I FOUND myself in a wonderful shop in Fisherton Street last Saturday called ‘The Fisherton Warehouse’.

This establishment houses a number of stalls selling vintage goods and the like and my attention was instantly aroused by two large framed photographs hanging on the wall.

These were taken many years ago when the premises belonged to an old established Salisbury firm called Messrs H Case and Sons.

I was interested to learn that during the Great War, the firm (although fairly small) had provided a record number of service men to the conflict that was second to none in the city.

To celebrate the return of members of their staff after the war, the firm gave a dinner at Osmond’s Restaurant where Mr H Case, Senr, presided over a company numbering 40.

The menu card contained the names of the guests who were welcomed back and these included, Mr B S Case (MT, ASC), Mr WH Case (RE), Mr A J Davis (2nd Wilts, served in France and became a prisoner of war), Mr C Hunt (3rd Dorsets, 1st and 2nd Leinsters, France and Palestine, wounded), Mr J Crouch (8th Devons, wounded), Mr F Hewlett (RAF), Mr C Sanger (1/4 Wilts, India), Mr SWA Bragg (RFA, France), and Mr AE Scammell (2/4th Wilts, India). There were also the names of three of the newer employees who also served – Messrs WDB Johns (1st Devons), C Bunsell (Wilts Regt, France, prisoner of war), and CS Rusher (RAF France).

After the loyal toast, Mr E J Case said that he was thankful the war was over and that they were able to meet together again.

In acknowledging the toast, Mr B S Case remarked that the success of any firm depended a great deal upon its employees. He trusted the good relations between them would continue and that they would all work in harmony.