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 29^th 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 30^th) 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.

History Articles

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

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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.

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 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!

History Articles

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.

History Articles

Letter from a Rainham Soldier in Egypt in 1917

After serving in Gallipoli with the East Kent Mounted Rifles brothers Reg and Seymour Wickins were sent to the Middle East with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. They disembarked at Alexandria and went to Cairo where they stayed at the Anzac Hotel. With some free time they were able to hire a guide and visit the Sphinx and the pyramids in Giza then the pharoahs tombs. They also managed to visit the Sultan Hassan and Mohammed Ali mosques and the citadel, a large fort that Napoleon had tried to capture. During the course of serving in the Middle East, Reg Wickins wrote letters back to his family in Station Road. One of these letters written in Egypt appeared in the East Kent Gazette dated April 28^th, 1917.

‘I was asked to go on a certain job a few weeks back, and it was to guard a convoy of camels across the desert. Well, of course we had to ride one; that put the wind up us for a start; as neither of us had been on a camel before, although we had had enough to do with them and seen a lot of them. To begin with we made our seats as soft as possible; got the locals to put them on then got on ourselves. To this day I don’t know how it was that, when the camel was on its feet I was still on top, as they have a very nasty motion when getting up. Well, we started away alright and did twenty two miles that day and got to an old Bedouin farmhouse about six o’ clock; had some dinner and turned in for the night. The next day we were up early and had breakfast, and got on the way again and did about the same distance that day, but had nowhere to sleep, so made the best of it. About 5 am we were awakened by the stable guard, which consisted of two locals, who told us that somebody had been round the camp trying to ‘pinch’ the stuff. We were out of bed in a moment, got our camels and went to look for the men. Our NCO in charge sent one of us with two locals in different directions; he went with the chief of the locals. Well, after an hour of trotting about the country, I returned to find the other men back, but not the NCO; he came in about half an hour later with an Arab tied to a rope.

When we got into camp they asked him some questions and found out he was the man. Now we come to where the fun commenced. The NCO ordered him to have thirty lashes with the whip. Of course, this is what the locals wanted to see, so four of them came forward and two of them got hold of his head and the other two his legs and held him to the ground; after they had stripped his clothes off. Then the chief of the locals gave him his hiding which I would not have had for all the money in the world. The Arab was then allowed to go his way in fear. This may seem very cruel to you in England who have had no dealings with such men but it is the only thing that appeals to them, and I think it did to the Arab.

We arrived at our destination about 4-30 pm that day which was Saturday and stayed until Monday morning. The journey back now was alright, nothing happened out of the way. We got back to our old camp at eleven am to find that half our company had gone to Abe and that we had to follow the next day. Of course, we were pleased to hear the news and prepared to go. That night we were awakened by the sound of bullets going off and were told to keep low as one of our tents was alight. After all the bullets had gone off we dressed and went to have a look at the fire but by the time we got there the locals had put the fire out and thrown dirt over it. There were four sergeants sleeping in the tent at the time and neither woke until the place was well alight. When the first man awoke he shouted to the others and jumped out; then the third awoke and tried to get out, but the tent was all ablaze and he could not find his way out. At last he saw the door and jumped, but his foot caught in a box and he went head long into the fire and was burned very badly. During this time the other sergeant was still sleeping and remained asleep until the tent fell on him, but of course he could not get out, so two other sergeants went and pulled him out; but it was too late as he was burned all over; he had not got a piece of skin left on his body. Out of the four who came in the tent two got away with slight burns, the other two were taken to hospital straight away. The last sergeant to be out of the tent died two days after and the other one will be very lucky if he gets over his lot.’

After serving in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine the brothers finished the war on the Western Front in France but survived and returned to Rainham where they lived out the remainder of their lives.

Note - the original letter contained a word no longer used which has been replaced with the word "locals"

History Articles

Rainham at War in 1918

As the war entered its fourth year and the people of Rainham continued their fund raising activities for the cause, Reverend Tamplin gave a lecture entitled ‘War in the Air’ in the Church Hall, while children at the Church of England School gave their subscription to the War Charity Fund to help blinded soldiers and sailors.

