Regret to Inform You... (23 page)

Certainly the Archbishop of Canterbury was stopping well short of urging priests to preach in such a way, but the Archdeacon of Westminster's latest sermon made the contrary viewpoint: ‘I have tried to make it clear that recruiting appeals from the pulpit is intended to stimulate hearers to become eager amateur recruiting sergeants.' To the women in a congregation he appealed: ‘Send your men today to join our glorious army.'

Arthur reflected on all the views. He decided on a compromise. Once a month he produced a four-page leaflet which contained St Mary's news of weddings, funerals, a little about the wider church and sometimes an editorial. He would use this. Copies would be printed in Steepleton and delivered to the villagers who contributed the necessary one penny, about half of the village, and then he would place a few copies in St Mary's and the reading room. He sat quietly, prayed for guidance and wrote:
No one living has ever seen, or is likely to see again, such a tremendous and widespread war which has burst upon us like a thunderstorm. Men of the right age must come forward to serve their King and country and act like true men. Women can help by their hands and hearts, and children, too, can do their part, for all can pray – pray as you have never done before. On Wednesday evenings and Thursday afternoons special prayers will be offered. A list of Rusfield men who have gone to the Front will be displayed in the church porch and they must be accompanied by our prayers.

T
WENTY-NINE

September - November 1914

The Vicarage,

Rusfield.

September 1914

My Dearest Parents,

Thank you for your letter. Eleanor and I are so sorry to learn that you have not been well, father. We send our love and hope that your recovery is progressing well.

We are certainly very fortunate in keeping in good health, although of course, all is overshadowed by war news, which seems very mixed. I am sure we have all been shocked by the growing number of casualties that are reported in the newspapers. I can only hope that Lord Kitchener's appeal for more troops will be answered quickly.

There is also mixed news from Rusfield. Whilst some enthusiastic young men volunteered at the very beginning of the war, numbers have become a little disappointing. Next month, Sir Humphrey Watkinson, our MP, is addressing villagers and I can only hope that his words will bring forth fruit. We are hoping that most villagers will attend, especially as a patriotic concert is preceding his address.

In the meantime I am pleased to say that support is
being
given to the Prince of Wales War Fund. Our parish council met in late August and adopted this plan and so far £12/5/6 has been donated. We are also donating the harvest loaf from our harvest festival to the Belgian refugees who have escaped the atrocities of the German army and since been taken in by the kind people of Steepleton.

The really good news is that the families of all our men in France and Belgium have now received letters. All write of how well things are going, remain optimistic about victory and keep well. Eleanor joins with me in sending our love.

Your devoted son, Arthur.

Arrangements for the evening were in full flow. Many remembered the previous concerts that had taken place in Fred Jackson's barn, but something completely different had to be planned for the Member of Parliament's visit. This time, the theme was patriotic and in every way supportive to the war effort; the concert would last for three-quarters of an hour followed by Sir Humphrey Watkinson's speech.

Hezekiah Freeman and Aubrey Watson, next-door neighbours and labourers for Jack Mansfield, had spent the whole day making sure the barn was spick and span. Many Union Jacks and three hastily made French Tricolours were brought in by Doris and her younger sister Elsie, who now shared the domestic work at Spinney Farm. These decorations where then hung on the wall behind the stage. It was left to Fred Jackson to bring in and fix the pièce de résistance: the newly produced poster of Lord Kitchener staring forth and stating: “Your Country Needs You”.

Sir Humphrey arrived at the vicarage, transported by his own driver. He was accompanied by Lieutenant James Smart, linked to the Steepleton Territorial Army, who was acting as recorder for volunteers. Arthur gave a brief outline of the concert.

‘
For myself,' spoke Sir Humphrey in a forceful, but not unattractive way, ‘I will briefly review the war situation and stress the absolute need for an immediate response to our leader's appeal. We must have several hundred thousand more men and that, almost immediately. Whilst our men have been performing valiantly and gaining some victories, it has to be said that the Kaiser has many more troops than we first realised. We need more men.' The last statement was delivered with such passion, a feeling shared by Arthur, that he sincerely hoped the evening's response would match the occasion.

