South Yorkshire Times, May 20th, 1944
Conisbrough on £58,281 Mark
More Needed from Small Savers
Latest available figure from Conisbrough’s Salute the Soldier Week yesterday was £58,281 towards a target of £65,000. This total comprised money invested up to and including Wednesday. At the corresponding period in the Wings for Victory Week £66,347 had been realised, and more support in small savings is needed to ensure the success of the effort.
Free Gifts of £100
Investments promised and announced by Coun. D. Sheldon (Chairman of the Local Savings Committee) presiding at the opening ceremony on Saturday, amounted to £41,925 including a free gift to the nation of £100 made by Miss. M. D. Hargrave.
Colonel J. A. Barraclough, D.S.O., OBE., M.C., took the salute before opening the week at the Crags from units of Royal Engineers, R.A.O.C., “A” and “B” Companies 43rd W. R. Home Guard, A.C.F., A.T.C., G.T.C., and Civil Defence Services.
While he called upon the people of Conisbrough and Denaby to salute the soldier with their savings, Col. Barraclough suggested that they could show their appreciation to the soldier in other ways by writing to him when he was abroad, and welcoming into their homes his comrades in this country. He also paid a tribute to the women who were keeping the homes going in the absence of the menfolk. Their savings were a very practical way of showing their appreciation. Last year they had £82,000; this year they were asked for £65,000, and he knew they would take it in their stride.
He had spent a great deal of the war in the Middle East and he knew what lonely souls some of their boys out there could be. They longed for letters from home. They would appreciate the local newspaper; they were often anxious about their families.
Col. Barraclough deplored that the names of the regiments of the line were hardly ever mentioned in the papers. Whether they admitted to it, or not, the soldier like the rest of us liked that little bit of limelight and it was up to us to see that he got it.
The Second Front, on which depended the fate of our Empire and the world, had, he thought already begun. We had every confidence in our soldiers; we had the best Army, equipment, and leaders we had ever had, and they faced the approaching battle with the utmost confidence.
Coun. Sheldon thanked their supporters and the committee for their undiminished enthusiasm, and particularly the secretary, Mr. E. Dabbs. Conisbrough and Denaby had passed the half-million mark in savings
Mr. T. L. Butler (Deputy Regional Commissioner for National Savings) said how much the strong savings movement in Conisbrough was appreciated. They were now called to salute with their savings the individual Tommy who was asked to risk his life at bayonet point. “If you give ten times as much, you would still be lagging ten times behind what the individual solder is going to do for you in the next few months.” he said.
Lt.-Col. B. H. Pickering said it was their duty to allay in the mind of the soldier every anxiety by working to save.
Coun. G. Oldfield M.M. (Chairman of Conisbrough Council) wished the week every success and Sgt. Ribey and Pte. Vera Brewster (both local residents) voiced the appreciation of local Service men and women. A vote of thanks to the speakers was moved by Coun. Sheldon.
In the Balby Street Schools on Monday evening a programme of films was provided by a film unit of the Ministry of Information. Admission to the show was by purchase of savings stamps. Lieut. Lang R.E. gave a talk on the work of the soldier from the point of view of an engineer.
On Tuesday a whist drive took place in Station Road school in the evening organised by Mr. and Mrs. G. Hepworth in aid of the Airborne Forces Benevolent Fund.
Wednesday was Schools’ Day. In the afternoon the Modern School had an open day when a concert was given by the scholars. In the evening, scholars at Balby Street gave a repeat performance of the two operettas given last week, proceeds being for the Fighting Fund of the Savings Committee. On the same evening there was an E.N.S.A. concert at Station Road Schools. The programme was of popular classical music, vocal and instrumental and was well received. During the performance Lieut. Coleman made an appeal on behalf of the Savings Movement.
At Denaby Main
At Denaby the programme included a cinema show at Balby Street school on Monday evening. A cricket match on the Denaby ground on Tuesday had to be cancelled. A band programme by the band of the R.A.F. Training Command was given in the Welfare Concert Hall. An exhibition of land mines and demonstrations of the clearing of an enemy minefield was given by Royal Engineers, on spare ground near the Picture Palace on Monday. Balby Street School scholars gave a concert on Wednesday evening. A variety entertainment was held in the Church Hall yesterday evening. Proceeds of these events are for the benefit of war organisations.
On Tuesday afternoon Surgeon-Lieut. A. Wathney, an officer of the Royal Norwegian Navy, received a great ovation after his speech at the miners’ canteen at Denaby. He was introduced by Coun. R. H. Shephard, and described a few of his experiences before leaving his native land. He said “the whole of Europe looks to your great country and its ideals of democracy, and to its Allies, who, together, have been chosen to fight the good fight of freedom and democracy.” Mr. J. Halford (manager) and Mr. J. Rowbottom thanked Mr. Wathney. Two A.T.S. girls had a busy time interviewing the diners and persuading non-members of the Savings Bank to join. Many signed forms to become “savers” in the war effort.
Surgeon-Lieut Wathney went down the pit at Denaby and also addressed men in the canteen at Cadeby.
The Red Cross Ambulance was open for inspection at the opening ceremony, toured the district on Monday in connection with the W.V.S. appeal for funds to purchase ambulances for the Forces, and on Tuesday was at the collieries. Nearly 100 new members were enrolled in the savings scheme.
Large Investments
The following large sums have been invested or promised: Amalgamated Denaby Collieries’ Ltd £20,000. National Provincial Bank Ltd. £5,000. Midland Bank £5,000. Sheffield Trustee Savings Bank £2,000. I.C.I. Pensioners Fund £2,000. Denaby and Cadeby Officials’ Mutual Benefit Society £1,600. C.W.S. £1,000. Doncaster Co-operative Society £1,000. Mr. J. Drabble £1,000. Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Webster £1,000. anonymous £1,000. Barnsley Permanent Building Society £1,000. Duncan Gilmour Co. Ltd. £500. “South Yorkshire Times” Printing Co. Ltd. £500. Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries Mutual Help Fund £400. Ivanhoe W.M.C. £200. Denaby Main Institute £100. National Services’ Club £25.