In January the boy scouts collected waste paper and metal in a house to house collection to raise funds for the Hospital Supply Guild and for the 1^st Rainham Troop of the Boy Scouts. At the end of February a well-attended concert organised by the 2/5^th company Kent Fortress took place at the Council School followed by a whist drive and dance.

It wasn’t long before more announcements were made about casualties and deaths at the front with 24 deaths in 1918, the most recorded from Rainham in a single year of the conflict.

Fred Swan from Ivy Street died when his ship ‘Raglan’ was sunk by German ships ‘Breslau’ and ‘Goeben’ in the Dardanelles Straits. Swan perished with the rest of the crew. Meanwhile, Archibald Rayner from Longley Road won a commission in the City of London Regiment and went to France where he was twice wounded. He returned to England and attended Magdalen College, Oxford where he passed the officer cadet course. Others were honoured for their bravery like Private Reg Barrett from Ivy Street aged 25 of the Lancers, mentioned in despatches for gallantry at Bourlan Wood in France. He spent six hours under heavy shell fire rescuing wounded men. He had already received the Military Medal after the Battle of the Somme. In February Sergeant John Reeves aged 21 from William Street and serving in the Buffs also received the Military Medal for bravery.

In March the funeral of Rainham artilleryman Albert Hadlow aged 22 from Pudding Lane took place after he had died of a wasting disease caused by being gassed in France. A full military funeral took place at St Margaret’s Church. A gun carriage brought his coffin draped with the Union Jack to the church while members of his regiment formed an escort. Later in April several Rainham soldiers were reported missing. These included Thomas Mattocks from Wakeley Road of the Royal Fusiliers Machine Gun Section, Corporal Job Barden of London Road and Sapper John Poynter of Wakeley Road. Private Albert Kitney of the Buffs from Pump Lane and Frank Perry, son of Reverend F. E. Perry of Rainham Congregational Church were also reported missing, but news later revealed that they had been taken prisoner of war.

Casualties continued to rise in May when Cecil Bowra aged 20 from Station Road, attached to the East Surrey Regiment died. He and a comrade were killed by a German shell in France just 16 days after Bowra had arrived from England. At about the same time the military funeral of Leonard Paul aged 29 from Ivy Street took place in Rainham after he had died from the effects of being gassed. Lance Corporal Alwyn Randall of Lower Rainham also suffered being gassed and entered hospital critically ill but survived.

People of Rainham got a surprise in June when a military balloon descended over Moor Street and landed in a field. Afterwards people learnt that the balloon had been forced to land because of a shortage of ballast. Lieutenant Hepworth of the RAF who had piloted the balloon packed it up with help from local residents then continued his journey to Hurlingham by train from Rainham railway station. The event caused considerable local interest with many people converging on the area to watch. During June news also revealed that 1,661 war savings certificates and war bonds had been taken out in Rainham which demonstrated the success of the scheme introduced the previous year.

While the conflict continued events still took place in the village. On August 14th the Rainham War Hospital Supply Guild Garden Fete took place on the Parsonage Garden. Mrs Selby, commandant of the 3^rd Queen’s Regiment opened the event which about 1,500 people attended. Parties of wounded soldiers and sailors attended as guests. Mrs Selby gave a speech followed by a parade of 50 young people in fancy dress while children danced around a maypole. The band of the Queen’s Regiment played music throughout the afternoon. Activities included donkey rides, a concert, blindfold cricket and a dolly pram parade. Sideshows included an art gallery in a tent which attracted many people and stalls displayed fruit and flowers, fancy work, cakes and slippers. During the evening Rainham Fire Brigade gave a drill demonstration. The takings for the fete amounted to over £150.

Brothers Ernest and Fred Wellard from Bredhurst Road who served in the Merchant Navy had a narrow escape in September when a German submarine torpedoed their vessel off the West coast of Ireland. They were in the water for 2½ hours before help arrived. Although they were saved 53 other men died. This incident turned out to be the third time that they had experienced being torpedoed during the war but they survived.

As the war reached a climax more casualties were announced. On September 21^st Private John Bolton of William Street serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment died of his wounds in hospital after serving 2½ years in France. Sapper William Sellen aged 21 of the Royal Engineers died in Palestine. Archie Mattocks a sergeant in the Buffs got severely wounded while in action. He later developed pneumonia and became dangerously ill.

