WWII - Hallow
Welcome Home Forces Fund
In
early 1945 a charity “Hallow Welcome Home Forces Fund” was suggested and
following a public meeting at the Parish Hall on 21 February 1945, which was
attended by about 70 people, it was decided how the charity should set about
raising money from within the Hallow Ecclesiastical parish, to give as a token
of gratitude to returning Service men and women and nurses.
A
list of names was drawn up of those who had been serving during WWII (or their
dependants if the service person had died). There were 166 names, eight of whom
had died - George Collins (Archbell Cottages, Hallow), Ronald Harris (Lechmere
Crescent), Harold Hunt (Lechmere Crescent), Wilfred Munslow (Stoneycroft,
Hallow), Eric Tyler (Parkfield Lane, Hallow), Richard Whiley (Oak Cottage,
Hallow), Harold Webb (Parkfield Lane, Hallow) and Royston Williams (Park Farm,
Hallow).
The
Fund was registered with the Worcestershire County Council in accordance with
the War Charities Act 1940. At the first meeting of the Committee, suggestions
for fund raising included a Pony Show and Race Meeting, a Tennis Tournament and
a Garden Fete. The Committee discussed having an outdoor Boxing Tournament and
suggested a field off Moseley Road. It was reported that Mr T Davies of Hallow
Park was willing to hold a Dance at the Shire Hall and offered to accept
liability for such an event.
The
final accounts of the Fund show that a successful Gymkhana was held on 28th
April 1945 and a profit of £93 2s 2½ d was made. Other income for the Fund was
raised from a variety of events including Heath Farm Garden Fete, two Dances –
one organised for the Youth Club, Games on the Playing Field on V.E. Day, a
Whist Drive, a sale of Fancy Goods by Miss Richardson, Bowling for a Pig and a
collection at the Royal Oak Inn on V.E. Day. Personal donations amounted to
£202 and there was a donation from the local branch of the British Legion of
£58 9s 9d.
The
money for distribution by the charity was over £500. In April 1946 cheques for
£3.50 (with the purchasing power of over £100 today), were made out to each
serviceman and woman and nurse together with a letter sending Hallow
parishioners “. . . thanks and best wishes for your future welfare, and assure
you that we do welcome you or shall welcome you home to Hallow parish”. If
anyone did not wish to participate the cheques could be returned to the
Treasurer and the amount would then be credited to Hallow & District
British Legion.
Letters
of thanks were received from this country and abroad. Just a few of those
letters returned the cheques. (Captain Maurice Horne of the Royal Engineers
returned his because he was a regular soldier). Christopher and Dorothy Lock’s
son Raymond, wrote from Westfield in Hallow to thank those from within the
parish “who endeavoured to make this appreciable gift possible. As your letter
stated, the fund was raised within the Parish itself rather than from an
outside source, and it is this fact alone which makes it feel to me more of a
personal gift, coming through the endeavour of people whom I know myself.
Whilst being away from home I have had opportunities to see the world, but
there is still no place for me like dear old England, and my corner of that
place still the County of Worcestershire with its village of Hallow, my home
and my life-long friends, to whom I am indebted for this token of gratitude.”
David
John Munslow of Stoneycroft’s letter was from Combe Martin in Devon thanking
all those parishioners who had contributed to the fund “which I am sure the
boys will appreciate.”
Ada
Atkinson who had been the District Nurse living at 2 Lea House wrote from the
Maternity Home in Castleford where she was working, with her appreciation and
grateful thanks. During the War Ada was a Staff Nurse in the Territorial Forces
Nursing Service at 2nd Northern General Hospital at Beckett Park in Leeds, by
coincidence the same hospital where Staff Nurse Violet Pratt from the Royal Oak
had served during WWI. Ada “treasured the seven happy years” in Hallow and
mentions how during the War she sometimes met lads from Worcestershire and that
“they were as glad as I to talk of familiar places”, She hoped “that the list
was small of the brave lads who did not return” and to their people sent her
“heartfelt sympathies”.
In
January 1946 the Parish Magazine had reported that –
“We
ought to be thinking of a suitable memorial for those who gave their lives
during the war and also as a thanksgiving for those who return and for peace
again.” This memorial can be seen in the church, whilst amongst many documents
concerning Hallow parish at the Worcestershire Archives can be found the
accounts of the “Hallow Welcome Home Fund”, the list of recipients and thank-you
letters.
Jacquie Hartwright –
Hallow History Group
