Rainham History - History of Rainham Kent, Old Photos and Life in Bygone Times
Queen Victoria’s 1897 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Rainham
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Rainham
In June 1897 the Diamond Jubilee commemoration took place outside St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the completion of 60 years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Led by the Life Guards and the Dragoon Guards and followed by bands, envoys, royal carriages and foreign royalty, Queen Victoria rode in an open carriage escorted by Indian cavalry to the ceremony in the City of London.
In Rainham on a day described by the East Kent Gazette as one of glorious summer weather, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations were much more comprehensive and bigger in scale than at the jubilee of 1887. Flags, decorations and night time illuminations dominated the village as preparations were made for the big day.
The day began with peels from the church bells which continued at intervals throughout the day and the parish council sent a congratulatory telegram to the Queen at Buckingham Palace on behalf of the people of Rainham. Later about 800 children and members of Rainham benefit societies assembled in Station Road and then marched into a packed St Margaret’s Church where Reverend Charles Cobb conducted a short service.
After the service W Hunt’s Band and the Salvation Army Band led a parade along the High Street which ended at the meadow behind the National School in Station Road where sports events then took place. At 2-30 pm dinners were served to about 200 parishioners aged 60 or more and widows with a selection of food that included roast and corned beef, ham, tongue, jellies and fruit then tea was served to children at 4-30. Mr Kennet Jordan and W. Stevens then presented each child with a jubilee mug.
An estimated 3000 spectators attended the sports events at the school, many from Medway and outlying villages as visitors crowded Rainham. Sports for young children were organised by Mrs Brice, the Infant’s School teacher, while Mr A. Champion organised the older children. After a successful afternoon the sports events were concluded with a 100 yards race for ladies over 50 years old. Seventy year old Mrs W. Kitney of Station Road, the only entry, won the race after walking the course and claimed first prize while winning competitors were presented prizes by Mrs Cobb, Miss Dodd and Miss Walter. A firework display followed this at dusk organised by Alfred Brice.
During the evening people walked around Rainham looking at the illuminations, considered to be the most impressive in the area. At Broad Walk flags were displayed and decorations and illuminations covered Mardale House, the home of Dr Penfold. At the bottom of the High Street Mr E Pierce exhibited the motto ‘Rainham Rejoices, God Bless Our Queen.’ Thomas Stanley Wakeley draped ‘The Chestnuts’ with bunting and a display of flags and an illuminated transparency. Mr Baker had what many people considered the best piece of decorative work in the parish. He exhibited a circular device with the words. ‘Our Queen Rules Over 360 Million People.’ A transparency with cross swords in gilt surmounted underneath by a crown.
At Rainham nursery at the bottom of Chapel Lane George Longley decorated the porch of his house with paper roses. Edwin Jelly decorated his house with flags, bunting and a display of potted plants. In his shop he displayed a pair of satin slippers worn by the Queen as a girl. The slippers were owned by the vicar Reverend Charles Cobb. At his outfitter’s store George Whayman displayed flags, shields and a transparency of the Queen edged with bunting and Chinese lanterns. The triumphal arch nearby contained the motto ‘1837, Hail Victoria 1897’ and ‘60 Not Out’ with cricket bats and stumps. At Manchester House Mr W. Bush displayed shields, bunting and flags and The Waterman’s Arms opposite had similar decorations. George Quinnell & Sons displayed a device with the words ‘In Every Heart One Prayer, God Save Victoria.’
At the vicarage Reverend Cobb decorated the building with jubilee flags, bunting, fairy lights and mottoes. Mr Hinckley covered the Lion Inn with flags, lines of evergreen and a transparency of the Queen with an arch across the road. Watchmaker Mr A. Tucker displayed a crown and the letters VR in fairy lights with the motto ‘Jubilee, 60 Years a Queen.’ Another arch a bit further along the road displayed the motto ‘Greatness and Goodness and ‘Our Queen God Bless Her.’
A collection of Japanese lanterns suspended from the chestnut trees outside the church transformed the spot into a fairy grove at night. Flags and fairy lights decorated the White Horse and similar decorations covered the Cricketers Inn.
Lines of flags criss-crossed Station Road in front of the National School and the Co-operative Society building. There were three triumphal arches in Station Road with mottoes. At Ramsey House Samuel Hodson displayed a pretty shield with flags grouped around it and VR in fairy lights. Towards the bottom end of Station Road William Wakeley decorated Macklands House with bunting, flags and fairy lights. Visitors packed the road as they viewed the decorations.
During the early evening a torchlight procession formed outside the church and went along the High Street led by W. Hunt’s Band to Motney Hill where a large bonfire had been constructed. After this had been ignited those present sang ‘God Save the Queen’ then returned to the National School playing field where dancing took place until 1 am.
