World War I 1914 - 1918 Commemorative Centenary Programme Contents
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Reigate & Banstead Remembers World War I 1914 - 1918 Commemorative Centenary programme Contents Introduction from the Leader 2 Events in the borough to mark, 11 commemorate and remember How it started How it started 3 Banstead war memorial 13 Thousands of local troops march 4 Since 1815, the balance of power in an intentionally unacceptable through Reigate 200 war graves 14 Europe had been maintained by a ultimatum to provoke war. Although Local recruitment 6 Involving the local community 15 series of treaties. In 1888 Wilhelm II Serbia agreed to eight of the ten terms, was crowned ‘German Emperor and on 28 July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Hospitals 7 ‘Adopt a grave’ project 15 King of Prussia’ and moved from a Empire declared war on Serbia, Billeting of troops 8 In the next issue 16 policy of maintaining the status quo to producing a cascade effect across a more aggressive position. He did not Europe. Russia, bound by treaty to Key dates for 1914 10 renew a treaty with Russia, aligned Serbia, declared war with Austro- Germany with the declining Austro- Hungary, Germany declared war with Hungarian Empire and started to build Russia and France declared war with a Navy rivalling that of Britain’s. These Germany. actions greatly concerned Germany’s Germany’s army crossed into neutral neighbours, who quickly forged new Introduction from the Leader Belgium in order to reach Paris, forcing treaties and alliances in the event of Britain to declare war with Germany war. Reigate & Banstead Borough Council This publication would not be possible (due to the Treaty of London (1839) is very proud of the part that our without the help of the local history On 28 June 1914 Franz Ferdinand the whereby Britain agreed to defend residents played in the First World War societies and other local residents, and heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne Belgium in the event of invasion). By 4 and determined that their bravery is our thanks go to all those involved. We was assassinated by the Bosnian- August 1914, Britain and much of remembered. Between 2014 and want to hear your stories too, so please Serb nationalist group Young Bosnia Europe were pulled into a war which 2018 the Council is planning a range of get in touch and let us know so they w h o w a n t e d p a n - S e r b i a n would last 1,566 days, cost an activities and events across the can be included in future editions. independence. Franz Joseph, the estimated 10 million lives and borough so that people of all ages can Austro-Hungarian Emperor (with the 28,938,073 casualties or missing on come together to mark, commemorate backing of Germany), responded both sides. and remember the lives of those who aggressively, presenting Serbia with lived, fought and died in the conflict. Cllr Victor Broad We want to give people an Leader, understanding of what the Great War Reigate & meant to the soldiers fighting, those left Banstead at home and how things changed as a Borough Council result of the war. We wish to document these stories for future generations, so they are remembered. This brochure is the copyright of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and MAD Ideas®. No reproduction, scanning or copying by any means, in any form, of any part of this brochure is permitted without the express written permission of the publishers. The content is based on the latest information available at time of print. Under no circumstances can MAD Ideas or Reigate & Banstead Borough Council accept any liability for any loss or damage of any kind which may arise or result from any error in, or omission of, any listing or content. Contents Introduction from the Leader 2 Events in the borough to mark, 11 commemorate and remember How it started How it started 3 Banstead war memorial 13 Thousands of local troops march 4 Since 1815, the balance of power in an intentionally unacceptable through Reigate 200 war graves 14 Europe had been maintained by a ultimatum to provoke war. Although Local recruitment 6 Involving the local community 15 series of treaties. In 1888 Wilhelm II Serbia agreed to eight of the ten terms, was crowned ‘German Emperor and on 28 July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Hospitals 7 ‘Adopt a grave’ project 15 King of Prussia’ and moved from a Empire declared war on Serbia, Billeting of troops 8 In the next issue 16 policy of maintaining the status quo to producing a cascade effect across a more aggressive position. He did not Europe. Russia, bound by treaty to Key dates for 1914 10 renew a treaty with Russia, aligned Serbia, declared war with Austro- Germany with the declining Austro- Hungary, Germany declared war with Hungarian