Pleasantries were exchanged and Arthur found himself warming to Sir Humphrey who, whilst well distanced from them, seemed caring and thoughtful of his electorate. Eleanor had a pleasant conversation with the young lieutenant who expressed delight when he realised the connection between the village and his Terriers. ‘That group from the village were good lads. They were so keen, bright and whilst they enjoyed themselves, they treated the occasions seriously enough.'

‘Well, they are all somewhere at the Front now,' said Eleanor. ‘We have heard from them and they all seem well. They will be very much in our thoughts tonight, as they always are,' she added.

‘Of course, one was Racer Richards the famous runner, wasn't he? If any volunteers come forward who are anything like him and his mates, the evening will be worthwhile. Let's hope so.'

The barn was full for the occasion; excitement and an eager anticipation for performers and the visiting Member of Parliament were very evident. Yet as she looked around, Eleanor saw some worried looks. Poor Liz Smith looked more haggard than ever and even Olivia seemed to have lost something of her normal sparkle. Other parents wondered how their loved ones might be influenced by the evening event.

The concert was well received; there was much delight
as
everyone knew the performers. All joined in the well sung and strongly patriotic songs, but it was the school choir that brought the audience to its feet with “The Marseillaise”, “The British Grenadiers”, “God bless the Prince of Wales” and “Red, White and Blue”. The children were very smartly turned out, enjoyed the singing and joined in clapping when the efforts of Rita Small were singled out for special thanks by the vicar.

Sir Humphrey spoke well. He had obviously given the speech on a number of occasions; it was well rehearsed and gained by not needing notes. He spoke of the war's progress in Europe and his concluding remarks were delivered with particular passion as he explained why Britain had entered the war: ‘We declared war in the great cause of international truth and honour, of friendship to France and of justice to Belgium. It is on behalf of the smaller nations that we are spending our blood and our money. Let Rusfield men prove that you possess moral backbone and are ready to stand up and help us as Christian soldiers in the cause of right against wrong. Let us sing together “Onward, Christian soldiers”.'

The well-rehearsed Rita Small struck up the tune, and the first verse to Arthur Sullivan's great music was followed by the even more boisterous singing of the national anthem. A burst of spontaneous applause then burst forth for Sir Humphrey, just a few quietly lacking enthusiasm.

After all the excitement of the evening, Eleanor and Arthur were weary when they got back to the vicarage. The villagers had been slow to depart, not least as the number of men gathering round Lieutenant Smart was many; enough for Sir Humphrey to look pleased.

‘So how many signed up?' Eleanor asked her husband as they collapsed into armchairs back at the vicarage.

‘I heard it was fifteen with quite a few more enquiries. Anyway, Sir Humphrey seemed well pleased.'

‘I saw that Richard Gadsell and Peter Frisby were there. Did they join up? They must be well approaching forty.'

‘
I think so, dear. So did the Rowe brothers: I saw both Ruby and Florence Rowe in tears at the thought of their husbands going away. What desperate times they are. I felt Sir Humphrey did very well, didn't you dear?' he asked.

Eleanor paused for a moment before replying. ‘Bearing in mind that his job was to get volunteers he did well. For me he was too jingoistic, but I suppose that was necessary. However, I was very wrong in one important way; he was much more approachable than I had expected. Anyway, my dear, I'm going upstairs and straight to bed, otherwise I think I will fall asleep in this chair.'

Arthur stood up, kissed his wife and, as she turned to go out of the lounge, he moved towards putting out the downstairs' lamps and making sure all was safely locked up. A few minutes later he, too, went upstairs, going in to his small dressing room. He reflected on the evening's meeting, trying to measure its success; it was so important that the numbers of volunteers increased. He was too old to volunteer, but was there anything more he could be doing for the war effort? He felt all too powerless as he tried to visualise what the young men at the Front were going through.