Towards the end of the year many Rainham residents became ill and six died when an influenza epidemic hit the area. The Church of England School in Station Road had to close for a week due to the absence of many teachers who were suffering from the sickness. This led to the cancellation of various events in the village but attention temporarily diverted away from this with news that the war had finally ended which brought a feeling of great relief and joy. The ringing of the church bells and the flying of the Union Jack from the church tower in Rainham marked the end of the Great War on November 11^th 1918.

David Wood

History Articles

The Death of a Rainham Headmaster in the Great War of 1914-1918

Harold Greenhalgh became headmaster of Rainham Council School, now known as Meredale in 1908, two years after it had been constructed and he proved to be very hard working and popular.

Originally from Preston in Lancashire, he came to Kent where he worked with Gillingham Education Committee and then with the dockyard class at Barnsole Road School. After this and with the departure of headmistress Miss Dyason, he became headmaster of Rainham Council School where he soon proved to be a very capable head. According to an article in the East Kent Gazette dated April 1918, the school reached a high standard under his leadership and pupils won many scholarships. Because of his talent and interest in music he helped scholars obtain county honours and when war broke out in 1914 he organised collections of eggs and social gatherings at the school for wounded soldiers from Fort Pitt Hospital which gained him a lot of respect in the community.

When he first applied to join the army he was rejected for being physically unfit but he eventually passed for general service and joined the Royal Engineers in 1916. Stationed in Chatham he soon became a lance-corporal and he obtained the Haynes Memorial Medal, awarded to the best recruit in each new batch of Royal Engineers recruits.

When he went to France in September 1917 he experienced several dangerous assignments then he was commissioned to the Ordnance Department and made Ordnance Railhead Officer at Poperinghe in March 1917. This is where he died on April 9^th 1918 aged 41. His major wrote a letter to his wife:

‘About 10 0’ clock on Tuesday 9^th instant, Poperinghe Railhead, of which he was Ordnance officer in charge, was shelled by the enemy. One shell fell near where he, his sergeant and Private Barlow were standing. This killed Private Barlow. Your husband then ordered the sergeant to run for an ambulance and knelt down to see if anything could be done for Private Barlow. When the sergeant was about 80 yards away a second shell fell at practically the same spot, killing your husband instantaneously by the concussion. The body was buried in a soldier’s cemetery just outside Poperinghe, in the portion reserved for officers. The service was conducted by an army chaplain and attended by lieutenant colonel Fisher and myself on behalf of the Army Ordnance Department. A wooden cross is placed at the head of his grave, bearing his name, unit and that he was killed in action 9^th April 1918.’

In 1919 at a meeting of the Kent County Education authority, committee member Mr Tapp said that in Mr Greenhalgh Kent had lost a very valuable teacher and questioned why headmasters should be taken away for military service which caused education to suffer. He also paid tribute to Sergeant W. S. Hadlow who also died in the war and had worked as an assistant teacher at the Council School. Another teacher, Mr Pitcher, became a captain in the Artists and Rifle Regiment and got wounded in the head but he recovered. He later received the Military Medal for bravery and resumed teaching at the Council school when the war ended.

Harold Greenhalgh’s death was a great loss to his family as he left a widow and two young daughters and to Rainham Council School where he worked and where he had gained a high reputation before joining the army.

History Articles

Letter From a Rainham Prisoner of War in 1918

Private Frank Perry of the RAMC, Ist Northumberland Field Ambulance and son of Reverend F. E. Perry of Rainham Congregational Church had been missing in action for 11 weeks until he contacted his parents on June 12^th 1918, informing them that he had been taken prisoner of war and sent to Gefangenan camp in Lamsdorf, Germany. He wrote a more comprehensive letter on November 30th 1918 that the East Kent Gazette published.

‘I was taken prisoner on May 27^th and at that time was very concerned, and naturally am still, as to how things were going at home, seeing that three weeks had elapsed since last I received a letter from you. My last letter from home was posted on April 30^th, and I received it in the village of Ventelay on Saturday May 5^th. However, on May 22^nd I received a parcel from you, and as this was addressed by you both and posted on May 16^th. I take it that up to then you were alright, and trust that same still applies.