A Diamond Jubilee Dinner rounded off the celebrations the following day when 50 gentlemen representing Rainham agricultural and commercial life attended the event at the National School in Station Road. Farmer James Mansfield presided over it with a series of toasts and speeches followed by songs from Messrs J. Longley, E. Shewell, R. Wickens and S. Hodson. This concluded a successful Royal Diamond Jubilee in Rainham.
Rainham at War in 1915
Rainham at War in 1915
With the war just over five months old and uncertainty about how long it would last, 1915 saw the continuation of fund raising events and more casualties involving Rainham men at the battle front as residents rallied to do their bit in the village.
The year began in Rainham with a powerful gale that caused extensive damage in the area. The wind created holes in the chancel roof and nave of St Margaret’s church, telegraph wires were brought down and large elm trees were uprooted and strewn across the main road between Spade Lane and Culver’s Hill. Roofs, chimney pots and fruit trees also suffered severe damage in the wake of the storm.
During the gale two of Wakeley’s bargemen Arthur Hawks from Station Road and George Naylor from Lower Rainham had a lucky escape. After the wind had disconnected the anchor and chain their barge drifted on the sea near Canvey Island. The men had to fight freezing rain and sleet as they battled to control the vessel. Fortunately, the barge grounded and the two crewmen stayed on board until daylight then got ashore to safety.
In Rainham street lights were extinguished by general order on January 26th because of the threat of German air attacks and evening services at the church were restricted because of the blackout with the Wednesday evening intercession service abandoned until further notice. A decision was also made that in the case of enemy aircraft attacks their arrival would be signalled by the ringing of the church bells which would allow special constables based at the fire station to go out and warn residents to stay in their homes or get under cover if outside.
A concert took place at the Council School in January to raise money for the Belgian Relief Fund. Several of these took place during the year and were organised by the Co-operative society and proved to be very successful money raising events.
In February a public meeting took place in the church hall to form a Rainham platoon for the Chatham Volunteer Training Corps. Reverend Tamplin became chairman and Mr Kitchingham from Station Road honorary secretary. A committee was also set up to organise the training of recruits from Rainham and the outlying villages of Upchurch, Hartlip, Lower Halstow and Newington. Later in March 34 men enrolled in the Rainham Volunteer platoon and drill took place at the Council School in Solomon Road. Sergeant-Major Richardson acted as drill instructor and training took place every Wednesday evening. Seymour Wakeley, Sid Wakeley, and Stuart Jelly were elected to the committee and by the end of April a rifle range in a building owned by Richard Wakeley had become established in the High Street while Corporal Forster took over as the new drill instructor.
In April a charity football match at the recreation ground between Rainham Congregational Church and Upchurch took place to raise money for men fighting in the war. Entry cost 3d and a total of £6/12/0d raised. Following this in May efforts were made to raise funds for an ambulance to transport wounded servicemen from the railway station to different hospitals. This became known as the ‘Rainham Ambulance.’ Mrs Tamplin the vicar’s wife became honorary secretary while Mrs Bodiam volunteered to organise a group of ladies to collect money with a house to house collection. Their aim was to raise £45. By late June Mrs Bodiam and her helpers had raised £50 for the Rainham Ambulance, five pounds more than originally required.
With regard to entertainment the Empire Cinema in the High Street which pre-dated the Rainham ‘Bug Hutch,’ showed regular films to the public with seats varying in price from 2d to 6d. Charlie Chaplin films like ‘The Million Dollar Mystery’ proved to be very popular although other films were also shown with a piano accompaniment and were well attended.
In September Sergeant Frank Baker received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry after he had volunteered to recover the dead body of a regimental captain while under heavy enemy fire. He also got a big surprise when he came home on leave and received an inscribed watch from Reverend Tamplin on behalf of the people of Rainham at a special presentation in the church hall which his family and friends attended. He was later killed in action in France in 1916.
Throughout the year Council School headmaster Harold Greenhalgh organised the collection of eggs by pupils for the ‘National Egg Collection for the Wounded.’ In August 69 dozen eggs were collected and sent to the headquarters for the Organisation based in London. The school continued to run money raising events for the war throughout the remainder of the year. In November they invited a party of 58 wounded soldiers from Fort Pitt Hospital in Chatham for tea and entertainment and decorated classrooms with flags and flowers. The soldiers and sailors were served by waitresses and given tea while headmaster Harold Greenhalgh entertained them with songs. By the end of the month over 1,000 eggs had been collected at the school. The month ended with a concert organised by the Rainham Branch of Queen Mary’s War Hospital Needlework Guild with the aim of raising funds for the war wounded. Mrs Webster, wife of Dr Irby Webster, worked hard to hold the concert which proved to be a very successful musical pageant.
