Page 56 - Life in Langham 1914-1919

Women and Children Help

Other women had the time and inclination

to do war work of a different kind, for

instance by raising funds for the Red

Cross, which often meant arranging

events within the village.

As early as 5th September 1914 the

following report appeared:

Timely help – The children of Langham have

sent to the Earl of Gainsborough, through

Mrs Dawson, £2. 11s. 2d., to be given to the fund

in Rutland for the relief of distress caused by the

war. Last week, thirty flannelette nightshirts were

also sent to the Red Cross Society, worked by the

people of Langham and Barleythorpe.

The material was forwarded by the Red Cross Society. This week, twelve calico

nightshirts were forward by Mrs Dawson, worked by the villagers.

Grantham Journal 5 September 1914

There were jumble sales as well - A jumble sale, promoted by Mrs Burn,

was held at the institute on Wednesday week, to obtain funds for buying

materials for the Red Cross work. Excellent articles were sent, the majority

being sold, and about fifteen guineas was realised.

Grantham Journal 12 February 1916

A more unusual event took place on 16th September 1916:

The children’s tennis tournament, promoted by Mrs Ruddle to obtain funds for

socks and pillowcases for the Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, has been

played, after postponement owing to the wet weather.

Grantham Journal 16 September 1916

It is worthwhile remembering the war work done by women from

Langham elsewhere in the country. In June1915, for instance, the

School Logbook recorded that assistant teacher Miss Atkins left

her post to go and work as a probationer in a hospital in Brighton.

Mrs Ruddle, usually resident in the village, was recorded in early

1916 as having been for some time diligently working in a large hospital

for the wounded in Chichester.

Grantham Journal, 5 February 1916