CHESTERFIELD WFA NEWSLETTER

August 2016 issue 18a

Welcome to the August 2016 newsletter of Chesterfield WFA. We have pleasure in presenting the fourth issue for 2016 of the Branch Newsletter. Such is the volume of reports, articles etc, that I will be issuing the Newsletter in two parts – I am aware that some folks e mail inbox has a file size limit.

Our next Chesterfield Branch Meeting will be held on Tuesday 2nd August 2016. 'The Long Road to the Somme: Planning the Big Push' a talk given by Bill MacCormick.

The failures of tactical and technical development which led to the British disaster of 1st July 1916 and the lessons learned by the French which led to their success. Includes the impact of Verdun on the eventual plan as well as the effects of Russian and Italian campaigns.

The Branch meets at the Labour Club, Unity House, Saltergate, Chesterfield S40 1NF on the first Tuesday of each month. There is plenty of parking available on site and in the adjacent road. Access to the car park is in Tennyson Road, however, which is one way and cannot be accessed directly from Saltergate. Grant Cullen – Branch Secretary

Patron – vacant due to bereavement

President Professor Peter Simkins MBE FRHistS

Vice-Presidents Andre Colliot Professor John Bourne BA PhD FRHistS The Burgomaster of Ypres The Mayor of Albert Lt-Col Graham Parker OBE Professor Gary Sheffield BA MA PhD FRHistS Christopher Pugsley FRHistS Lord Richard Dannat GCB CBE MC DL Roger Lee PhD jssc

www.westernfrontassociation.com

Branch contacts

Tony Bolton (Chairman ) anthony.bolton3@btinternet.com Mark Macartney (Deputy Chairman) Markmacartney48@gmail.com Pam Ackroyd (Treasurer) Grant Cullen (Secretary) grantcullen@hotmail.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/groups/157662657604082/ http://www.wfachesterfield.com/

A Personal Note from the Chair (11)

As most of the Somme Centenary commemorations are now over it is perhaps worth looking back over the

extensive media coverage to consider if it tells us anything at all about the current state of play in the

ongoing task of educating the general public about the First World War. What effect has modern archival

research and the revisionist historians led by the late John Terraine had on the public’s perception of the

Donkey’s and the Bunglers and Butchers school of history epitomised by General Sir Anthony Hogmany

Melchett of Blackadder notoriety.

Dr Ian Beckett writing in Stand To twenty years ago bemoaned the fact that whilst advances in academic

understanding of the war ‘had broken the Hindenburg Line...back in Blighty, it is still 1 July 1916’1. I

think that most observers would now conclude that if the public has not yet joined academics in 1918 then

at least a more balanced view seems to be taking root recognising the army’s immense difficulties in facing

an adaptable and resourceful opponent. There is still however a great deal of education needed.

On July 4 I gave a talk entitled Serre and the Sheffield City Battalion to a Probus Club meeting in

Sheffield, you may recall I had given the talk to the branch back in June. Despite the Discovery Channel

running a programme fronted by Tony Robinson on the evening before covering exactly the same topic, the

talk was well received. More importantly one of the members told me that he used to accompany his

father, a veteran of the battalion, to the Sheffield City Battalion’s post war reunions and knew many of

the survivors. We no longer have the veterans themselves but his experience was certainly worth listening

to.

Tony Bolton

Branch Chair

1 Ian Beckett. Revisiting the Old Front Line, Stand To [43](April 1995) p13

Next Branch Meeting – Tuesday 2nd August at 7.30pm

'The Long Road to the Somme: Planning the Big Push' a talk given by Bill MacCormick.

The failures of tactical and technical development which led to the British disaster of 1st July 1916 and the lessons learned by the French which led to their success. Includes the impact of Verdun on the eventual plan as well as the effects of Russian and Italian campaigns.

Bill also writes books but uses the nomme de plume – or should I say nomme de guerre – Alan MacDonald

Secretary`s Scribbles Welcome to another edition of the WFA Chesterfield Branch Newsletter. Such is the volume of material to hand I will be splitting this edition into two, with a follow up second part, as soon as possible after next Tuesday`s August Meeting. Well, the much anticipated Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the July 1st 1916 the start of what became known as the Battle of the Somme has come and gone. Overall, I felt that the media coverage was muted and respectful, concentrating on the gallant men, Regulars and New Army, and indeed those they left behind on the `Home Front`, who went `over the top` at 7.30 am that fateful day, rather than what many of us feared, sensationalising on a `butchers and bunglers` theme. It has been a busy time too for Branch Officers, with Chair and Vice Chair, Tony Bolton and Mark Macartney attending the 30th June vigil (in the presence of HM The Queen) at Westminster Abbey, then dashing up to Manchester for the 1st July Commemoration Service at the Cathedral. Locally too, the Branch was well represented at the Whistle Blowing Ceremony at Chesterfield War Memorial at 7.30am on July 1st. Branch Members have been in demand for presentations with Tony and Tim Lynch being out and about, whilst Mark Macartney in his capacity as WFA Branded Goods appointee is on the road virtually every weekend taking his `stall` to WFA (and other) events the length and breadth of the country. Once again, it has been extremely gratifying to your Committee to see our meeting room at Chesterfield Labour Club, virtually filled to capacity at our recent meetings. It is satisfying for us, as it is indicative, that in the eyes of our members and friends, we have struck a correct balance in the speakers we have invited, and the topics upon which they are making their presentations. I hope that as we move into the second half of 2016 that trend continues. Plans are well underway in the compilation of our speakers list for 2017 and we are looking to have a blend of some new faces with speakers who are annual regulars at Chesterfield. That said, I am still open to suggestions from our members about topics / speakers whom they would like to see present at our meetings. Likewise, I am happy to receive contributions – photos, reports etc., for inclusion in future issues of this Newsletter, please contact me on 07824628638 or by e mail on grantcullen@hotmail.com Just a note about `front line regular` Arthur Lacey who has missed some of our recent meetings on account of illness which has also necessitated a spell in hospital. We understand he is convalescing at home and making progress. Hopefully it will not be too long before Arthur is `passed fit` and returns to take his place in our ranks. Grant Cullen