In December the parish clerk wrote to the War Office to obtain a war trophy captured from the enemy for Rainham. The committee suggested that it should be placed on the Recreation Ground in recognition of patriotism shown by residents in Rainham but it never materialised.
Throughout 1915 periodic announcements were made about soldiers and sailors who had been killed, wounded or missing. In January news arrived about leading seaman Aaron Norris from Station Road serving aboard HMS Formidable which sank in the channel. Fortunately, he survived with a small number of others. Thomas Balcomb of Bredhurst Road who had been called up in the Naval Reserve and sent to the Dardanelles on HMS Hood was reported missing in June while Brigadier-General Godby formerly of ‘The Chestnuts’ in Rainham High Street got wounded in action. Others were not so lucky like Sid Rash from Manchester House in the High Street aged 24 who served with the 12th Battalion City of London Regiment and was killed while fighting on the Western Front in France. On May 24th Percy Baker of the 2nd Grenadier Guards was killed at Ypres after twice getting wounded. In August Percy Champion aged 19 from Ivy Street and who served in the East Surrey Regiment died of his wounds in a French hospital while Chief Petty Officer Andrew Evers aged 38 from Station Road lost his life when HMS Natal was sunk in the English Channel.
When HMS Princess Irene loaded with mines blew up on the River Medway not far from Sheerness due to an accidental ignition of ammunition, only one member of the crew survived and 352 people were killed. Alfred Gulvin a bargeman from Henry Street got struck in the head by flying debris from the explosion while at work on the river and his injury required stitches. Debris which included a case of butter and soot from the explosion landed in Rainham.
Finally, the year ended with disaster when a serious fire destroyed Kemp Brothers building in Station Road, caused £3,000 worth of damage and put thirty men out of work. Fortunately nobody got injured but it contributed to more uncertainty at the end of the year and concerns about the future course of the war.
Rainham Soldiers World War 1 Experiences in 1914-1915
Rainham Soldiers World War 1 Experiences in 1914-1915
Of the soldiers from Rainham who joined up to fight for King and country some wrote letters home describing their experiences or were reported in local newspapers.
With the war in full swing by the end of 1914 and regular news of deaths and casualties, the East Kent Gazette reported in December that Private Arthur Gore of the Royal West Surrey Regiment had returned home to 45 Ivy Street to recover from his wounds sustained while taking part in the Battle of Ypres. The 21 year old had fought in trenches only fifteen yards away from German trenches and got shot in the top of the head during the course of heavy fighting. As he fell back another bullet struck him in the eye and he lay unconscious for five hours until he came around and managed to make his way to a village about half a mile away where he received treatment. He was then sent to hospital in Le Havre where his damaged eye was removed. He moved on to the Royal Eye Hospital in Manchester for another operation and then returned home to Ivy Street to recover.
The East Kent Gazette reported the experiences of Private William Green of the 20th Hussars whose brother George Green resided in Rainham High Street. William Green had been called up for service in August 1914 and became involved in severe fighting at Mons, The Marne, Aisne, Neuve Chapelle and other actions. He survived this but once had his uniform shredded by shrapnel.
On October 18th Green formed one of a party of nine men acting as an advance guard to the regiment. After they turned a corner at the entrance to a French village they encountered a party of Uhlans (German cavalry). Green and his comrades attacked them. During the course of this a Uhlan officer pulled out his revolver to shoot Green who was nearest to him. Green proved quicker and more accurate when a well-aimed shot from his rifle struck part of the Uhlan officer’s revolver and glanced into his chest killing him instantly. The Uhlans were cut up and dispersed and Private Green later brought home the officer’s automatic revolver as a trophy of war.
Lance corporal Percy Eames of the Buffs Regiment from Bredhurst Lane sent a letter home in June 1915 describing his experiences to his parents.
‘I have had the terrible experience of being buried beneath sandbags and earth. It was 3 0’ clock in the morning of Saturday June 19th. We had just stood to arms when the Germans started shelling us with 12 inch shells. The first shell knocked our trench in about five yards away from me. We stood waiting for the next one, which was not many minutes after the first one and that was the one that did the damage. Three of us fell flat in the trench to avoid being hit and I was the centre one. The men on each side of me were killed, one having his legs and back blown away, the other having his head blown off. I was very lucky and only received a slight head wound and was slightly crushed in the stomach. But I am going on alright and I expect I will be back in the firing line before many days. It took three quarters of an hour to dig me out of the debris. I have gone a bit deaf in both ears on account of the explosion. It is not the workmanship of the Germans that blows our trenches in; it is the volume they put over to us. They fire twelve shells to every one of ours.’
