Market Rasen 1917

JanuaryMarket Rasen Mail (MRM) isreporting on life in MarketRasen and surrounding villages. lifecontinues with weddings,birth and deathannouncements, sales of goods, animals and services.

A. Cocking places an advert in the paper announcingthat, 'Due to been called up(He joined ASC) for militaryservice he was closing his business.…'

WA Ward advert stated thatdue to military service, hewas discontinuing a marketstall but the shop will remainopen as usual.

Miss Camsell and her ladies were still fund raising for POWs. Market Rasen mail printed thank you letters from Private Drury and Private Tindall.

T Tindall had been home on leave and so had staff Sergeant JW Upex, who had also been promoted to Lieutenant Quartermaster. Pte BW Canty married Miss Edith E Willey (MRM 6.1.1917)

Squadron Sergeant C Smith of Dragons had been promoted to Lieutenant.

A report on Heavy snow, which had caused several carriers to not attended Tuesday's market.De Aston school announced that there were 42 boarders for the new term.

FebruaryEGGS and CHICKENS

Egg collections still inoperation, a list everyweek on how many eggscollected by differentpeople and villages.

Often there are letters

in the paper from wounded soldiers atLincoln hospital, thanking the children forthe eggs.

Advert in the Market Rasen Mail forW.H.Coates, Incubator for hatching; an advert for chicken feed from Payne &Starbuck, Walter Casterton.3rd February 1917

United Methodist Church, Market Rasenholding a Missionary Social in the Schoolroom at 7pm on 15th February.A Rummage sale and vegetable stall to raise money for the wool fund, organised byMrs Searby and Miss Smith.

Market Rasen and District Rifle Club notice for the ensuring week (MRM 10.2. 1917)

Market Rasen Petty Session report: Light not turned out, stray animals, traffic offences. Plus "Water Fight" between neighbours in King Street. The Outcome was a fine of 10 s.

News from the Front

Corporal JG Pippett wasawarded the Military Medal on6th November 1916 for gallantconduct on 30th October. Hewas wounded while carrying a comrade from No Man's Landunder heavy fire.

(MRM 17.2. 1917)

News of the death of Pte JohnChesman of Grimsby.

MRM reported that Ven(erable) ArchdeaconWakefield

of Stow was invited to Market Rasen to preached and a dedicated the War Shrine atSt Thomas, they also reported on what it looked like, who designed, and who made it.

March Sergeant G Hooker of Sherwood Rangers was snipped while carrying another man to safety. (MRM 10.3.1917)

(Sergeant Hooker had been killed in action on 13th November 1916)

The Wesleyan Day school has decided that the vegetables grown in the school garden should go to the Navy Local Vegetable Deport. In the past the children have taken them home, but they agreed that the Navy should have them.

A shrine to the memory of Old Boys ofDe Aston School is to be dedicated byVery Rev. Dean of Lincoln on March20th.

Pte Charles Rickell of Yorks and LancsRegiment was killed on the first dayof The battle of the Somme, but it wasonly this week that he was declaredofficially dead.

April

Private Bernard Page was killed on

the first day of The Battle of theSomme, 1st July 1916, but only now hasbeen officially declared dead.

(MRM 7.4.1917)

SUPPOSED SUICIDE AT MARKET RASEN

Mr Fred Ingilby was found in the water at Dent’s Mill. He had worked for Market Rasen Brewery until he retire but on the outbreak of war, he return to work. He was about 70 years old and it has been stated that he had been troubled, (since his son had been killed on the Gallipoli Peninsula). (MRM 14.4.1917 )

Mr Kemmery of The Greyhound has been raising funds to send cigarettes and tobacco to the Troops. Market Rasen Mail included a list of men who had written to say thank you.

A letter was printed fromPrivate Thomas Nettleshiptalking about his work in theCanadian Hospital. “How thewounded were plucky and that

there were women motorcardrivers and carpenters.”

Another Thank you

This time the Knitting Party

were Thanked by

Private Percy R Shaw

( MRM 21.4.1917)

Life continued in Market Rasen and Market Rasen Mail reported on the Court sections, sale and let adverts. The shops and business were still advertising their wares. Lambing session had started……

April 6th 1917 USA declared war on Germany, it is reported in the National/World News section of 14th April MRM but not in the Local section.