Branch Secretary ‘The views and opinions expressed in this members` newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of the Western Front Association or the Chesterfield Branch Committee.’

Western Front Association Chesterfield Branch – Meetings 2016

Meetings start at 7.30pm and take place at the Labour Club, Unity House, Saltergate, Chesterfield S40 1NF

January 5th AGM Tony Bolton- "1916 – an Overview of the Year”.

February 2nd David Tattersfield "The Courts Martial of Willie Stone and the DLI Six" – this needs about a dozen 'volunteers' to deliver the lines from a script provided. No acting is required or wanted: this is verbatim transcript of two original courts martial. The first is the famous case of Willie Stones (who claimed he blocked the trench with his rifle to stop pursuing Germans) and the second is a "mass" court martial of six men from the DLI.

March 1st Paul Cobb. "The Easter Rising – a Distraction from the Western Front" – a talk looking at the events in Dublin at Easter 1916 when rebels challenged British rule in Ireland. Events which still affect the politics of Ireland, North and South today

April 5th Richard Pullen. 'The First Tanks - A Wasted Opportunity or a Prelude to Victory?' This talk centres on how the first use of the tanks were basically unsuccessful but ultimately served as part of the greater learning curve

May 3rd Peter Hart "Somme Success: the RFC and the Battle of the Somme, 1916" Peter will discuss the contribution of the Royal Flying Corps to the Battle of the Somme

June 7th Tony Bolton. The Somme - Ist July 1916 - Serre – The Sheffield City Battalion. “Two Years in the Making – ten minutes in the destroying. “

July

5th

Dr. Nigel Hunt “The Forgotten: Shellshock after the First World War” After considering the symptoms experienced and the treatments on offer during the war the talk will focus on those people who remained shellshocked (in the terminology of the day) long after the war ended.

August 2nd Bill MacCormick - "The Long Road to the Somme: Planning the Big Push" – The

failures of tactical and technical development which led to the British disaster of 1st

July 1916 and the lessons learned by the French which led to their success. Includes

the impact of Verdun on the eventual plan as well as the effects of Russian and

Italian campaigns.

September 6th John Beech “Zeppelins over Nottinghamshire” John has (and continues to do) conducted meticulous research into these raids. He will present some of his work.

October 4th Prof. Stephen Badsey. "Could the Battle of the Somme Have Been Won?" - An analysis of alternative courses of action for the BEF in the Battle of the Somme 1916.

November 1st John Chester. “The Unknown Warrior” The story of the Unknown Warrior, buried in Westminster Abbey on Armistice Day 1920.

December 6th Nick Paul. “Barbed Wire Disease” Nick will present some of his researches into the experiences of British soldiers who became captives of the enemy

`Whistle for the Somme` - Chesterfield War Memorial July 1st 2016

`Whistle for the Somme` Ceremony at Chesterfield War Memorial, July 1st 2016. WFA Chesterfield Branch Secretary, Grant Cullen, lays a wreath on behalf of the Branch. On a dull morning, with rain threatening about 100 people gathered for this short ceremony. Town Mayor Steve Brunt led the ceremony in the presence of a flag party from the Royal British Legion and buglers who played Last Post and Reveille. Right on the town clock striking 7.30 , Steve Brunt blew the whistle, which was followed by The Silence and The Exhortation. When the ceremony concluded all were invited into the Town Hall for tea, coffee and biscuits. Steve Brunt – who is a member of the WFA – thanked all for attending, then delivered a short presentation, illustrated by his own pictures of the battlefields, on the events of July 1st 1916.

July Meeting Branch Chairman, Tony Bolton opened the meeting, in front of another healthy attendance, by welcoming everyone present, particularly those visiting for the first time. After several pieces of information for members, Tony introduced our speaker for the evening, Dr Nigel Hunt. Dr Hunt opened by saying he was a psychologist working at the Department of Medicine in the University of Nottingham and stressed he was not a historian although he had been a member of the Western Front Association for many years. His interest in the First World War came about, as psychologist, from looking at War Trauma. In the 1990s he met with many WW2 veterans, who, even after the passage of 50 years had started to suffer mental health issues which could be linked back to their war experiences. This led him to identify a pattern, from past wars in antiquity, through to people from recent conflicts, like Iraq and Afghanistan

He then put up his first slides which must be somewhat unique in terms of a WFA presentation – a quote from a Shakespeare play – Henry IV (part 2) – with equivalency in today`s terms.

