Page 46 - Life in Langham 1914-1919

From the School Log Book

October 9th 1914;

We have had a “War Map”

presented by Col DB Burn,

and the scholars take a great

interest in it.

January 29th 1915; Langham School with its children, Mr J McClelland headmaster and teachers

A Class in milking has been begun under the auspices of the Education Committee.

Six boys attend from 3 to 5 o’clock every school day.

February 19th 1915; The boys attending the milking class were allowed to go to

Ranksborough on Friday to see the ‘Separator’ at work.

January 21st 1916; The attendance has been very poor. Several girls have not

yet returned after the holidays while several boys are away working.

April 7th 1916; Lady Codrington and Miss Hodge who asked for, and of course

obtained, my co-operation in the procuring of Dandelion roots, in drying them and

forwarding them to London. [Dandelion roots were roasted and had some

resemblance to coffee in appearance and taste].

May 26th 1916; Empire Day was celebrated here on Wednesday. The school was

closed and the children marched through the village at 9.30am ending up at the

playground where a large Union Jack was hoisted. The children saluted and sang

‘God save the King’ and other patriotic songs. Cheers were given for the King, and

the Rev. WA Mandall addressed the school children upon “Empire Day’.

Through the kindness of Colonel and Mrs Dawson and others the children were

given a good tea in the afternoon. After school sports were held till after 7pm.

July 21st 1916; Very poor attendance and hence no satisfactory teaching in the

Upper Standards, in which there are only two boys present, the others

are haymaking.

August 3rd 1916; Every boy over eleven

except one is away working, while five

others work out of school hours. [Almost

half the men in the village were

away fighting and women and
children had to fill the gaps on the

farms and in the workplace].

Fair Field Langham - Nourish Family Archive