Lance Corporal H Eames also of the Buffs Regiment, brother of Percy, wrote home at about the same time:
‘The Hun put a bullet in my chest. We are pretty safe from ‘Jack Johnson’s’ where I am. I was wounded on my birthday, the 24th of May. I did not get the precious parcel but I did my brave comrades a bit of good. I had this bullet extracted yesterday. We are well treated in the hospital and when I get a bit better I shall go for motor rides. Still we boys are prepared for anything on active service…. I shall soon be in Rainham. Keep the old flag flying.’
According to the East Kent Gazette Sergeant Frank Baker of the 1st Battalion of the Buffs from Station Road received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry on September 21st 1915. This happened because he volunteered to go out into no man’s land and bring back the body of a regimental captain which lay 15 yards from the German lines. Frank Baker and 2nd lieutenant Clouting crept to where the body lay then crawling on their stomachs the two men dragged it for about 150 yards and lifted it over the parapet of the British trench. Because of bright moonlight they were subjected to heavy German gunfire but they survived. When Frank Baker returned to Rainham in December 1915 he attended a presentation in the church hall where Reverend Tamplin presented him with an inscribed watch for gallantry on behalf of the parish of Rainham. Later in 1916 after being made a sergeant-major Frank Baker died after being shot through the head at the Battle of Guillemont in France.
In November 1915 Private S Gore, brother of Arthur Gore from Ivy Street wrote a letter to the editor of the East Kent Gazette.
‘I am writing these few lines to let you know how myself and comrades of the old county battalion are getting along these days on the war fields of France. I am the fourth soldier son of Mrs Gore of Ivy Street Rainham and I regret to say that we are two less since the war began, two of us having been wounded early in the fighting around Mons and Ypres last August. But all the same we are still a cheerful quartet, and the two wounded brothers are most anxious to be patched up for active service again. I feel proud to own brothers who talk like that after they have had one good basin of war gruel…’
As the war progressed and further experiences were recorded many more Rainham soldiers and sailors were killed or injured as they fought for King and country.
David Wood, 1,059 words.
First World War Letters from Gallipoli 1915
Letters from Rainham Brothers Serving in Gallipoli, 1915
Reg Wickens and his brother Seymour from Station Road in Rainham, joined the 1st Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles in 1915 and were sent to the Dardanelles where they fought the Turks at the Battle of Gallipoli. Both men sent letters home to their parents which were also published in the East Kent Gazette. Reg Wickens wrote in December 1915:
‘We arrived here safely after a good voyage. Bert and I were not sick at all but some of the boys were very bad. We were chased by a submarine once but got clear aright. We have been up to the firing line several times and are getting quite used to it now. The last time we went up there the Turks gave us a warning time. They have got a short range gun which fires a very large shell and all the afternoon they gave it us hot and strong but did no damage to speak of, only knocked the trenches about a bit. But we paid them back with interest.
We had no casualties in our trenches but several were killed and injured in the supports. We came out of the firing line on November 13th and had to proceed to the base for a fortnight’s fatigue. We are living in a little hut we built ourselves to keep the rain off. We have been washed out twice. I lost my blankets and hat, but my chum Sid Bonny gave me a spare one he had. On Monday December 16th our lads took two lines of Turkish trenches with very little loss of life, and ever since then they have been trying to take them back again. On Sunday November 20th they made a big attempt to regain them and we had to go up and join the rest of our regiment but by the time we arrived our big guns and lads in the trenches had driven them back; so we had a lost journey.
We are now back working in the stone quarry, getting rock to build piers. We have several work days to do here and then back to the firing line, thank goodness, for we would both rather be in the firing line as it is much safer and fine sport popping the Turks off. The ‘Tommy Cooker’ you sent we find very useful in the firing line as in some trenches where they are only twenty yards apart. We are not allowed to have a fire for fear of the Turks seeing it.
I spent a very happy birthday – was down a mine under a Turkish trench, on guard all day. But we don’t take any notice of that kind of job, we’re getting used to it. The job we are on now is down by the sea, on guard during the night, the rest of the time we have to ourselves….’
Seymour Wickens also wrote home about his experiences and the letter appeared in the East Kent Gazette dated February 16th, 1916.
‘After starting from Liverpool we were not supposed to stop until we reached Lemnos but while in mid ocean we sighted two small rowing boats which afterwards we found out were lifeboats with French sailors in them, who had been torpedoed. We stopped to pick them up and about an hour afterwards we were chased by a submarine and were supposed to have been fired at. Of course everybody was on deck with lifebelts after hearing the alarm which was enough to frighten anybody, and it was only the skilful way in which the captain of the ship turned round and headed in the opposite direction to which we were going that saved us. At night we turned back, and I think we must have gone about 25 or 26 knots an hour. The next day we reached Lemnos and stayed on the boat for seven days. Then we got off on to smaller boats and went to Cape Helles at night where we landed. We had to march the matter of a mile or two when we found ourselves in the third line of trenches with bullets whistling over our heads. That was our first experience of active service. About a week afterwards we went into the firing line for three days and I think we had about five killed and wounded. But I must say this, the Turks are very fair fighters. It is not owing to the Turks unfairness that we had such a rough time; it was owing to the rough ground and the hard work to get water and food. You could hear nothing else but the cry for water all day long. If we got a bottle full, we had to hide it up and say nothing about it, otherwise we would get a crowd round us asking for a drink and get none ourselves.