After five weeks work behind the lines, we entrained for Germany on Monday July 1^st, and having completed three days in the train, arrived in this prisoner’s camp weary and hungry on Thursday evening the 4^th. We were the first British and French prisoners to come to this camp, as until recently it had been composed of prisoners of other nationalities. You should see us, what a mixed assembly; men of at least 10 different nations, all jumbled up together. Attached to this camp is a very big hospital for prisoners and it is in this hospital that I am working. There are five nations represented in my barracks. – though we are mostly British and French. We are only two RAMC men here, both belonging to the same ambulance, though we didn’t know that the other was captured until we were behind the German lines. Although we have medical officer prisoners here, representing every one of the allied nations, up to now we have no British doctors. However, the Romanian doctor (who has the oversight of this barracks) speaks French and so I have been working as an interpreter between our men and the Medical Officer. By the way, Bulman is the name of our unit who is here with me; so you are waiting for Joe, who I hope is still safe and well, you might tell him that Bulman and I are both in the same camp.

We are rather unfortunate in the matter of comforts etc from the Red Cross Society, though we are hoping that emergency parcels as they are known announce the prisoners will soon be coming along. Seeing that we are only allowed to write a letter every second Sunday would you save me a letter by notifying the OC of my ambulance that I am safe and a prisoner? He knows where and under what circumstances I stayed though naturally he will not know what has become of me. You might also tell him that just after I was captured and immediately behind the dressing station, I came across a squad of four RAMC bearers, who, together with the wounded case they were carrying in, had all been killed, apparently by the same shell. I was only able to get one man’s particulars, though having his name they may be able to trace the other three. His name was Private W G Gibson, 1/3^rd Northumbrian Field Ambulance. Our OC will then be able to communicate with the lad’s parents and the some anxious minds will be set at rest.

Now to my needs. Firstly, I am longing to know that you know that I am alright and after that – well, they are numerous. Let me explain. I was captured just as I stood with not an atom of kit beyond my steel helmet and gas mask, which, needless to say, were soon of no use to me. I have not even bare necessaries. I had to prowl about for a share as I’d a beard like my dad. I have to wash without soap which is unprocurable, and when you get it, it costs several shillings a tablet. I managed to get a towel on the second day of captivity out of the haversack of a poor ‘Tommy’ who will have no further need of it. I have no tobacco, which is exceptionally rare in this country; and to sum everything up I know what the word poverty means. But though I am minus so many things I am still rich. There is a sort of canteen in connection with the camp where certain things can be procured, but it needs money, and a lot. Can you let me have some, please?

I understand from the old prisoners that money can be sent through alright although I receive a parcel or so. I expect it’s little money I’ll want; still I’ll like to have some on me in case I should have need of it. Naturally, I need socks, a razor and shaving tackle, soap, tobacco etc. I was not conversant with regulations regarding parcels for prisoners of war, still you will be able to find out about this. Five kilos is the limit in weight, I believe. As for letters, you at home can write when you wish, whereas here we are allowed to write a card every Sunday and on alternate Sundays a letter. On the 28^th I hope to write to Peggy and then on August 11^th another letter to you. Well, now there are lots more I could say, but must stop. After my first one or two letters I guess I’ll have little to tell for it will be the same old thing day by day, still, cheerio! We’re not dead yet. A book would be a great distraction. I’d love to get one, a paper backed copy of ‘Adam Bede,’ for example. You will now be in chapel and I hope having a real good time; as for me, I am behind barbed wire, with nothing but a waste of shabby land I gaze upon. Still my heart is good and in spirit I’m with you all in the dear old country so cheer up and keep smiling – always looking forward – My kindest regards to all the good people at Rainham. Best love to you – Ever your loving son. Frank Perry.’

After his release Frank Perry returned to Rainham at the end of the war and was presented with the Military Medal because he had volunteered to stay with wounded comrades in the face of an enemy attack before being taken prisoner of war.

History Articles

Rainham and the Aftermath of World War 1

The war had dragged on for four years but with the end of the conflict on November 11^th 1918 everything slowly reverted back to normal in the village. New lighting for Rainham came under discussion at the parish council and preparations began to have a war memorial constructed to remember those who had died in the conflict while at national level the government called a General Election.

