PENARTH Town Council has researched into this week's This Day in History diary entry, which looks back on how Penarth was affected on the homefront and the frontline during World War One.

THE TONE in the Penarth Times dated Thursday October 8, 1914, yet again demonstrates the strength of the community and illustrates how the town’s residents came together to help more of the Belgian refugees staying in the area.

There was also concern as to whether the Kymin’s grounds would be available for public use again after being taken over by the War Office. Another subject was how the women could assist in the war effort.

Appointment of the treasurer

On Monday evening (September 3, 1914) Mr T Lewis presided over a special meeting of the District Council, when, by fixed resolution the seal of the Council was fixed to a general district rate of one quarter in the pound for the current half year. Mr Walter John Brodie, the manager of the Penarth Branch of the London and Provincial Bank, was appointed treasurer of the council in succession to the late Mr J E Harris.

Mr Matthews asked if there was any doubt regarding the return of the ground for the use of the public of the Kymin recreational ground which is now in the hands of the War Office. The clerk replied that they could only “wait and see”. Mr Powell thought there would be no difficulty about it as he was of the opinion that there would not be another war in his lifetime or generation.

Refugees

On Wednesday evening (September 7, 1914) 16 Belgian refugees arrived at Penarth and in accordance with arrangements made by Mrs Marcus Paterson were conveyed to the Premier Restaurant which has been comfortably refurbished for their reception. Mrs Avon of Hickman Road also has a family of eleven Belgian Refugees staying temporarily with her, These were prominent Belgian citizens and one of the company who, by the way was educated in England has in his possession a piece of shrapnel which exploded in the midst of the people at five o'clock in the morning, as they were making their escape from Brussels.

To every woman in Penarth who can do Plain Knitting

Besides the 300,000 body belts and pairs of socks asked for by the Queen for men at the front, many thousands of plain mufflers are required. Lady French says the men in France need Khaki or grey mufflers 12 inches wide and two and a half yards long are a good size but others would also be useful. Lady Jellicoe asks women to knit navy blue mufflers for the sailors. A useful size is seven inches wide and one yard long to tuck under other garments.

Besides these all the men on trawlers and all recruits and territorials need warm things. Until all these are provided, no woman should remain idle.

In this edition of The Penarth Times, there were also several letters from Penarth residents who had gone to visit the Penarth Soldiers in their barracks and reported on what good spirits the troops were in and that they were happy and well fed. A similar letter was also published from three Penarth Soldiers in Ireland, to alert the community that they were being treated well and were enjoying “the very best food” three times a day. They has been absent from Penarth for more than two months and wanted to let Penarth residents with husbands and sons “rest content about their welfare”.