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.

A Story of the Kaiser

This is a gem of a story from The Eastbourne Gazette on 19th August 1914.

Apparently the Great War can be put down to an Eastbourne toy maker giving in to the spoilt demands of a young Kaiser. If only he had made the Kaiser wait perhaps he would have leant his lesson and not have been so intent on global domination!

I love all the stories that came out at the beginning of the war.



A Story of the Kaiser

Speaking at a meeting of Sunday school scholars and workers on Sunday afternoon at South Street Church. Mr. George Brown related an incident which ought to interest all Eastbournians at the present time.

Some years ago a young Prince (a cousin of the Kaiser) was spending some time at the Cavendish Hotel. Some friends in Eastbourne had presented the Prince with a beautiful toy yacht which he highly treasured. While the young Prince was staying there his cousin the Kaiser came over to stay a few weeks in Eastbourne. When he saw his cousin’s yacht he became jealous and wanted to fight him for it. This came to the ears of those who had presented it to the Prince, they decided for the sake of peace, to give the Kaiser a similar yacht made by the same man and they had arranged to make the presentation on a certain Monday afternoon. The young Kaiser heard all about it and insisted on his tutor taking him on the previous Sunday afternoon to see the new yacht. On arriving at the maker’s house, the tutor explained that the Kaiser gave them no peace; he was too impatient to wait until Monday afternoon and he must have the yacht at once. They gave it to him so there was no public presentation.

Mr. Brown pointed out the moral; that what was in the boy was also in him when he became a man. As a boy the Kaiser was jealous and impatient and would fight for toys that did not belong to him. He was manifesting the same spirit today.

Rabbit Killer Granted an Exemption.

East Sussex Appeals Tribunal as reported 30th August 1916.

"Mr. A. Hilton, 31, rabbit and vermin killer, was granted an additional six months exemption. His application was supported by Mr. Ingram (representing the Board of Agriculture) and Mr. Waldman who appeared on behalf of the farmers. Hilton was well known in the Alfriston district and kills thousands of rabbits yearly."

Lighting Restrictions

Lighting Restriction came in place on all costal town's in April 1915, after the threat of Zeppelin raids.

This report from the Eastbourne Gazette on 2nd August 1916, is about a lady form Leicester who when visiting was Eastbourne showed a light from her hotel window.

"A Lady from Leicester

Mrs. Harriet Frishby, of the Grand Hotel was summoned in respect of an unsolicited light.

Mr Harold Glenister representing the defendant who did not appear and was stated not to be in good health.

Police Sergeant Geer was on King Edward Parade at 11.30pm on July 20 when he saw a lady pull up the blinds of a room at the Grand Hotel. He waited a few minutes. As the light was not put out he called at the hotel and saw the porter who took him to the room. Defendant said that she resided at Leicester and had been in the habit of pulling up her blinds.

Mr Glenister in reply to Councillor Fox said there was a warning notice in every room in the hotel, but the defendant had overlooked it.

Defendant was fined 15s, the light being visible from the sea."

Hawking on the Seafront

This report from the Eastbourne Gazette from 25th July 1917, concerns the unfortunate case of a lad who 'Hawked' neswpapers on the seafront.

I was glad to see that good sense prevailed and he was 'let off' with a caution.

"Children’s Court

Frederick Brown, 14, of Cavendish Place who stated that he was employed by Mr Abel, newsagent, was summoned for hawking newspapers on the parade on July 16.

Parade Inspector Dann deposed to being on the central parade when his attention was attracted by a boy shouting “London papers”. He went to the to the top of the parade and saw defendant, who admitted that he was aware that he was doing wrong and added, “I have done it before.”

The Chief Constable remarked that the boy took charge of the stand on the Front and that he knew all about the by-law.

Defendant said he only did it to oblige the gentleman.

With a magisterial caution the case was dismissed."

Lieutenant-Colonel Royston-Pigott D.S.O.

This report in the Eastbourne Gazette is on the death of Lieutentant Colonel G.A. Royston-Pigott.


"Lieutenant-Colonel Royston-Pigott D.S.O.

