Friends of Historic Essex: Lectures on The Great War. 19 September 2015

FRIENDS OF HISTORIC ESSEX

Registered Charity No: 235270

 

AUTUMN LECTURE

Raising funds for the Essex Great War Archive Project

SATURDAY 19^th SEPTEMBER 2015

2.00 – 4.30pm

Chelmsford Museum, Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 9AQ

Level access.  Lift to first floor.  Free parking for the first three hours.

£5 per person including tea/coffee.

  

The Great War Hospitals of Southend and the work of the local VADs

Southend was one of the largest providers of auxiliary hospital beds during the Great War in Essex, with over 600. These were divided between two hospitals and a Children’s Home, together with a recently opened convalescent home.  Ken Crowe will give a talk describing the work of these hospitals, their establishment and funding and the work of the local VADs, both Red Cross and St Johns.

The Human Face of the Great War

Western Front Association Essex Branch chairman Bill Fulton discusses, with illustrations, some of the human stories from the battlefields and on the home front, especially Essex, accompanied by a display of some original items from the War.   

For further information please contact Dr Christopher Thornton email c.c.thornton@btinternet.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friends of Historic Essex Autumn Lecture, Saturday 19^th September 2015

Complete and return this form as soon as possible to ensure a place.  All are welcome to join us.

Please return to the Friends of Historic Essex, c/o The Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT

I require ………………….. tickets @ £5

I enclose a cheque for £ ……………… payable to ‘The Friends of Historic Essex’. You will be advised of receipt of admission fee by email or a telephone call if you do not have an email address.

Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….

Email: ……………………………………………………………………………………          Tel: ........……

Friends of Historic Essex

Registered Charity No: 235270

The First World War In Biscuits: until 15 July 2015

At the Minories Galleries, Colchester, we have an exhibition that we feel may interest you. 'The First World War in Biscuits' - A unique collection of 100 year-old ration biscuits, personally modified by soldiers, alongside a range of archive materials, interviews, photographs and film-footage exploring the relationship between food, creativity and conflict.

http://www.colchester.ac.uk/art/minories/exhibitions/first-world-war-biscuits

We hope you to see you at The Minories soon.  The exhibition runs until 15 July 2015.

Christmas Day 1914

The Christmas truce of 1914 has become a legendary halt in hostilities in what was a war of attrition, killing millions and lasting four and a half years.  Revd. Edward Henry Lisle Reeve, of Stondon Massey, kept notes for a parish history (now preserved in the Essex Record Office).  He gives this account of Christmas Day 1914 on the Western Front.

28^th January 1915

“When travelling by train to London from Ongar on Jan 25^th I had for a fellow passenger for part of the way a Lancashire man who had returned wounded and frost-bitten from the front, and was now sufficiently convalescent to be going for a short spell to his native county before returning to France.

“His first-hand report of the conditions of things abroad was very interesting.  He had often been for days together standing in water in the trenches, and the plight of the soldiers in the cold, wet, and filth was, he said indescribable.  The Germans were in as bad or worse plight.  During an interval on Christmas-day some of the enemy had approached our trenches and joined in conversation with our men.  One German soldier had given his cigarettes and offered him brandy. 

“In reply to the German invitation to drink with him the British soldier declined, until by way of assuring him took a pull himself at the flask he was offering!  Lancashire shyness was then overcome, and the soldier accepted a draught of the “Cognac” for such it proved to be.  The time was soon over for these pleasantries, and the two dropped back again into their several positions, having apparently no special desire to kill one another, save at the call of duty!  I wished my fellow passenger a safe return to England at the close of war.”

"The Great War: The People's Story" by Isobel Charman

This book is absolutely fabulous and has to be one of the best reads this year.  Isobel Charman's 'The Great War. The People's Story' has been released to accompany ITV's series telling the history of the First World War through the diaries and letters of ordinary people. (See an earlier blog entry.)  The book does more than four 45 minute programmes could convey.  The Great War is told chronologically, skilfully picking up the individual's experience, whether at home or on the Western Front. We learn of the daily difficulties and challenges people faced, the lucky escapes from death, and the sorrow of losing loved ones.  Additionally many of the characters seem to have lived, worked or stayed in Essex, which adds to the local story. Central to the book is the Revd. Andrew Clark's diary, so Great Leighs becomes focal of a typical British village. 