Tell me, sweet lord, what is't that takes from thee Sleeping

Thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep? and eating disorders

Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth, Depression

And start so often when thou sit'st alone? Anti-social behaviour

Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks, Parasympathetic nervous system activity

And given my treasures and my rights of thee Impotence

To thick-eyed musing and cursed melancholy? Rumination and depression.

Nigel then considered the total casualties sustained globally, during the First World War including the Spanish Flu epidemic.

ca. 17 million dead, including 10 million military >20 million wounded, mainly military. This refers to physical casualties not psychologically damaged

50-100 million Spanish Flu death.

With respect to British wounded, there were 250,000 amputees and many others were severely maimed, disfiguring facial injuries leading to serious psychological, social and economic consequences, identity, marriage, work etc. Whilst rightly, there was much talk of the physical consequences, there was

insufficient discussion on the psychological consequences of being wounded – in addition to those with `shellshock`. Dr Hunt then said that war mental trauma had been known since antiquity, citing references in Homer`s Iliad – the history of the Trojan Wars of 2800 years ago, Herodotus (2500 years ago), Shakespeare (as explained above) and more recently references to `soldiers heart` from accounts of the American Civil War from the 1860s. Then he came to The Great War, when in Feb 1915, in the medical journal The Lancet, there is the first mention, by Charles Myers of `Shellshock` who described a range of symptoms apparently as a result of combat experience. 1 in 7 discharges as medically unfit were deemed due to shellshock, war neurosis, psychosis – around 80,000 cases during the war, although Nigel qualified this by saying – was everyone affected? Of all diagnosed 80% were never deemed fit enough to return to duty. Originally, it was thought that `shellshock` was caused by being in close proximity the blast of shells or bombs and this had some effect upon the brain ie a physical cause. Why then did some servicemen suffer the same condition when they had never been exposed to shelling and bombing? Dr Hunt them explained what the symptoms of `shellshock` were -

– fright and anxiety due to explosions, seeing dead and maimed comrades – muteness, deafness, general tremor, inability to stand or walk, loss of consciousness, convulsions – loss of memory, vision, smell, taste – depression – disorientation – loss of appetite – Wide range of symptoms - not single syndrome – 'War neurosis was a flight from an intolerable, destructive reality through illness' (Freud) – No single disorder

Before going on to discuss treatment, a poem by Siegfried Sassoon, `Survivors` was used to make a point

No doubt they’ll soon get well; the shock and strain

Have caused their stammering, disconnected talk.

Of course they’re ‘longing to go out again,’—

These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk.

They’ll soon forget their haunted nights; their cowed

Subjection to the ghosts of friends who died,—

Their dreams that drip with murder; and they’ll be proud

Of glorious war that shatter’d all their pride...

Men who went out to battle, grim and glad;

Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.

Craiglockhart, 1917 Having discussed the symptoms, what then were the types of treatment available –

• Forward treatment (PIE) He explained that `PIE` referred to `Proximity` i.e. close to the battle zone; `Immediacy` i.e. treatment as soon as first signs are seen; `Expectancy` i.e. that the soldier would recover quickly.

• Return to UK • Shouting of orders

– discipline • Isolation • Restricted diet • Rest, re-education, suggestion • Yealland - Electric shock/suggestion – other ranks • Psychotherapy (Rivers) – almost exclusively available to officers only • Class distinction • Limited effectiveness

Dr Hunt then moved on to the end of the war;

• Many families, nearly all communities, lost people • physically maimed • Spanish flu • Relationships broken • Unemployment • Need to rebuild

Therefore, there were many reasons to forget the traumatised soldier.

He then quoted from Jay Winter, "Those who couldn't turn off their feelings, internalised them, brought them home with them, dreamt about them and went mad because of them"

In 1922 War Office Commission of Enquiry into `Shellshock` led by Lord Southborough began, with many witnesses being called – predominantly doctors and politicians – soldiers who had suffered from the psychological effects of war trauma or served in the trenches, were conspicuous by their absence and there was limited recognition of scope of war-related psychological problems. Indeed the commission overlooked much of the work going on in hospitals. What then were the findings of this `Shellshock Commission`?

• In forward areas – No soldier should be allowed to think that loss of nervous or mental control provides an honourable

avenue of escape from the battlefield, and every endeavour should be made to prevent slight cases leaving the battalion or divisional area, where treatment should be confined to provision of rest and comfort for those who need it and to heartening them for return to the front line.

• In neurological centres – Severe cases should be sent to special Neurological Centres as near the front as possible, to be

under the care of an expert in nervous disorders. No such case should, however, be so labelled on evacuation as to fix the idea of nervous breakdown in the patient’s mind.

• In base hospitals – Here, cases should be treated in a separate hospital or separate sections of a hospital, and not with

the ordinary sick and wounded patients. Only in exceptional circumstances should cases be sent to the United Kingdom, as, for instance, men likely to be unfit for further service of any kind with the forces in the field. This policy should be widely known throughout the Force.