Lieutenant-Colonel George Arthur Royston-Pigott, D.S.O. Worcestershire Regiment who was killed on July 3, was the eldest son of the late Dr. G.W. Royston-Piggott, F.R.S. and of Mrs. Royston-Piggott of Annandale, Eastbourne and was 41 years of age.

Appointed to the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment in 1895, he served with it through the South African War being awarded both medals and five clasps. He was in command of his battalion at the battle of Loos, when he was mentioned in dispatches and obtained the D.S.O. Subsequently he was appointed to the command of a battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment.

In 1915 he married Hilda, daughter of the late J.W. Parriss of Ardaga, Willesden Lane."

Lieutentant Colonel G.A. Royston-Pigott, D.S.O. is buried in Ovillers Military Cemetry, France.

Corporal E.A. Dewey, 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.

This article in the Eastbourne Gazette dated 9th August 1916 is about Corporal E.A. Dewey, 12th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment.

In a previous article, “How the Southdown’s Fought” Corporal Dewey is mentioned:

“Another Eastbourne man notable for his pluck is Corporal E.A. Dewey (formerly doorkeeper at the Hippodrome theatre). Although he was suffering from a painful malady, he rose from his bed of sickness and insisted upon accompanying his comrades to the enemy’s trenches. ‘I’ve been with the boys all along’ he said ‘and I intend to go over the parapet with them.’ He was allowed to go, and did his duty well but he was badly wounded in several places and lost his right eye.’
"Corporal Dewey, who is 45 years of age and has a son at the front, had never seen service prior to the war, but joined up shortly after the outbreak in order to ‘do his bit.’

In an update Corporal Dewey writes from hospital to Mr. Gardner the leader of the Eastbourne Glee Club. He informs him of his intention to carry on in the army and become a drill instructor. He also thanks Mr. Gardner’s work in sending cigarettes etc to the troops.


“Corporal Dewey in Hospital

Letter to “The Soldiers Friend.”

Corporal E.A. Dewey (who is A4 Ward, Third London General Hospital, Wandsworth) wrote on July 31 to Mr. J.F. Gardner:-

“You will no doubt be surprised to hear from me in London, but now I have recovered somewhat from my recent repairs. I have come across the two badges I collected for you and have sent them on. I read a little while ago that you were still carrying on the good work of sending the boys something to smoke , which I am sure is heartily appreciated. I am only waiting in hospital to be fitted with a new ‘monocle’.

Then I hope to go to a convalescent home for a week or two, previous to taking up my duties. I have been accepted for further service as instructor in drill and musketry and feel glad that my offer has been received so favourably. Civilian life whilst the war is on has no appeals for me. When visiting Eastbourne on furlough- unless I am fortunate enough to be sent to Summerdown to recuperate earlier- I will call and see you.”

Corporal Dewey, who is well known in Eastbourne, has been serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment. His letter was addressed to “Mr. Gardener, the Soldiers Friend, 72, Tideswell Road.””

International Stores - Releases Men

This article from the Eastbourne Gazette dated 9th August 1916, relates to the ‘International Stores’ releasing men for the Front as women take their place.

" 2,000 Heroes

We hear so much of the enormous difficulties that our Tommie’s overcome that we are apt to overlook the trials of those working at home, and who have every right to the glories and sympathies given to our brave men at the Front.

We refer particularly to the burden which our women folk have shouldered with such patriotism.

The International Stores tell us the women now employed by them have enabled them to release nearly 2,000 men for military service. An experienced grocer would have have told you in June 1914, that a few years must elapse before a youth entering a grocer’s shop as an apprentice van consider himself qualified to “take charge”. Bearing this is mind it is really remarkable that the lady grocer’s should step in and fill the position vacated by the heroes at the Front in such a capable manner.

Their untiring energy, adaptability and strong will, whilst working under the most tiring conditions, calls for the very heartiest support and consideration from the shopping public."


For those of you that haven’t heard of the 'International Store':-

The International Stores started out, in 1875, with a single store in Bristol, trading as J H Mills. By 1900, when J H Mills become a limited company, there were 12 stores and the name 'International Stores' was in use.

In 1950, J H Mills changed its name to Gateway. From then the name 'Gateway' was mainly used for all of the company's new (supermarket-style) stores but 'International Stores' was retained for the traditional-style stores.