World War One Commemorative Exhibition: St Leonard's Church Hall, Lexden. 27 & 28 September 2014

Gateways to the First World War: National Maritime Museum, 28 September 2014

Gateways to the First World War

Public Open Day

National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Sunday 28th September 2014, 11:00 – 16:00

Come and find out more about the First World War at the start of the centenary period at this FREE public open day at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

Meet expert historians, archivists and museum curators

Have a guided tour of the new ‘Forgotten Fighters’ gallery

See documents and artefacts in the museum’s Library

Listen to short talks by experts about the history of the war

Learn how to research your ancestors

Discuss how you could get involved in the centenary

For more information please email gateways@kent.ac.uk

Gateways to the First World War

Free admission

Twitter: @Gatewaysfww

Website: www.gatewaysfww.org.uk

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History is pleased to promote this event, which will be of interest to its members.

Woodford Memorial Hall Annual Lecture: Monday 6 October 2014

TRENCH TALK – THE LANGUAGE OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR

BY PETER DOYLE AND JULIAN WALKER

The Trustees of the Woodford Memorial Hall have announced the title of their annual lecture 2014.

As part of the wider centenary of the outbreak of World War One, the lecture is entitled Trench Talk: the language of the First World War.

The First World War largely dictated the course of the twentieth century. Fought on three continents, the war saw 14 million killed and 34 million wounded and its impact shaped the world we live in today.

Though one of the enduring myths of the First World War is that the experience of the trenches was never discussed, the language of the trenches continues to live in the modern consciousness.

This lecture looks at how the experience of the First World War changed the English language, adding words that were both in slang and standard military use, and modifying the usage and connotations of existing words and phrases. Dozens of words entered or became familiar in the English language as a direct result of the soldiers’ experiences.

The melting pot of the combat zones, especially the Western Front, brought together in concentrated environments men from a wide range of social, cultural, occupational and geographical backgrounds. New technological and slang terms developed and spread, many of them still with us, some recognisable, others not. In this talk we will hear how the war was the catalyst for change in the words people used.

Illustrated with material from the authors’ own collections and photographs of the objects of the war, the lecture will examine how the words emerged into everyday language.

Peter Doyle is an author specialising in the British experience, and the material culture, of war. A member of the British Commission of Military History, and secretary of the Parliamentary All Party War Graves and Battlefield Heritage Group, he is the author of many works of military history and the material culture of warfare, most recently The First World War in 100 Objects and Remembering Tommy, both published by The History Press. A regular speaker at conferences and in invited lectures, he has given numerous specialist battlefield talks and battlefield tours. He is an occasional visiting lecturer at the US Military Academy, West Point.

Julian Walker works in education at the British Library. He is the author of a number of books on the English language and on social history. Having recently organised an international conference on Languages and the First World War, he is currently preparing a book on this subject, while researching the development of First World War slang. He is the co-author, with Peter Doyle, of Trench Talk; his most recent publication is The Final Touch, Cosmetics through the Ages, published by the British Library.

Full details of the 2014 lecture are:

Date Monday October 6 2014  Time 7.45pm  Location Woodford Memorial Hall (next to St Mary's church), High Road, South Woodford, E18

Tickets £7 (to include wine/light refreshments), in advance or on the door

More information Memorial Hall office, Monday-Friday 0900-1200,  020 8505 3352

Notes to Editors

1. Woodford Memorial Hall is managed by an independent trust, but is closely linked to St Mary's church.
2. A lecture is held annually on a topic of general interest to the local community.

War Memorials and War Graves in Harlow

An illustrated war memorial book, which has been produced as part of Harlow’s World War One centenary, has been produced by the Harlow Council in partnership with local residents and community groups.  It can now be read online at www.harlow.gov.uk/ww1

It is a fascinating record of all those soldiers with a connection to Harlow who gave their lives during the First World War. 

The work includes those named on the following War Memorials:

Great Parndon Memorial Cross

Netteswell & Burnt Mill Memorial Cross

Potter Street, Latton and surrounding district Memorial Cross

Old Harlow Memorial Cross

This is an ongoing project and will be updated with new photos and information as time goes on.

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History has obtained a hard copy of the 'first edition' for accession to its own Library at the University of Essex. 

In addition a war memorials and war graves map is being produced by the First World War project team to complement the book.

Great War: The Peoples' Story

"WW1 through the eyes of ordinary people" is how ITV's Sunday docu-drama 'The Great War: The Peoples' Story' is described.  This is compelling television where actors give life to the words contained in letters and diaries.  Historians will know the value of these sources and how reciting extracts this way adds dimension to the words.  In Episode 3 (broadcast 24 August 2014 but available on the ITV Player for a month) the Reverend Andrew Clark of Great Leighs in Essex was featured.  His diary from the Home Front, his observations of troops in the village, of Zeppelin air raids, and of the families who had lost loved ones, was published a number of years ago in greatly edited form as 'Echoes of the Great War'.  It was this title 'echoes' that The Revd Andrew Clark penned in the opening lines at the beginning of the war.  The book is bedside reading, and will be over the next four years.

