As mentioned on the previous page, Reverend Smith commented in the Parish Magazine on life in the village and his opinions on various happenings with news of those away at war. I will reproduce some of those here.

October 1914

War-time tests our characters in all kinds of ways. Here is a small question, "How much time have I wasted since the war began in reading endless newspapers and gossiping in the street?" Let us all resolve to pull ourselves together and get on with our work, doing our duty for country's sake as well as ever we can, in that state of life which it is pleasing God to call each one of us at this time

---ooo---

Even though we know fairly well the stations and movements of our friends and local representatives who are serving their country at this momentous crisis it will be of interest to outside friends, and as a permanent record, to set down what we do know. Perhaps others, better informed than ourselves, will supply omissions and corrections for a future issue.

Charlie Shaw went to India some time ago with the Field Artillery; we wonder if he has found his way to France yet. Fred Pearson we believe to be still at Slough with the 4th K.O. (4th Battalion The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, the local Territorial Army unit, who were guarding the Great Western Railway main line.) He hopes to be drafted out to Egypt. Thomas Hogg is in the 7th. K.O. John Dickinson and Leonard Lancaster have joined the Royal Engineers; Reginald King is in the 17th Lancers. Mrs Ravenscroft's four sons (see below) have all got commissions, Martin in the 3rd West Lancs. Field Artillery, Trevor in the Lancs Huzzars (sic), Gordon and Harold in the 4th Lancs Fusiliers. William Bielby has joined the A.S.C. (Army Service Corps) as a baker. Tom Burton, Arthur Venables and Ernest Nicholson all enlisted on September 26th in the 4th K.O., and Myles Burton on September 30th. Their father's patriotism in being willing to spare both his sons from his business is a splendid example. Rowland Rawlinson has a commission in the 10th Highland Light Infantry. We believe Willie Wilson (late of Town End) has joined the R.A. (Royal Artillery), and William Rigg, of Grange, our Postman, and aregular worshipper at Cartmel Church, has been recalled to the Navy. Of old Aynsome (Laboratories) students Lawrence Slingsby in the E. Yorks. Regt. went through the terrible four days battle at Mons, and has been in 3 battles since. J. Odlum on the outbreak of war rejoined the R.F.A. and is out at the front, W. Singleton has joined the R.A.M.C. (Royal Army Medical Corps), and B. Brook Alder the Yeomanry.

All honour too to John Davis, who volunteered for Kitchener's Army, but was rejected on the score of health, and Jack Wood, who loyally offered himself, and was rejected owing to faulty eyesight.It is, "trying that counts" in everything, and we will never forget those who offer, even though they cannot be accepted.

May Almighty God in His mercy keep true and safe all those who reach the fighting line or run into any kind of danger, and may they all, at home or abroad, worthily uphold the great and honourable name our soldiers have made for themselves in this war.

"The burden of justification rests not on the call to go out, but on the desire, if it exists, to stay behind. When men are within the age, and have no physical disqualification, nothing but a clear aim of higher duty can justify them in holding back." - Archbishop of York.

This means the question to put to ourselves is not, "Why should I go?" but "Why should I not go?"

---ooo---

As in other places a section of Special Police has been appointed for Cartmel and district. The duties involve watching the Water Supply one night a week, and ordinary patrol work. Several owners of cars, carriages and traps have kindly undertaken the conveying of guards to and from the Reservoir, for which we are very grateful indeed. If anyone would like to lend a trap in its turn for this purpose who has not already been asked, word should be sent to Cartmel Vicarage.

---ooo---

There are eleven of us in the Cartmel Boy Scouts now, and we shall be busy learning our duties. We shall have to work hard if we are to be fit to go into camp next summer.

March 1915

Frank Huillard. We heartily congratulate Mr. Pearson* on the great honour conferred on his nephew, Frank Huillard, of the 102nd French Infantry. He has received the First Class of the French Military Medal, and has been mentioned in General Joffre's own Army Order. This honour is equivalent to our VC, and has, we believe, only been bestowed on about 30 soldiers in the whole of the gigantic French Army during this war. He is little more than a boy in years, and serving in the ranks, but is now one of the heroes of France. He is a prisoner in Germany, but his great achievement will be of some consolation to his parents, we append a translation of the Order.

Extract from l'Ordre de l'Armee of 12 Jan 1915:-

HUILLARD, soldier with the 102nd regiment of infantry: Has made himself remarked in every circumstance by his devotion, his energy and his courage. Having learned on the 4th of October of the death of the Adjutant to whom he was conjoined as confidential man, he went voluntarily to seek for the body of his chief under a hail of bullets in proximity to the enemy trenches. He tried to find the official papers of the Company of which the Adjutant was carrier and has been grievously wounded in the accomplishment of his duty. JOFFRE, General-en-Chef

*Reuben O'Neill Pearson was a solicitor in Ulverston and lived at Tanley on the outskirts of Cartmel.

There are quite a few references to Pearson and his French relatives in the WW1 Cartmel parish magazines. Here is one from July 1915;

"You will have read the glorious story of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). Lt. Papineau, who with Lt. (now Capt.) Niven and a few few men came through their terrible ordeal*, stayed in Cartmel some 3 or 4 years ago at Tanley (O'NP's home), while on a visit to England, and some of you no doubt saw him."

