Supplying Drink to Convalescing Soldiers

This article was published in the Eastbourne Gazette in June 1915. The Convalescent Hospital, Summerdown Camp was opened in April 1915.

The request from both the camp commandant and the Officer in Charge of troops at the Royal Engineers base to stop public houses serving alcohol to soldiers carried enough weight for the motion to be agreed. But reading further reports in the newspaper during the war, I think it very unlikely that this action carried with it any weight at all, as numerous cases were brought before the courts of alcohol related crime committed by drunken soldiers!!


"Treating Wounded Soldiers

Licensed Victuallers Wise Decision

At a meeting of the members of the Eastbourne and District Licensed Victuallers Association held on Monday at the Royal Hotel, Terminus Road under the presidency of Councillor Horace Morgan, the following correspondence was read:-

Officer in command troops,
Ordnance Yard,
Eastbourne,
June 5, 1915

To Mr H Morgan, Archery Hotel, Eastbourne.

Sir,
I beg to draw your attention to the enclosed copy of a letter from Major J.W. Bostock, commandant, Convalescent Hospital, Summerdown Camp and should esteem it a favour if you could instruct your members not to serve convalescents directly or indirectly, with drink and use the utmost discretion in trying to carry out the commandant wishes.

Yours faithfully

Lieutenant-Colonel W.F. Cheesewright, R.E. Officer commanding troops, Eastbourne.


Convalescent Hospital,
Eastbourne
June 4, 1915.

To the officer in command of troops, Ordnance Yard, Eastbourne.

Sir,
I have the honour to bring to your notice the importance of keeping men from this hospital from promiscuous drinking in the town.
I would urge that the licensed victuallers of Eastbourne be approached on this question, with a view to their refusing the men drink in the interests of the patients themselves and also the good of the nation.

Your obedient servant,
Major J.W. Bostock, R.A.M.C., Commandant Convalescent Hospital.


After discussing the matter it was decided by an almost unanimous vote, there being only two dissentients, to refrain from serving men in blue invalid uniforms."