Gateway was taken over by Linfood Holdings in 1977 but International Stores were not, initially part of the deal (although many branches of International Stores closed at this time, or were re-branded as Gateway as a subsidiary part of the deal). Linfood Holdings changed its name to the Dee Corporation in 1983 and then proceeded to acquire International Stores (along with other well-known names, such as Fine Fare and Keymarkets). All of the stores were then either closed or re-branded as Gateway. (The Dee Corporation changed its name back to Gateway Corporation plc, to match the store names, in 1988).

Between 1989 and 1991, over 100 stores were sold off to Asda and Kwik Save.

The firm opened the first Somerfield store in 1990. In 1994, Gateway Foodmarkets became Somerfield Stores. Thus, if there's still a supermarket trading on a former International Stores site, there's a very good chance that it will bear the Somerfield brand name (although it could be Asda or Kwik Save) and, incidentally, be part of a multi-national group that includes the Carrefour chain in France.

From - Food Deserts.

Eastbourne Glee Club

This article from the Eastbourne Gazette dated 9th August 1916, is about the Eastbourne Glee Club raising funds for the war effort.

Perhaps this side of the 21st Century it is with amazement that money should be sent on sending soldiers cigarettes and tobacco. How times have changed!


“Eastbourne Glee Club

Parcels for Soldiers and Sailors

In the spring of 1915 Mr. J.F. Gardener (hon. Secretary of the Eastbourne Glee Choir) set on foot a movement for the supplying comforts for (1) the men of the Army and Navy on active service and (2) prisoners of war in Germany and elsewhere. Through this agency many thousands of cigarettes have been sent, besides tobacco and pipes. Last Christmas parcels of food to the value of £20 were purchased with the proceeds of a concert and were despatched at the men at the front.

The total value of the goods sent out exceeds £100. Among the contributors to the fund we may mention Colonel W.A. Cardwell V.D., Mr. Sydney Hudson, Mr. E. A. Sutton, the Rev E.W. Wright, Councillor F. Hollins, the Rev E.L. Browne, and others. Mr James S. Garrard has contributed 10s 6d a month for cigarettes for local footballers at the Front, and the Rev. E.L. Browne and Councillor Hollins have presented several footballs which have been greatly appreciated by the Eastbourne Engineers at the France. In fact the Engineers have “asked for more”.

Mr. Gardner has received upwards of 500 letters expressive of gratitude from sailors and soldiers. To the prisoners of war the parcels of food have been of inestimable benefit. The patients in the 12th General Hospital at Rouen have received no fewer than 8,000 cigarettes and a long written list of recipients has been received.”

Enormous Expenditure on Drink

This report was in the Eastbourne Gazette on 23rd September 1916. During the war there were a large number of people in favour of prohibition, this ‘public meeting’ on the Seafront calls for action to be taken.

300 Millions

Enormous Expenditure on Drink

"In presiding over an outdoor meeting held near the Royal Parade bandstand on Saturday evening Dr. Horatio Matthews spoke as a medical man in favour of total abstinence as conductive to the health of the nation. Mr. Alexander Thomson (United Kingdom Alliance) stated that in the first twenty-one months of the war about 2,200,000 tons of barley, maize and rice, and 3,000,000 tons of sugar were wasted in the manufacture of drink. During the same period the nation had spent on intoxication £300,000,000, a sum which represents £500,000 a day. The only remedy was the prohibition of the liquor traffic during the remainder of the war and for six months after the declaration of peace. A memorial in favour of such a measure had been signed by two millions of people. The Rev. A. Butcher also spoke.

On Sunday evening, Mr. Thomson addressed a large gathering near the Grand Parade bandstand. Mr. Walker presided, and the choir of the Baptist Forward Mission attended to leading the singing."

Dangerous Motoring on the Seafront.

I love this article from the Eastbourne Chronicle dated Saturday July 22nd 1916. The Dangerous driver was driving his two-seater car at the speed of 35 miles per hour along Eastbourne Seafront.

The Chief Inspector tried to stop him by putting up his hand but it took him over 100 yards to stop the car and then he sped off. How times have changed!!!