• Forms of treatment – The establishment of an atmosphere of cure is the basis of all successful treatment, the personality

of the physician is, therefore, of the greatest importance. While recognising that each individual case of war neurosis must be treated on its merits, the Committee are of opinion that good results will be obtained in the majority by the simplest forms of psycho-therapy, i.e., explanation, persuasion and suggestion, aided by such physical methods as baths, electricity and massage. Rest of mind and body is essential in all cases.

– The production of hypnoidal state and deep hypnotic sleep, while beneficial as a means of conveying suggestions or eliciting forgotten experiences are useful in selected cases, but in the majority they are unnecessary and may even aggravate the symptoms for a time.

– They do not recommend psycho-analysis in the Freudian sense. – In the state of convalescence, re-education and suitable occupation of an interesting nature are of

great importance. If the patient is unfit for further military service, it is considered that every endeavour should be made to obtain for him suitable employment on his return to active life.

• Return to the fighting line – Soldiers should not be returned to the fighting line under the following conditions:- – (1) If the symptoms of neurosis are of such a character that the soldier cannot be treated overseas

with a view to subsequent useful employment. – (2) If the breakdown is of such severity as to necessitate a long period of rest and treatment in the

United Kingdom. – (3) If the disability is anxiety neurosis of a severe type. – (4) If the disability is a mental breakdown or psychosis requiring treatment in a mental hospital. – It is, however, considered that many of such cases could, after recovery, be usefully employed in

some form of auxiliary military duty. Dr. Hunt then touched on the occupancy of what may be considered a `typical` asylum – the Fulham Road Workhouse, Barham, Suffolk. 1917-1923 at least 50% ex-servicemen Diet of eggs, milk pudding and beef tea, with bromide !! Many discharged from services - often relating to battle experience

Admitted because of family/public disorder problems - Not clearly linked to trauma. He then looked at numbers of ex-servicemen receiving treatment, post war

2 years after the war 65,000 still receiving treatment in UK for neurasthenia 9,000 in asylum system By 1939 15% of all pensions for war neurosis or similar 120,000 re psychiatric disability 44,000 'soldiers' heart', effort syndrome There were still shellshock victims in British or French hospitals in 1960s and 1970s.

Next slide up was quotes from the 2011 book by Fiona Reid – Broken Men – Shellshock, Treatment and Recovery.

– Empathy for trauma victims – reaction against 'stiff upper lip' – collective memory of WWI as epitome of catastrophe and futility – Conflict between Government - wanted to forget about shellshock and People - traumatic memories

of war impossible to forget. Dr. Hunt then made the comment – which was much discussed during the post presentation Q & A – that the German Army had a lower rate of mental breakdown than the BEF. Why ? In his opinion, since before the Franco –Prussian War of 1871, German society had been militaristic with universal conscription and military service whereas the BEF was voluntary and Kitchener`s New Armies were all citizen soldiers with no previous background in military affairs leading to high levels of stress amongst the recruits, many of whom may have had pre-existing mental health issues before they joined up, issues which would have had no prior treatment except being told to show a `stiff upper lip` or `pull yourself together, man` As the presentation moved towards it conclusion, Dr. Hunt paid tribute to the work of Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare Society post war. Formed in 1919 - to cope with traumatised men

• Argued traumatised men not 'pitiful wrecks', but hardworking people who needed to be given a chance • Fighting to regain manhood and economic independence, real veterans • Now Combat Stress.

Has there been progress during the last 100 years? By the time 21 years had elapsed and there was the outbreak of the Second World War the traumatised veterans of The Great War had largely been forgotten with new descriptive terms evolving for the World War Two generation. Then in 1952 came the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) which offered a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders. It is used, or relied upon, by clinicians, researchers, psychiatric drug regulation agencies, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, the legal system, and policy makers.

– DSM-I (1952) Gross Stress Reaction – DSM-II (1968) ?? - Vietnam? – DSM-III (1980) PTSD –

The DSM is now in its fifth edition, DSM5, published on May 18, 2013. In conclusion - Have we had a century of learning - what do we know?

• Trauma is complex – many kinds of trauma

• perpetrator or not • single event or multiple events

• Importance not only of the person but also the social and cultural world • Many forms of help and treatment

– Different things work for different people.

