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General Sir
Horace Smith-Dorrien at South Lodge
On Monday 20 May 1918 there was a grand fete at South
Lodge, then the home of Dame Alice Godman OBE, but
now, of course, a fine country hotel. The occasion had
become an annual event, the purpose of which was to
raise valuable funds for the war effort, and this year
the star attraction was General Sir Horace Lockwood
Smith-Dorrien, who opened proceedings, made a stirring
speech enjoining everyone to think positively, and
later pinned medals on a number of – mostly Sussex –
war heroes.
The general's staff officer was Colonel AG Lucas, a
member of the well-known local family from nearby
Warnham Park, and no doubt it was through his good
offices that arrangement had been made. Smith-Dorrien
(1858-1930) had seen much war service in his time: the
1879 Zulu War, the 1882 Egyptian War, the Battle of
Omdurman (1898) and the South African War (1899-1902).
By 1914 he had become something of a hero with the
general public; he was one of the very few survivors
of the Zulu annhilation of the British forces at
Isandhlwana and he had fought well in the Boer War.
Appointed to command the 2nd Corps of the British
Expeditionary Force in August 1914, Smith-Dorrien
managed his forces ably in the defensive battles at
Mons and le Cateau. Later, commanding the 1st Army, he
again led his troops effectively during the German
attack at 2nd Ypres in April 1915. However he was
replaced shortly after this action following a
disagreement with Commander-in-Chief Sir John French
(who had never liked him) over what he perceived to be
his superior's insistence on costly and senseless
counter-attacks.
But Smith-Dorrien's reputation remains high. He took
risks at Le Cateau, which paid off by slowing the
German advance, and as a leader he was well liked by
his troops, was visible and handled them with
sympathy. Today the family presides over Tresco, that
most splendid of the Scilly Isles.
Back in 1918 the local paper reported that the
Whitsuntide heat wave had brought South Lodge's
azaleas (still there today, and in fine form) to 'a
wonderful condition' and 'the delight of visitors was
great at the beauty of the scene'. So things looked
good, and at the end of the day the sum of money
collected was pleasingly above last year's level.
The fete opened at 3 pm, and after taking a salute
from the Christ's Hospital Cadet Corps and inspecting
their lines, the general gave what was held to be 'an
admirable address'. Among his audience were many of
the grandest families from this part of Sussex: a
clutch of Godmans from various large houses locally,
including Major CRB Godman (4th Royal Sussex Regiment)
and Captain JF Godman (Somaliland Camel Corps), Rev
EDL and Mrs Harvey from Beedingwood, Mrs Henderson
from Sedgwick Park and HA Rigg KC from Wallhurst
Manor.
Smith-Dorrien emphasised the pressing need for money
to support the war effort, and said that funds
collected that day would go towards 'a hut in Ireland
for our splendid navy and to help our war depots which
provide bandages etc for wounded soldiers'. The
pleasing fact that people kept on donating funds meant
that it was the will of the nation to win the war and
make it impossible in future for the world to be
dominated by a brutal military autocracy.
He went on to say that it was also impossible to tell
when the end of the war would be (only a matter of
months, as it happened), and warned that Germany 'had
spread its tentacles over an enormous amount of
country in the East, and might hold sway over the
whole of Asia, so that a death blow was needed there
as well'.
He cautioned that 'it did not do to talk about our
losses during the masterly and dogged retirement
before the last German advance, but probably everybody
knew pretty well that both the Red Cross and YMCA had
lost a lot of material which needed replacing'. This
was a reference to the retreat forced on the Allies by
Ludendorff's 'great push' in March 1918, Germany's
final effort in the West. In fact the retreat was far
from orderly, but significantly the advance so
exhausted the German army that it lead to the Allies'
own riposte a few months later.
Smith-Dorrien next turned his attention to those he
saw as trouble makers, and declared that 'it was not
worthwhile to take into consideration the views of
certain Pacifists or the attempts of certain
undesirables to undermine the Government. Their
efforts had been defeated. Lloyd George had been the
first to grasp the magnitude of our requirements in
the way of guns and munitions and his role at the
Ministry of Munitions gave us the wherewithal to carry
on the war. As Prime Minister he had an unwavering
determination to win the war and although some people
might have their private grievances, their duty was to
suppress them instead of trying to undermine his
influence'.
