Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

The above tree has been nominated for England's favourite tree. And the BBC want to do a feature on this and they have contacted me as there is a rumour that during WW1 Oak leaves and acorns were sent to soldiers serving at the Front. Can anyone verify this.

Not sure if this may have a bearing or not...
On the 17th of February each year, the 22nd Regiment of Foot, the Cheshire Regiment, celebrates a great battle at Meeanee in India which took place on that date in 1843.

For three years in the early 1950s I and the rest of my battalion wore a sprig of oak leaves behind our cap badges on the 17th of February each year and took part in a celebration parade. http://www.military-art.com/mall/battle ... attleID=41

The acorn is/was also the regimental collar badge and Meeanee Day was being celebrated prior to WW1. See the paragraph on 'The Miniature Colour' here.... http://books.google.ie/books?id=mIC-BAA ... 3F&f=false

I know the tree well but in spite of living quite near have not heard that WW1 story.
There is an interesting web site 'www.allertonoak.com/' which has much about local things of interest but nothing on leaves or acorns or WW1.
There are pictures of the Oak on the site but you have to visit to realise how old (and decrepit) it is.
I have emailed the site owner about this.
D

Thanks Daggers and DS. I was thinking of getting the Parks and Gardens minutes out to see if there is any mention in there. I've searched the Liverpool Echo with search term Allerton Oak but no matches.

This is a caption taken from the Website Daggers mentioned.

According to Liverpool Park Service, the oak has had an eventful past:

“This tree has always been prominent in the city. Before court buildings local lords and dignitaries are said to have met beneath this tree and to carry out justice. Many people think that the tree was struck by lightning, but it was a gunpowder ship explosion in 1864 which created a mini earthquake which caused the split in the tree. There are thousands of relatives to this tree around the world. The tree produces around 100,000 acorns every year and during wartime tiny oak trees were grown from the acorns and given to soldiers to plant where they travelled”.

Katie
I missed that piece on the Allerton Oak website - it has lots of interest but I find it hard to navigate.

Well done tracking it down and for posting the BBC link.

Daggers