Men who had fought in the war gradually returned home, some recovering from wounds, others with stories of war experiences while a few unlucky ones were killed at the very end of the conflict. James Keutenius of Station Road died on November 10^th 1918, the day before the end of the war when a German submarine torpedoed and sank the minesweeper on which he was serving. He drowned with the rest of the crew. He left three children who were orphaned as his wife had died a short time earlier. Sergeant Archie Mattocks had better luck because after being badly wounded in the face and getting a chill which developed into pneumonia he made a full recovery.

As Christmas approached influenza remained a problem in Rainham and a coal shortage took place, but food could be bought without the restrictions of the war years and rations were doubled. A Christmas turkey could be bought without coupons, eggs could be bought for 5/6d a dozen and an additional ¼ pound of sugar could be purchased while there were no restrictions on the purchase of tea.

During the Christmas period fund raising activities continued as Rainham Ladies Choir toured Rainham and Hartlip singing carols to raise funds for St Dunston’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers in Regent’s Park. Accompanied by two violinists the ladies raised £11/2/0d.

Lots of freehold properties soon became available and an auction sale took place at the White Horse pub in December 1918. Only two properties were sold and these were situated in Station Road which reflected the worsening economic situation as many people were short of money. Wakeley Brothers purchased one of the houses for £150 and the other by Mr Grout for £250. Later in the year property owners and agents raised rents in Rainham.

In early January 1919 Reverend Tamplin read out the names of 88 men known to have died in the war, a combination 64 soldiers and 24 sailors while a variety concert organised by Mrs Brewer from Sittingbourne took place in aid of a memorial for fallen Rainham soldiers and sailors.

A public meeting held in the church hall in January discussed a war memorial for Rainham. Chaired by Dr Penfold, George Quinnell from Broad Walk offered some land next to the Free Library. Other suggestions for a memorial included cottage homes, a cottage hospital, an extension to the library, baths, a public hall, a stained glass window, a memorial tablet in the church and an illuminated church clock tower. Eventually the committee decided on a monumental cross with the names of fallen Rainham men inscribed on it. The committee proposed to have it erected outside the church wall facing Station Road.

In June a public meeting took place in the Church hall to welcome about 250 returning soldiers and sailors to the parish. A decision was made to hold a dinner and concert at the Church of England school in Station Road on July 5^th. About 200 men attended the event. Local MP Major Granville-Wheeler gave a speech followed by Sergeant Pack, formerly of the 9^th lancers, one of the first men to arrive in France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1914 and who thanked the people of Rainham for organising and funding the event.

Peace celebrations took place in Rainham on July 19^th when residents decorated the village with Chinese lanterns, flags, bunting and six decorated arches were erected at various points in the High Street and in Station Road. Voluntary subscriptions raised £125 and a committee was formed with Dr Penfold elected chairman, Mr F Mattocks became honorary secretary and Mr H Heymer treasurer. A competition for the best decorations resulted in Mr Shaw, landlord of The Cricketers Inn winning first prize.

The celebrations began at 1-45 pm with an assembly of children at the top end of Station Road headed by the band of the Chatham Salvation Army and a bugle band of the Boy Scouts. They marched to Rainham Recreation Ground where a thanksgiving service taken by Reverend Webb and Reverend F E Perry took place. A full sports event followed which included a comic cricket match between ladies and gentlemen in fancy dress and a range of sports events. Concerts, swings and amusements were also provided. Over 1,000 children sat down to tea in the afternoon. Later widows and people over 60 were served dinner at the Council School where a fete took place. Meanwhile, Mrs Brunning’s Rainham Co-operative Society Maypole party of little girls performed maypole dancing. Over 2,000 people attended the fete at the Council School and a firework display held on a piece of ground in Hamilton Avenue (later Salisbury Avenue). A torchlight procession ended the day which finished at midnight.

Over 4,000 people attended a sports day at Rainham Recreation Ground later in July. The Rainham and District Branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers and Sailors organised this in aid of a new social club for Rainham. Over 20 events took place which included a tug of war competition and a range of cycle races which turned out to be very successful.