*The first use of Gas at 2nd Battle of Ypres, where they held the line.

Here is a link to Papineau's biography. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio.php?id_nbr=7637

There is a reference in February 1916, as follows, "Mr Pearson's niece has written to Mrs Pearson from France:-

"We were most delighted in opening the parcel containing the twelve pairs of socks you sent us for our dear soldiers. We gave them away immediately, and I am sure the poor men never wore such soft socks since the beginning of the war! As all our wool-manufacturers are in the hands of the Germans, the wool is at a dreadful price all over France, and we were obliged to take a bad quality to avoid such expense. The result is that the socks we make are very thin and hard; it must be very painful for the poor men to do such long marches in the French socks! Several officers told me that it is what they needed most, because the bad quality wears so quickly. Please thank in our soldiers' name the kind ladies who made these beautiful socks, and tell them that they made twelve soldiers very happy.""

The Ravenscroft Brothers.

The Ravenscrofts lived at Broughton Grange, Wood Broughton. The late Hazel Bell remembered the family and told me that Mr Ravenscroft was a very nice gentleman who used to give the village children rides in his car.

The first mention of the Ravenscroft brothers is in October 1914's magazine, the Vicar, Revd. Smith, says that Mrs Ravenscroft's four sons all got commissions.

Martin Ravenscroft in 3 West Lancs Field Artillery ( a later mention, Jly 17, says he was awarded the MC.)

Gordon Ravenscroft 4Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, as was his brother, Harold.

Trevor Ravenscroft in Lancashire Hussars. Then, this wonderful story in Jan 16. "Trevor Ravenscroft (pictured below) of the RFC has had a wonderful escape. He fell from a height of 1300ft with his aeroplane, diving headlong into a tree near the Brooklands aerodrome. He was roped into his seat so did not fall out. The machine went straight down through the tree, cutting off branches 6 inches thick as though they were matchwood. When the inhabitants of the house nearby rushed out they found the airman walking about with a bleeding nose. Stranger still, the house was that of Miss Egerton, St. George's Hill, Byfleet, Weybridge, who was delighted to be of assistance to one from the Cartmel Valley, even though his visit had been so abrupt! We are truly thankful that he is none the worse.

A final mention in June 16, "...many times over the German lines in an aeroplane, thankful not hit.

Their sister, Ethel, a very attractive young lady, according to Hazel married and became Mrs Ridehalgh, (pictured below right) who lived in the valley the rest of her life.

May 1915

When our soldiers have gone forth from Cartmel I have given most of them a Service Prayer Book and some other present, such as a good knife, "from their friends at Cartmel Priory Church."

The Prayer Books are paid out of Church Funds, but the knives are paid for by subscriptions.

Up to now I have received 11/- in subscriptions from a few friends for the knives, but I invite further contributions, as they have cost me over £2-00 and you may like to feel that our soldiers are valuing such a personal gift from Cartmel friends.

July 1917

On Monday, June 11th, Admiral Powlett gave an address on The Navy, illustrated by lantern slides, to a crowded audience, the largest I have ever seen in the Institute.. The heat was awful, "Like the inside of a submarine," but we were glad to endure it for the sake of our Sailors and of what we learned of their wonderful work.. After the Prayer for those at Sea Sir Evan MacGregor gave a most interesting account of the world-wide work of the Navy in charting the oceans, and then Admiral Powlett held his audience for nearly an hour and a half while he described some of the Navy's present activities. We are accustomed to think of the Navy as being silent, and when it speaks it does so with a simple directness and absence of adornment which only belong to those conscious of invincible strength behind their message. The plain tale of the man who can give a reason for the faith that is in him is the only one that ever really carries weight, and I think we all came away after the meeting feeling more than ever thankful for the changeless yet ever changing Navy which has been for so long, "a Safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lord and his Dominions, and a Security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful Occasions."

Mr Pearson and Mr Cragg proposed and seconded a vote of thanks to Admiral Powlett.. He in his reply proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, who is the grandson of Nelson's Captain at Trafalgar (Sir Evan MacGregor). The proposal was seconded by the great-grandson of Nelson's Chaplain (Rev Smith), and Mr Kendall was included, being heartily thanked for his skilful handling of the lantern. The printing for the lecture was carried out by the great-niece and great-great-niece of two of Nelson's sailors, one of whom, Robert Thompson, is said to have died after having both his legs shot off, and the other, John Thompson, lost only part of a finger, and lived in Cark for many years to tell the tale. One day, in the "Rose and Crown," a young man made some slighting remark about the Navy whereupon John Thompson said, "Say that again, young man." The young man said it, and John promptly knocked his head through the wood panelling!

The Navy is always ready for anything........

November 17

We must eat less food and economize in every way. I heard a woman in the train the other day say that she and her mother ate 3lbs of butter a week. This is sheer gluttony. I don't think we at the Vicarage can pose as models, but at any rate there are 12 of us and at the most we eat 3lbs of butter and 2lbs of margarine a week. Anyone who uses a teaspoon full of tea for each person and "one for the pot", according to the old fashion, is helping the Germans to win the war.....etc.