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Upchurch at War in December 1914 by David Wood

With the war almost six months old the opposing armies were involved in a long battle of attrition along a line of trenches on the Western Front in Belgium and France. Already men from the village had been killed or wounded but life in Upchurch continued without much change and with various war based activities taking place.

Pupils of Holywell School held a Christmas bazaar to raise money for the HRH Princess Mary’s Soldiers and Sailors Christmas Fund. They formed a branch of the League of Young Patriots at the school with various officers and a committee. The pupils decided to run the bazaar themselves although parents helped them collect various items for the event. At the pupils request the school managers voted a half day holiday so that the bazaar could take place. Stallholders were appointed to sell needlework, fancy articles, stationary, cards, fruit and sweets while a bran tub, a weighing machine and a tea buffet were available and a raffle also took place. After a successful session all the items were sold and £10/7d raised. Pupils provided entertainment with songs and music while the national anthems of the five allied nations concluded the event. The school closed for the Christmas holidays on December 18th.

The Parochial Working Party proved to be very productive in December making 62 articles of clothing followed by a further 61. Of these 28 were sent to Fort Pitt and St Bart’s Hospital while two mufflers were sent to the Jodhpur Lancers in India. Mrs Trew, the vicar’s wife, wanted to publicly exhibit all the goods but the cold weather required that everything should be sent away immediately.

The harsh reminder of war remained close with the announcement of fatalities which in the December edition of the parish magazine included Herbert Hodges a private in the Buffs from Ham Green and Charles Gransden a lance-corporal in the Grenadier Guards from Seager’s Cottages, Gore Bank. Both men were killed in action in October and November respectively. Better news regarded George Sharp who had been wounded by shrapnel but had recovered from his wounds after spending time in Warrington Infirmary.

Charles Gransden is commemorated on a plaque
inside St. Mary's Church, Upchurch.

With Christmas approaching local businesses tried to cash in on the war with various offers. ‘Dolding’s The Overcoat Shop’ in Sittingbourne High Street advertised items for ‘Xmas at the Front’ in the East Kent Gazette. They offered warm cardigans, knitted vests, flannel shirts and sleeping helmets, obviously aimed at local men fighting in the war. The Queens Theatre in Sittingbourne held plays related to the war such as ‘The Bells of Rheims,’ a war drama based on the German bombardment of the cathedral. They also showed ‘Our Helpless Millions Saved,’ a drama about German spies who make an attack on English reservoirs.

During the Christmas week a ferocious gale of about 100 mph, the most powerful in living memory, struck the area uprooting trees and damaging roofs and chimney pots. The barge ‘Alpha’ moored at Otterham Quay suffered a battering and the folded sails were loosened and ripped to shreds by the power of the wind.

The pupils of Holywell School were unable to begin the new school term on January 5th due to gale damage to large trees situated around the perimeter of the playground and these had to be cleared because of the danger posed. After an extra week at home the pupils returned to Holywell on January 11th.

The December edition of the parish magazine announced the marriages of Fred Manser to Annie Tumber on November 4th, Stuart Mercer to Elsie Singyard and Jonathon Baker to Ellen Whiddett on November 14th. Stuart Mercer’s marriage proved to be short lived as he died of an illness aboard HMS Dominion in 1918 while serving in the Royal Navy as a stoker.

As people in the village celebrated Christmas in 1914 they probably thought of the young men from Upchurch serving in the war, although news later emerged that after a short truce on the Western Front German and British soldiers came out of their trenches, met up in no man’s land, celebrated Christmas, exchanged presents and even played football together. This turned out to be a temporary respite before the conflict resumed and claimed more lives during the following year.

David Wood.

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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UpARA - Latest Schedule of Events

Upchurch Active Retirement Association

Our forthcoming meetings are as below;-

Monthly Meetings (2nd Friday of the month)

(Members Free; Guests £2.00)

*

Friday 12th December 2014 - 12:00am

Christmas Special by Ticket Only

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Friday 12th December 2014 - 2:00pm

With Entertainment

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Friday 9th January 2015 - 2:00pm

Coffee Mornings (4th Tuesday of the month)

(Members £1.50; Guests £2.00)

*

Tuesday 23rd December 2014 - 09:30am until 12:30pm 

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Tuesday 27th January 2015 - 09:30am until 12:30pm

Village Walks (1st & 3rd Friday of the month)

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Friday 5th December 2014 - 10:00am

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Friday 19th December 2014 - 10:00am 

Outings

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Thursday 11th December 2014

Winchester Christmas Market

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Thursday 22nd January 2015

Jersey Boys, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

David Powell - Chairman

Email: davidrpowell5@hotmail.co.uk

Telephone: 01795 843550

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Kent Police - Shutting the Gate on Rural Crime

Help Kent Police protect rural communities by making sure your property is secure.

If you live in rural areas then isolated buildings, farms, machinery and livestock
are all targets for criminals.

Kent Police work with residents, landowners and organisations such as Country Eye to reduce crime in our rural communities and protect our countryside.

They have just produced a helpful leaflet full of advice and top tips called
“Shutting the Gate on Rural Crime”

You can download here in PDF format via the following link ☞ http://tinyurl.com/c7q9shk

Kent Association of Local Councils

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The Friends of the Brickfields Present Christmas Storytelling For Children

With the

Wide Eyed Theatre

Onboard the

Edith May, Lapwing Drive, Lower Halstow

Sunday 21st December

Two Shows: 4:30pm & 6:30pm

£5 per ticket; groups of children to be accompanied by an adult please!

Tickets: Send cheques payable to ‘Friends of the Brickfields’ to Michael at 19 The Street, Lower Halstow, ME9 7DR (tel 07824 392342 / 01795 843618) or buy onboard the Edith May (tea room open Friday to Sunday).

Soft drinks and home made cakes on sale from the Edith May’s galley.

Proceeds to go towards the maintenance and improvement of the

Lower Halstow Brickfields.

Visit the Wide Eyed Theatre Website: www.wide-eyed-theatre.co.uk

Visit the Edith May Website: www.edithmaybargecharter.co.uk

Upchurch Matters

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Upchurch Village Fete Day - A Date For Your Diaries

Upchurch Village Fete Committee
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Burglary - Otterham Quay Lane

Hartlip Newington & Upchurch Ward

Reference: DY13068

Otterham Quay Lane. A burglary at a dwelling between the hours of 12:00 am and 10:46 pm on Monday 24/11/2014. Some cufflinks and a Jewellery box were stolen.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the Crime Number: XY/41610/14

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch

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