We used to have spells in and out of the trenches in the firing line for fourteen days, and out for what was supposed to be a rest for fourteen days; but the rest was jolly hard work, either digging new trenches or making roads during the day and unloading provisions during the night.
Wherever we went we had to make our own dug outs with the sky as a roof. I remember one night it rained and everybody was washed out with everything floating down the gully. The next day one chap I know, he comes from Gillingham, was walking about with a towel round him while his clothes dried. As for shells, we could not walk about anywhere without having a shell drop somewhere near us, and, of course, we had to bob down anywhere to get out of the way. Once Johnny Turk gave us forty two hours to shift one of our hospitals, because he thought we were landing troops and food under cover of it, so, of course, that was another job for us because he was dropping shells a bit too close to be healthy. On another occasion he gave us seventy two hours to get away from Cape Helles; if not he was going to blow us off, but instead of the British destroyers from the sea and the heavy guns on hand gave Johnny a warm time.
When the seventy two hours were up we thought Johnny Turk was short of rations so we sent him across some “iron rations” if you know what I mean - a few bullets and one or two big shells to go on with.
I think I must now finish up as you will get sick of reading, but one thing I want to say is that nobody except those who have been there to see will ever know what the men have been through in the Dardenelles.’
Shortly after he wrote this letter Seymour Wickens got shot in the wrist and the army had him evacuated to hospital in Malta but he did re-join his regiment after his recovery and later saw action in Palestine and France with his brother Reg. Their older brother Reuben became a corporal in the Coldstream Guards and served on the Western Front in France.
Rainham at War in 1916
Rainham at War in 1916
The year began cheerfully in January with entertainment in the church hall and a musical entertainment in aid of funds for the Rainham branch of the War Hospital Supply Depot in Sittingbourne. A concert organised by the Co-operative Women’s Guild attended by 80 women followed this. Games, dancing and refreshments were provided and two guineas collected and sent to the Wounded Soldiers Fund in Chatham. Meanwhile, Reverend Tamplin and Reverend Cobb held intercession services at St Margaret’s Church every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Later in February the Rainham Girl’s Friendly Society finished making garments for Belgian children. A total of 30 garments were made and sent to Belgium while a party took place at the Council School for 40 wounded soldiers from Fort Pitt Hospital in Chatham. The Empire Theatre in the High Street also got involved in fund raising by showing films in the afternoons to raise funds for the Rainham Branch of the War Hospital Supply Depot. Dr Irby Webster’s wife and a group of lady helpers organised this. Films were provided free of charge by Albion Cinema Supplies in London. Mr. Cheeseman supplied a small orchestra to play music and Mrs T. Sayer played the piano. Films shown included ‘The Siege of Troy,’ ‘Henry VIII’ and ‘David Garrick.’ These film shows raised £7/18/0d for the war effort.
In April the church hall opened on a daily basis for soldiers billeted in the area to use as a recreation room where newspapers, games and writing materials were made available which allowed soldiers to make use of their free time. Mr L. Osborne managed the room which remained open from 6 pm to 9-25 pm daily. Soldiers regularly used the facility which became very popular. They were also entertained at a concert given by girls from the Church of England School in Station Road the following November. Reverend F E Perry also opened a recreation room for soldiers in the Rainham Congregational Church hall in Chapel Lane (now Mierscourt Road).
Fund raising events continued as the year progressed with St George’s Day being celebrated in Rainham and Upchurch. A group of ladies sold small flags sold which raised £30 for the Star & Garter Home for Disabled Soldiers and St Dunston’s Home for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. Meanwhile, the Rainham Branch of the War Hospital Supply Depot announced that they had raised over £86 since October 1915.
In July a garden fete took place on the parsonage lawn which included an exhibition of war hospital work with 1,005 items displayed. After Dr Irby Webster had given a speech visitors, which included soldiers from Glovers Hospital Sittingbourne, were able to view the exhibition which included needlework by the Rainham Branch of Queen Mary’s Needlework Guild. Sid Wakeley from Rainham High Street set up a fruit stall and a teddy bear competition took place. All the articles on display were sold resulting in £40 being raised and donated to the Wounded Soldiers and Sailors Fund. W. Brewer’s String Band provided music through the afternoon.
