AUGUST
3rd - The streets of Marlow are busy as crowds gather to watch the arrival of the advance party of what will be no less than 3,700 men of Berks, Bucks, Oxford and Gloucestershire battalions of the South Western Infantry Brigade (territorials). They will be attending their annual training camp at Bovingdon Green. The arrival of the territorials had been delayed and uncertain, to the consternation of local traders who looked forward to a significant boost to trade whenever soldiers encamped in the area. The Marlow men march straight to camp, others will arrive by train. A band plays music to welcome the arrivals at the station. The site has previously been used for military purposes. For example, in Autumn 1913, the Grenadier Guards had held their annual training camp at Bovingdon Green and Marlow Common.
4TH - War on Germany declared. The men encamped at Bovingdon received immediate orders to up sticks and return to their barrack to await further instructions. They leave quickly early the next morning, before most residents are awake.
- Work to commandeer local horses for military service begins, to the annoyance of some.
- 39 extra special constables are sworn in at a special sitting of the Marlow Petty Sessions.
- the Marlow War Relief Commitee has first meeting, in the Institute (now the Library) John Langley is elected its head. It has a Recruiting sub committee too. Its purpose is to coordinate with the district and national war relief fund to raise money to deal with cases for relief and other emergencies caused by war.
- A Belgian flag is flown from the flagpole in the Enclosure (the Causeway)
SEPTEMBER -
- Armed forces recruitment ad appears in local newspapers and in posters pasted up around the town. 100,000 men are needed, age 19-35, or up to age 45 if an ex soldier or to age 50 if former NCO. Any man wishing to sign up could head to the post office to find details of nearest active recruiting officer or they could head to any military barracks and volunteer in person (The recruiting officer was Col. Sergt. H. Frith of Maisonette, Newtown, Marlow). Anyone under 5ft 6" in height or who didn't meet the minimum chest measurement would have their services declined for now. Frith sends a large contingent of men to Oxford to join the new army almost immediately. Most pass their medical exam.
- Open air recruitment meeting is held in the Market Square. A very large attendance is reported. Patriotic music is played before and after rousing speeches by among others, Sir George Higginson. He urges women to exhort their menfolk to enlist. (Marlow had had a branch of the National Service League from at least 1910. They campaigned for compulsory military service during peacetime for males, in the Territorials. Woman could also join this league to promote it).
- The sight of a new Army Farman Biplane flying over the town causes "considerable excitement". Even more so when the plane descends and lands in a meadow near the station, in order to complete some minor repairs. During its stay of about an hour, an eager crowd gathers. Dr Dickson hosts the two pilots - Lieutenant Gould and Sergeant Barr from Hendon - to tea before they continue on their way to Brooklands. Before they leave, they make several passes over the town. A few days later, many residents rush outside to see another bi-plane pass over town.
- Marlow football club suspends playing of matches, some of the team already having enlisted. The other minor Marlow football clubs such as Marlow Wednesday and Marlow United follow suit.
- The parish church announces that until further notice the first verse of the national anthem will be sung immediately before the blessing.
- The Marlow Urban district council display a "roll of honour" in their offices at 59, High Street. This lists Marlow men on active service, including those who were already serving when war broke out. On September 26, the roll lists 250 names, of whom 100 had enlisted since the war began. The list includes 7 members of the Bowles family.
- The War Relief Committee have a depot in Victoria Road where needlework tasks can be assigned to the woman of Marlow who have already lost their employment as a result of the war - and who are not in reciept of any other aid. The materials produced are to provide hospitals and similar institutions with the items they need. Much of the work will be to make clothing which will be distributed by the Red Cross. They also aim to offer first aid and nursing training.
Applications to Mrs Dickson, The Gables. [Wife of Dr John Dunbar Dickson]
- A Marlow private in the Royal Berks writes home and describes his experience at the Battle of Mons as "too awful to describe". He is injured in the leg.
- A German Army reservist is reported detained at Marlow. They are subsequently sent to a Military Aliens camp at Newquay.
OCTOBER
- The bullet extracted from the shoulder of Private H Tubb at the Battle of Aisne is on display in the window of the shop of Walter Davis in the High Street. He is recovering in hospital at Wandsworth.
NOVEMBER
- A Marlow committee organised to support and house Belgian refugees has now recieved 25 Belgian nationals aged from 3 weeks old to a grandmother. They are placed in a house in Glade Road, given over solely to their use as well as in the homes of volunteers.
- Three members of Marlow fire brigade have passed their Red Cross Ambulance training and fitness assessments and are now serving on the front (Toovey, Faulkner and Clisby).
DECEMBER
- It's confirmed that the first 25 wounded soldiers, all Belgians, have arrived at Bisham Abbey which has been turned into a Red Cross hospital.
- Special prayers said at Christmas services in parish churches.
Written and researched by Kathryn Day.
For other posts on Marlow in the First World War, see here: 1915 1916 1917 1918
First world war memorial tablet at the Brewery Here
To find an ancestor look at the Person Index option on the drop down menu for all mentions of them on the blog.
To read other posts relating to Marlow's military history or everyday life here in the past, see the post listing here
SOURCES / FOR FURTHER RESEARCH :
Bucks Herald August 15, September 5, 22 & 26 1914, copies held at the British Library Archive accessed online via the BNA November 2020.
Reading Mercury February 14, September 5th and 12th 1914, as above.
Bucks Herald Oct 10th & November 7 1914 as above.
War Weekly, November 1914
South Bucks Standard - April 15 1910, as above.
© Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to quote from this research providing you link back here to retain credit to this blog and the the original sources used for research.