We then had our customary Q & A session with the Speaker, most of which focussed upon the assertion that the German Army had a lower rate of cases of `shell shock` than the BEF. Apart from the obvious difference between the German, militaristic, conscript army compared with the largely volunteer (at least

until later in the war) other reasons promulgated were the returning German soldiers harboured a grudge that they had not been `beaten` in the field and sought scapegoats for their `defeat` - which in effect gave rise to the Nazi Party. There was also the fact that Germany had been blockaded and starvation was a reality, so there was little time to think of other than personal survival. As the 1920s progressed, revolution, the Friekorps and ultimately the build up to the Second World War took hold. As time moved on, Branch Chairman, Tony Bolton, brought the evening to a conclusion with a vote of thanks to the speaker, which was responded to enthusiastically by all present. Painted Fabrics Ltd On the evening of 30th June, I and several other WFA members and members of the public attended a Somme Centenary Event at Waterstones bookshop in Sheffield. One of our members, Tim Lynch commenced the first of three short presentations by discussing the military aspects of the Battles of the Somme and in doing so dispelled many of the myths that have evolved over the years, cleverly using contemporary photographs to stress and validate his points. Tim was followed by Malcolm Leary who talked about a Sheffield company called `Painted Fabrics` which evolved to provide meaningful employment for soldiers disabled in body and mind in the conflict. I had never heard of this organisation which did so much to provide a purpose in life for severely disabled veterans and their families. Below is the story which Malcolm told. The third speaker was Peter Warr who described how the industries of Sheffield adapted to the concept of total war, including for the first time the introduction of women into many industries and occupations which hitherto they had been excluded from. The evening concluded with a Q & A session which Tim `chaired` in his usual professional manner. Story of Painted Fabrics Ltd The story of Painted Fabrics Ltd is no ordinary company history. Developing from occupational therapy for men who had lost not life but limb for their country in the horrors of the First World War, it was a unique combination of physical and psychological rehabilitation for severely disabled ex-servicemen and the artistic and entrepreneurial talents of a small group of women in Sheffield. From charitable beginnings as part of SASMA (The Disabled Sailors' and Soldiers' Mutual Association) the company went on to produce fabrics and clothing of fashionable design and high quality for over thirty years.

The establishment of Painted Fabrics Ltd was almost entirely due to the imagination, energy and perseverance of one woman - Annie Bindon Carter (1883-1969) who, in 1915, volunteered to help at the Wharncliffe War Hospital at Middlewood on the north outskirts of Sheffield. With the help of a few women friends who had trained with her at the Sheffield School of Art, she organised painting classes three afternoons a week as a form of occupational therapy for men who had suffered not only horrific injuries including amputation but the consequent psychological effects. One man in particular, who had lost both his right hand and his left hand and forearm, was in a state of hopeless despair. With characteristic determination to help, Mrs Carter hit on the idea of tying a brush to his bandaged stump to enable him to do some simple stencilling on scraps of material. Phyllis Lawton, one of her friends, wrote later - / guided his arm from the saucer [of paint] to the material and gently dabbed it over the stencil until completed, and when I removed it he was

astonished at the result. Soon after this Mrs Carter had a special leather strap made for him into which three or four brushes could be screwed, so that by twisting his arm around he could use several different colours in turn. The realisation that he could actually do something after all marked the start of his recovery. It was the success of that one case that inspired Mrs Carter to develop the idea into a proper business giving work to men who otherwise faced a bleak future without employment or purpose. Starting with small items such as tea cosies and table mats made by the men and sold

among her friends the range of goods was eventually extended to dresses, shawls, scarves, handkerchiefs, lingerie, furnishing fabrics and hangings, ecclesiastical work and theatrical curtains and backdrops as well as leather goods such as bags, purses and blotters. At the end of the war Mrs Carter and the committee she had formed obtained premises at West Bar in the centre of Sheffield which were converted and equipped as workshops for a few men, with financial help from local people. It was only after a visit from Earl Haig, however, that the authorities began to take serious notice of the possibilities of employment for severely disabled ex-servicemen that the enterprise presented. In 1923, land and hutments at the old WAACS (Women's Auxiliary Army Corps) camp at Norton Woodseats on the southern edge of Sheffield were purchased by the United Services Fund and leased to the newly formed company Painted Fabrics Ltd. Some of the huts became workshops, while others were converted to homes for some of the men and their wives and families, thus realising Mrs Carter's ambition of including housing on the site. Painted Fabrics was officially opened in 1925 by Princess Mary (the Princess Royal) who became the company's Royal Patron. This was the first of several visits she and other members of the Royal Family made, and on this occasion she was presented with one of the painted shawls by two of the men - Taffy Llewellyn, who had the most war decorations, and Mr Hardy, who had the longest service with Painted Fabrics.

By that date 29 men were employed. They were paid a minimum of 1 shilling an hour and guaranteed 30 hours work a week. The houses and gardens were let at 6 shillings a week. Over the next fifteen years as many as 67 men were employed at one time at Painted Fabrics, some staying for quite short periods, others remaining there all their working lives. Most had suffered amputations of arms or legs or both, some also had neurasthenia (shell shock or as we know it now PTSD) or gunshot wounds. The scale of their disablement can be gauged from the

