Winter 1916
From the local newspapers.
The Star, October 12th, 1916
London Channel Islanders' Society: The Comforts Fund. 225 Islanders on the books.
Mr J H Goulden presided over a Committee meeting of the administrators of the LCIS Comforts Fund on October 5th. It was stated by Mr F Stroobant (who is deputising for Mr Hamon during his temporary absence from London) that the Fund was now providing conforts and visitors for 225 wounded Channel Islanders. Last week the numbers were 199, and this big jump shows clearly that men from the Islands have been doing their bit in a most heroic manner.
Mr Stroobant has been helped in his work by Mrs de Veulle and Miss Hamon, who have seen to the packing and despatching of boxes of comforts to the largest number of receipients since the start of the Fund [Extract.].
[There was also a Guernsey fund-raising 'Committee for helping wounded soldiers in French hospitals,' which collected money in the island for all wounded soldiers, including French ones, and sent produce from the island to France; see, for example, the Star of October 10th, 1916. They ran a Flag day, known as France Day. See the Star of October 14th for the 'Guernsey Soldiers' and Sailors' Employment Association.']
The Star, October 16th 1916
A silly idea.
During the week a distinguished officer of this island drove into the country to obtain a little relaxation from the duties which had weighed somewhat heavily upon him. When he got to one of our beautiful country lanes he got out of his car, and stood reflectively admiring the prospect which unrolled itself before him. While so engaged, a country lady came up to him and seeing that he was in uniform, asked him if he was the Governor? The officer's answer being that he was not in such an exalted position, the lady next asked him if what she had heard was true: 'That it was no wonder the Governor was so keen on obtaining Guernseymen to enlist, because, for every man who was accepted for the army, His Excellency received a bonus of £1. The answer she received was decidedly in the negative; but the lady was not convinced, and passed on her way after telling the officer that 'if the Governor did not get £1 for each man who elisted, she was quite sure he got 10 shillings.'
Thus do ideas get into people's heads, and the difficulty afterwards is how to make them believe otherwise. It is needless to say there is not the slightest foundation for the ladies' strange conviction. The Governor, of course, receives nothing whatever.
The Star, November 24th, 1916
The Guada Bean. Sir., The writer of this letter is sorry to see that Mr Vaudin still persisits in utilising the word 'Zeppelin' in connection with his bean. The revised name, we are told, is the 'Guernsey Zeppelin', which is to my mind equally ignoble.
The Allies are anxious, if possible, to exterminate the Huns, and in years to come, we hope the said bean will be a flourishing concern, people will not want to be reminded of anything Germanic, especially in buying food.
The name is misleading, and I should like to see it changed; it's worthy of your name, Mr Vaudin, do please call it 'Vaudin's Pride.'
I'm no lover of the Hun.
MARTINIUS, London, Nov. 23rd, 1916.
[See: the Star, October 31, 1916, for 'The most wonderful bean in western hemisphere; claimed to be growing at St Sampson's,' by Mr W P Vaudin, of Roseville Vineries.]
The Star, November 29th, 1916
Nerines. The fortnightly meeting of the RHS at Vincent Square, Westminster, still continue to have displays of Nerines at each. At last week's show a new Nerine grower, I think, put up a nice collection, it including some new seedlings. He is Mr H F Chapman of Rye, [who] showed a fine new seedling named Brocade, and another seedling, a cross between Crispa and Flexuosa Alba and which has remarkably fine and large trusses of pale rose flowers. The mention of Nerine Flexuosa Alba shows the English are alive to the usefulness of this. I hear Messrs Hubert & Co. have a difficulty in supplying all the demands for Nerines. They say they find it impossible to keep a stock. Yet how few people keep up the cultivation of the Guernsey Lily.
Presentation of Life-saving certificate. The presentation of the Life-Saving Certificate in Vellum awarded by the Royal Humane Society to L. Blondel (late scholar at the States Intermediate School) will take place on Thursday, the 7th December next, at the concert given by the 9th Guernsey (Bertozerie) Boy Scout Troop, at the Town School. The Bailiff, Mr E C Ozanne, has kindly consented to present the Certificate.
