Photos from 1914 to 1918

[Kieron_P]

Hi there,

I'm working on a series of images on behalf of East Sussex Council as part of their commemoration of WW1. These images blend photographs of Hastings and St Leonards taken in the war years over the same scene today. Examples can be seen here: http://www.eastsussexww1.org.uk/east-su ... mber-1916/

All the original images are taken from the Hastings & St Leonards Pictorial Advertiser. I've lived in Hastings all my life so am familiar with a lot of the town, but there are photos of locations that I'm struggling to identify.

I appreciate that much of the town has changed in 100 years, but any ideas or suggestions about the images I upload would be gratefully received. There are quite a few, so I'll post new images from time to time. Thanks for your help.

Image 1 - the Provincial Hotel. A Google search suggests that this may have been what now is the Brass Monkey, but the architectural details are a lot different from the Brass Monkey's. Particularly the brickwork and pillars.

Image 2 - Royal Sussex Recruiting. I thought at first this was taken in the town centre looking towards where Cafe Nero is now, but I'm pretty sure that is incorrect. The article offered no clues as to where they were marching other than they were leaving Hastings to go recruiting...

[Gerry Glyde]

It looks as if they are marching away from the Queens Hotel towards Havelock Road with the corner of Robertson St in the mid distance.

The Provincial was at 18 Havelock Road which should enable the building to be identified. Quite a few of the buildings have had a new frontages, and in very recent years new build. I am not local so can not check myself

[whiffler]

In image 2 several are wearing a badge on the right breast.

This is the Imperial Service badge for early volunteers to serve overseas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territori ... vice_Badge

Maybe the rest were still under training, or were as yet uncommitted.

[Gerry Glyde]

The news from April 1916

There were several columns in the Hastings Observer devoted to hearings of the Military Tribunal hearimg appeals on behalf of men who had been called up. On 15 April an iron monger aged 30 who weighed 7 stone and was only 5 ft 2 inches was given a conditional exemption. A builder whose three sons were already serving applied on behalf of his foreman plumber aged 35. He had been unable to recruit any plumbers to replace those who had gone, was exempted for 3 months.

A single man aged 40 who was responsible for the upkeep of his 70 yr old mother and disabled brother who was unfit to work, was given a one month exemption, after which he would have to go.

On 8 April a by-line described the applications as "some amusing and some otherwise". A farmer from Hollington village applied for his last remaining employee able to milk his 40 cows; he complained that he had been unable to recruit and that "women were no use because they would not get up in the morning"! Despite the man being partly disabled by reason of a leg injury was ordered to go. Meanwhile a young man who weighed just 6 and a half stone, claim was immediately rejected and told that he would put on weight while training.

One correspondent wrote to the paper about an issue on which he felt must have been very important. Should an apostrophe be placed between the 'd' and the s'' in St Leonards? His conclusion, having looked at many documents over the centuries, concluded that the correct form was St Leonard's.

A very strange case in the magistrates was that of a clergyman who was convicted under the Defence of the Realm Act for giving alcohol to a soldier who was recuperating from his injuries. He was fined the sum of £25 a not inconsiderable sum. Also in the dock were three lads who were fined 2s & 6d each for cycling on the pavement, a problem still encountered today. Lastly a man was sentenced to 14 days hard labour for begging. He claimed that he was merely singing when he was arrested in Milward Crescent. He had 11 pence on him that should have been sufficient to avoid conviction under the Vagrancy Act of 1824 , which is I believe still in force.

Ces't la vie!

[whiffler]

A little background .....

Those short &/or slight were often not allowed to sign on, but were committed and vocal enough to provoke the army to form so-called Bantam battalions, nicknamed for the small aggressive fighting cocks.

Many were from the poorer parts of society, and their time in the army (with relatively better food & medical support) meant that many quickly grew to become a more standard size.

[Kieron_P]

It looks as if they are marching away from the Queens Hotel towards Havelock Road with the corner of Robertson St in the mid distance.

The Provincial was at 18 Havelock Road which should enable the building to be identified. Quite a few of the buildings have had a new frontages, and in very recent years new build. I am not local so can not check myself

Thanks Gerry, you could be right about both locations. I'll have a wander around the town centre and take a closer look. Google street maps can't always be relied upon to give the right angle!

Here is another image of the officers of the 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. It doesn't say where it was taken, so it's possible that it may not be in Hastings or St Leonards - or even the UK. Does anyone recognise it from around this area?

[Gerry Glyde]

Youngest soldier aged 12 when he signed up. Not from Hastings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youngest_ ... orld_War_I

How could it be that a child would want to go to war. It is still a question today.

Who was the youngest soldier to go from Hastings and what happened to him?

[whiffler]

Roy Fazan (rear rank) was killed at Aubers Ridge 9 May 1915

Found on http://www.wadhurst.info/whs/aubers/mjhtalk.htm where lower down we have the same shot, stating it's at the Tower of London early February 1915 (they embarked 19 Feb)

If you use bing maps and use the birds eye view, you can rotate and see the steps are to the barrack block that looks to the NE corner of the White Tower



PS - history of CP Bn in WW1 written by Col Fazan, bro of Roy and also in action at Aubers

[jimbreeds]

Not sure this helps you much more than previous answers, but here's the Provincial in a 1923 street directory. Havelock Road, as we know.
Best regards,
Jim

[jimbreeds]

Also a 1923 advert, just FYI.