Market Rasen Mail was 8 pages; Front page- adverts and Roll of Honour, 2 pages of National news, 1 page of local adverts, 1 page of local news, 2 pages of National newsand 1 page mixed Lincolnshire and local.

May

Deaths

May started with the reports of two confirmed deaths, one severely wounded and three missing soldiers from Market Rasen.

Market Rasen Mail reported on the death of Corporal George Brown of Lincolns, more details under War Memorial Section.

Last week reported the death of his friend and work buddy Private Frederick J Page. More details under War Memorial Section.

Wounded

Pte Scott of Lincolnshire Regiment is in hospital, severely wounded. He was wounded when a shell hit, three other men were not lucky. Pte Scott had been a baker with Mr W croft of Oxford Street.

Missing

Company Sergeant Major W Creasey, Private J Sanderson and Private H Elmhurst are missing- their family and friends have not heard from them for several weeks.

During 1917 moreinformation on the Navywas reported in the localpaper. Torpedo

( MRM 5.5.1917)

MRM reported that family and friends had reported Pte H Crow as missing presumeddead. His mother had received a letter from his friends stating that he was dead.

. (MRM 12.5.1917)

Corporal George Brown was reported dead in Market Rasen Mail dated 19.5.1917

Honour for Local Soldier- Pte Ernest Hart of Chums Battalion has been awarded the Military Medal. He received it for volunteering to go and get news, when several runners failed to get thorough. He did go and under heavy shell fire bring back some very valuable information. (MRM 19.5.1917)

Pte JG Brown, Pte H Elmshurst, L/C J W Lowery and Pte J Sanderson are still listed

as missing, they maybe POWs.

Belated Congratulations to Mr JW Upex who was promoted to Lieutenant and Quartermaster of 1/4th Lincolns. He was commissioned on 15th October 1916.

MRM 19.5.1917

Company Sergeant-Major F Castle has been promoted to Company Quartermaster-Sergeant. He is serving with the South Staffords. (MRM 26.5.1917)

June Pte Harold Crow, MRM printed a photograph of him. (MRM 2.6.1917)

Letter from the Front stated that Corporal Percy West, of Chums Battalion has been promoted to Sergeant. He was pleased with himself as he had got 3 stripes in one year and he was only 19 years old.

Submarine War

Weekly announcements by the Admiralty stated that this weeks losses lowest for 3 months.

Market Rasen Mail in the past has reported on the first lady postman, lady sweep, lady busman, and lady baker’s van driver. Now MRM can report on the first 2 road sweepers. Miss Castle and Mrs Parish have started work this week. Unfortunately not everyone was happy, 2 men at midday left their job, so the Council is advertising for an other road sweeper. (MRM 9.6.1917)

Sergeant Major Bamforth has recovered from his 14th operation, he can with help able to wheel himself about. (MRM 16.6.1917)

Market Rasen Mail reported on Market Rasen Tribunal

Baker’s Night

The only business of the Tribunal was the claims of the bakers of the Town

1. A lady baker who’s husband was in the Army was applying for exemption for her brother-in-law. He was her manager and only man, aged 32, married and class B2.

2. A Master baker (over military age) had applied for his only man, a baker and carter. He was 32, married and class C1.

3. A baker, age 32, married was applying for himself, a B2 man and his baker and van man who was 37, married and class A.

4. A Master baker, aged 35, married, class A, applying for himself.

In each case temporary exemption was granted until 14th September, a condition being imposed in the cases of the Class A men that they join the local Volunteers.

(MRM 16.6.1917)

Market Rasen Mail reported on The Sugar Commission Report.(MRM 23.6.1917)

The Sailors’ Orphan Homes, Hull, Flag Day at Market Rasen on Tuesday Next. Help the Sailors’ and Minesweepers’ Children Advert

Wounded and Missing Pte G Fussey of East Hatton.

Bombardier Ralph Starbuck married Gertrude Sturgess on 28th June 1917

at Wesleyan Chapel, Market Rasen.

Town has been invaded by National Service Volunteers Women.

