WW1

HORNCHURCH DURING THE GREAT WAR,

Charles Thomas Perfect, (Benham and Company, 1920)

The Cottage Homes of the Parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch.

No record of war-service by Hornchurch people would be complete without reference to the part played by those little "strangers within our gate", the past and present children of the Cottage Homes.

To all who have made acquaintance with this model village in Hornchurch Road, midway between the village and Romford, it will be easily understood that of the hundreds of one-time boys who issued from the Cottage Homes to join the "outer-English" of Canada, and the colonies generally, a goodly number must have borne arms in defence of the principles inculcated in that institution. Indeed, we are not without proof of this, since there is official record of 72 "old boys" who put themselves in touch with the School after joining the colours. This forms the basis of a Roll of Honour, to which almost weekly additions are even now being made. Quite a number of these lads were amongst the first to enlist. Their delight in revisiting the old "home" can better be imagined than described, and the story of the personal achievements of these young men must have yielded much gratification to the staff responsible for their upbringing. the case of one - PTE RICHARD GREY- serves as an illustration. In an interesting correspondence with the superintendent, continued until the time of his death in France, he revealed that two or three years more in Canada would have seen him a man of independent means, That such an untimely fate awaited this fine fellow, places him in the category of those thousands who, having much reason to live, hesitated not to sacrifice his life in the case of the Motherland.

Scatter a thousand or so young lads in the whirlpool of life, here and abroad, and it is not an easy matter to keep a record of their later doings, unless they are prompted to communicate with the Homes, but from what is known we may construct a generous estimate of service under arms by "old boys" from the Cottage Homes.

In our admiration of these young men, we must not overlook the efforts to be of service manifested by the younger ones still in residence at the Homes at the time the drums of war disturbed the air, and during the progress of the world struggle. To the local branch of Queen Mary's Needlework Guild, the little girls at the Homes gave most enthusiastic support, striving mightily to "do their bit". How far these little ones identified themselves with the work of providing comforts for the fighting men, may be answered best by those responsible for the movement, to whom the pile of woollen garments, socks, helmets scarves, etc were dispatched as fast as the busy little fingers could turn them out.

Nor were the boys without their contribution. It fell to them to lead the Sportman's Battalion to their Camp at Grey Towers. The band, under the direction of Mr. H.W. ALDEN (bandmaster), met the battalion on its arrival at Romford Station, with a letter to CO. LORD MAITLAND, offering the service of the lads, which was gladly accepted. To see those little chaps, whose stride was only half the length of that of the men of the battalion, stepping it out, was distinctly inspiring, although one cannot help feeling that the men found short stepping some what trying.

So much for the efforts of the girls and boys in their separate capacities, but September, 1916, provided an incident which called forth their conjoint appreciation. CAPTAIN W. LEEFE ROBINSON (Brilliant site : acepilots.com - have a full story of his exploits and of his untimely demise) (A British Pathe news reel of him at the Cottage Homes Ed.)was well known to the children by name, and the relief of the youngsters, when one of the enemy aircraft had flown its last flight, coupled with the knowledge that its doom had been wrought by a Hornchurch officer, prompted the children to subscribe their pence which, with aid from the staff, resulted in the purchase of a souvenir for the gallant officer whose deed had magnetised their minds. Mr. STEED, the superintendent, was successful in securing the presence of Capt. Robinson at the Homes for the presentation of this token - a silver inkstand - and that day will be memorable to every child present. Two pictures of this event illustrate these pages.

"Another act of thoughtfulness on behalf of these youngsters is disclosed in the following extract from a letter to the Superintendent, from the late Chaplain to the Homes, The Rev. Herbert Dale:-

Please thank the children very much for the 153 coins and the sum of 14s 4d., they have so generously contributed to the National Memorial to Lord KITCHENER It was very good of them, and I think that, however old they may grow up to be, they will always be glad (whenever they think of it), that they did it."

When it is borne in mind that the possession of a coin if any sort, however small, is a rare occurrence with these children, their contribution becomes a sacrifice, and without sacrifice there is no real merit in giving.

In conclusion, let us remember that here, practically on a line of defence, the children of the Homes lived days and nights of possible peril with a confidence and trust in those responsible for their care, which, in its expression, disclosed the admirable management of the institution. That these children were better and safer where they were housed than in the districts from which they hailed, was demonstrated as the months of war rolled on, for none of them suffered at the hands of the enemy, and all enjoyed the unfurling of the flag of victory on Armistice Day, which was to them, and all others who witnessed it, a sign that the war had ceased.

The following are the names of former inmates of the Homes who made the great sacrifice in the War:

BENJAMIN BENTLEY, THOMAS BENTLEY, JOHN BURGESS, ALBERT DEAN, CHARLES R FOAMES, RICHARD GREY, ARCHIBALD JOHNSON, SIDNEY KEMP, FREDERICK POPE, ROBERT ROBERTSON, JOHN STREET, THOMAS TREACHER, ALEXANDER WATSON, THOMAS WELCH.,