WW1 Commemoration Event: Roman Circus House, Colchester. 24 August 2014

Roman Circus House

You are invited to our WW1 commemorative event on Sunday 24th August 2014 at Roman Circus House and in the garden of the former Sergeants’ Mess Colchester to mark the centenary of the start of British action in WW1 at the Battle of Mons (23rd-24th August 1914) and to commemorate the XIVth Brigade RFA of the Artillery Barracks and the Battle of Le Cateau (26th August 1914) and to remember everyone who served in WW1

Roman Circus House:

10.30am-4.30pm open day with café, WW1 recipe cake, small exhibition including audio of a soldier of the XIVth Brigade RFA

1.00pm & 2.00pm.  guided tour of former Artillery Barracks led by Peter Hall

3.00pm & 3.30pm.  junior ‘Generation’ Corps of Drums garden of the former Sergeants’ Mess:

4.00pm.  songs and poems performed by three local soloists, the Concord Singers, and Tim Freeman

4.30pm.  drumhead service led by Father Richard Tillbrook, with the Colchester Royal British Legion Standard-bearer and Harwich RBL brass band bugler, including two-minutes’ silence

Colchester Archaeological Trust

Roman Circus House, Roman Circus Walk, Colchester  CO2 7GZ

http://www.thecolchesterarchaeologist.co.uk

Essex Regiment on Norwich Market Place: 10th August 1914

Postcard photographs from 100 years ago today.  Pte Frederick Garnham, commemorated on the Highwood War Memorial, was one of the number. He was killed on 8 September 1914.  For more go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/garnham_family.html

First World War Exhibition: St Lawrence Heritage Discovery Centre. 2 August to 14 September 2014

The St Lawrence Heritage Discovery Church is currently staging an exhibition on World War I and the Dengie Hundred.

As the name implies, the principal focus is on the activities of the armed forces within the local area and the contribution by local people in many spheres.

Numerous contemporary photographs illustrate and help to tell the story, well supported by personal memoirs, official regimental War Diaries and general information. Details of those who made the supreme sacrifice have been researched as well as some who served and survived.

The exhibition should hold something of interest to anyone interested in the locality or in our military and maritime past or the early years of air warfare.

Exhibition extended to 28 September 2014

Location: St Lawrence Church, near Southminster, CM0 7LN. Open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, 2 August -28 September inclusive, 2.30 - 4.30 pm or other times by arrangement.

Remember

Inscribed on the wall of the
Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre

Tuesday 4 August 1914

11pm

The moment when Britain entered the Great War

"The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time"

An hour of national remembrance

Greensted: First World War Fallen

The High Country History Group is preparing a book to commemorate the beginning of the First World War with a comprehensive record of those who died and are remembered from the four parishes of Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount.

Martyn Lockwood, its author, would be interested to hear from relatives, especially if photographs survive, of those listed below.

Curiously there is no memorial in the church to those parishioners of Greensted who died in either war.  The reason is unknown. 

However the names are inscribed on a Roll of Honour once in the foyer of now demolished Ongar War Memorial Hospital. (The original is now in the Essex Record Office). 

Roll of Honour previously in
Ongar War Memorial Hospital

The Roll records four names of men from Greensted who died in World War One:

- J. Argent

- E. Crisp

- C.H. East

- E.G. East

These are: James Argent, Ernest Crisp, Edward George East and possibly Charles Herbert East.

Essex Record Office: First World War Resources

The Essex Record Office has produced a list of resources for those wishing to explore further the Great War.  For more information see: http://www.essexrecordofficeblog.co.uk/first-world-war-resources/ 

High on the list is a book by Paul Rusiecki entitled 'The Impact of Catastophe: The people of Essex during the First World War (1914 - 1920)' produced in 2008.

Stapleford Tawney: First World War Fallen

The High Country History Group is preparing a book to commemorate the beginning of the First World War with a comprehensive record of those who died and are remembered from the four parishes of Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount.

Martyn Lockwood, its author, would be interested to hear from relatives, especially if photographs survive, of those listed below.

The memorial is on the south wall of the nave of St Mary’s church.  It was unveiled on Sunday 7^th November, 1920, by Sir Drummond Cunliffe Smith.

In addition there is a board giving the names of the former pupils of Stapleford Tawney school who served between 1914-1918. 

Those named on the War Memorial are:

-         Arthur Godsafe

-         Henry Hartgrove

-         Robert Mepsted

-         Albert Starling

-         Arthur William Starling

-         Walter Stubbings

-         Malcolm Sworder

-         Norman Sworder

There is also an entry for George Herbert Fish who died in the Second World War.