"Dangerous Motoring on the Front.

Lieutenant Gordon M. Mew, said to be a wounded officer staying at a convalescent home in Brighton, was summoned for driving a motor car at a dangerous speed on the Grand Parade on the 11th. Defendant did not appear, and no communication had been received from him.

Parade Inspector Dann said at about 1.45 on the day in question a small two-seater car passed him at the Grand Hotel. In it were the defendant and a lady. The car was going at a pace which he estimated at from 35 to 40 miles an hour. The Chief Inspector who was with the witness, put up his hand, but at such a pace was the car going that it covered another hundred yards before it stopped. Without waiting for witness to come up, defendant drove off again and finally stopped at the Landsdowne Hotel. Witness proceeded thither and saw the defendant, of who he asked,

“What was your object in driving so fast?”

Defendant replied, “None really.”

Witness pointed out that the speed was 35 miles an hour, and witness told him it was too fast and he would be reported. In reply, to a question witness told him that if summoned he would either appear or send a letter.

Evidence of the service of the summons having been given, a penalty of £2 was imposed."

To Join the Fire Brigade

This Military Tribunal is reported in the Eastbourne Gazette on 2nd August 1916. The Applicant is saved from going to the front, so long as he joins the local Fire Brigade:-

"To Join the Fire Brigade

In the case of Mr. Henry J. Collins, 40. Married grocery and sweet shop keeper. Mr. Hillman (the applicants solicitor) advanced the one-man business plea. Mr. Collins said he had a nervous wife and she could not possibly carry on the trade. He was willing to devote spare time to utility work.

The Chairman, “Could you do a special constable’s job?”

Applicant, “I don’t think so.” (Laughter)

Councillor Bolton ,“The Council want firemen, could you do that?”

Applicant, “Yes.”

Twelve weeks were granted, conditional on applicant joining the fire brigade."

The Boar's Head - Part V.

The Eastbourne Gazette on the 2nd August also carried this story from Private Hart:-

Southdowns Capture Prisoners

Private T Hart, Royal Sussex Regiment, writing to his mother, Mrs Turner, 1 Salehurst Road, Old Town, Eastbourne describes the operation on June 30 as being “like hell”.

He says, “The bombardment was enough to drive us off our heads, but we took three lines of trenches and faced the shells as coolly as anything. I had the bottom of my rifle blown off, but I didn’t get a scratch myself. We were up to necks in mud. We gave them (the Germans) a few pills to go on with. We took several prisoners and all they could say was ‘Mercy, kamarade.’ Our colonel said we stuck it grandly. I think we have got them done for this time. I saw I lot of my chums fall by my side, but I was one of the lucky ones. It is your prayers that have saved my life mum,” concluded the writer, “and I thank God for it.”

The Boar's Head - Part IV.

The Eastbourne Gazette on 2nd August 1916, had this report of the action at 'Boar's Head'.

Southdowns in Action

Letter from Sergeant Rowsell

Writing from the V.A.D. Hospital, Fernlagul, Larkfield, near Maidstone on July 29th. Lance-Sergeant T.S. Roswell says:-

“As an old Eastbourian I have been a reader of your valuable paper for some years and I received it weekly in the trenches before I was wounded. I belong to one of the Southdowns Battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment and am able to tell you that our long training in England enabled the men to become not only good fighters but good workers as well. If any trenches needed making or repairing by our division one of the ‘Southdowns’ Battalions was sure to get the job. With regard to the fighting, all were eager to go over the parapet to meet ‘Frtiz’ when the time came and the ‘Squareheads’ the other side of No Mans land soon learnt what they were up against. You were quite correct in your surmise that some day Sussex people will hear the official truths of what did actually occur and when that is known it will be seen that the Southdowns did their bit in the true British way. Before closing I would just mention that the editor of an influential London weekly once said, “The Southdowns will never fire shot in the Great War.”

Coulson Kernahan's Appeal

Before conscription was introduced in 1916 recruiting rallies were held almost daily in an effort to get every available man to the Front. This report in the Eastbourne Gazette on 16th June 1915, concerns the well known author Coulson Kernahan and his efforts to get men to look within themselves and consider what it will be like when the war finally ends.