The Council School in Solomon Road continued to play an important part in fund raising when they raised money for the Fund for the Relief of Belgium and collected £18, while Young Patriots at the school raised money for St Bart’s Hospital, the Home for Blinded Soldiers and the Belgium Fund. The school also collected 10 dozen eggs for the National Egg Collection for Wounded Soldiers for which pupils received letters from soldiers thanking them for their efforts. A short time later in August a Penny Bandage Day took place and proceeds went towards materials and the manufacture of bandages for wounded soldiers in hospital. On the same day the Rainham Branch of Queen Mary’s Needlework Guild raised £24.
During the Battle of the Somme which began in July 1916 over 60,000 British soldiers were killed on the first day, more than in any other battle in British military history. Rainham suffered casualties in this battle with the loss of numerous local men. At the end of the battle which lasted from July 1st to November 18th 1916, over 1 million allied and German soldiers had been killed or wounded, a disproportionate figure in relation to the territory gained.
Fatalities from Rainham included Private Edward Davison from Ivy Street serving in the 14th Middlesex Regiment, Sergeant Frank Couchman of the Royal Sussex Regiment killed in action and Private William Simmons from Station Road aged 26 serving in the Buffs, killed by shrapnel. Others included Private George Botting aged 20 from Otterham Quay Lane, killed at the Somme while serving with the Buffs, Sergeant-Major Frank Baker aged 26 from Station Road perished at Guillemont, Alfred Cook aged 26 of the Queen’s Regiment and Private William Cheeseman aged 24 of the Middlesex Regiment were killed in action. Second Lieutenant John Wakeley of the Gloucester Regiment aged 20, son of Percy Wakeley was also killed in action. In September the funeral of Private Fred Smith from Ivy Street took place at St Margaret's Church. While serving with the West Kent Regiment in France he died from the effects of being gassed. Lance Corporal Reg Uden aged 20 perished on 18th November, killed in action on the last day of the Battle of the Somme. Driver E. Pilcher of Bredhurst Road was killed in Mesopotania while serving in the RFA. Finally, in December Petty Officer John Sawkins aged 39 of Station Road serving aboard HMS Negro drowned in the North Sea when his ship collided with another vessel.
In early August with the Battle of the Somme still in progress an open air intercession service took place on the playground of the Church of England School in Station Road with about 1,000 people filling the area which included the road outside. Reverend Tamplin from St Margaret’s Church and Reverend Perry from Rainham Congregational Church conducted the service with hymns and a reading by Dr Irby Webster. This service reflected the sombre mood of residents who were regularly informed about the increasing number of deaths and injuries sustained by young men from the village throughout 1916.
The year finally ended on a joyous note with a Christmas fete at the Council School in aid of the Rainham Branch of the Hospital Supply Guild. After Father Christmas had led a parade of children in fancy dress a series of games and songs took place while sideshows like a doll’s house and war relics were displayed in different classrooms. A Christmas tree decorated by the pupils displayed 500 dolls and toys which had been donated to the school by parishioners. Guests of honour included a group of wounded soldiers from the Whitehall Hospital in Sittingbourne for whom tea was provided. During the course of the entertainment Olive Sales won the Prettiest Girl Competition and George Hooker the Prettiest Boy Competition. Mr and Mrs Shaw of The Cricketers Inn played host to a group of soldiers from Strood VAD Hospital in December.
With the allies bogged down in trench warfare and incredibly high casualties being sustained at Verdun and the Somme when attempts had been made to make a breakthrough by the allies, not much optimism existed for an early end to the war at the close of 1916. David Wood.
Letter from a Rainham Soldier on the Western Front in 1916
A Letter from a Rainham Soldier on the Western Front in 1916
Reuben Wickens from Station Road joined the Coldstream Guards and soon found himself in the trenches of the Western Front in France while his brothers Reg and Seymour served in Gallipoli with the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles. He wrote a letter to his parents describing his conditions in January 1916. The same letter appeared in the East Kent Gazette dated January 29th 1916.
‘The tea was very acceptable, and I thought it, with the sugar and tinned milk was the best thing I had sent out. I received the parcel for Christmas just before going into the trenches. We had about a dozen canteens of tea from it and now have quite a lot left. We were so anxious to have a cup of tea that I went out in broad daylight for some water. Whilst getting it the Germans sent over a couple of shrapnels which burst very close to me – rather a narrow escape but we get used to that kind of thing out here. We are going up into the trenches again for New Year. What a hope for a Happy New Year.
Last night we had our Christmas party and dinner (December 30th) roast beef, potatoes, cabbage and plum pudding. There was hot tea, beer and cake, but poor me being a ‘TT’ had to go thirsty for the time.