'A little girl named Bishop aged 4½ years had a narrow escape from drowning on Thurday afternoon. The little one was playing on the beach near the diving stage and fell into the water. The child was seen to be in a precarious situation and in danger of drowning. A lad named Blondel, age 15, jumped in to the water fully clothed and brought the child ashore and several helpers worked hard resuscitating her for an hour. The child was then taken to the Guernsey Brewery, and in the meantime the ambulance from the Town Hopital arrived and she was taken there. The latest news is that the youngster is progressing favourably.' [The Star July 28th 1916.]
The Star, Monday December 4th 1916
To the memory of the Fallen.
The dedication of the first war shrine in the Channel Islands.
During the last few months many shrines have been erected to the memory of those who have fallen in the war and those serving on the various fronts, but the distinction of the first shrine in the Channel Islands has fallen upon the congregation of St Stephen's.
The shrine, which is erected in Dalgairns Road, was duly unveiled by the Bailiff before a large congregation of people on Sunday afternoon.
The shrine is of oak, 3 feet wide by 4 feet long, and contains the names of those connected with St Stephen's serving at the front, as well as those who have died. It is surmounted by an oak cross and at the foot of the frame is a ledge large enough to contain vases and flowers. Beneath this is a frame in which prayers are enclosed. The shrine is of local design.
Following are the names of those who have fallen: Francis De B. Bell, Norfolk Regiment; Montague Middleton Barney, RE; Wilfred Douglas Cochrane, RN; Cecil Draper, Middlesex Regiment; Cecil John Fulton, RIF; Ernest Godden, Scots Greys; George Willam Kaines, Hampshire Regiment; Robert Quigley, Royal Irish; Charles James Smith, Wiltshire Regiment. There are 114 other rank and file in connection with the parish serving. [Extract.]
The Star, November 10th 1916
Guernsey Swimmers. The following we extract from the Swimming Magazine for November: 'The Guernsey swimmers have had a fine season in life-saving and we trust that the interest created will continue to keep the Hon. Representative, Mr A A Allain, fully engaged taking examinations. At the close of last season's tests, 35 awards were gained including one Hon. Instructor's Certificate by Miss I Randall, who, as a member of the Sarnian Ladies' SC, is particularly well known as a keen promoter of swimming in the island.
Guernsey butter and margarine. SIR: I think it would be very wise if our authorities would inquire into the weight and quality of the 'Guernsey butter' sold in the Market and in shops. I have seen one pound of butter sold in a shop which weighed one ounce short of English weight, and on being cut in half, distinct streaks of fatty matter of a pale yellowish colour were seen. Probably margarine was mixed with it. Now, Sir, as the prices of foodstuffs are almost prohibitive, and as we have to pay something like 2s 6d per lb (for what should be Guernsey pure butter), this seems to me to be a fraud that should be very severely dealt with. The poor must be protected, and I should very much like to see the culprits brought to book. Some years ago a similar thing happened; farmers bought whole tubs of margarine to take home, which raised suspicion, and several were heavily fined, and for a long time we did have good butter, but apparently a revival has set in, which I hope will be soon nipped in the bud. Thanking you &c., Believe me, yours faithfully, MARGO-BUTTER, Guernsey, Nov. 9th 1916.
[It is a pity our correspondent did not send the butter to the proper authorities, when we have no doubt prosecution would have followed. - Editor, Star.]
The Star, November 17th 1916
Boots for poor children
To the Editor of the Star: Sir, may I through the medium of your paper enter a plea on behalf of the chidren of our town and Island, too may of whom have neither boots nor shoes. Every morning we see many of them running to school with ragged shoes, or what in earlier days were sand shoes, and I want to appeal to a generous public on behalf of these little ones, whose parents in most cases are unable to buy shoes on account of these hard times.