Patriot and Author

Mr. Coulson Kernahans Appeal

In his speech at the Wish Tower grounds on Saturday, Mr. Coulson Kernahan (the well known author) said:-

“May I just tell of a saying of Robert Louis Stevenson, whose books are known to some of you? Stevenson said this :-

“Much may be forgiven to us mortals – mistakes, sins, crimes even: but God Himself cannot forgive the ‘hanger-back’”.

“Is there a hanger-back here today? Is there one man here who is fit and able to go but is hanging back? If so, I am sorry for him. I sit in judgement on no man. In all my recruiting work I have never called any man a ‘shirker’. I have no right to call you a shirker. You may be fit and strong. I don’t know you circumstances. I repeat: I sit in judgement on no man. Your own conscience will be worse than anything I can say. To feel that other people sneer at you is a small matter: but for a man to feel that he has lost his own self-respect and is a coward in his own eyes is terrible. Picture the coming time when as Mr. Gwynne says we shall be happier than we are today. The war is over, Eastbourne is en fete. Every man, woman and child is out. The bells are ringing, the flags are flying and the gallant boys of the Sussex Regiment are marching down the street having returned unhurt or bearing honourable wounds. We shall be mad with joy – men, women and children. Picture to yourself what your position will be if you might have gone but did not. You won’t be with the cheering crowd. You will be slinking home by the back way. You will feel you might have gone, but let others go. You will see George that went and Harry who went. They heard the call and obeyed it. You will slink home to the kitchen amongst the cats, the children, and the old women, because you have been a shirker. You will know that you have betrayed your country. Don’t let that become true of you. Say today, 'I will do my duty. I have been a long time over it. It is not too late. It shall be my privilege to serve my country.'”

(Coulson Kernahan (1858-1943) was born at Ilfracombe, Devonshire, and educated privately by his father and at St Albans School. He was associated with Locker-Lampson on a new edition of Lyra Elegantiarum, contributed to many periodicals, wrote humorous verse, and gained wide popularity for his fiction, some of which has been translated into French, German, Dutch, Hungarian, and Chinese).

Helping the War or Himself?

This Military Tribunal is reported in the Eastbourne Gazette on 2nd August 1916. The Military Represenative Mr. Beattie seems to be on good form.

Helping the War or Himself?

V.W.Marley, 31, married taxi cab proprietor was represented by Mr. Hillman who explained the great financial hardship which could result in the applicants enlistment.

Mr. Beattie “You are doing nothing at present to help the war?”

Mr. Hillman “He is keeping a wife and three children.”

Mr. Beattie “Is that helping the war or helping himself?”

Six weeks (final).

The Boar's Head - Part III - Another Report.

This is another report in the Eastbourne Gazette on 19th July 1916. No name is given by the wounded officer, but his letter confirms the other reports without overemphasising the carnage of the attack.

The Wounded Officers Letter – “The Men Were Magnificent”

No warmer tribute to the splendid work of “Lowther’s Lambs” in the recent operation on the Western Front could be given than contained in a private letter by a wounded officer, who says:-

“The men were magnificent; there is no doubt about that. If the men in the rest of Kitchener’s Army are anything like the ‘Southdowns’ nothing will stop us now that we have made the right start.

Our divisional General said only a few days before the beginning of this great push, “You men (meaning the Southdowns) do not require leading, we know their reputation.” And he was right. When their officers and men fell on the survivors went, right through the hell of fire. ‘My Company (‘A’ Company of the 13th Royal Sussex) went 150 to 200 yards in the face of it with never a falter. It was a superb test.

The men were absolutely wonderful. Their training had fitted them for what they had to go through, and the pity of it is that so many had to fall to accomplish what they did.
We had not counted on the enemy being so prepared for our reception with heavy guns and machine guns. You can imagine what we had to go through.

“Corporal Parsons, an Eastbourne man who is missing, showed indomitable pluck , and all through the ‘Southdowns’ a similar spirit was apparent. No regular soldiers could have been finer.