I hope that Bert and Reggie are alright and having as good a luck as I am. Thanks so much for sending the ‘East Kent Gazette’ out, it’s quite a treat to get a paper out here. ‘A Happy New Year.’ Yes, filling sandbags and building parapets at night! But never mind, we have them beaten and when the big advance takes place good-bye to ‘Kaiser Bill’ and his lot.
Tell them at home that we are not down-hearted yet. What we want is you at home to keep sending men to fill the gaps that must necessarily be made and then you’ll soon see what will happen on the ‘Western Front.’ You’ve no doubt heard the saying:
‘I’ll go one,’ said Belgium.
‘I’ll go two,’ said France.
‘I’ll go three,’ said Russia.
‘I think I stand a chance.’
‘I’ll go four,’ said Germany.
‘And wipe them off the map.’
But Bill fell dead when Britain said,
‘Blimey I’ll go nap.’
Well, we hold the nap hand now and shortly we shall play it, so cheer up.
Reuben Wickens survived the trenches of the Western Front and returned to Rainham at the end of the war where he was reunited with his two brothers Reg and Seymour.
Rainham Kent Ghosts
Ghosts and Spirit stories associated with Rainham Kent
Bloor's Carriage
The most celebrated of Rainham's ghosts is that of Christopher Bloor, who is said to ride along Berengrave Lane in a phantom carriage, carrying his head under his arm. Edwin Harris' "Local Legends," published in 1898, states "That Christopher Bloor, carrying his head under his arm, riding in a carriage drawn by headless horses, driven by a headless coachman, and attended by a headless footman, makes a nightly journey from the church to his old home, only stopping to water his horses in the pool at Queen Court, where an old woman always sits spinning on the top of the barn. Queen Court, at which he is said to stop, lies in the lane leading from Upper to Lower Rainham."
Lower Bloors Lane in winter.
Another legend tells how Bloor was beheaded by a gang of irate husbands in Berengrave Lane after having been found guilty of several indiscretions with a number of their wives. It is said that his head was cut off and stuck on a pole, which was then placed on the top of the tower of St. Margaret's church. There is no hard evidence for this tale, but Christopher Bloor was a real person, and recent research has shown that he did die a young man.
Bloor's ghost featured in a cartoon strip by local artist Arthur Prosser
The Headless Spinner
The ghostly spinner mentioned in the above story may have been a local legend in her own right. There is another tale that describes how, if anyone dared look at the headless woman, they would be cursed and lose their head too! No villager would venture passed Queen Court at night unless they really had to, and then they would run past quickly with their fingers and thumbs crossed as a charm against the witch, and saying aloud the name of the patron saint of Rainham; "Saint Margaret, Saint Margaret!" The barn in Berengrave Lane burned down after the war, and thankfully its ghost has not been seen since!
Berengrave Lane in the early nineteen hundreds.
Willoughby's Ghost
Although no one has seen the above spirits in living memory, a popular resident of Rainham had a more recent and well documented brush with the supernatural. Willoughby Gray was a TV celebrity during the fifties, and lived at Bloors Place until 1960. An article in a local paper describes how he saw the ghost of one of his ancestor's standing next to a portrait of himself in the living room at Bloors Place. The Grays had several dogs and cats, and apparently not one of them would come into the room for several days afterwards!
Rainham at War in 1917
Rainham at War in 1917
With a British naval blockade in progress the Germans retaliated with unrestricted submarine warfare to starve Britain out of the war. Meanwhile, as in the previous two years, the war effort in Rainham continued with fund raising and war related activities with news of more casualties from the battle front.
The year began with heavy snow as Mrs Perry of Rainham Congregational Church entertained soldiers billeted in Rainham at the church school. Later in February the formation of the Food Production Society took place in an effort to utilize available ground in the parish for food production. George Quinnell from Broad Walk chaired the society that wanted to cultivate every available piece of land in the parish. The parish council wanted four acres of land to cultivate and later in the year they purchased a potato sprayer and six cases of chemical spray in preparation for this.
Boys of the Church of England School in Station Road enrolled for National Service to assist with digging gardens for widows and wives of servicemen whose husbands were fighting in the war. Mr Wilson who worked as a master at the school gave advice to people about how to plant seeds and potatoes while a lecture given by Mr W A Milliard from the Agricultural Department of Leeds University about planting took place in the Church Hall
In social affairs the Kent Fortress Royal Engineers stationed in Hartlip organised a whist drive and dance at the Council School to raise money on behalf of St Bart’s Hospital while a war savings meeting took place in the church hall to form a war savings association. This led to other associations being formed in different parts of the parish. Rainham Congregational Church in Chapel Lane had one of the most successful associations with 26 members.
