Australia Day 1917 in London.

Yesterday, 26th January is Australia Day. To celebrate this event in 1917 events were held all over London. 'The Times' carried this report in anticipation of the day.

“Wattle Day

Plans for Australian Festival Today.

To-day is Wattle Day – Australia Day, and elaborate arrangements of the Australian festival in London, though the wearing of the wattle (or mimosa) will probably not be very general. The Anzac Club and Buffet will hold an “Anzac Fair” at Selfridges’s, Oxford Street, in aid of the funds of the buffet, which caters regularly for about 6,000 Australian soldiers, sailors and nurses a week. No charges are made at the buffet, but during the seven months ending September the guests voluntarily contributed nearly £1,000 towards the funds.

Friends of Australia now in London are invited by the Rector of St. Dunstan-in-the-East, the Rev. A.G.B. West, A.C.F. and the churchwardens to attend the annual commemoration of Foundation Day at noon, at St. Dunstan-in-the-East, E.C. His Majesty’s Theatre, as stated in The Times yesterday, has been placed at the disposal of the Australian Y.M.C.A. for a matinee performance of Chu Chin Chow, and Australian troops, with their band, will march from Horseferry road to the theatre arriving there at 1.15.

Another important function arranged for today is the annual “Corroboree,” or dance and social gathering, to be given by the Australian Natives Association at the Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street. At last years “Corroboree,” which was the first of its kind held in London, there was an attendance of about 2,000. At the Comedy Theatre tonight Australians in uniform will be admitted half-price to the revue See-Saw.”

Belgian Girl caught spying by Australian.

This article comes from “OVER THERE" WITH THE AUSTRALIANS by CAPTAIN R. HUGH KNYVETT. He was an ANZAC Scout and Intelligence Officer, 15th Battalion A.I.F.

Captain Knyvett was able to identify a Belgian girl who was spying for the enemy and subsequently arrested her, this was the story: -

“One of the hardest things I ever did was to arrest a young Belgian girl nineteen years of age who undoubtedly was the means of the death of thousands of our boys. It was in this wise. One night I observed a light a good way behind our trenches go out then come again. I watched it very carefully, and found it was signalling by the Morse code with dashes ten seconds long and the dots five. If you were not watching it very carefully you would never have dreamt it was anything but a flicker of light. The letters I read were--NRUDTVEAUAOILN, which, when decoded, gave important information regarding the movement of troops.

I took a line through some trees of the direction from which the light came and walked toward it. Just off an old drain I found an overturned wagon with a loophole cut through the backboard. There were footprints in the drain, and the grass was pressed down where a body had been lying. For five nights I lay in wait, my hopes keyed up to the highest point of expectation. At last to me was to fall the good fortune of capturing a spy-perhaps to end the leakage of information of our plans that we knew the Germans were getting. But on these five nights nothing happened.

The day afterward, some boys of a battery whom I asked to watch this drain caught an old farmer in it. This farmer, however, who lived next door to our brigade headquarters had been carefully watched, and the information had come from outside the zone which he never left. Some one must have brought the information to him. Everybody using those roads had to have a passport issued by theFrench intelligence service, and countersigned by the intelligence officer of the area. Elimination narrowed suspicion to a paper girl who, it was found, sold out her papers round the batteries and billets at ten o'clock, and did not return until after three. The excuse she gave was that she was visiting her brother's grave, but on looking up her records we found that she had never had a brother.

One day I kept her in sight on the road while I rode across the fields. After she entered the house where she was living at Estaires I followed and opened the door. As soon as she saw me she fainted. I blew my whistle, and on arrival of the picket we searched the house and found the German code with some maps and other incriminating documents. I never did a harder task in my life than hand that girl over to the French authorities for possible execution. She was a very pretty, happy little girl, red-haired and blue-eyed, and, although one could show no pity because the safety and life of thousands were at stake, yet it wrung the heart to think of the wastage of the young, bright life, the victim of German gold, and the treachery that is the handmaiden of war, and preys on the weakness of the moral nature.”

Sister Ann by Edward Dyson.

This is another great poem by Edward Dyson from “Hello Soldier”.

Every time I read it I laugh. Edward Dyson had a wonderful way of capturing humour and emotion. It is a great tribute to all the nursing staff. I love the lines:

She ain't a beaut, she's thirty two,
She scales eleven stone;
But, 'struth, I didn't think it true
There was such women grown!
She's nurse 'n' sister, mum 'n' dad,
'N' all that straight 'n' fine
In every girl I ever had.


SISTER ANN.

I'M lyin' in a narrow bed,
'N' starin' at a wall.
Where all is white my plastered head
Is whitest of it all.
My life is jist a whitewashed blank,
With flamin' spurts of pain.
I dunno who I've got to thank,
I've p'raps been trod on by a tank,
Or caught out in the rain
When skies were peltin' fish-plates, bricks
'n' lengths of bullock-chain.

