Recruiting at Crawley – September 1914

Mr E. C. Titcomb, who has been appointed recruiting officer for this district, convened an informal meeting at the George Hotel on Tuesday night to consider the question of recruiting, Major Messel being present to explain the objects of the gathering. It was decided to hold an open air meeting in the square tonight (Saturday), when it is hoped the young men of Crawley will give a good account of themselves.

The recruitment meeting was deemed a success as recorded by the Sussex & Surrey Courier: - With the view to obtaining recruits for Lord Kitchener’s Army an open air meeting was held in the Lower Square on Saturday evening, when there assembled probably the largest crowd ever seen in Crawley. The Town Band first played selections, under Mr Melville, and also discoursed suitable music at the close of the meeting, the programme including the Russian, French, Belgium and English National Anthems.

Earnest appeals were made to the young men of Crawley to volunteer their services at this hour of country’s need, and referred to the war as a righteous war, not of our seeking, but one which must be fought to a finish for the honour and liberty of the people. Employers were urged to keep open the positions of those who had joined the ranks, and all were urged to do their part in seeing that the dependents of men were well looked after.

Mr E. C. Titcomb also addressed the meeting, and read out a list of those who had already entered their names from Crawley and district. In response to his request for more recruits to come forward, nine young men stepped forward amid loud applause and added their names to the list. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed throughout, and it is hoped that other eligible young men will follow the example of their comrades.

Four Letters

The following four letters all appeared in the local press during the first weeks of September 1914 and give a very clear idea of just what was happening in Crawley a hundred years ago.

Crawley Parish Church

Sir;

Arrangements are being made to chime one or more of the bells daily, at noon, during the war, in order that all who hear them may remember the brave men who are fighting for out Country and Empire in this great and terrible struggle. May I beg all who hear the bells to say a silent prayer to Almighty God and ask Him to bless our Naval Military Forces, and to crown their arms with victory and to restore peace among the nations of the world.

I remain, yours truly,

H.L.B Lennard.

The Rectory, Crawley, Sussex,

September 1^st 1914.

A Turners Hill Record

Sir;

I find that we have had 24 of our boys join the colours from this village. How do the surrounding villages compare with this?

Yours faithfully,

Noah Whitman.

Late 4^th Royal Sussex Regt.

Turners Hill, September 2^nd 1914.

Recruits at Crawley

Sir;

Lord Kitchener has got his first 100,000 men: the second 100,000 is now being enrolled. What are we going to do? Crawley and Ifield are remarkable for their devotion to athletic sports and games. They should therefore have numbers of young athletic and healthy men, the very sort that are wanted.

Within the last few days I hear of a number of our playing members of the Cricket Club, who have joined. J. A. D Dempsey was gazetted to a commission in the Army and is now at the Front. Several others who have kept wicket, batted or bowled for Crawley will keep their honour bright and be bold to battle for their King and country. I hope that the club may soon see its way to publish its Role of Honour – the names of its members who would serve the King and save their homes and ours. I hope also that the Football Clubs and the Harriers may set up a similar role; a wholesome emulation will ensue.

I most seriously deprecate hasty condemnation of those who do not immediately join. No one but the man himself knows his circumstances, his duties and the calls upon him which constitute his duty. As time goes on we shall become aware of those who can and those who won’t go. Again, all men are not alike, as there are many weak in body, so there are some that are so mentally constituted that they are weak in spirit. Let us not be too hasty to condemn, but rather pity those whose spirit is in their stomachs or their courage in their boots. And such pity will be hard enough to bear.

The better educated and richer in this worlds goods are setting a splendid example. I have no doubt it will be followed. Courage and energy are the property of no class and of no family alone. But time presses. The sooner men join the sooner they will be trained and the sooner will they have the honour and credit of fighting and of striking that blow for England and freedom which must in the end prevail. As Mr Kipling has just written –

“Who stands – if freedom fall? Who dies – if England live?”

Your obedient Servant,

W.J. Chalk.

Crawley, Sept 2^nd, 1914.

Letter from the War

Writing to his mother at Tindsley, Mr Tom Thorns says:

“Before we started fighting we were all very nervous, but after we joined in we were all happy, and most of us laughing till was finished. Then we all sobbed and cried. Even if I never come back, don’t think I’ve died a painful death. Everything yesterday was as quick as lightning. We were in action on Friday morning of Heligoland. I had a piece of shell as big as the palm of my hand go through my trousers, and as my trouser legs were blowing in the breeze I think I was very lucky.”