W.W.I - Volunteer Training Corps

Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 10th April 1915

Volunteer Training Corps Easter
Parades

On Good Friday the local Volunteer Training Corps fell in at the Drill Hall in the afternoon, and with the "Bantams" marched to St. Clare, Walmer, where in the grounds, kindly lent by Messrs. Aston and White, company drill was very successfully engaged in.

On Easter Monday a good number of the members had given in their names for a march out to Northbourne, the local detachment of the Red Cross Society (Kent 17) and the "Bantams" accompanying the Corps. Falling in at the Drill Hall at 10.30, the Corps marched off under the command of Mr. Gilbert Elliot, Commandant, by way of Telegraph-road, Waterworks-road, and Great Mongeham to Northbourne. Great coats became necessary before reaching Mongeham, but the rainfall was not serious till the destination had been reached. Lunch had been most kindly provided by Mr. F. L. H. Morrice, of the Vines, Northbourne, in a barn, and this fortunately coincided with the period of the heaviest rain shower.

After lunch the Corps fell in for company drill under the Commandant, and afterwards the numbers were augmented by the Northbourne V. T. C. (which forms the 4th platoon of the company) under the Rev. W. M. Shepherd (Rector of Little Mongeham-with-Sutton), platoon commander, and by a few stalwarts of the Deal platoons, who, undeterred by the weather, came out for the drill. Further company drill was then carried out under No. 1 platoon commander (Dr. F. B. Hulke, J.P.) and the Adjutant (Mr. W. Ryder Richardson).

After a cup of tea in the barn, the Corps paraded in the garage yard for the march home and before starting off, the Commandant briefly addressed the men, referring to letters he had received from Lord Harris in regard to the proposal to form a Cinque Ports Regiment of Kent Volunteers, the idea having been favourably received. He afterwards heartily thanked Mr. Morrice for his kind hospitality, and led the men in a round of cheering.

In acknowledging the tribute, Mr. Morrice said he considered it a great privilege to entertain the Corps, composed of men who had come forward and were giving their time and energies in a patriotic cause.

The Commandant afterwards said he hoped the Deal and Walmer platoons would at some future time have the opportunity of returning the compliment by entertaining the Northbourne platoon.

On the return march the Northbourne platoon headed the company as far as the top of Great Mongeham hill, where, lining the roadway, they saluted as the remainder led on. The march, which followed the same route as on the outward journey, was enlivened by the strains of buglers of the Bantams. Not much rain was experienced till Waterworks-road was reached, and apparently there had been a good deal less rain at Northbourne than at Deal.

Had the weather been fine, the first day in the country spent by the Corps would have been a most enjoyable one, but as it was the members had an interesting time of useful instruction and exercise in spite of the rain, and were certainly the better for their day out.