I'm lyin' here, a sulky swine,
'N' hatin' of the bloke
Who's in the doss right next to mine
With 'arf his girders broke.
He never done no 'arm t me,
'N' he's pertickler ill;
But I have got him snouted, see,
'N' all old earth beside but she
Come with the chemist's swill,
'N' puts a kind, soft 'and on mine, 'n' all
my nark is still.

She ain't a beaut, she's thirty two,
She scales eleven stone;
But, 'struth, I didn't think it true
There was such women grown!
She's nurse 'n' sister, mum 'n' dad,
'N' all that straight 'n' fine
In every girl I ever had.
When Gabr'el comes, 'n' all the glad
Young saints are tipped the sign,
You'll see this donah take her place, first
angel in the line!

She's sweet 'n' cool, her touch is dew--
Wet lilies on yer brow.
(Jist 'ark et me what never knew
Of lilies up to now).
She fits your case in 'arf a wink,
'N' knows how, why, 'n' where.
If you are five days gone in drink,
N' hoverin' on perdition's brink,
It is her brother there.
God how pain will take a man, and
He has spoke with her!

I dunno if she ever sleeps
Ten minutes at a stretch.
A dozen times a night she creeps
To soothe a screamin' wretch
Who has a tiger-headed Hun
A-gnawin' at his chest.
'N' when the long, 'ard flght is won,
'N' he is still 'n' nearly done,
She smiles down on his rest,
'N' minds me of a mother with a baby at her
breast.

The curly kid we cuddled when
There was no splendid row
(It seemed a little matter then,
But feels so wondrous now).
It's part of her. She's Joan iv Ark,
Flo Nightingale, all fair
'N' dinkum dames who've made their mark
If she comes tip-toe in the dark,
We blighters feel her there.
The whole pack perks up like a bird, 'n'
sorter takes the air.

She chats you in a 'Ighland botch;
But if our Sis saw fit
To pitch Hindoo instead of Scotch
I'd get the hang of it,
Because her heart it is that talks
What now is plain to me.
At war where bloody murder stalks,
'N' Nick his hottest samples hawks.
I have been given to see
What simple human kindness is, what
brotherhood may be.

A Day in the Life of the Kaiser

This article appeared in the Kildare Observer in September 1914. It gives the reader a little taste of what ‘The Kaiser’ was all about.

Apparently it was English to have a morning bath but not eggs for breakfast.

"A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE KAISER

The War Lord of the German Empire is a most remarkable man, whose energy is proverbial. He never rests, and professes the deepest horror of idleness. Some call him a genius, others insist that he is merely a paranoiac. Certain it is that he is very vain, and always to be first in everything he does.

He rises at five in the summer and six in the winter. Two or three nobles wait on him, and with their assistance it takes about 15 minutes to get dressed. The only English institution he tolerates is his morning tub. One hour after rising he sits down to his breakfast, which used to be a very substantial meal, but of late has been cut down by his physician's orders to a cup of coffee, with a couple of eggs and some bread and butter."

Arrested carrying a camera near fortifications.

This article appeared in the West Wimmera Mail, Australia on August 28, 1914. Early in the war there was a lot of fear and suspicion, spies were found everywhere.

Poor Horace Woolmer arrested for carrying a camera near ‘fortifications’ on holiday. A bit silly, some would say, but it could have been a scene from the ’39 steps’.

“Mr. Horace WOOLMER, who is away on holidays, in a letter to his parents at Natimuk, says that when at Botany Bay, New South Wales, he was nearly being placed under arrest as a spy. He had his camera with him and was in the neighborhood of fortifications, when, being regarded with suspicion, he was accosted by a party of cadets.

Fortunately he was able to satisfy the authorities that he came from the peaceful little village of Natimuk, and that he had not the slightest intention of giving the internal arrangements of his country away. “

Women Spy from Pevensey.

This article from the Eastbourne Gazette published on 11th November 1914 concerns an ex-Eastbourne resident who was convicted of spying in France.

She sounds like a very resourceful lady and I like the comment that when she lived in Pevensey she styled herself as a ‘baroness’, I would think that typical of many at that time.


“Women Spy Sentenced

In a letter dated November 8 and sent from Paris, H.J. Greenwood (a correspondent of the “Daily Express”) states that a women spy has been caught and sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of a thousand francs. The allegations made against her are that she dressed as a Red Cross nurse, met British wounded at the Railway Station (Gare du Nord), invited British officers to dine with her and endeavoured to wheedle military information out of them. Mr. Greenwall adds: “This woman’s card has been shown to me by an officer. Her real name is Juliette Zarkowska. She is the divorced wife of a German officer and is of British and Russian descent.”

It is stated that the women formerly resided in the Pevenesey District and styled herself as a baroness. She left Eastbourne before the war began.”

Registration of Aliens.

The Eastbourne Gazette at the outbreak of war published this article on the criteria for all Aliens to register. The rules were very stringent putting the onus on the Landlord to inform the Police of any Aliens residing at their address.


"REGISTRATION OF ALIENS

“By the Alien Registration Act 1914, all aliens have to register and sign the Register with the chief of the Police of their district, viz., Major E.J.J.Teale (Chief Constable), Police Station, Eastbourne and in default of such registration liable to a £100 fine.
All aliens are therefore informed that they must register themselves at the Police Station.”

