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