Empire and started to build Russia and France declared war with a Navy rivalling that of Britain’s. These Germany. actions greatly concerned Germany’s Germany’s army crossed into neutral neighbours, who quickly forged new Introduction from the Leader Belgium in order to reach Paris, forcing treaties and alliances in the event of Britain to declare war with Germany war. Reigate & Banstead Borough Council This publication would not be possible (due to the Treaty of London (1839) is very proud of the part that our without the help of the local history On 28 June 1914 Franz Ferdinand the whereby Britain agreed to defend residents played in the First World War societies and other local residents, and heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne Belgium in the event of invasion). By 4 and determined that their bravery is our thanks go to all those involved. We was assassinated by the Bosnian- August 1914, Britain and much of remembered. Between 2014 and want to hear your stories too, so please Serb nationalist group Young Bosnia Europe were pulled into a war which 2018 the Council is planning a range of get in touch and let us know so they w h o w a n t e d p a n - S e r b i a n would last 1,566 days, cost an activities and events across the can be included in future editions. independence. Franz Joseph, the estimated 10 million lives and borough so that people of all ages can Austro-Hungarian Emperor (with the 28,938,073 casualties or missing on come together to mark, commemorate backing of Germany), responded both sides. and remember the lives of those who aggressively, presenting Serbia with lived, fought and died in the conflict. Cllr Victor Broad We want to give people an Leader, understanding of what the Great War Reigate & meant to the soldiers fighting, those left Banstead at home and how things changed as a Borough Council result of the war. We wish to document these stories for future generations, so they are remembered. This brochure is the copyright of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and MAD Ideas®. No reproduction, scanning or copying by any means, in any form, of any part of this brochure is permitted without the express written permission of the publishers. The content is based on the latest information available at time of print. Under no circumstances can MAD Ideas or Reigate & Banstead Borough Council accept any liability for any loss or damage of any kind which may arise or result from any error in, or omission of, any listing or content. Thousands of local troops march through Reigate “Soon after midday on September 9th 1914, the first bodies of troops entered Reigate and then onwards during the The day after the declaration of war, 5 afternoon they were followed up by the August 1914, “A” company of the 5th remaining detachments of the body Battalion, Queens Royal West Surrey which made up the column” Surrey Regiment grouped at Reigate Drill Mirror, 11 September 1914. Hall. Just before 4pm the Mayor and Many thousands of Territorials marched Mayoress arrived and a lone bugle from Aldershot to Dover for embarkation sounded as the men filed out to march to France and the Western Front. A few to the railway station via Lesbourne weeks before, they had been clerks, Road, Bell Street, through the tunnel postmen and shopkeepers. As each and up London Road. They assembled company, battery or troop passed on the platform of Reigate Station and through the densely packed streets they after a few choruses of popular songs a were greeted with cheers of pride by the train from Guildford took them to residents. Reigate High Street rang to Canterbury, the first stop that would the strains of ‘Tipperary’ and other end for some in India and others in patriotic songs. Mesopotamia. The average age of these young men was 23. The troops were billeted overnight in church premises in Nutley Lane and the Reigate Lodge Estate. Local people provided meals, blankets and mattresses for the troops. War refugees had started arriving in the borough by September and there were reports of 57 refugees from Belgium, Holland and France being given hospitality at the Moat House in Reigate. Thousands of local troops march through Reigate “Soon after midday on September 9th 1914, the first bodies of troops entered Reigate and then onwards during the The day after the declaration of war, 5 afternoon they were followed up by the August 1914, “A” company of the 5th remaining detachments of the body Battalion, Queens Royal West Surrey which made up the column” Surrey Regiment grouped at Reigate Drill Mirror, 11 September 1914. Hall. Just before 4pm the Mayor and Many thousands of Territorials marched Mayoress arrived and a lone bugle from Aldershot to Dover for embarkation sounded as the men filed out to march to France and the Western Front.