The annual Empire Day celebrations in May helped raise nationalistic pride as people assembled in the playground of the Church of England School in Station Road while pupils and teachers paraded in front of them and the Union Jack flew from the church tower. Reverend Tamplin began with prayers, those present saluted the Union Jack and a verse from the National Anthem sung. Certificates were then distributed to pupils. Mrs Webster presented these to the boys, Miss Walter to the girls and Mrs Wakeley to the infants. After this cheers were given for the empire, the Queen, the Royal Family, soldiers, sailors and airmen.
June began with the Food Economy Exhibition at the Council School organised by Mr Mattocks and opened by Lady Callaghan, wife of the Admiral Superintendent at the Nore. Money raised from the exhibition was donated to Fort Pitt Hospital in Chatham. Money raising continued in July with a Bandage Day in aid of the War Hospital Supply Guild and the well-attended event raised £4/10/0d.
Throughout the year regular news arrived about casualties at the battle front. In January Joseph Drain aged 24 of Layfield Road, Gillingham died in action. He had previously lived in Station Road, Rainham where his parents owned a greengrocer’s shop and had attended the National School in Station Road. Better news revealed that Sergeant-Major Raynor Swan aged 27 and formerly of Ivy Street had been mentioned in despatches for bravery. Six years before the war he travelled to Australia and joined the army in 1914. He had fought at Gallipoli and Egypt and had been wounded in the head and poisoned by barbed wire. After Gallipoli he went to France where he became Sergeant-Major. Sir Douglas Haig mentioned him in despatches for bravery on the battlefield.
In March news of more fatalities arrived with the death of Lance-Corporal Thomas Russell aged 20 of the East Kent Yeomanry from Station Road, killed in the trenches of France while beating back a German attack. Other fatalities included Bombardier Herbert Webb aged 22 from Ivy Street, James Wall from Station Road and George Crittenden aged 33 from Broad Walk. In May John Ashby of the East Surrey Regiment from Ivy Street was reported killed in action in France. He had earlier served as a member of the Rainham Volunteer Platoon.
Later in June a bomb killed Rainham resident Elizabeth Maxted during a German air attack at Folkestone. Herbert Croucher aged 19 of the Buffs from Milton Road (now Webster Road) was killed in France and Bombardier Thomas Holloway aged 24 of the RFA from Rainham High Street died from spotted fever.
More news in August announced the death of Private Arthur Blundy from Lower Rainham aged 37 of the Middlesex Regiment was killed in action in France and Private Maurice Naylor of the Buffs from London Road in Rainham died from the effects of the heat while serving in Iraq. In October Gunner Ide Gooding was killed in action in France while former Council School assistant master Captain Pitcher of the Artists and Rifles Regiment suffered a head wound in France. After the war he received the Military Medal for bravery.
In August an air raid over Rainham lasted for about thirty minutes and two bombs were dropped and exploded but nobody got injured, a rare occurrence in Rainham during the war. Kent coastal towns suffered much more from bombing raids and sustained casualties.
The death of the well-known and popular Lion Inn publican Phil Curling who died of pneumonia in December turned out to be one of the greatest losses to Rainham in 1917. Aged 47 and originally from Faversham, he had been in the public eye for some time, firstly as a well-known cyclist who had formed the Rainham Cycle Club, a licensed victualler, a promoter of sports meetings, an official at both Rainham Cricket Club and Rainham Football Club and a freemason. He also became a member of Rainham Horticultural Society and had formed the Rainham Gardeners Mutual Improvement Society. In the war years he had spoken at recruiting meetings for the Buffs and served as a special constable in the village. He had spent time as a member of the parish council and served as chairman of the Sittingbourne and District Licensed Victuallers Association. In the year before he died he organised a boxing tournament for the Red Cross Hospital in Sittingbourne. His death generated great sadness in Rainham as many residents had great respect for him.
At the end of the year the parish council discussed ploughing up the recreation ground and using it for food production but opposition from the public prevented this. News also arrived that girls and Infant’s at the Church of England School gave their Christmas subscription to the Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Children’s Fund. The girls raised £4/2/0d while the infants raised £3.
While residents in Rainham continued their war fund raising activities and local men died at the Front, an allied breakthrough attempt at Ypres in July and a major offensive at Passchendale in the autumn both failed with heavy casualties. After this at least Britain entered 1918 with the knowledge that the USA had entered the conflict with the hope that this might contribute to ending the war.
Subcategories
Historical tales Article Count: 3
Historical tales
Rainham Life Article Count: 10
Rainham Life
Local Events Article Count: 48
Local Events
Photos Article Count: 143
Photos
Action Forum Article Count: 234
Action Forum is a free monthly magazine that is distributed to the Rainham area covering Wigmore, Parkwood and Hempstead as well. This archive covers old copies of the magazine dating back to its initial publication in 1969 and give a fascinating glimpse into life in Rainham over the last 50 years.
Link to Article Index - Action Forum Index - Photos and Articles from 1969 onwards