Mr JH Nettleship has employed several for carrot weeding. (MRM 30.6.1917)

In Memoriam

Listed of Rasen men who were killed on or about 1st July 1916

L/Cpl Joseph Cressy, Pte Charles Patchett,Pte Bernard Page, Pte Cyril Marsh

Pte Robert (Bob) Clark, Pte Charles Rickell, Pte Sydney Castle and Pte John W Borrill

Market Rasen Mail announced that from 1st July the paper would be only 4 pages not 8. This was due to the scarcity and cost of paper.

JULY

Only 4 pages

In Memoriam to some of the Rasen men who were killed at the Battle of the Somme.

Auction- Cattle Market, Grass, pig sow

For Sale- standing crop of meadow, lady’s bike, 1915 Ford motorcar, bicycle, turnip drill and horse rake.

To let- 5 bed house in Willingham Road.

Wanted-bones, hens, good servants, labourers and a girl to train as a housemaid.

Successful Garden Party raised £33 8s 10d for the Red Cross Fund. MRM 7.7.1917

Pte E H Honneyman now officially presumed dead, not heard from since October 1916.

Pte H Elmhurst confirmed POW.

Pte VW Sowby, school teacher at the National School now confirmed dead.(MRM 14.7.1917)

Police Courts; 2 absentee Soldiers escorted back to their Regiments

Exhibition on food economy was held in the Liberal Institute over 2 days.

Missing;-Pte George Chesman of Lincolns

POW and wounded;-Pte Arthur Cox of Lincolns

Wounded;-Pte HS Dent

4th Battalion Lincolnshire VolunteerRegiment, Market Rasen Platoon

HQ The Catholic School, King Street.

Market Rasen Mail 28th July

reported on this crash, but where?

August

Summer fête at The Limes for NorthLincolnshire Hut at Netley forLincolnshire wounded.

De Aston Grammar school entrancescholarship- Market Rasen-W Wilson,G Stamp. T Rose and H Sellars fromMiddle Rasen.

(MRM 4.8.19170

Mr and Mrs ET Crow of Waterloo Street have had a letter from their son Pte AH (Harold) Crow. He had been reported killed on 28th April. He sent them a letter dated 30th May stated that he was alive and well but a POW.Sons: Herbert Crow, 1/5 th West Yorkshire, missing since Sept 3rd 1916: Clem Crow, 3rd Lincolns, in the trenches in France: Frank Crow, RAMC, serving on hospital ship.

(MRM 11.8.1917)

WoundedPte JW Bartram in 2nd Australian Hospital on 2nd August he was wounded with shrapnel on his arm.L/Cpl JA Fergusson of Coldstream Guards is reported wounded.

Pte James Walker of R.E. died on 11 th August, of wounds he received on 10th

August. More details in War Memorial Section. (MRM 18.8.1917)

A. Cocking brought a property in Queen Street for £320. He was the tenant.

Sergeant J Flanagan RFA wounded in the head on 31st July, he is in 3rd Canadian Hospital.

FOOD...Next month bread will be down to 9d the 4lb loaf (with the aid of a Government subsidy)

Sugar Calender. Important dates that should be remembered.The sugar tickets which are shortly to be issued through local committees, will be ready for the printer this week……

More Tea coming Government Arranging for shipment

The Government are making arrangements for shipment of some of the larger stocks oftea available at Eastern ports……. ( MRM 25.8.1917)

September

Market Rasen Mail reported on the death of Pte Chas Smith of 6th Lincolns, the details are in War Memorial Section of this booklet.

Police Court-Absentee

Pte Percy Edmed was charged of being absent without a pass and sent back to 3rd

Lincolns.

Market Rasen Urban District Council had a meeting to discuss the probability of soldiers been billeted in Market Rasen.

Food Production Department District office (Brigg, Louth and Market Rasen)

to open at the corner of Oxford Street and Willingham Road. (MRM 1.9.1917)

Wounded

Pte GE Squires. Pte J Laughton who had shrapnel in his jaw and now home.

Pte George Chesman sent home a postcard telling his mother that as of 15th June he was a POW.

Petrol prices jump up again

Naval airman ditched his plane in cornfield by Gallamore Lane, (3 this week).

(MRM 8.9.1917)

Mrs Cooper of Linwood Road, informed by Red Cross that her husband Pte G Cooper had been killed on 1st August.

Food Controller fixing prices and they then go up!

