Clamp - Your Towns and Cities in the Great War: Southend-on-Sea in the Great War

Dedication

In memory of my grandfather
Private Cecil James Cutter
2nd/4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
Killed in Action, The Somme, 8 April 1917
Buried in Bray Military Cemetery

First published in Great Britain in 2014 by
PEN & SWORD MILITARY
an imprint of
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire S70 2AS

Copyright Frances Clamp, 2014

ISBN 978 1 47382 255 9

eISBN 9781473841307

The right of Frances Clamp to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

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My thanks to Nigel Cave, my extremely knowledgeable and helpful editor; The Bay Museum, Canvey Island, Alan Reed, John Rogers and all the helpers; Ken Crowe at Southend Central Museum and the staff at Southend Library; Mrs P. Porter and Westborough School and everyone at Stow Maries Aerodrome; also to Helen Finch, Mick Nash, Lois Holmes, Vic Knight, Sylvia Harrington, David and Helen Clamp, Maureen Ollett, Doreen & Bill Sawford, Heather and Fred Feather, Sylvia Kent and Susan Marriot. Above all my very special thanks to my husband Roger, without whose constant help and advice this book would have remained a dream.

The Great War of 1914-18 was unlike any previous conflict. The loss of life was on an unimaginable scale and almost everyone in the country had a relative or friend killed or injured. In this book we will specifically look at the effect of the war on the ordinary people of Southend-on-Sea. It will also be necessary to remember some of the major events both at home and abroad.

For hundreds of years Southend was simply a tiny fishing hamlet to the south of Prittlewell. However, by the middle of the eighteenth century seaside towns were becoming popular, especially as it was believed that sea air and water were good for anyone with health problems. The hamlet grew. When Princess Charlotte and her mother, Caroline, Princess of Wales, came to stay in 1801, the growing town became fashionable, although some people felt that it was too quiet to ever become really popular.

In those early years travellers often arrived by boat. This caused problems as it was only possible to drop off visitors comfortably at high tide. At other times the vast mud flats made access to the shore difficult, if not impossible. A short wooden pier was constructed. In 1834-35 this was extended and in 1846 it was lengthened once again to one and one eighth miles. Later it was completely rebuilt and extended further until it finally measured one and a third miles. The new iron pier was opened in 1889. The following year a single track electric railway started operating, the first pier railway in the country. By the early twentieth century the pier had become the symbol of the town and, although it has faced many emergencies over the years, it has remained one of the best known features of Southend. No one, in those early days, could have foreseen the essential part that the pier was to play in the two major conflicts of the twentieth century.

Southend pier and the Palace Hotel, known as Queen Marys Royal Naval Hospital during the Great War . ( By kind permission of Southend-on-Sea Central Museum )

With the coming of the railway in 1856 the character of the town changed again. It could be easily reached from London. Many stayed in the large hotels that had been built to cater for their needs, but other holiday makers came for just one day. The time of the day tripper had arrived.

With the turn of the new century Southend was developing into a very popular seaside town, with a population nearing 63,000 in 1911. As 1914 dawned most people must have realised that there were growing problems in Europe, but for many who had never set foot outside the British Isles these troubles seemed to be happening in another world. However, with the assassination of Francis Ferdinand in Sarajevo awareness of the problems increased. On 5 July 1914 the Kaiser promised the support of Germany to Austria against Serbia. Towards the end of the same month Austria declared war on Serbia. After that, events gathered speed. By the first day of August Germany had declared war on Russia and two days later on France. Belgium was also invaded. In 1894 The Treaty of London had guaranteed Belgium neutrality. With the invasion of Belgium, Britain had little choice but to declare war.

The country was celebrating bank holiday on a glorious day in summer. Like all seaside towns, this was a time for Southend traders to think of their profits, not to face the prospect of a life changing major conflict. As people returned home after the holiday they learned that Britain was at war with Germany. This was on 4 August 1914. The days of peace had ended.

Just before the outbreak of the war the 3rd Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet visited the Estuary and anchored off the pier. This was apparently to reassure people that there was nothing to fear from any confrontation. Our ships were powerful and ready for action. Then the Fleet sailed from Southend to Portsmouth, where it took up its battle stations. At that time the River Thames was more used to sailing boats and paddle steamers rather than the battleships that had just visited the town.

On 4 August, on hearing the news, cheering crowds hurried through the streets of London to reach Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. Many had probably been celebrating the good weather in the parks and this was a fitting end to the day. They joined in lustily with the singing of the national anthem. A feeling of patriotism filled the air. Very few believed that the conflict would last for long, many thinking that it would be over by Christmas. So, carried along by the general euphoria, large numbers of young men rushed to sign on at the recruiting offices. After all, if you did not join up early you might miss the chance. This was the gateway to travel and adventure.