For King and Country: Blackmore During the First World War (Part 6): Conscription and The Somme

Conscription, Arthur Roast and the Battle of the Somme

The Military Service Act

On 7th February 1916 Revd. Reeve records:

“Feb. 10th has been appointed as the day on which the new Military Service Act will come into operation and on March 1st all but those specially exempted between the ages of 18 and 41 years will be held to have been enrolled.”

On 25th March 1916 Reeve records:

“Probably the cream of the youth of the county has now been enlisted, and those who are now being swept in under the Military Service Act will be largely men who have no taste whatsoever for military enterprise”.

Arthur Roast

Our story is incomplete without considering Arthur Roast, of Hook End, the younger brother of James who was killed in April 1917.

“A lad who has done some useful work in the Rectory garden has now left as a recruit in the 3rd Essex Regt. for drill at Chatham. He is stated to have said he felt he owed a greater duty to his mother at home than to King George: for his mother had done much for him, whereas the King so far as he knew, had not rendered him any service!

One must pardon the somewhat narrow minded view of King and Country under somewhat trying circumstances. There is little more to that a few months experience of military life and companionship will add breadth to his shoulders and his outlook also!”

Arthur Roast was born on 7th January 1900 and baptised at Blackmore on 11th February 1900. As a recruit he was only 16 years and 2 months old so must have lied convincingly about his age on enrolment. Reeve makes no comment on the lad’s youthfulness.

War Poetry

War poetry helps us to connect with the events of the First World War. Many speak of the futility of war, but there is one less popular today written by Jessie Pope entitled ‘The Call’. It begins:

“Who's for the trench -
Are you, my laddie?
Who'll follow French -
Will you, my laddie?
Who's fretting to begin
Who's going out to win?
And who wants to save his skin -
Do you, my laddie?”

Letter from Arthur Roast, 13th May 1916

The Essex Record Office holds three letters Arthur Roast sent to his previous employer.

“May 13th 1916.

Pte A Roast
No 27623 E Coy
3rd Battalion Essex Rgt
Beachcote, Felixtowe

Dear Sir. I now take the pleasure of sending you a few lines which I ought to have done before but I hope you will excuse ‘Sir’ as we have been so busy down here hardly time to do anything.

I hope the Misses Reeves are all quite well and that you have some one to do some of the garden. I hear that there is not many young men left in stondon now but I should not care if I was back again. I am rather to old for soldiering life now but I expect we shall have to go through it. But I should be glad to hear the War was at an end.

I hear that the zepps came over hooks end a few weeks ago hope they did no damage or injury they give us a look in down here now and again.

Now Sir I never hear anything about Maynard don’t know whether he is still at Dovercourt it is not very far from here. I should like to know how he is getting on.

Now Sir I hope the rabbits and birds are not damaging the garden much. I should not mind if I had one or two down here now. It would be something new.

Dear Sir I would like to be Remembered to Cook Mr & Mrs A Pension Likewise all Stondon friends.

I am now just going through My course of firing about another week then I might be able to get over to Stondon for a few days leave. I believe I am booked for the Front. But I did not quite expect that I thought Home Service more for me.

Now Dear Sir I don’t think I have much more now to say hope the Farmers are getting on pretty well with their work. We are having some rather cold weather down here but I suppose the sea air is some of it.

Now Dear Sir I think I must bring this to a Close. With my best wishes to yourself and the Misses Reeves.

I remain your Obedient Servant.
A Roast.”

Reeve diarised:

“An excellent letter had been received from Private A Roast of the 3rd Batt. Essex Regiment. It is dated from Felixtowe (May 13th) where he is training. Looked upon at home as ‘none too strong in the upper storey’, Roast has shown himself a true Briton in adaptability to his new surroundings”.

In common with other civilians Arthur received six months’ training before being sent to the Front.

The Battle of the Somme

Then the Battle of the Somme began. Revd. Reeve records in his diary.

“1st July 1916

As I write, the reverberation of the great guns and explosion of mines are shaking the windows of the Rectory and of all the other houses, I suppose, in the southern and south-eastern counties of England.

There is evidently a very heavy bombardment in progress. The munition-making of many months is beginning, we may hope, to have its effect upon the position.”

On 1st July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance.

Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure.

In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to make some progress. However, the German army resisted tenaciously, and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained.

Three months later, at the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The original objective had been to take the village on the first day.

Arthur Roast in France

On 1st August 1916 Reeve notes:

“Arthur Roast, lately employed at the Rectory, is now in France, and writes home cheerful letters to his mother, as all the men do, bidding her not to worry about him.

