EMPLOYMENT OF A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR CAUSES TROUBLE.
Described by the Military representative as a “ thundering bad case ” on the ground that six men were employed, and only one was reported, an application for the exemption of a cowman by a lady in the Hillmorton district was next considered. The lady did not appear, and it was stated that there had been trouble over the employment of a conscientious objector, and that the other men employed on the farm had “ struck ” work. The cowman attended, and expressed his desire to be medically examined, and said he did not wish to remain in his present employment any longer, as if people stuck up for conscientious objectors he thought it was about time Englishmen laid down their tools. He added, referring to the man in question, a gardener: “ I shall duck him in the pond before he goes. I gave him a good hiding on Monday morning ” (laughter).— Mr Wratislaw : When you struck him did he strike you back ?—A: No, sir, he did not. He had not got the pluck, but he has got to clear out on Saturday ; we have got that understanding. I wish he had hit me ; he would have had it worse.—Applicant was advised to get medically examined, and if rejected, Mr Wratislaw promised to see that he should get another job.
A VIOLENT SOLDIER.
At the Rugby Police Court, on Saturday, before T Hunter, Esq (in the chair), and W Dewar, Esq, Pte William Moore, 2nd R.W.R, Long Itchington, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly at Rugby the previous night.—P.S Percival said the defendant, who was mad drunk, was brought to the Police Station by a civilian. Witness tried to get him to go to the Railway Station, but he was very violent, used bad language, and refused to go.—Defendant said he was home on leave for the second time through being wounded. He was very sorry for what had happened. He had been in the trenches for 17 months, and had not touched beer while he was in France.—Supt Clarke said the man had a bad record of long convictions for drunkenness. He was very violent when in drink, and while in the cell the previous night he broke a thick window.— Defendant was dismissed on paying half-a-crown towards the coat of repairing the window.
LOCAL WAR NOTES.
Sergt W H Ginn, of the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was billeted at 83 Abbey Street, Rugby, has been awarded the D.C.M.
Capt the Rev G A S Kennedy, a former curate at Rugby, who is now acting as a chaplain in France, visited Rugby last week, and attended St Andrew’s vestry meeting.
The sum of 30s has been received through Mr Flint, in addition to the collection made at the Passion play performed by St Marie’s School children, in aid of the Rugby Prisoners’ Aid Society.
Mail Casualty List, 31st inst. Wounded: Lieut Geo E Middleditch, Oxon and Bucks L.I. He was a premium apprentice in the L & N-W Erecting Shop before enlisting in H.M Forces.
Pte J H Hirons, 11th R.W.R, of 7 Campbell Street, New Bilton, is visiting his home on ten days’ sick leave. Ptc Hirons was wounded on May 4th, the bullet entering his neck and emerging from the right cheek. He is an old New Bilton Council School boy.
Mrs F W Edwards, of Castle Gresley, daughter of Mr Manning, of 2 Dale Street, Rugby, has received a letter from the King congratulating her upon the fact that, two brothers, three sisters’ husbands, and her own husband are either in khaki or wearing armlets, awaiting the call. Another sister has nursed many wounded soldiers at the V.A.D Hospital, Lutterworth. Her father and another brother-in-law regret that they are at present too old for military service, but the latter hopes the age limit will be extended to 46, so that he may be able to say, “ We are seven.”
At the Baptist Church on Thursday morning Sergt-Major Evans, of the Royal Field Artillery, and son of Mr F Evans, Craven Road, was married to Miss Connie Elliott, daughter of Mr F W Elliott, stonemason. The ceremony was a quiet one, and was performed by the pastor, the Rev J H Lees. Sergt-Major Evans is home on short leave from the front.
Rifleman A J Sansom, of the 2nd Battalion K.R.R, one of the many members of the Operative Bricklayers’ Society who are serving their country, paid a visit to his old Lodge house on Saturday last, and recounted to his fellow-members a few of his many thrilling experiences whilst in France. He enlisted in September, 1914, and went out in January, 1915. Rifleman Sansom saw a lot of fighting before being wounded and gassed, in consequence of which he was invalided home the latter part of last year.
Mr Rupert Tattersall, jun, partner in the well known Knightsbridge firm, has been severely wounded by a shell. A few weeks after war was declared Mr Tattersall, feeling he was not competent to accept a commission, joined the 23rd Fusiliers (1st Sportsman’s) as a private, and after serving nine months in the ranks was given a commission in the Rifle Brigade, and went to the front the first week in March last.
MAJOR JOHN L. BAIRD, D.S.O, M.P.
“ MINISTER FOR THE AIR.”
“ The World’s” “ Celebrity at Home ” last week is Major John Lawrence Baird, the new “ Minister for the Air,” so far as the House of Commons is concerned. Regarding the M.P. for the Rugby Division, “ The World ” says :-
Short of stature, dapper, and debonair, with quite the diplomatic touch and the eyeglass of the young man about town, he is a very serious politician. Born in Kincardineshire on April 27th, 1874, and the eldest son and heir of Sir Alexander Baird, Bart, he will thus one day become the second holder of the title. Trained at Eton, and Christ Church, Oxford, for the Diplomatic Service, he entered it when only 22—in 1896—as Attaché at Vienna, whence he was transferred to Cairo in 1898, and one year later sent down to Abyssinia. He did his best work in this little-known country, for despite his appearance, he is quite a “ strong man,” and used to deputise quite admirably for Sir John Harrington, another strong man who made his reputation by telling the truth, and sticking to it.
Later on he went back to Abyssinia on an independent appointment, and did both good survey and political work (1902-4). This ended his career in Africa; he was sent to Paris as Second Secretary (1904-6) and to Buenos Ayres in 1906-8. This ended his diplomatic activities. In 1905 he married Lady Ethel Keith-Falconer, the eldest daughter of the 10th Earl of Kintore, and blossomed forth as a politician, in which, role he captured, in 1910, the Rugby Division for Warwickshire. He lives at Bilton House. Directly the war broke out he obtained a commission, and became rapidly Captain, and then Major. He fought in the trenches, and at intervals rushed back to the House to galvanise his lethargic colleagues into life, and to tell them some home truths. He is very strong on Military Service for all. Eventually he was intercepted on one of his visits, and offered the post of Parliamentary Secretary to the Colonial Minister. He took it, and the Army now sees him no more, but his interest in its welfare is unabated. Off the official chain to could do excellent work for it. On the chain one can await the future hopefully. He is a good, but not a great speaker, but he will go far in politics, as he is young, thoughtful, and studious. But does he know anything about aviation ?
A NEW SERIES of London and North-Western Railway passenger engines of the Prince of Wales Class are named Gallipoli, Anzac, Suvla Bay, Arethusa, Lusitania, Falaba, Arabic, Persia, Anglia, and Tara.
STRETTON-ON-DUNSMORE.
ROLL OF HONOUR.—Mr and Mrs G Robbins, of The Plot, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, have received news that their son Fred Chas Robbins, aged 27, was recently killed in action. This is the fourth young man from the village to give his life for his country, and great sympathy is felt for the parents in their sad loss. He joined the Warwickshire Regiment soon after the war broke out, having previously worked at Messrs Bluemels at Wolston where he was deservedly popular among his fellow-workers. He first saw active service in the Dardanelles, where he was wounded in the leg. He was sent to a hospital in Isle of Wight, where he remained till the beginning of March. He re-joined his regiment in France soon afterwards, and met his death at the hands of a sniper on April 30th.
Rugby Remembers 