𝄞 They were called in from the glen,
And the country found them ready
At the stirring call for men.
Let no tears add to their hardship,
As the soldiers pass along,
And although your heart is breaking
Make it sing this cheery song:
Keep the home fires burning
While your hearts are yearning,
Though the lads are far away,
They dream of home.
There’s a silver lining,
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out,
Till the boys come home. 𝄞
1918
January 15th
The Mayor asks that people reduce their meat consumption by a half, and that office workers by even more if possible so that manual workers benefit.29th January
All Swindon homes now have to use a ration card:
‘In order to avoid queues and to ensure an equitable distribution …
the Food Control Committee have decided to bring a Rationing Scheme into operation at once …
You are to state on this card the number of persons living in your house, including lodgers or boarders … ‘
Town Hall 29 January 1918
‘Dear Miss Handley … I wish to thank you for and the committee for the great kindness you all have shown to me during the time I have been in Germany.21st March
If it was not for the parcels you sent to me….
I think I would have been starved to death … ‘
‘As expected, the Germans began their attack at 4 a.m. on March 21st’ –
our Wiltshire troops ‘were surrounded and hopelessly situated;
permission to break through was therefore given to those who could get back … ‘:
200 men of Swindon taken prisoner in this, the Second Battle of the Somme; only thirty of the Wiltshires will make it back.
𝄞
If you want to find the old battalion,
I know where they are, I know where they are, I know where they are
If you want to find the old battalion, I know where they are,
They’re hanging on the old barbed wire,
I’ve seen ’em, I’ve seen ’em, hanging on the old barbed wire.
I’ve seen ’em, I’ve seen ’em, hanging on the old barbed wire.
If you want to find the old battalion,
I know where they are, I know where they are, I know where they are
If you want to find the old battalion, I know where they are,
They’re hanging on the old barbed wire,
I’ve seen ’em, I’ve seen ’em, hanging on the old barbed wire.
I’ve seen ’em, I’ve seen ’em, hanging on the old barbed wire.
military age raised to 50, and the medical examination standards lowered.
Men have to travel to Trowbridge for their examination – including, ‘a man with a wooden leg, one who was stone-deaf, and an imbecile’. Royal Engineers, in the wake of the German offensive, construct the ‘Swindon Trench’; the bridge deemed to be so similar to back home, it is named the ‘Golden Lion Bridge’. Easter Pubs start to run out of beer and close: ‘Closed, no beer: God save the King.’ Similar, if less ‘flamboyant’ and ‘ambiguous’ notices continued to be posted through the spring and summer. There will also be a shortage of whiskey and brandy for medicinal purposes, such as treating invalids and victims of the influenza epidemic. A medical certificate will be needed for purchase. Andrew Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Exchequer in Lloyd George’s coalition War Cabinet, to the mayor: ‘I know I can depend on your doing your utmost. Every War Bond bought this week will show Germany to what extent we are in earnest.’
‘Closed, no beer: God save the King.’
Similar, if less ‘flamboyant’ and ‘ambiguous’ notices continued to be posted through the spring and summer.
There will also be a shortage of whiskey and brandy for medicinal purposes, such as treating invalids and victims of the influenza epidemic.
A medical certificate will be needed for purchase.
Andrew Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Exchequer in Lloyd George’s coalition War Cabinet, to the mayor:
‘I know I can depend on your doing your utmost.
Every War Bond bought this week will show Germany to what extent we are in earnest.’
DROPPED FROM A BRITISH AEROPLANE
“Go to the tank and buy British Bonds Certificates, for EVERY PENNY lent to your country shortens the War, and brings an Honourable Peace near.” LET SWINDON LEAD!
Julian makes his way to the town hall, dramatically crunching its way through barbed wire and over high banks of sandbags.
“Go to the tank and buy British Bonds Certificates, for EVERY PENNY lent to your country shortens the War, and brings an Honourable Peace near.” LET SWINDON LEAD!
Speeches from the vicar of Swindon; songs and music; throngs of children gather …
are immediately required for an urgent war-purpose,
and it is desired that these should all be carefully collected in Swindon and forwarded weekly.’
(These were used for the production of charcoal, which was used in the process of making respirators for protection against gas attack.)
Allied counter-offensive at Amiens.
Tide turns, but Swindon fallen: Sid Philips,
Walter Gee,
Frederick Balch,
Bennett Newman.