Frank Marchant RN from Henry Street became the first Rainham resident awarded an OBE for services rendered during the war. He had served in the Dardanelles and held the position of warrant officer at the RN barracks in Chatham. Later in the year at the church hall special constables who had patrolled Rainham during the war years were awarded illuminated certificates for their services. These were presented by Mr Payne the supervisor for special constables in the district. Not all the original constables were present as 27 had already left Rainham, four were killed in the war and five had died. Later in 1922 77 medals were presented to the special constables from Rainham and 16 from Upchurch by Lieutenant Colonel R G Locke at a special presentation in Rainham Church Hall.

Periodic meetings about the proposed war memorial took place throughout the year. By the end of May £450 had been collected and a design and estimate for a marble cross submitted. At the end of November the committee decided on and ordered a granite cross from Millen and Chrisfield of Sittingbourne for a cost of £480 with a further £20 for expenses.

After preparation of the ground for the proposed war memorial in November, the dedication and unveiling of the monument took place on Sunday December 12^th 1920. The memorial cross, a replica of the Cross of Iona from the Isle of Iona in Scotland made of Cornish granite stood 18½ feet high with 100 names of fallen Rainham servicemen inscribed on it.

The dedication service was supposed to take place outside but because of freezing conditions and snow most of it had to take place in St Margaret’s church. About 1,000 people packed into the church for the service conducted by Reverend Tamplin then Dr Penfold, chairman of the parish council, read out the names of the fallen soldiers and sailors. After this boy buglers from the Royal Engineers played the Last Post. Finally, Major-General Thuillier, General officer commanding the Thames and Medway area gave a speech.

After the service about 2,000 people gathered at the memorial and watched as Major-General Thuillier pulled the cord which caused the Union Jack enveloping the cross to fall away. Relatives placed floral tributes at the base of the memorial as they remembered the dead. Finally, the hoisting of the Union Jack from a half mast position on the church tower and the ringing of the church bells ended the event.

Rainham Congregational Church situated in Chapel Lane (now Mierscourt Road) also decided to have a war memorial in the form of a tablet placed on the church wall with names of soldiers and sailors inscribed on it. To do this they needed to raise £100 to £150 which they succeeded in doing and the tablet was placed on the church wall at a special service in August. With 15 names inscribed on a brass tablet mounted on teak wood by courtesy of the Admiralty, a special` service conducted by Reverend E Scott-Wilkinson in front of about 100 people took place on Sunday February 13^th 1921 and the tablet unveiled. Silent prayers followed the unveiling and the service ended with the playing of the National Anthem.

With the ending of the war peace prevailed but a decade of high unemployment and economic downturn made life tough for many Rainham residents who found work hard to obtain and difficulty making ends meet, the price paid for a long and costly war. David Wood.

History Articles

The Rainham Hero of Lucknow

At the turn of the 19^th century a tall, upright and well-built man became a familiar figure on the streets of Rainham. He lived at 109 High Street, he took great pride in his appearance, people noticed that he polished his shoes every day and he wore a row of military medals on special occasions.

Born in Tarbert, County Kerry in Ireland in 1830, Cornelius Sparling joined the 81^st Regiment of Foot as a twenty year old. Sent to India he completed 21 years of service on the continent and played an important part in the Indian Mutiny of 1857.
Sir Henry Havelock

Serving under Sir Henry Havelock he took part in the march on Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh where Sepoys in the army had mutinied against their British rulers because during their gun loading process they had to bite cartridges believed to be greased with pork and beef fat for their Enfield rifles which violated the religions of Muslim and Hindu troops. During the ensuing conflict Sparling rescued a regimental officer named Lieutenant Roberts who went on to become a field marshal in the British army.

During the course of the rescue Lieutenant Roberts mounted the shoulders of Sparling and nailed the colours to the flag mast that had earlier been shot down from the British residency building. The men did this while under heavy fire from the Sepoys and they were lucky not to be killed or wounded. While the siege of Lucknow progressed Sparling could not escape until the British relief column arrived.

The siege and relief of the city cost the British 2,500 killed, wounded or missing. After this Sparling marched with his regiment to relieve Cawnpore which had been captured by Indian forces, but they arrived too late to prevent the massacre of 120 women and children based there. After the British had surrendered Cawnpore to the Indians in return for safe passage to Allahabad, the men were executed and the women and children hacked to death with meat cleavers and their remains thrown into a well to conceal the evidence. This led to retaliatory counter atrocities by the outraged British relief force soldiers who killed an estimated 7,000 Indian locals and executed many of the leaders of the mutiny.

