Thanks to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette for the following news from Abingdon 100 years ago in December 1918. ( © Successor rightsholder unknown. All Rights Reserved.)
Week 1
Brigadier-General Wigan was elected unopposed for Abingdon MP.
- He was against the return of colonies to Germany
- He demanded our enemies pay the cost of the war
- He sought punishment of those guilty of gross violations of international law
At home he wanted:
- our first claim on national resources to be soldiers and sailors who had given up their lives for the country
- improvements in housing and health generally
Around 180 Chinese workers employed at the R.A.F stores at Milton left the depot to return home. They were sailors who got trapped here during the war.
Roy Gilbert from Shippon returned from being a prisoner of war where he underwent severe hardship being employed as a coal miner on very meagre fare. Other prisoners of war were also reported as coming home.
Week 2
The Bishop of Oxford (Dr. Gore) held a confirmation service at St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, when 96 candidates presented themselves; 60 females and 36 males, including six from the R.A.F., at Milton Depot. The Bishop also preached in the evening to a crowded congregation.
Lieut. C. L. Coxeter, of Abingdon, was promoted to a Captaincy in the Tanks Corps. He joined the Army as a private in August, 1914.
‘Our Day’ celebrations, raising money for Red Cross funds, in Abingdon took place on the Saturday. In addition to the sale of flags, there was a procession, with the R.A.F. Band from Milton Depot. A dance was held in the Corn Exchange in the evening from 7 till 11, which was well patronised.
Week 3
At the Abingdon Borough Bench on Tuesday, a labourer, of no fixed abode, named Maurice Stapleford, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in the Vineyard, Abingdon, on the Saturday, and was fined 7s 6d.
At the Abingdon Christmas Cattle Market on the Monday there were 44 beasts, 15 of which went to Reading. There were also 74 sheep and 20 fat pigs. There was a rather small supply of poultry.
Our Day collections in Abingdon and District realised up to £324 and donations were still coming in.
Miss A. Randall, Abbey House, Abingdon, had done good work as Hon. Secretary to the Belgian and Prisoner of War Funds in Abingdon, which had closed. The Belgian Fund, which started in February, 1915, and continued till November, 1917, reached a total of £485. The Prisoner of War. Fund, started in September, 1916; and continued till November 1918, received £408. Of this sum £361 was expended in parcels sent to 18 men of the Royal Berks, through the Prisoners of War Committee in London.
Week 4
During the Christmas season the Tesdale House Red Cross Hospital closed and the patients dispersed to their respective homes, having been granted 12 days’ leave in order to spend Christmas with their relatives. The Hospital had been open for nearly four years, the number of patients passing through the Hospital being 1,021. The staff and patients return to the Hospital on December 31st.
The Abingdon Post of Comrades of the War took over the old British School premises, Ock Street, for their headquarters and club. Brigadier- General J. T. Wigan, M.P., consented to be the first President of the club. It was intended to establish a Labour Bureau as well as writing and reading rooms. (Picture of Captain J T Wigan from his wedding in 1911.)
Thanks to the https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk for this information and the picture of MP J T Wigan as a younger man.