“Good-morning, good-morning!” the General said
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of ’em dead,
And we’re cursing his staff for incompetent swine.
“He’s a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.
But he did for them both by his plan of attack.
Tide turns, but Swindon fallen: Sid Philips,
Walter Gee,
Frederick Balch,
Bennett Newman.
“Good-morning, good-morning!” the General said
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of ’em dead,
And we’re cursing his staff for incompetent swine.
“He’s a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.
But he did for them both by his plan of attack.
Workers at the GWR urge trade unions to take action against profiteering over food prices (‘no further increases on the prices of essential commodities will be tolerated’). Strikes are hinted at, if needed (‘this meeting pledges itself to take whatever action is necessary, no matter how drastic’). Within a week, a mass procession follows (10,000) with brass bands in a march to the town hall.
I wore a tunic, a dirty khaki tunic,
And you wore your civvy clothes,
We fought and bled at Loos,
While you were on the booze,
The booze that no one here knows.
You were out with the wenches,
While we were in the trenches,
Facing an angry foe,
Oh, you were a-slacking, while we were attacking
the Germans on the Menin Road.
And you wore your civvy clothes,
We fought and bled at Loos,
While you were on the booze,
The booze that no one here knows.
You were out with the wenches,
While we were in the trenches,
Facing an angry foe,
Oh, you were a-slacking, while we were attacking
the Germans on the Menin Road.
compel local authorities to provide adequate housing schemes …
no private enterprise shall receive public money for such a purpose.’ Chiseldon Camp becomes a demobilization camp:
‘it was a frequent occurrence to meet batches of war-worn soldiers, loaded with their kit, often caked in mud,
and carrying home their steel helmets as souvenirs; they were in the highest spirits as they tramped from Old Town to New Town Station,
and it was often an inspiring sight to see the loaded trains departing from the GWR Station, when no discomforts of over-crowding could damp the spirits of the men bound for home.’ ‘Coate Road has long been a favourite promenade for the youth of the town on a Sunday afternoon; during the war it had become little more than a feminine parade,
but now it began to resume its former status as the recognized meeting-place of the youth of both sexes arrayed in their best plumage.’
‘Please accept my best thanks for your great kindness in thinking of me this Christmas by way of gift.
I’m very proud of it, and have shown it around to my chums here to let them see that a Tommy is not easily forgotten down Swindon way.
When one remembers the good times we had at Stratton …
I know the best time I had in the Army was at Stratton, and I honestly think it was worth while being wounded for …’And when they ask us, how dangerous it was,
Oh, we’ll never tell them, no, we’ll never tell them:
We spent our pay in some cafe,
And fought wild women night and day,
‘Twas the cushiest job we ever had.
And when they ask us, and they’re certainly going to ask us,
The reason why we didn’t win the Croix de Guerre,
Oh, we’ll never tell them, oh, we’ll never tell them
There was a front, but damned if we knew where.
The Comforts of the Wiltshire Regiment:
the war years saw the following sent from Swindon to the depot at Devizes;4,463 pairs of socks;When this lousy war is over,
1,408 pairs of mittens;
901 knee-caps;
2,373 scarves;
758 helmets;
238 belts;
No more soldiering for me,
When I get my civvy clothes on,
Oh, how happy I shall be!
No more church parades on Sunday,
No more putting in for leave,
I shall kiss the sergeant-major,
How I’ll miss him, how he’ll grieve!
Amen.
They were summoned from the hillside,
They were called in from the glen,
And the country found them ready
At the stirring call for men.
Let no tears add to their hardship,
As the soldiers pass along,
And although your heart is breaking
Make it sing this cheery song:
Keep the home fires burning
While your hearts are yearning,
Though the lads are far away,
They dream of home.
There’s a silver lining,
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out,
Till the boys come home.
Stuart Butler
I wrote this after contacting STFC and Northampton Town FC. I arranged a ceremony for Walter Tull, first officer of colour in the British Army, KIA 1918, when Swindon entertained Northampton in 2018. Walter had played for Spurs and Northampton before volunteering. He was so loved by his men that they went out into No Man's Land to try and retrieve his body. We had a reading from a Northampton supporter and Swindon teacher at the Cenotaph before our walk of Remembrance. The bells of Christ Church pealed for us. It was utterly moving. The constant, pelting rain seemed appropriate.
But we hope you will enjoy slipping down some wormholes of time on this website.