Sergeant Baker, an old regular army man, is attached to the “Southdowns”. When his officer was knocked over he led the men on to the second line of German trenches. I heard him shouting, “Come on boys, here are the Huns!” This was followed by cries of ‘Kamarade’ from the German soldiers. But the blood of the ‘Southdowns’ was up, for the enemy had been bombing them only a few minutes before. Sergeant Baker showed a splendid example both to the N.C.O’s and men.”

“I had a narrow escape in this attack. I was wearing a Dayfield body shield and a bullet struck me just below the shoulder blade and about an inch below the top of the shield. It did not penetrate the shield but turned upwards and gouged its way out through the fleshy part of the shoulder."

"An amusing incident of the attack was recalled a few days ago when I visited a wounded sergeant of my company who is now in hospital. I had taken a little German prisoner who insisted upon following closely upon my heels. The sergeant recalling the fact said, ‘I could not help laughing when I saw that little German chap following you about the trenches like a lap-dog.’
I got rather tired of him following me about. There were a lot of rifles lying about and I did not know when this fact might occur to him. Finally, I showed him my revolver and pointed to our trenches in the distance, and he very soon took his departure there.
The Germans were more than willing to surrender when we got close to them, but they were throwing things at us when we did get close?”

Corporal Percy Parsons metioned above, of the ‘A’ Company, 13th Battalion had dodged a sick parade to ensure his part in the attack, died on the German wire. He was 37 and was married to Susanna Parsons, of 20, Lower Rd., Gore Park, Eastbourne. He is buried in CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ.

The Battle of Boar's Head - Part II - further reports.

Reports continued to filter into the newspaper about the fighting on 30th June 1916. The Eastbourne Gazette on 26th July 1916 contained these reports.

The first is from a letter by Lieutenant Robinson where he writes about the heroism of CSM Nelson Carter who would later be postumously awarded the V.C. for his actions during the battle.


"How the Southdowns Fought

Eastbourne Hero

Loses his life while rescuing comrades

In a private letter to a friend an Eastbourne officer, Lieutenant Harold C.T. Robinson, who is at home wounded, tells of the gallantry of a local soldier who lost his life in the great advance on the morning of June 30, while rescuing comrades who had fallen wounded over the parapet.

Lieutenant Robinson, who is the younger son of Mr. C. Wyndham Robinson, of Kya Lami, The Greys, Eastbourne, was the officer commanding A Company, 12th Royal Sussex Regiment and the soldier of whose heroism he speaks was Company-Sergeant Major N.V. Carter (formerly an attendant at Old Town, Cinema) whose widow resides at 33 Greys road. “He was a splendid type of soldier”. Writes Lieutenant Robinson “and had already been recommended for the Military Cross for gallantry before the incident of June 30. "
“Several men were lying wounded over the parapet and C.S.M. Carter went over many times under heavy fire to help carry them to safety. He succeeded in rescuing a number of them but was finally killed while engaged in the heroic work.”

“Another Eastbourne man notable for his pluck is Corporal E.A. Dewey (formerly doorkeeper at the Hippodrome theatre). Although he was suffering from a painful malady, he rose from his bed of sickness and insisted upon accompanying his comrades to the enemy’s trenches. ‘I’ve been with the boys all along’ he said ‘and I intend to go over the parapet with them.’ He was allowed to go, and did his duty well but he was badly wounded in several places and lost his right eye.’
“Corporal Dewey, who is 45 years of age and has a son at the front, had never seen service prior to the war, but joined up shortly after the outbreak in order to ‘do his bit.’

“Speaking of the Southdown’s generally and my own Company in particular, I have nothing but the highest praise for them. As soon as they heard that they were going to attack and knew at last they were to have the chance to do something, they were exceedingly keen and enthusiastic. We rehearsed the attack and the night spent in completing the arrangements.”

“At 2.50 am an intense bombardment by our artillery began and at 3.5 am – all our watches synchronised- the artillery lifted and infantry went over parapet. The enemy had replied to our bombardment with a terrific fire, but this mattered nothing. The men simply poured over wave after wave of them, with the results that you know, ‘the news that reached England next day that a ‘strong raiding party had reached the enemy lines.’

“From the number of killed and wounded Germans lying in the trenches and the great damage done to the trenches it is evident that the British artillery was very accurate.”

