a combatant unit - a status no previous pioneer unit had achieved. In June 1940, many of the AMPC's companies had to be pressed into use as combat troops during the Battle of France (1940), before being evacuated.