Swanley History Group – July 2016 meeting
It is likely that many of us watching television programmes about World War I will have failed to appreciate the impact and repercussions on civilians living in our towns and villages. Stephen De Winton and Sarah Lewis gave us much to think about following their presentation, on Sutton at Hone and Hawley during WW1, at the July meeting of Swanley History Group. They reminded us that this Parish included Swanley Junction, Swanley Village, Crockenhill and Hextable in 1914.
The major landmarks of each year of The Great War were covered, alongside the changes which affected those at home and statistics relating to military deaths and wounded. It surprised us to learn that, when war was declared on 4 August 1914, many citizens carried on as before with local events such as carnivals, cricket matches, concerts, meetings, school terms and published bus and train services – until vehicles were requisitioned.
Conscription was not introduced until the beginning of 1916 so members of The Royal West Kent Territorials from the Parish found themselves sent out to India to allow our troops there to return. The local scout group was ‘ready to do their bit’ as could be seen in the photograph of them guarding the railway bridges! Newspapers included war maps and flag pins as well as recruiting advertisements – the response from Swanley was very good but poor from Sutton. 1915 saw the beginning of pub licencing laws which included opening hours and that no one could buy a drink for anyone else. The most popular film shown at cinemas in 1916 was ‘The Battle of The Somme’. This film is being shown at selected venues during 2016 to mark the centenary.
By 1917 items such as sugar and coal were in short supply and food imports from the USA and Argentina were not getting through. Citizens were not allowed to eat white bread and any bread had to be twelve hours old before being sold. By 1918 the age to join the military was raised to 50 such was the need for reinforcements.
There are 50 names on the Sutton at Hone War Memorial sited at St. John the Baptist Church, Sutton at Hone. The stories of the men from the Parish who lost their lives during The Great War and are commemorated on the memorial are told in an illustrated book by Stephen and Sarah entitled ‘Never Such Innocence’. Sources useful in their research include Ancestry, Medway City Ark, and Dartford Chronicle which issued a weekly Roll of Honour and The Red Cross Prisoner of War Records available online.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 2 August - 7.15pm for 7.30 pm start - when author Roy Shelton shares stories relating to some of the villages in the Darent Valley. We meet at White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF. For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
It is likely that many of us watching television programmes about World War I will have failed to appreciate the impact and repercussions on civilians living in our towns and villages. Stephen De Winton and Sarah Lewis gave us much to think about following their presentation, on Sutton at Hone and Hawley during WW1, at the July meeting of Swanley History Group. They reminded us that this Parish included Swanley Junction, Swanley Village, Crockenhill and Hextable in 1914.
The major landmarks of each year of The Great War were covered, alongside the changes which affected those at home and statistics relating to military deaths and wounded. It surprised us to learn that, when war was declared on 4 August 1914, many citizens carried on as before with local events such as carnivals, cricket matches, concerts, meetings, school terms and published bus and train services – until vehicles were requisitioned.
Conscription was not introduced until the beginning of 1916 so members of The Royal West Kent Territorials from the Parish found themselves sent out to India to allow our troops there to return. The local scout group was ‘ready to do their bit’ as could be seen in the photograph of them guarding the railway bridges! Newspapers included war maps and flag pins as well as recruiting advertisements – the response from Swanley was very good but poor from Sutton. 1915 saw the beginning of pub licencing laws which included opening hours and that no one could buy a drink for anyone else. The most popular film shown at cinemas in 1916 was ‘The Battle of The Somme’. This film is being shown at selected venues during 2016 to mark the centenary.
By 1917 items such as sugar and coal were in short supply and food imports from the USA and Argentina were not getting through. Citizens were not allowed to eat white bread and any bread had to be twelve hours old before being sold. By 1918 the age to join the military was raised to 50 such was the need for reinforcements.
There are 50 names on the Sutton at Hone War Memorial sited at St. John the Baptist Church, Sutton at Hone. The stories of the men from the Parish who lost their lives during The Great War and are commemorated on the memorial are told in an illustrated book by Stephen and Sarah entitled ‘Never Such Innocence’. Sources useful in their research include Ancestry, Medway City Ark, and Dartford Chronicle which issued a weekly Roll of Honour and The Red Cross Prisoner of War Records available online.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 2 August - 7.15pm for 7.30 pm start - when author Roy Shelton shares stories relating to some of the villages in the Darent Valley. We meet at White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF. For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser