Consider Your Shopping Ladies

This innovative letter was published in the Eastbourne Gazette to help the women of Eastbourne consider the local men involved in the local defence volunteers.

It seems a different world, one where orders were placed with shopkeepers to fulfil as required.


To The Women of Eastbourne

Sisters,

While so many of our men are so bravely fighting for our dear country’s very existence, cannot we do something to help the men who are unable to go to the front, to do at least what they can to drill and to become proficient in rifle shooting?

Cannot we arrange our households that we do no shopping of any sort, so on Wednesday, thus releasing our tradesmen and the whole of their staffs for the whole day?

I have always thought we are often inconsiderate over our shopping. In India ladies have to give their orders overnight or go without their meals.

Could we not give our weekly orders for grocery, etc. and do all our shopping, say, before 4 p.m. carrying home every urgent order ourselves?

I am sure we could do much to give our busy men – men who can’t leave Eastbourne – more time to devout themselves to such training as would fit them to defend Eastbourne, if it were attacked by an enemy, if we would only consult together and act together.

Will someone of greater influence than I ask our kind, Mayoress to convene a women’s meeting to enable us to fulfil our real life’s work – namely, to be men’s strengtheners and helpers – Yours faithfully,

F.S. Fahey
Newstead,
Darley Road,
Meads.

A New Idea - Kisses for Recruits.

This amusing letter was published in the Eastbourne Gazette in September 1914.

Kisses for Recruits

To the Editor

Sir,

What woman in this hour of her country’s need has not asked herself, “What can I do?”

Why not recruit – get men and lads to go and fight?

Associations for the purpose might be formed. Each member would have a personal interest in her own recruits, and might save some of the Army and Navy charities by making herself responsible for some, at least, of the cost of clothing at the front and later,. Etc.

I do not profess to offer anything but a mere outline to be filled in by the ladies themselves. Emulation between the girls could be based on the number of recruits each obtained.

The organisation need not worry any Government Department, but end with the recruiting sergeant.

How many volunteer soldiers would there be if each unmarried girl enlisted one? I daresay the methods of the famous Duchess of Gordon in raising the present Gordan Highlanders are not out of date even now – a kiss to every man that joined. There are, of course, hundreds of women who are, and will be, usefully employed; but there are thouands who are not; and surely, no more practical method of usefulness could be desired than for some at least to canvass for men to fight for their country.

I am, yours faithfully,

T. Grant Duff Ainslie.

The Old Mill House
Hellingly,
Sussex.

The Queen and German Goods

This nice little story was inserted into the Eastbourne Gazette on 18th November 1914.

It captures the early mood of the nation just a few months after the war had begun.


THE QUEEN AND GERMAN GOODS

An interesting story of the Queen illustrating once more her common sense and breath of view, is told by the London correspondent of the “Sheffield Telegraph.”

Her Majesty was examining some goods from a West End shop the other day and asked the girl who was showing them whether she had any of a certain kind. The girl replied that she was afraid there was nothing English of the sort to be had as all the goods had been bought from Germany.

“That,” said Queen Mary, “is not the point. The goods are in English shops. They were bought before the war. People ought to support the shopkeepers, and take the stock off their hands. When they have been sold, we shall buy nothing but English goods.”

“The Evening News.”

The Visitor

This inspired idea to get extra readers to the visitor’s paper appeared in The Eastbourne Gazette on 19th September 1916.


A Gift For Nothing

Readers of “The Visitor” who wish to obtain a gift for nothing should carry a copy of that paper in their hand. Every Saturday morning a representative of “The Visitor” is on look-out for readers of that paper; and those who are found with a copy in their hands will be presented with a ticket entitling them to a gift which may be selected at the shop of Mr. Dover Williams, Terminus Road, or Messers. Metcalfe’s, Grove Road.

“The Visitor” is to be obtained at all local newsagents on Saturday’s price one penny.


“The Visitor” was first published in June 1914, a few weeks before the outbreak of war. The Eastbourne Gazette contained the following announcement.


The Visitors’ Special Paper

A special paper for visitors at Eastbourne has been provided in “THE VISITOR” which contains a view of all the weeks entertainments and other events, all excursions by steamer, motor-boat, motor-coach and char-a-bang; a description of country walks, railway time-tables (with fares), motor bus; many pictures, programmes of dances and much more interesting matter.