In the tower at St Mary’s, is a board showing the names of those men from Stapleford Tawney who fought in the Great War.  Interestingly there are no names beginning A – F.  It shows the names of those who survived the conflict as well as those who were killed. 

However the names of the two Sworder brothers are missing.

The Roll of Honour contains the following names:

Stapleford Tawney

Roll of Honour

TO COMMEMORATE

THE NAMES OF THE MEN OF

THIS PARISH WHO FOUGHT FOR

ENGLAND AND LIBERTY

IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918

GODSAFE A.	STAINES R.
GOULD S.	STARLING A.
GREEN W.	STARLING A.W.
HAMMOND W.	STARLING J.
HARTGROVE H.	STUBBINGS J.
HILLS F.	STUBBINGS T.
MEPSTED R.	STUBBINGS W.
MEPSTED H.	SURRIDGE F.J.
MOORE H. (M.C.)	SURRIDGE T.F.
PERRY J.	SURRIDGE T.
PURNELL A.	TUCKER J.
PURNELL W.	TUCKER W.
SARLING H.	TURNER H.
SARLING J.	WEST T.W.
SNOW F.H.	WHITBREAD W.

Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre Roll of Honour

Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre Roll of Honour

The Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre occupies the site of the former Ongar War Memorial Hospital.  The present building, which houses the Ongar Health Centre (the town’s G P Surgery) was opened very recently although the building itself was completed in 2012.

In the Reception area of the Centre is a new Roll of Honour, which was dedicated in May 2012.  I understand that it may be viewed by prior appointment.

The former Ongar War Memorial Hospital was opened as a cottage hospital in August 1933, some 15 years after the end of the First World War.

Inside the former building was a Roll of Honour, now preserved in the Essex Record Office [ERO A10815].

The document contains a list of several men who fell in the district and is arranged by parish.  Those parishes included are: Ongar, Shelley, High Ongar, High Laver, Willingale, Greensted, Kelvedon [Hatch], Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney, Theydon Mount, Stapleford Abbots, Stondon Massey, Lambourne, Fyfield, Berners Roding, Navestock, Moreton, Little Laver, Abbess Roding, Beauchamp Roding, Doddinghurst, Blackmore, Norton Mandeville, and Bobbingworth.

The lists are by far from complete, contain duplications of commemorated names and incorrectly spelt names.  This is probably because records were not carefully checked some years after the close of the Great War. (War Memorials erected later than the immediate years after the conflict are known to contain mistakes e.g. Maldon).

Turning to the exterior of the present building, there is a mural of poppies which include the words:

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.  When you go home, tell them of us and say for their tomorrow, we gave our today.”

It is a dedication to the people of Ongar who sacrificed their lives in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

Theydon Mount: First World War Fallen

The High Country History Group is preparing a book to commemorate the beginning of the First World War with a comprehensive record of those who died and are remembered from the four parishes of Greensted, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount.

Martyn Lockwood, its author, would be interested to hear from relatives, especially if photographs survive, of those listed below.

The memorial to those who died in both wars is situated on the south wall of the nave of St Michael’s church.  In addition there are two Commonwealth war graves in the churchyard (2^nd World War). 

There is also a wooden board in the nave giving the names of old boys of Theydon Mount school who fought in 1914-1918.

Those named on the War Memorial are:

-         John Coller

-         Walter George Freshwater

-         Hugh Meikle Miller

-         Henry Joseph Perry

-         Frederick Town

-         Thomas William Ward

-         Stanley Thomas West

-         James Bushnell

The Roll of Honour reads:

Roll of Honour / To Commemorate / the names of the men / of this parish / and Old Boys of this School / who fought for / England and Liberty / in the Great War 1914 – 1918.

Bonner L G

Bushnell J  

Coller J   

Coller W 

Freshwater E E   

Freshwater W G 

Groves G   

Hammond W 

Hartgrove H  

Latchford W 

Miller H M  

Parker W 

Perry C 

Perry G 

Perry H J  

Perry G  

Prior A 

Prior A 

Raby D  

Raby H 

Starling A 

Starling A W  

Starling J  

Stubbings F G  

Stubbings W 

Summers S W  

Tarling J 

Tarling A S 

Town F 

Tricker B A  

Tricker W 

Turner H  

Tyler C W  

Ward T W 

West J W  

West S T 

Colchester: First World War Commemoration. Roman Circus House, 24 August 2014

Colchester's military past will be remembered at a commemorative event in the garden of the former Sergeant's Mess by Roman Circus House.  The date marks the centenary of the start of the Battle of mons.  For more see: http://www.thecolchesterarchaeologist.co.uk/?p=13996