The Princess Royal and Mrs Carter at one of the exhibitions

distressing statistic given in one publicity leaflet -"47 men with only 56 undamaged arms and 50 undamaged legs between them". Both the living accommodation and workshops and equipment were adapted to the special needs of these former servicemen. In 1928 ten houses in a two storey block were built as Haig Memorial Homes on the site of some of the huts, designed by the Sheffield architect Robert Cawkwell in association with G Grey Wornum, partner of Louis de Soissons and architect of the RIBA building in London. The men and their families tended the gardens round the huts, allotments were provided and a vegetable show was held each year. There were social and snooker clubs, fishing outings and a range of activities for the children such as the summer fancy dress party and the Brownie pack. At Christmas, Mrs Caner took the men and their families presents, turkeys and Christmas puddings, there was a party for the children and a visit to the pantomime at the Empire or the Lyceum. Yet Painted Fabrics was by no means self-contained. Some of the men lived elsewhere and the children attended local schools, and everyone turned out to welcome the numerous Royal and other visitors who came to see Painted Fabrics. Without exception, the memories of those who worked or grew up there are of a happy and supportive community. The men certainly seem to have enjoyed their work, and acquired a wide range of new skills very different from their pre-war occupations. Although hand stencilling using paints remained a mainstay of production, screen printing, block print- ing and spray painting with dyes were also used. The fabrics, which ranged from crash (a coarse linen) to silk satin, chiffon and velvet for the luxury end of the market, were originally bought in a finished state but within a few years were being bought raw and bleached and dyed in the workshops. As the quality of rayon, or artificial silk is it was called, improved, this was added to the range of fabrics, widening the design possibil-ities and being used for some of the most profitable dress goods. All the making up was done on the premises. The men did most of the stitching, using specially adapted sewing machines, although some of their wives and daughters were also employed as seamstresses under the direction of a professional dress-maker who did the cutting out. The design of the patterns and clothes was undertaken by Mrs Carter, assisted by her sister Dorothy and by Edith Jagger, the sister of Charles Sergeant Jagger the sculptor and David Jagger the painter. All of them had studied at Sheffield School of Art. Edith had been among those who helped at the Wharnclifte War Hospital, where she had volunteered to help men who were subject to fits as a result of head wounds, working with them locked in a padded room. After 1918 she was employed as a designer at Painted Fabrics. The style of their designs was very varied, but the bold and brilliant colour combinations and fluid use of fabric in their designs for clothing were very much in tune with the period, showing the influence of Fauves painters such as Matisse and Dufy, and the excitement of the oriental, inspired by Diaghilev's Ballet Russe. Curtains of oriental design were particularly requested by Messrs Goodall of Manchester who were exhibiting Painted Fabrics' goods in their shop window as early as July 1918. A more bohemian influence reflecting the peasant costumes of Eastern Europe can be seen in much of the bright floral

decoration on shawls which could be worn in the gypsy style over full skins and on scarves which might be wrapped around the head.

Mrs Carter had definite views about the industry she had created. In some notes dating from the mid 1930s she says: / ask you in note that I called it a "PEASANT Industry" -because only on this outlook can it be built .. .The designs as suggested by me & adapted from many sources are of necessity grown by force of circumstances mainly due to disability... Dr Rothenstein the director of the Tale Gallery always stresses this point in any remarks he has made publicly relating to Painted Fabrics. His point in every case has been that Painted Fabrics was developing a new and interesting English Peasant Industry and that the patterning as so evolved was of intense historical interest. As in all matters relating to art the question of whether you like the work or not is debatable and personal. I may here say that Dr Rothenstein is the only person who has completely understood Painted Fabrics' work. To compare the designs or articles produced by these ex-servicemen with shall we say Courtauld's marvellous and accurate productions, or the stock shown in Harrod's or Selfridges is complete lack of understanding of the problem. I am convinced we require no more machinery - we are now well equipped for our purpose. The men are clever, industrious and intensely interested in their work. These comments perhaps belie the more conventional sophistication of some of their other patterns and clothes, such as men's silk handkerchiefs and dressing gowns for the luxury end of the market and day dresses and evening gowns. Some of the dresses, which included bridal wear, were specially commissioned, as were altar frontals and other fabrics for churches, work for the-atrical productions, and a wide variety of furnishings for private houses. Curtains which were silver on one side and purple on the other were made for the Long Gallery at Wentworth Woodhouse, for example, and the society portrait painter De Laszlo apparently ordered Painted Fabrics' hangings for his studio. Apart from individual commissions some of the work was sold through a limited range of retail outlets, including the London store Liberty and shops in Manchester, Harrogate and other selected towns both at home and abroad which had sole agencies. The main way of selling goods, however, was through exhibitions. These were of two types; firstly those held in Town or public halls where some of the men would help local volunteers to sell items. Although these were labour intensive and quite expensive to organise they were felt to be an effective way of reaching large numbers of ordinary people and selling the less expensive items such as scarves and cushion covers. The first exhibition was held at the Wharncliffe Hospital in