Edward J.J. Teale, Major
Chief Constable and Registration Officer,

Section 20 (2) - Where an alien is lodging with or living as a member of the household of any other person it shall be the duty of that person either himself to furnish with respect to the alien the particular a foresaid or to give advice of the presence of the alien in his household to the registration office,

(3)- Where an alien has a household he shall furnish the particulars as aforesaid not as respecting himself but as respecting every alien who is living as a member of his household.

In addition to the obligation to register himself wherever resident an alien enemy may not reside in prohibited area for more than four days from the date of the order without a special permit from the registration officer; and he may not travel more than five miles from the place of residence without a similar permit.

Further an alien must not be in possession of any specific articles without permit."

Sea Front Lighting

Early in the war the Admiralty gave out instruction to all costal towns to minimise the risk of invasion and attack by Zeppelins (sea or air).

This article in the Eastbourne Gazette publishes the Admiralties orders and the response of the ‘Watch’ Committee.

"Sea Front Lights

Electric Festoons Discontinued

On Friday the Eastbourne Watch Committee had under consideration the notice respecting the above issued by the Secretary of the Admiralty:-

For general safety of the community the country being at war municipal authorities are requested to reduce as much as possible the number of powerful electric lights on piers, esplanades and public places which are visible from seaward or from the air.

The committee decided to abandon altogether the festooned illumination of the parades and also, at 10 pm, each evening, to reduce the other seafront lighting.

The decision was acted upon the first time on Friday night.

A modification of the pier lighting was made on Thursday night when many more powerful lights were extinguished at 9 o’clock. The same course is to be followed regularly."

Provision for Wives and Families of Soldiers.

This article was published in the Eastbourne Gazette on 9th September 1914. At the beginning of the war there was confusion about the exact allowances given to families, as men joined up. The Gazette published the figures as an encouragement and reassurance for men to enlist.

Provision for Wives and Families of Soldiers

There is a general feeling that the exact provision for wives and families of soldiers should be widely known:

Separation allowance –
for wife, 7s. 7d.;
wife and one child, 8s. 9d.;
wife and two children, 9s. 11d.;
wife and three children, 11s. 1d.;
wife and four children, 12s. 3d.

Compulsory allotment from soldiers pay (on going abroad). –
for wife, 3s. 6d.;
wife and one child, 4s. 1d.;
wife and two children, 4s. 8d.;
wife and three children, 5s. 3d.;
wife and four children, 5s. 3d.

If there is no other source of income the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association allows. –
for wife, 1s. 5d.;
wife and one child, 1s. 8d.;
wife and two children, 1s. 11d.;
wife and three children, 2s. 2d.;
wife and four children, 2s. 6d.

Making a total weekly income of. –
for wife, 12s. 6d.;
wife and one child, 14s. 6d.;
wife and two children, 16s. 6d.;
wife and three children, 18s. 6d.;
wife and four children, 20s.

When the rent is more than 5s. a week, an additional grant may be made by the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association

New Years Day 1916 - General Booth of the Salvation Army.

New Years Day 1916 gave an opportunity for General Booth of the Salvation Army to encourage his members on the struggle ahead.


General Booth’s Call to Faith.

General Booth in his New Year message to the Salvation Army says:-

“We may have some ‘rocky’ times in 1916. Very likely! Men’s hearts will melt with fear. Perhaps so! Wars and rumours of wars will assail them. All manners of voices will cry, “Lo here. Lo there!” Many old landmarks will be removed and some old boundaries will disappear. One sun after another will go down in the night of grief and doubt and fear. The great deeps of human sorrow and bitterness will be broken up in many souls. I call you to a year of faith in God in 1916. We shall do very little without that, but I call you also to a year of burning love of your brothers. If we are to have a New Year that will yield the right record, it must be a year of Peace.”

New Years Day 1916 - The Primrose League.

New Years Day 1916 saw a few notable speeches published in The Times. This sobering speech given to the Primrose League by its Grand Master Lord Curzon sums the feeling of rugged determination which was now needed by all.


Lord Curzon’s Message

Duty, Faith And Endurance.

Lord Curzon of Kedleston, the Grand Master, in his New Year Message to the Primrose League. Says: -

"We have made further acquaintance with the methods of warfare, abominable in their conception and fiendish in their execution that we know now to be the inseparable manifestation of the German spirit and the world has redoubled the execration with which it regards these atrocious crimes. But we have also learned the extent of the enemy’s resources and the determination of his fighting and although, in both respects, signs of weakness are visible, we realize that every ounce of effort that we can put forward, as individuals and as a nation, will be required and that greater sacrifices and sufferings will have to endured before the only peace that we can so much as contemplate is seen on the horizon.

The watchwords for the New Year are Duty, Faith and Endurance and no man or woman has an excuse for not listening to the appeal. "

(The Primrose League was an organisation for spreading Conservative principles in Great Britain. It was founded in 1883 and active until the mid 1990s. It was finally wound up in December 2004).