East Grinstead

When war was declared in August 1914, there were only 750,000 men in the British Army. Lord Kitchener, Britain’s War Minister, decided that the the British Army needed another 500,000 men. By the end of August over 300,000 men had answered the call in army recruitment centres in Britain’s main towns and cities.

The first recruitment meeting in East Grinstead took place at St. Swithun’s Church on the 30th August, 1914. The East Grinstead Recruiting Committee organised several meetings during the next two weeks and on 12th September and on 12th September the East Grinstead Observer announced that ninety-four people in the town had joined the army.

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Sermon given by Rev. W. Youard at St. Swithun’s Church, East Grinstead (30th August, 1914)

I would say to every able-bodied young man in East Grinstead… to offer yourself without a moment’s delay in the service of your country… War, horrible as it is, is capable under God of doing much good… 500,000 have been asked for, 100,000 have been almost secured in a fortnight. They should have been secured in two days. Go straight to the recruiting officer and offer yourself. That is the plain duty of every able-bodied young man today.

W. J. Chalk, letter in the East Grinstead Observer (5th September,1914)

I condemn those who do not immediately join… The sooner men join the sooner they will be trained and the sooner they will have the honour and credit of fighting and striking that blow for England and freedom which must in the end prevail.