“A particularly gratifying feature of the attack and one which bore evidence to the splendid training of the men was the way in which the N.C.O’s took over the duties of the officers when they fell.”

“My Company was almost entirely composed of Eastbourne men, and although losses are to be regretted it must some slight consolation to bereaved friends to know that the men all do so splendidly. I have the greatest admiration for them all and could never wish to command a better company.”

The second report was a small piece by the Gazette itself, which correctly assesses where the battle took place and the failure of the bombardment to destroy completely the enemies wire.

"The Scene of the Fighting

From statements which have reached us from various quarters it would seem that the Soutdowns were in action not near the Somme but a good many miles further north. Two battalions went first to the attack and the third battalion suffered less severely. Notwithstanding the prolonged bombardment the enemy’s wire remained intact in certain places and the Southdown’s suffered from machine gun fire. As the official lists show the casualties were heavy. The attack which was made may have been in the nature of a feint advance due to assist operations elsewhere, but it is not for us to do more than outline the facts which have come to our knowledge. "

Suffrage Societies and War Work

The Eastbourne Gazette, Four page pull-out on 20th December 1916 included a section, “What Eastbourne has done to Alleviate Distress and Suffering.”
In this Article Mrs. Fred Allen explains the work of the Eastbourne Society of Women’s Suffrage during the first two years of the war:

"Suffrage Societies and War Work

In accordance with the suggestion of the executive of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, to which the Eastbourne Society is affiliated, all political work was suspended when war broke out, and the society has strictly adhered to this principle. The principle will be rigidly observed so long as there is no proposal to alter the basis of the franchise for men. Regulations to prevent the disqualification of men who, but for the exigencies of war would have been qualified voters, have the approval and sympathy of the National Union and its affiliated societies.

The work of the Eastbourne Society during the year 1916 has been distributed amongst the various departments of war-work in the town rather than concentrated on any special effort of the society itself. The Belgian Club has been the principal financial responsibility – as some indication of its usefulness it may be mentioned that there are records of 1,100 loans of books from the French library connected with the club. The French Lending Library is now housed at the Free Library, as the Belgian Club is closed.
In the spring of this year (1916) the society took part in the “Munition Week” collection towards the Y.M.C.A. national effort to provide accommodation for the women munitions workers. In St. Mary’s Ward, for which the society became responsible, over £27 was collected.

Quite recently, in November (1916), an appeal sent out to the members of the society and a few sympathetic friends realised a sum of over £21 towards supplying urgent hospital necessaries to Dr. Elsie Inglis (Scottish Women’s Hospital N.U.W.S.S), who is in charge of the only hospital relief with the Serbian division of the Russian Army.

Many of the members of the society are engaged at the Red Cross hospitals, others are helping systematically in the canteen and entertainment work, mending for the soldiers and working in the Red Cross Depot. Others are making the Belgian refugees in the town their special care.

One happy result of the distribution of the society’s energies has been that it has provided opportunity with those who, while divided on the one and only ground which is the “raison d’etre” of the society, are one in the society in love of country, and in the passionate desire to help and heal which inspires all true women."

A Soldier before the Courts

This article appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette on 25th July 1917.
The soldier obviously thought he was hard done by, but the magistrate was more concerned about his ‘state of mine.’

"The Justice of a Soldier

"William Riley, on remand, was charged with being an absentee. He was a private in the Canadian regiment, and had been stationed at Seaford.

Police-constable Morris said he saw the prisoner, who was unshaven, and asked him if he had a pass, to which he replied, “I am a discharged soldier; I don’t want a pass.” He did not believe the prisoner whom he arrested. He had a dandy brush and two curry combs in his possession at the time.

The Chief Constable (Major Teale) said he had not been able to find out anything about the prisoner and requested a further remand for another week.

Prisoner – “Can I have the justice of a soldier?”

The Magistrates Clerk (Mr. E.O Langham) – “Certainly.”

Prisoner – “Then can I smoke in my cell? I am entitled to a smoke. A burglar gets a smoke.”

The Mayor said a remand would be granted, and prisoner must obey the police regulations. It was ordered that his state of mind should be enquired into."