1915, and the last one at the Cutlers' Hall in Sheffield at Christmas 1958; in the intervening years hundreds were held up and down the country as well as abroad. The second type of exhibition was the "at homes" held by the aristocratic ladies Mrs Carter had so successfully recruited as supporters. Some of these were held in their own houses - Countess Fitzwilliam (Painted Fabrics' "fairy godmother") held one every year at Wentworth Woodhouse - others were held in suites in large hotels. The Princess Royal regularly attended and even served behind the counter herself. The annual exhibition at Claridges was a major event in Painted Fabrics' calendar - in 1937 for example, the Countess Jellicoe was "at home", and as usual the Queen came, buying two dresses for Princess Elizabeth, one in blue and cream tussore, the other of moss crepe with small yellow spots, as well as dressing gowns, bags, cushions, men's handkerchiefs and a bedspread. Over 2,600 people accepted invitations and the list in the newspapers reads like an index to Debrett. One Sheffield paper reported that despite the rival attractions of Henley and Wimbledon, Scotland Yard had to be called in to control the traffic, and continued: There is no doubt that this exhibition is firmly established as one of the principal events of the season and it deserves to be, for neither Bond Street nor the Rue de la Paix can show articles which excel either in quality or perfection of workmanship these products from Painted Fabrics. This is a pertinent comment. Although Mrs Carter's motto for Painted Fabrics was "Work not Charity", there is no doubt that she used her considerable charm and an astute understanding of human nature in the cause. She both exploited people's pity for the men and appealed to their snobbery by allowing those who would never otherwise have seen say, the inside of Wentworth Woodhouse or attended an exhibition where the Princess Royal was serving, to do so. Nevertheless, it is doubtful that Painted Fabrics could have sustained the interest in its work and the level of sales over so long a period if the quality of what was produced had not been so high. Mrs Carter recognised this herself - in her notes she says: / am quite sure that Lord Fitzwilliam has not hung Painted Fabric curtains beside De Laszlo pictures and priceless china in his main living room for the last 14 years for charity's sake. Nor did Mrs Sebag Montifiore equip her new house with Painted Fabric curtains at the cost of several hundred pounds for this reason - But because of their artistic value. Painted Fabrics' work was suspended from 1939, the workshops being taken over for the production of aircraft parts during the war and then for a variety of light industrial uses. Fabric pro-duction had resumed by 1950 but never again reached the scale achieved in the 1920s and '30s. Though some men injured in the Second World War were taken on, those who had fought in the 1914-1918 war were growing old, as were Mrs Carter and the company's pre-war supporters and clients. At the same time fashions were changing, and in 1958 the decision was taken to wind the company up. The archives were subsequently presented to Sheffield City Libraries together with some examples of the work produced. A wide variety of items have also been treasured by those with family and other connections with the company. It is hoped that all these will be as carefully preserved in the future as a lasting tribute to the men and women who created Painted Fabrics.

Western Front Association – 5th Presidents Conference - `Tally Ho`

Conference Centre – 4th June 2016 - `The Somme and Beyond`

President Peter Simkins opened proceedings in front of around 100 members

by welcoming everyone and paying tribute to Colin Wagstaff for the

organisation of the event.

Colin Wagstaff – Western Front Association – Vice Chairman

Prof. Peter Simkins – President Western Front Association

Peter explained that one of the speakers had called off the previous night due to a serious illness of a family member. The schedule was therefore rearranged and the day would conclude with a Speakers Panel Q & A Session.

Peter then introduced the first speaker of the day, Lar Joye from the National Museum of Ireland to present his paper `The Irish Soldier in 1916`

Lar Joye

After explaining his background, Lar went through the six principal points of his presentation.

Introduction

Ireland 1913-1915

The Irish Soldier in 1916 Easter Rising

The Irish on the Somme

Case Study of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Conclusions

In November 1913 there were two volunteer groups in Ireland, the Irish Volunteers and the Ulster Volunteer Force, predominantly Protestant, in the North. By August 1914 these organisations totalled over 200,000 men. With the outbreak of War, it was agreed by most that Home Rule for Ireland would be put on hold pending resolution of the conflict. The majority of the Irish Volunteers sided with a leading Nationalist politician of the time, John Redmond, who was also an MP in Westminster and became the National Volunteers. There has been a long tradition of Irish recruitment into the British Army and three Irish Divisions were raised, 10th, 16th and the 36th (Ulster). 150,000 joined during the war, adding to the 70,000 who were already serving when war broke out. 35,000 Irishmen were killed in the conflict. Losses affected recruiting, particularly after the 10th (Irish) Division which set off with great optimism in 1915 was badly mauled at Gallipoli when 75% were killed wounded or evacuated as sick. Ireland had invested in the British army in 1914 and 1915 but this suddenly changed in 1916 when the Irish Republican Brotherhood, led by Padraig Pearse, decides , with others, to go for a

revolution and planned a rebellion, to take advantage of the British government and army`s preoccupation with the war with Germany

