Ward diary, 6 October 1914 - 28 July 1915 / Eric Harford Ward - Page 12

[Page 12]

in the vicinity & carried off tobacco, cigarettes & drink in galore. One woman's house was set on fire. A Company of the Lancashire Territorials were called out but were powerless with fixed bayonets, more arrived then a whole battalion of Infantry marched through the streets & drove the surging masses back. The Fire Brigade arrived but the rioters pinched the hoses & cut them into small pieces & used the nozzles as a battering rams to smash down the doors & shutters. Not a pane of glass remained in tact. The Fire Brigade & Tommies retreated under a hail of beer bottles & in a foot of water. Later the motor fire engines