On This Day, 18 January 1917

Birmingham Gazette

Thursday 18 January

GAZETTE BABIES.

Happy Way of Celebrating 175th Anniversary,

WAR CERTIFICATES,

The Gazette struck a new and patriotic note when it decided to award war certificates to babies born in the Gazette area on 16 Nov. 1916, the 175th anniversary of the establishment of Birmingham’s oldest newspaper. It was “a homely, sensible suggestion,” wrote one of the parents, “and I for one shall try to increase baby’s banking account before the certificate matures.” We hope this example will be copied others, for in addition to making provision for the children, parents will helping on the cause of the Allies. The certificates, which are being posted this week are made out in the names of the children, and the value can be made good only to the children. The Gazette babies will have at least £1 to their credit when they are six years old.