He quietly stood, went over to his cross, crossed himself and hung his head in thought. ‘Dear God, may I hear your voice clearly so that I know what I should do. Forgive me for my sins, especially those I have wronged. May the results of this evening's meeting be right in your sight; be with those young men from the village who are fighting at the Front. May they know of your presence.' He kept his head bowed in silence waiting to hear God speak to him.

Autumn moved on in the village, the streets and gardens became covered in falling leaves, the days shorter and the mornings cooler. News from the Rusfield men at the Front was quickly spread and the list in St Mary's porch of Rusfield men grew to thirty-one. Village pride grew with this increase,
but
some wondered why other able men had not volunteered. News from the daily newspaper lodged at the reading room became eagerly digested with the unpronounceable name of Ypres replacing those of Marne, Antwerp, Aisne and Flanders and the British casualties covered more and more pages. On a visit to Steepleton, Arthur and Eleanor called in at the library and read The Steepleton Times. Within were listed the names of eight men from surrounding villages who had, as the paper stated, made the final sacrifice. Their thoughts turned to the many young men from Rusfield who were somewhere in Flanders or France.

As they both read the local news-sheet, Arthur's eye alerted on a small paragraph which he immediately pointed out to Eleanor. As she finished reading, she turned and said: ‘Well I'm pleased to see that Payne-Croft woman has officially announced that all the actions discussed by the local suffrage movement have been suspended. After all, it's important that the whole movement maintains as much support as it can and it certainly won't get much sympathy now, if it doesn't lie low.'

‘But doesn't that rather disappoint you, Eleanor? I know how strongly you feel about obtaining votes for women.'

‘There will come a time when this awful war is over and we can return to our rightful claims. My view of women's equality rights won't have changed.' Arthur nodded; he knew of his wife's determined thinking and did not mistake Eleanor's quietness on the subject for a change of thinking.

The first Friday morning in November was a most pleasant one. Whilst Eleanor and Arthur had gratefully accepted the lift in to Steepleton with Sparky Carey, they had opted to walk the return. Their shopping was light and the hour-long walk on such a fine morning had great appeal. The trees were enjoying the last of their autumn colours and the beeches and elms were particularly fine after the wet summer days. They were suddenly aware of someone approaching from behind
and
turning round saw that it was Peter Woods who drew up alongside them.

‘Have you much post for the village this morning, Peter?' Eleanor asked the young man as he rested on his bicycle.

‘Not too much, Mrs Windle. It shouldn't take me very long.'

‘And how is the stamp collecting going? Have you managed to get any new or interesting ones recently?' asked Arthur.

‘Well, there have been some fairly recently. There was a new one for me on one of the letters from Canada. Mrs Gilbert kindly let me have that. Then there are the new ones from the soldiers in France. They don't have stamps, but army envelopes. However, I decided they should be part of my collection. After all they are instead of stamps, aren't they?' he added with a broad smile. ‘But I must be on my way. Goodbye for now.' He pedalled off towards Rusfield.

Eleanor and Arthur continued on their way, but as they passed the small road leading to the manor and came in view of Rusfield, they saw much activity. Now they could see a number of khaki uniforms, horses, with children and adults on the green next to the pond. The stride of Arthur and Eleanor became more determined as there was obviously something unusual taking place to cause such a crowd on a normally quiet Friday morning.

T
HIRTY

November 1914

‘So what is going on?' Eleanor asked the excited Eliza Carey as she and Arthur reached Lower Green opposite to the pond.

‘Well, isn't it lovely to see all these brave soldiers? They've come to water their horses.' There were a dozen soldiers, who were now surrounded by twice that number of villagers; children were much in evidence as this Friday was part of a four-day holiday in the school term. The children were having a wonderful time. Florrie Edwards and Robert Groves had already persuaded two of the men to lift them up on to the horses which were standing very contentedly at the water's edge. Villagers were crowding round, plying the men with questions; more were arriving each moment.