After the siege and the massacre at Cawnpore Cornelius Sparling remained in India where he completed his service. As a result of his part played in the Indian Mutiny he received the Mutiny Medal with two clasps engraved ‘Lucknow’ and ‘Defence of Lucknow.’ He also received the ‘Good Conduct’ medal.

When Cornelius returned to England and lived in Gillingham former lieutenant Lord Roberts twice visited him. He then moved to Rainham where he became a familiar figure who regularly worshipped at St Margaret’s church and became a member of the Men’s Bible Class.

When Cornelius died aged 84 in 1914, 50 soldiers from Chatham accompanied by General Mullaly, Commandant of the Thames and Medway area, visited St Margaret’s church where Cornelius was given a full military funeral, the first in the village for about 30 years. With his coffin draped in the Union Jack and escorted by members of the West Kent Regiment, three volleys were fired over his grave as a final farewell to the Rainham hero of Lucknow.

History Articles

Upchurch Pottery in Rainham

Although the pottery is named after the village of Upchurch the business started in Rainham when Seymour and Dora Wakeley who had an interest in pottery, had a bottle and kiln workshop constructed in a chalk pit just off Seymour Road on Wakeley family land. While designer Edward Spencer gave a helping hand and advice, Dora Wakeley spent her free time obtaining clay and Roman pots from the Upchurch marshes, had her designs made into her own wares and exhibited these in London at places like Crystal Palace. She described her business to the East Kent Gazette dated March 20^th 1920.

“I was first interested in the potter’s art as a hobby. When I started in a very small way before the war I little dreamt that it would develop into a revived history. I enjoyed hunting round museums for designs and most of my models have been copied from Chinese and Korean wares of the 15^th century. I supply Upchurch pottery to several West-End firms and as a result of this fair I have been asked to accept far more orders than I can ever hope to execute.”

At the beginning conditions for producing pottery at the workshop were basic without gas or electricity, kick wheels were used to turn the pots and water was obtained and brought to the workshop from a nearby pond. The coal fired kiln proved to be very unpredictable and the clay obtained locally. Despite these problems Upchurch pottery became well-known far and wide over time.

Potter Ted Baker who resided at Windmill Hill in Upchurch became a major reason why the pottery obtained its fame. He had originally worked with his father in the family flower pot business when he left school. He then spent some time in London where he worked in Reginald Wells’s pottery in Chelsea. Wells became a personal friend of Seymour Wakeley.

Ted Baker returned to Kent from London in 1913 and Seymour Wakeley immediately employed him as a potter at his workshop. The designs Baker worked on were mainly influenced by Greek and Roman vases and he used a style of soft colours with a matt finish. This became a characteristic of Upchurch Pottery. His glaze recipe books show that he used a large amount of boracic which intensifies colour and reduces expansion of the glaze to prevent cracking. The pottery had extraordinary and delicate colouring. The pots were fired to a great heat, up to 2,000 degrees, which caused unexpected colour effects. Dora Wakeley continued to be responsible for designs put into practice by Ted Baker, and designer Edward Spencer advised and collaborated with him with regard to glaze recipes.

During the 1920s Upchurch glazes lost popularity, described by some experts as being sombre and stolid but after 1933 the glazes became more pastel and softer. Ted Baker perfected this characteristic, and the products were exhibited at major trade fairs. His work became very popular and in demand. The pottery obtained so much fame that Queen Mary became a patron.

Due to the deterioration of the Seymour Road building the original site for the Upchurch Pottery was demolished in 1936 and Seymour Wakeley sold the business to Oscar and Grace Davies who opened the Roeginga Pottery in Rainham High Street. It only operated under them for two years but they recruited Ted Baker’s son Edward to manage it. Mrs Alice Winnecott then purchased the pottery, hired the services of Ted Baker and developed the Claverdon Range of pottery which became very popular.  A thatched roof Tudor café and a pottery shop set in gardens and lawn existed close to the Man of Kent pub to attract potential customers travelling along the A2.

