Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury 9 October 1915
RECRUITING RALLY AT NORTHBOURNE
The great recruiting rally throughout the country during last week-end had its echo in our own country districts on Sunday 3rd October. Northbourne was the centre for this immediate district, and from there the recruiting party went to Nonington and thence to Eythorne.
It was a lovely afternoon with bright and genial sunshine, when the rally at Northbourne took place. ...... It was the purpose of the rally to bring home with greater emphasis than ever, the urgent need that every enlistable man should join.
The advance guard, consisting of a squadron of West Lancs. Yeomanry, came riding into Northbourne first, and stabled their horses at Mr. Morrice's garage at the Vine.
Shortly before 2 p.m., the appointed, some half dozen private motor cars came into the village street, followed by one of the South Coast motor coaches, and by one of the smart green busses of the British Automobile Traction Co., containing the band of the 3rd Buffs from Dover.
The Northbourne Platoon, of A Company, Cinque Ports Battalion, Kent Volunteer Fencibles, was on parade, under Platoon Commander W. R. Burgess and Sergt. F. E. Green, and lined up on the lawn of the Vine, where the meeting was held. The band gave a selection, at the conclusion of which Lord Northbourne[1] said he thought , as it was Sunday afternoon, they could not do better than begin by singing to the praise of God hymn 166 - "All people that on earth do dwell." This was accordingly done, the band accompanying.
Lord Northbourne was accompanied by Lady Northbourne, and supported by the Rector (Rev. W. Ceidrych Thomas), who wore the War Office brassard, the Mayor of Dover (Councillor E. W. T. Farley), Major Sangster (recruiting officer), Major Heyn (of the Belgian Artillery), Miss Bliss, Mr. A. E. Kennedy, Capt. Garnier, R. M., Lieut. Bagot, R. M., &c. There was a good gathering of the general public, and although in the villages the call for recruits has been well responded to, and it was thought there could scarcely be any enlistable men left, yet some half dozen of the men present came forward, in some cases men whose age should shame younger men without adequate excuse, who still remain unresponsive to the urgent call of their country. .............
[There follows a number of patriotic speeches by Lord Northbourne, Mr. Crabb of the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, Major Heyn of the Belgian artillery, and Lady Northbourne].
Cheers for Lord Northbourne and other speakers having been given, and an especially hearty one for Lady Northbourne. Men who had agreed to enlist came forward, and Lord and Lady Northbourne shook hands heartily with them as they went on to the platform.
Lord Northbourne, in returning thanks, thanked Mr. Morrice, on whose lawn they had met, remarking that his patriotic enthusiasm would have rejoiced in such a gathering had he been in Northbourne. ..........
The band played "The Lost Chord." And the demonstration concluded with "God save the King," all three verses, at Lady Northbourne's insistent request, being given and heartily joined in by the company.
Anything within [ ] has been added by myself.
[1] - Lord Northbourne - Walter Henry James, 1846 - 1923, 2nd Baron.