He added that the government was supported by able
commanders: Sir David Beattie (admiral and hero of
Jutland), Sir Douglas Haig and their trusted
lieutenants Allenby in Palestine, Marshall in
Mesopotamia and Milne at Salonika. And in a rousing
finale he declared that the country, aided by its
allies, 'will secure a peace for all time, honour,
freedom and trustfulness for our children and
children's children'.
The speech over, and the general's party line
hopefully taken on board, the crowds descended on the
stalls, which were scattered under the trees below the
lawn – and all the while the band of the 3rd Dragoon
Guards played in the background. The most popular
stand was that of Netley Red Cross, which sold toys
and other items made by wounded soldiers. (Netley was
a military hospital situated near Southampton Water,
built in 1857 and also known as the Royal Victoria
Military Hospital). There were miniature items for
dolls' houses, cabinets, wringers and the like, and
needlework pictures, cushions, fancy cigar boxes and
book rests. The mechanical toys – clowns performing on
parallel bars, cranes, engines – found a ready sale,
but the most popular proved to be the stock of model
tanks, at 3s 6d each, which went like hot cakes.
The Girl Guides sold knick-knacks, Hon Mrs Colvin and
Mrs Lindsay Smith presided over the glass and china
stall, and the Misses Hermon 'retailed baskets in
large variety'. The Women's Institute had an
interesting display showing how model animals were
made ('a new industry in the neighbourhood'), and Miss
Sendall was in charge of the coconut shies - but she
had to improvise a bit and use cricket balls instead
of 'the juicy nuts that are now so scarce'. Lady Loder
and Mrs Hornung were in charge of the children's
stall, where it was noted that blouses and hats were
particularly good sellers. Lastly the ladies from
Cowfold ran the 'Old Curiosity Shop', and there was
some friendly rivalry between that village and Lower
Beeding as to which could most accurately guess the
serial number on a £5 note.
But there was a serious part of the day still to come,
one which must have focussed the minds of everyone,
and that was the presentation of medals to a group of
brave men from 'other ranks', not all of whom had
survived to be there on the day. When the eight
citations were read out by Colonel Lucas ('all to
hearty applause'), coconut shies below the lawn, with
the folds of the South Downs hazy in the distance,
must have seemed an incongrous backdrop to the images
of mud, wire and death that suddenly intruded on the
scene.
Two of the men had been killed in action, and their
medals were received by their women folk, 'one with a
dear little girl who could just toddle'. Some of the
others were damaged men from Netley and were 'in
hospital blue'.General Smith-Dorrien shook hands with
them all, and chatted to each individual.
Acting Bombadier F Rogers (113th Heavy Battery, RGA)
was one of those who did not make it on the day. He
had been a chauffeur at South Lodge, and was awarded
the Military Medal for continuing to repair telephone
wire while under heavy fire. Another MM recipient was
Sergeant HL Mason (South Wales Borderers) who 'in
front of Ypres attacked a pill box with one other man,
capturing five prisoners and killing the rest of the
garrison'. A further MM went to Sergeant H Bailey from
Bersted (Royal Sussex Regiment); on 30 June 1916 at
Richebourg his platoon had run out of 'bombs', and
under heavy fire he went out and collected more
supplies from casualties lying in the open. And Lance
Corporal EJ Dendy from nearby Itchingfield (Royal
Sussex Regiment) at Cambrai during a German attack
picked one up that had fallen into his trench and
hurled it out before it could explode.
Two Distinguished Conduct Medals (a grade up from a
Military Medal) were also presented, one to Sergeant G
Ward from Littlehampton (Royal Sussex Regiment) for
leading a bombing attack across open ground at
Pozieres in 1916, and another to Sergeant H Patterson
(Royal Scots Fusiliers) 'for conspicious gallantry and
devotion to duty at the third Battle of Gaza. He moved
about in front of his platoon during an attack, urging
them on and setting them a fine example of
determination and courage'.
The hearty applause was well justified.
My thanks to Simon Coningham, WW1 historian and a
leading expert on General Smith-Dorrien, for much
useful information. |
