Although Upchurch men had joined the Armed Forces, an article appeared in the East Kent Gazette dated March 6th 1915 accusing the village of lacking patriotism, stating that men of fighting age were not joining up. The article ended with the words,
‘Wake up my lads! Seize the chance of your lifetime and lay a just claim to honour your existence as Britishers.’
This eventually proved unjustified as 140 men from the village joined up to fight during the course of the war including Alfred and James Robinson from Ham Green who were amongst the first of the 1915 volunteers.
The fervour of patriotism continued on Sunday June 5th, 1915 when a troop of the East Kent Mounted Rifles rode into the village for an open air recruitment meeting beside the church. At the meeting Reverend Trew urged the troop captain to persuade mothers present to commit their sons to join up, Mr R. M. Wakeley of ‘Wakeley Brothers’ gave an impassioned patriotic speech and Holywell headmaster Mr. Maltravers raised the Union Jack flag above the Infant’s School.
Only James Hatton and Fred Godfrey from Upchurch were recorded as war fatalities during 1915. James Hatton served as a private in the Buffs and after enlisting in 1909 he served in Singapore and Ireland before going to the European mainland with the British Expeditionary Force in 1914. He was killed in action on February 27th, 1915 and is buried in the Bois Grenier cemetery in France. Before the war he worked as a shepherd boy and lived at Butler’s Cottages, Ham Green then Brent Cottages near the present Upchurch Cricket ground.
Fred Godfrey served as a private in The Buffs. He was killed on the Western Front on November 26th 1915. Born in Teynham he lived at Ham Green when the war began. He is remembered on the Lynsted and Upchurch war memorials and is buried at Hedge Row Trench Cemetery, Leper, Belgium. On a more pleasing note George Marsh from Forge Lane joined up at the start of the war and after fighting in France with the British Expeditionary Force he gained promotion to sergeant in August 1914 then to staff sergeant in September 1914. After this he became attached to the RAMC taking charge of motor convoy workshops. An August 1915 edition of the East Kent Gazette reported that in celebration of his achievements he received a watch and chain, a pouch and two boxes of cigars from his comrades.
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James Hatton and Fred Godfrey are both commemorated on a plaque inside St. Mary's Church. |
During the summer months of 1915 many village residents were busy fruit picking while fruit foreman Bill Hyland had to regularly chase boys ‘nicking’ fruit from Wakeley Brothers Wetham Green cherry orchard during the long evenings. Cyril Wraight and his friends congregated beside the water pump situated in The Street at the top of Forge Lane where they ate their pickings. There wasn’t much else for the village youngsters to do as the recreation ground had been abandoned and out of use since 1906, both the village football and cricket clubs were suspended until the war ended and money was scarce.
Several serious incidents took place in the village starting with Robert Mills, a tramp, who got arrested by the police after repeatedly begging for money in June. He received fourteen days hard labour. Later, the police arrested William Duley, a private in the 5th battalion Middlesex Regiment for being absent from the army without leave in Upchurch.
The most puzzling incident concerned local inventor Mr Mantle from Bayford House in Poot Lane, forced out of the parish by the police under instructions from the military. He was later charged and arrested under the Defence of the Realm Act. According to the authorities Mr Mantle had acted in a way prejudicial to public safety. He later fought the case through his MP Mr Granville-Wheeler and it went to the Under–Secretary of State in the House of Commons. He eventually had the charges overturned and returned to Bayford House for a short time then after suing the government for wrongful arrest he moved away from the area.
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David Wood. |
At the end of 1915 Reverend Trew moved away from the village and Reverend Dicker replaced him in early 1916. James Holloway and Charles Shipp served as church wardens and Bill Hyland and Ted Tress served as Overseers of the Poor during this period.
When 1915 finally ended not much optimism existed for a quick end to the war as more village youths joined the army and navy while the opposing armies fought for small gains with massive casualties along the Western Front in France and Belgium.
About David:
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
David Wood
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