June 7th
The employees at both the Milton and Didcot Military Depots were given a half-holiday on Tuesday in honour of the King’s birthday.

The Abingdon Cricket Club were defeated at home on Saturday last in match against Trinity College, Oxford.

For the fourth week in succession there were no cases to be heard at the Abingdon Borough Police Court at this week’s sitting.

The Abingdon Town Band held a garden dance on Thursday evening in the grounds of Alderman J. T. Morland, Bath Street, kindly lent for the occasion. Their was a large attendance.

Mrs Smith, of 48, Vineyard, Abingdon, has just received the Military Medal awarded to her late son, Corporal F. G. Smith, Berks, killed in action. His brother, also of the Berks, gained the M.M. last year.

On Thursday last week recognition services were held at the Abingdon Congregational Church, in connection with the new pastor, the Rev C. H. Gill, formerly of Long Sutton, Lancashire. A good company sat down to tea in the Schoolroom, which included the Vicar of Abingdon, who welcomed Mr Gill to Abingdon, saying that unity amongst the various churches did not necessarily imply uniformity.

14th June
It is stated in a new Army Order that attention has been drawn to the fact some officers and soldiers are wearing ribbons of foreign commemorative war medals for service in the war. The Allied and Associated Power have agreed to institute an Inter-Allied War Medal, to be designated the Victorv Medal, and as this medal will obviate the interchange of Allied commemorative medals, the order says the wearing of Allied ribbons is prohibited by the Military authorities.

The Abingdon Cricket Club played a match at their home ground on with Pembroke College, Oxford, winning by a good margin. On Monday a match was also played against University College, Oxford, which was seen by a large number spectators. The visitors won easily.

There was a large number of visitors to Abingdon on Whit-Monday by river steamboats and Oxford buses, the latter being very crowded.

There were no cases at either the Abingdon County Bench or Borough Police Court again this week.

Lady Norman, of Stratton House, opened her grounds to the townspeople on Thursday evening last, when there was dancing to the music of the Abingdon Band.

In the Birthday Honours list was the name of Miss Nora Cullen, daughter of Mr E. Cullen, Stert Street, Abingdon, amongst the V.A D. Nurses, who was awarded the Royal Red Cross (second class). Miss Cullen worked for four years during the war, and spent three years in Camiers, Northern France.

The Abingdon Provident Society, of 75 years’ existence, held its annual meeting in the Borough Buildings, Wednesday evening last week , Mr Wake presiding. The report stated that about 100 members had served in the War, and nine young members of the Society had made the great sacrifice. A cash bonus of £300 had been distributed, and those serving in the Army been relieved of payment of subscriptions.

21st June

A fire broke out in a wooden structure at the Abingdon Pavlova Leather Works, Spring Road, Abingdon, on Thursday evening last. The structure was used by a contractor for his workmen and stores, and was about 50 feet long. The Abingdon Fire Brigade was soon on the spot and prevented the flames reaching the factory buildings, which cover a large area. The wooden buildings and the whole of the contents, were destroyed.

The Abingdon Belgian Relief Fund has now been wound up by the Committee, and it is stated that nearly £1,000 was subscribed by the public, and there is a balance over expenditure of £35 11s 4d., which the Committee have devoted to a distressed Belgian family.

Private Arthur Bronson, aged 38, of West St. Helens. Abingdon, who served through the War with the Berks Territorials, was taken ill on Thursday last and died at the Radcliffe Infirmary on the same day from appendicitis. He was demobilised last February. A number of his comrades attended the funeral in Abingdon Cemetery

The Abingdon Girls’ Club held a gipsy fair and dance on Saturday afternoon last in the grounds of Waste Court, the residence of Mr Clarke.

Lieut. Alan Cobham R.F.A. took several passengers for trips last week from the Manor Farm, Shippon, Abingdon. On Thursday the weather was too rough and intended flights were abandoned, but several went up on Friday, and on Saturday the number desiring trips were so many that Sunday was also utilised. There were no mishaps.

28th June

The Meritorious Service Medal has been awarded to Sapper W. Walters, 3rd Signals, of 68, Spring Road, Abingdon.

The North Berks Women’s Suffrage Society Branch, at a meeting at Aston Tirrold Manor, was wound up. The balance in hand. £5 15s, was voted to the National Union of Equal Citizenship.

An Abingdon woman, Mrs Turner, was knocked down by a cyclist last week, in Abingdon, and sustained a fractured wrist. The cyclist, Walter Busby, of Blackfriar’s Road, Oxford, was rendered unconscious and had to be taken to the Cottage Hospital, where, fortunately, his injuries did not necessitate his detention for more than few hours.

Abingdon June Fair was held on Friday last week. A few stalls, roundabouts, &c., were erected in the Market Place, but the evening was wet and interfered with the attendance.

At the Borough Bench on Tuesday, Walter Chivers, of 68, Spring Road, Abingdon, was fined 5s for riding a bicycle without lights, at Abingdon, and the same amount was imposed upon Douglas Game, of 18, Park Road, Abingdon, for a like offence. There were no other cases.

Thankyou for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette – All Rights Reserved. Picture of Congregational Church from an old postcard. Picture of the back of Victory Medal from Ebay. Picture of Lieut. National Union of Equal Citizenship picture is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license).