Roast was always a ‘good shot’, few birds escaping him even as a boy when out with stones and catapult!

The neighbours believe that as a bomb thrower into the enemy’s trenches his fame will be sure to establish himself.”

Blackmore Men Lost on the Somme

William Edward Rudling has already been mentioned as a victim of the Battle of the Somme. Another three men from Blackmore died in this Battle. All four have no known grave and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Herbert C. Game

Pte. Herbert C Game was the son of Charles Game and Martha, born, like his parents, in Cockfield, Suffolk.

In 1911 the family had been living in Blackmore for around eight years. Charles’ job was labourer, and Herbert’s is shown as “Cow Boy”.

He volunteered in the East Surrey Regiment 9th Battalion, and first saw service in France in August 1915. He was killed in action on the same day as William Rudling, 16th August 1916, aged 25.

Ernest Martin

Ernest Martin was born in Blackmore in 1880, the son of Charles Martin of Great Baddow, the proprietor of steam thrashing machines, and his wife Emma.

In 1901 they lived on the Green, near the pond. He enlisted as a Private in the Essex Regiment 11th Battalion and was wounded in June 1915.

He returned to duty, but died on 27th September 1916, age 36.

Arthur John Nash

Arthur John Nash was baptised 6th August 1882 at High Ongar. He was the son of John Henry and Eliza Nash.

The father’s occupation is blank, which suggests his death, and this is confirmed by the marriage in 1884 of Eliza to William Chumbley of Blackmore.

Arthur enlisted as Private in the Essex Regiment 2nd Battalion, and was killed in action, a little after the capture of Thiepval, on 23rd October 1916, age 34.

He is a fourth man from Blackmore among 73,000 on Lutyen’s Memorial.

More Men Called Up

On 20th September 1916 Reeve wrote:

“The War Office is calling men up. Lads who are now eighteen are finding themselves called for, and among them Leonard Hasler, Ernest Baines, Alfred Baines, of Stondon, and Thomas Roast, formerly of Stondon School, now living in Blackmore.

Thomas Roast, who was not a sibling of James and Arthur, lived in Hook End, served in the Tank Corps and returned home from War. His name appears among those who served on the Blackmore War Memorial.

Of the other three named, Leonard Hasler died from injuries in October 1918; Ernest Baines of Stondon was injured in November 1918 and had to have his leg amputated; and, Alfred Baines returned to Stondon Massey after the war.

The Battle of the Somme on Film

The entry for the same day closes:

“I went yesterday to see the reproduction of the Somme activities on the Cinematograph in London.”

This one-hour documentary film was shown again in many places in 2016 with soundtrack added.

At the Essex Record Office theatre you could hear a pin drop as the audience watched. One of most poignant moments is when you see the delivery of post to the trenches.

It serves as a reminder of the logistical work needed to wage war, not only in supplying arms, food and medical supplies but also letters, cigarettes and chocolate which boosted morale.

Letter from Arthur Roast, 1st November 1916

On 1st November 1916 Arthur Roast is somewhere in France writing to the Rector on letter paper headed ‘With the British Expeditionary Force’.

“Dear Sir. I now have the pleasure of writing you a few lines hoping they will find you quite Well. Also the Misses Reeves & the cook wishing them all well as it leaves me quite at present.

I think I ought to have written before but I hope you will excuse Sir. I hope you had a good Attendance at the Harvest Festival.

Just Fancy me being out in France I did not think I should have been there before Ernest M. But I tell you Sir that there is some very good natured people in France as well as England.

But the villages Which I have been in yet Seem very old Fashioned & the Farm Houses the Farmers seem to Have some very good horses & other Cattle. Look after them and use them well. They never seem to hurry them nor use many whips.

But there carts and Waggons are a very long way behind England I might tell you Sir that there are very few birds about this part the farmers plant there corn quite different to English Farmers you hardly ever see a field of some kind mixed with different kinds.

Dear Sir will you kindly Remember me to Mrs Lewis hoping all are quite well. And that the Gardens are alright.

Will you Likewise give my Best Respects to Mr & Mrs Pension wishing them all well. I might get leave before long then I will come and See you all Sir.

I never went out Far when I was at Home before. Hope Mr & Mrs Parkins are quite well.

Now I think this is all this time Sir. With that I must conclude.

From your
Obedient Servant
A Roast

This is my Adress Sir
Pte A Roast
No 27623 Essex Rgt
c/o O O OY Train BEF”