Patrotic Music and Pictures in The Floral Hall

This article appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette on 19th August 1914.

I wonder what the famous Belgian airs were that the audience stood and sang ‘heartily’ with?

Miss Buckman was indeed a very famous opera singer and would have been a treat for any audience.

“Patriotic Music and Pictures

At Devonshire Park

Shown in the afternoon in conjunction with the vaudeville entertainment in the Pavilion and in the evening in the second part of the programme in the Floral Hall, the pictures of the French Fleet are arousing considerable interest this week. This film is a remarkably fine one and the evening is exhibited with full orchestral accompaniment.

Last Saturday evening there was a crowded audience in the Floral Hall when the great British Army and Navy film “For The King” was shown. During the evening the orchestra played the national airs of Belgium, Russia, France and England. The audience standing and singing heartily. The “Franco-British” march and the fantasias “Life on board the Dreadnought” were included in the programme. Miss Rosina Buckman (the New Zealand soprano) concluded a very successful week’s engagement, receiving double encores after each of her songs.”

Rosina Buckman (March 16, 1881-December 30, 1948) was a New Zealand soprano, and a professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music. She was born in Blenheim, and studied in England at the Birmingham School of Music. She then returned to New Zealand, toured Australia and debut in London with La boheme at Covent Garden. She continued performing into the 1920s, and recorded prolifically.

For more info on miss Buckman:

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Whi021Kota-t1-g1-t3.html

http://www.ourregion.co.nz/theregion.php?category=history&subcategory=Our+People&articleID=189

Smokes for the Royal Sussex Regiment

I cannot imagine this happening today but back in 1914, the Boy Scouts took great pride in collecting cigarettes and tobacco for the troops.

This ‘politically incorrect’ article comes from the Eastbourne Gazette dated 28th October 1914.

SMOKES FOR THE ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT AT THE FRONT

The 4th Eastbourne Scout Troop of Boy Scouts under Scoutmaster Read, have continued their collection of cigarettes and tobacco for our men at the Front with great success. In response to their appeal in the main streets of the town, upwards of 9,000 cigarettes and nearly 200 ounces of tobacco have been contributed by the public. This parcel (which will, no doubt be very welcome to our brave soldiers fighting in Northern France) is being sent direct to the Royal Sussex Regiment which has already done such magnificent service.

The Eastbourne Scouts are very anxious to keep up the supply of the ever welcomed weed to the county regiment. Contributions of tobacco and cigarettes will be most thankfully received and forwarded through the Assistant County Commissioner from the headquarters, Town Hall, Eastbourne.

Foreign Waiters Called Home

This was an interesting little article from the Eastbourne Gazette in September 1914.

Those ‘affecting scenes’ at the Railway Station were Austrian men going to fight for the enemy, soon Eastbourne men would be sent abroad to fight these same ‘waiters’.

"Foreign Waiters Called home

In the height of the season about 500 foreign waiters are employed in various Eastbourne hotels, boarding houses, and apartment houses. The majority are Germans the minority consisting of, Austrians, Italians, Frenchmen, Dutchmen and Danes. Last week some of the Austrians were called home to serve in the Army, and they obeyed the call regardless loss and inconvenience involved. The Germans and Frenchmen liable for military service have left or will be called upon to leave.

There was some affecting scenes at Eastbourne Railway Station on Sunday morning when the train for Newhaven started. Some of the departing hotel employees were leaving behind wives or sweethearts who could not restrain their tears on parting from the men who were going forth to face so many unknown perils."

Fine for Char-a-Bang Driver

This wonderful story appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette on 22^nd July 1916.

Char-a-Bang Driver Fined

Richard John Noakes, the driver of a motor char-a-bang was summoned for obstructing the roadway in Burlington Road on the 12^th inst., with a char-a-bang he had driven over from Hastings.

Mr. H. H. Coles appeared for the defendant and admitted the offence.

The police evidence was that the vehicle was standing in one position for three hours. The defendant, who had driven a party from Hastings told the constable that he failed to find a garage and thought there would be no harm leaving the vehicle where he did.

Mr. Coles urged in mitigation that it was to a large extent a by-road, in which there was little traffic.

A fine of 10s. was imposed.