Market Rasen butchers hold a meeting to discuss prices and that Lincoln prices are higher. (MRM 15.9.1917)

Roll of Honour listed on 15 th September 1917

Kill in action/ died of wounds 38; died 4; wounded or invalid and discharged 8; POW 13; Missing 3s. Listed of men and women serving-

Pte C Brown of Norfolk reported wounded.

A Photograph and report onL/Cpl John William Lowerymissing since 11th April, his fosterparents Mr and Mrs Bartram areasking for news on him.

In memoriam for Percy C Laughton who died of his wounds on 24th September 1916.

Tribunal

Bakers- 1. Baker’s only man, age 32, married with2 children, class C1 was given exemption for 3 months.

2. Baker’s only man, aged 32, married with 3 children, class B2 also given exemption for 3 months.

(MRM 22.9.1917)

Lacey and Clark Autumn Show had a very large advert.

Pte HT Nettleship is missing.

Corporal John Gilbert Pippett MM, has be gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant.

A long report on Market Rasen Fair -sheep, cattle and horses details and prices.

( MRM 29.9.1917)

October

Food Control Committee- sugar, flour, meat, milk and potatoes.

Death of Rasen’s first officer

2nd Lieutenant Harry Raymond Rawlinson is reported killed in action

(MRM 6.10.1917)

MRM reported that Pte T Nettleship was looking for his son in France.

Deaths

Rifleman Arthur H Brown. Killed in action on September 3rd aged 23 years.

Pte George H Cooper. Killed in action on August 4thaged 38 years.

Pte Robert Wilkinson. Died in hospital in France on September 29th, aged 22 years, family in Walesby.

Mr JW Watson, Executive Officer of Local Food Control Committee

reported on Butchers, Milk prices-6d should be 5d a quart, in other villages the cost is3d a quart.

Death of another Rasen soldier

Pte Harry Ledgerd of the 7th Yorks and Lancashire Regiment. (MRM 13.10.1917)

Adverts for local shops, knitting parties, tennis competitions, birth, marriages and deaths, and Red Cross Fund now upto £135.

Sergeant JW Parish has been promoted to Drum Major.

Brother of Gunner HE Douthwaite, son of Mr GL Dothwaite (Chemist) of Grimsby

has been killed in France. He is Percival Fee Douthwaite.

A Battery of Royal Field Artillery(Essex) arrived in the town on their way from Saltfleet to their winter billets. Guns and waggons were parked in the field at

the rear of Rose Cottages and the sleeping quarters were provided for the

night at the Town Hall, quite a large crowd came out to see them.

Market Rasen Roll of Honour

“The two most recent to make the supreme sacrifice are Pte Percy Singleton of the Princess of Wales’ Owen and Pte C Aisthorpe of the Royal Garrison Artillery.”

(MRM 20.10.1917)

November

Wesleyan Day School children collected 7 cwts of acorns.

A report reminding readers to watch their food intake. U boats causing problems with shipping and food supplies.

7 packages of fruit and vegetables were sent to the Naval Vegetable Deport from thetown. (MRM 10.11.1917)

National School children had collected 1ton of chestnuts (MRM 17.11.1917)1hundredweight of chestnuts was worth7s 6d. They were collected to be madeinto cordite. Which was used forexplosives in shells and billets. 3,000

tons were collected in the Autumn of 1917, BUT most were left to rot as they were not as good a source of cordite as it was hoped. (BBC school website)

Reports on the Boy Scouts of Lincolnshire watching the coasts.

More acorns and chestnuts collected. The Drive and Tea Dance held recently raised

after expenses £14 8s 11d for the Navy boys of Rasen (MRM 24.11.1917)

During November and December the Roll of Honour was not always included.

December

Market Rasen Mail of 8th December reported on the Market Rasen Petty Sessions

-not sending the children to school

-not isolating a pig

-selling bread over the maximum price

-stray dogs

-stealing bicycles

Readers were informed that some shop were closing on 27th December as well as Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Pte Frederick Kennington of Duke of Wellington’s Regiment had been killed in action on 25th November.

Major H Whittingham RGA 71st Heavy Battery had been reported missing since 30th November. (MRM 22.12.1917)

A long reported on the replies from the Navy boys who had received food parcels can be read in the section on Sailors of the Rasen area.