Although the Roeginga pottery didn’t function during World War Two it re-opened in 1948 and Ted Baker became the subject of a black and white film made at the pottery which showed the different stages of manufacture in pot making and the business did well with 200 items being produced in 1949, most of which were exported abroad.

During the summer months travellers on the way to the coast frequently stopped to watch Ted Baker at work in the pottery. After making enough money he eventually purchased the business from Mrs Winnecott in 1953. He then ran it as his own business with his two sons and they made pots for clients all over the world but in 1955 he died. Edward Baker junior then bought the business in 1956 and renamed it Rainham Pottery. After 18 more years it finally closed in 1963 mainly due to the competition of cheaper, mass produced ware and the construction of the M2 motorway which took away a lot of trade. Edward Baker continued to run the Roeginga pottery until he retired in 1975.

Today Upchurch pottery is still in demand, a style well-known in the porcelain market nationwide and is recognizable by its distinctive colouring and finishing.

History Articles

Reverend Charles Cobb – Real Life Hero and Long Serving Vicar of Rainham

Born in 1828 and the son of Captain Thomas Cobb of New Romney, he lived until 90 years old and became one of the oldest clergy in the country. He served as vicar of Rainham for 32 years from 1876 to 1908 and became one of the most popular and well respected clergymen to have worked the parish.

Charles Cobb entered the holy orders in 1853 after he had obtained his MA degree at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. After this he held curacies at Halstead, St Nicholas-at-Wade, Lambeth and Minster Sheppey. In 1860 he was appointed Rector at Dymchurch where he remained for sixteen years.

While serving in Dymchurch he carried out a heroic act for which he gained widespread praise and fame. ‘The Sunday Pictorial’ dated 29th March 1936, reported that during a fierce gale on January 5^th 1867 a French lugger named ‘Corrier de Dieppe’ which had been blown badly off course got wrecked on Dymchurch Sands. The coastguards tried to fire a lifeline aboard to rescue the crew but it fell short. After this three of the crew were washed into the sea and drowned but one sailor remained clinging to the rigging. A coastguard named John Batist tried to battle his way to the wreck in rough sea and strong wind but failed. Reverend Cobb, a powerful swimmer, arrived and against the wishes of some parishioners who were also present he took off his coat, dived into the sea and swam to the wreck where he reached the stranded sailor. Soon after this Batist, the coastguard, also reached the vessel and helped Reverend Cobb haul the sailor to safety.

For his act of heroism Reverend Cobb received many awards which included a gold medal from The National Lifeboat Institution in 1867 and the Albert Medal from Napoleon 111 of France. He later had a photograph of himself wearing his medals with a framed certificate from the National Lifeboat Association displayed on the wall at Rainham vicarage. John Batist who had assisted in the rescue received a bronze medal.

Later in 1876 Charles Cobb became vicar of Rainham and got fully involved in the church and local activities. During the late 1870s and early 1880s he played as a successful opening batsman for Rainham Cricket Club and also made many friends in the parish.

After his wife died in 1903 Reverend Cobb continued as vicar of Rainham until 1908 then resigned. Reverend Tamplin succeeded him and married his daughter. Reverend Cobb continued to reside at the vicarage and maintained a role at the church taking services when his health allowed him to do so. He regularly presided over intercession services in the church during World War 1. Held in high esteem during the time he resided in Rainham, he died in 1918 and was buried in the churchyard.

After his death the parishioners of Rainham, as a mark of respect and recognition of his services, presented the church with a new communion table and a communion plate in his memory. David Wood.

History Articles

Christmas 1923 - Butchers Shop in Rainham

It might have been shortly after the end of the First World War but this photo shows a well stocked Rainham butcher's shop in December for Christmas 1923. This Rainham Cooperative shop in 17 Station Road Rainham Kent displays 100% English fare, home killed beef, pork, mutton, turkey, rabbit, duck and home made sausages.

Rainham Co-operative Butchers at 17 Station Road. The photo shows the Christmas 1923 display of 100% English goods including home killed beef, pork, mutton, turkey, rabbit, duck and home made sausages.

The manager was Bert Petts, also pictured are Bill Akehurst and Bob Wade with the delivery bike.

History Articles