PICTURE PAST: April 25, 1969 – World War One soldier’s Bible returned home
Children of Locking Primary School who presented an operetta, "The Emerald Isle." Picture: WESTON MERCURY - Credit: Archant
The Bible belonging to a British soldier was finally returned to its rightful owner, 50 years after it was lost. The story appeared in the Weston Mercury and Somerset Herald in 1969.
Work started to build a new branch library in Worle.
The library, which was built near the High Street junction, cost £35,000 to complete from construction to fittings and to fill with equipment and books.
Local firm W J Pople and Sons Ltd completed the build as part of the comprehensive development of The Maltings in the village.
– A gold medallion, awarded to a rugby league player, was among the £539 worth of jewellery stolen from a home in Churchill.
The family, who were away for the weekend, came home to discover they had been burgled.
Five brooches, five rings, three necklaces, a gold charm, a jewel case, ladies watch, cufflinks, dress shirt buttons and the medallion had been stolen.
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The medallion was an inch in diameter and was 22 carat gold.
It was a rugby league cup winners medal which was valued at £100 alone – around £1,653 in today’s money.
– The pocket Bible of a young British soldier, which was taken to France during World War One was returned to his widow – 50 years after it had been lost.
The Bible was given to Sidney Farr when he left for service in France with the South Wales Borderers by his sister-in-law, Winnie Farr.
Mrs Farr wrote a message praying for his safe return but he was taken prisoner during the war and the Bible was lost.
It was found in a dug-out on the Somme in 1916 by a German soldier, Fritz Likuski, who took it home with him after the war.
It was later used by one of his daughters while she was learning English in school and then forgotten.
After her father’s death it was rediscovered and returned to his 84-year-old widow.
– Nine people were rushed to hospital after an accident between a workers’ coach and a coke lorry.
The coach, which was taking people to Hinkley Point Power Station, was torn away by the lorry which came to rest in a ditch on the side of the road.
The A38 at Pawlett Hill, where the accident occurred, was closed to traffic.
– The South Western Regional Hospitals Board allocated £1,221,174 – almost £20million in today’s money – to the Mid-Somerset Hospital Management Committee.
It was to be spent on wages, drugs and medical dressings, general services and staff uniforms among other items.