Padraig Pearse Roger Casement

At the same time, Roger Casement, an Irishman working with the British Foreign Office had been secretly colluding with the Germans to get them to supply weapons, but he was captured by the Royal Navy off Cork harbour with 20000 rifles and ammunition on Good Friday, and with his capture the chances of the Rising succeeding diminish. Incidentally, when Casement was being tried later for treason the Germans supplied a photograph showing him on the deck of U Boat U-19 with its crew. A very condemning piece of evidence. The Chief of Staff of the rebels, Eoin MacNeill, cancels the manoeuvres of the volunteers which were to be the backdrop to the uprising as he knows that without these rifles and ammunition, the Rising does not stand any chance of success. Originally planned as a countrywide insurrection, it now just falls principally on Dublin and Padraig Pearse in defiance of MacNeill declares a Provisional government on Easter Monday 1916, relying on a depleted rebel force of just over 900 men (and a few women) to put his plan into action. The Uprising – at that time – did not command popular support. As is well known the British garrison, reinforced by other troops brought in from other parts of Ireland bring the Rising to a conclusion on 4th April 1916, with the arrest of the leaders. The Rising cost 485 lives and 2614 wounded, the latter mostly being civilians. Sixteen prominent Republicans – principally those who had signed the Provisional Government declaration, were subsequently tried by a military court and executed. Evidence of the firefights during the Rising can still be seen in many of Dublin`s buildings today, pockmarked from bullets and fragments. Lar Joye then went on to discuss the participation of the Irish at the Battle of the Somme. Using a map of the area he highlighted the attack on the Schwaben Redoubt by the 36 th (Ulster) Division on July 1st which cost 2000 lives whilst the 16th (Irish) Division – another volunteer division, entered the fray in September, led by General Hickie who in later years did so much to establish the British Legion in Ireland, post war. Of course, it is not just the Irish Divisions, there are others like the four battalions of the Tyneside Irish. Moving on, he discussed the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, of which there were 11 battalions. 20% of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were in fact not Irish. He highlighted the 10th Battalion – The Commercials

– which was created in February 1916, predominantly from the `better` classes in Dublin, a fact highlighted by their advertising. On Easter Monday 1916, the RDF in Royal barracks in Dublin are told to respond to a `disturbance` at Dublin Castle (they were not told what is going on) but as before the battalion had gone no more than 500m they were ambushed by a party of rebels led by Sean Heuston. Leading the RDF is Gerard Neilands and he is killed in the ambush. His brother, whilst not part of the attack is serving with the rebel forces a few hundred yards down the road. This was pattern in the rebellion, brother against brother. Neilands was 40, a nationalist but also committed to the British Empire and had served widely in the British army. His younger brother was 20, and totally

committed to gaining a free, independent Ireland. Such was indicative of the disparity of opinion across the different age generations. Heuston and his men are forced to surrender 4 days later and it is officers of the RDF who are key witnesses at his subsequent trial. After the rebellion is crushed, the RDF go back into training and move to France just in time to take part in the last of the Somme campaign, the Battle of Ancre in November 1918, alongside the Royal Naval Division. The battalion suffers 40% casualties and like Irish losses before in the Gallipoli campaign, this has a big impact on public opinion back in Ireland, particularly in Dublin. Concluding, Lar asked what impact the 1916 Easter Rising had upon Irish soldiers and Irish society at large?. The Rising was badly planned and carried out and initially there was little sympathy for the rebels within the Irish population, but of course the subsequent execution policy of the British changes everything. Sir John Maxwell (1859-1929) served with the British Army in Egypt during World War One before taking responsibility for restoring civil order in Ireland. Maxwell saw in the rebellion a German plot although in fact the Germans had played little part, bar supplying the rifles and ammunition which had been lost when the ship the Aud was seized by the Royal Navy in Cork harbour.

General Sir John Maxwell

He is appalled at the loss of life and 160 military trials take place, from which 90 death sentences are handed down. Executions happen quickly, from the 3rd to 12th May at which point Asquith calls a halt, 16 men having paid the price of their rebellion. These executions completely changed Irish society, when the rebel troops withdrew after the Rising was put down they were abused and spat at by the populace, but after the executions started, the population started to look upon them as martyrs. The executions, too, had a dramatic impact upon recruitment to the British Army, which tailed off significantly, and of course by 1918 /1919 we see a different kind of war breaking out in the Irish War of Independence, being guerilla warfare, and in 1921 both sides agreed a truce which was permanently agreed in the treaty of December 1922. Regrettably of course, a civil war breaks out, which of course, resulted in further loss of life. Mr. Joye then gave details of various museums and exhibitions in Dublin which he felt would be of interest to WFA members.

Next up was Michael Stedman who presented Most Brutal of Days – the Assault on Thiepval on July 1st 1916

Michael Stedman was born in Salford in 1949 and graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne after which he became a schoolteacher in Manchester for 24 years. Between 1999 and 2004 he worked with Peter Simkins as one of the advisors to the Thiepval Project whose visitor centre opened in 2004 Michael said he would look at the tactics, key figures and consequences of failure. He started by showing a clear map of the Somme area, showing the location of the 36 th and 32nd Divisions where they were faced by the Germans 2nd army where Haig planned a breakthrough attack. The Germans were commanded by General Fritz von Below. In fact von Below had wanted to pre-empt the British attack by himself and his army attacking in early 1916, but Falkenhayn had overruled him, as his own plans for the assault on the Verdun were about to take place. That and the Brusilov offensive on the Eastern Front meant that von Below and his men had to sit and wait for the coming allied assault. Careful planning went in to the German defences, this being the responsibility of General Franz von Soden.

Fritz von Below Franz von Soden Stedman explanied with maps of Thiepval and the Schwaben redoubt, the defensive system

devised by Von Soden, particularly the connecting fields of fire, enfilading etc, a result of the careful positioning of the machine guns which were to wrought havoc amongst the advancing British soldiers. The 36th (Ulster Division) was commanded by Major-General Oliver Nugent. Nugent devised the strategy that led to the Ulster Division going out into `no mans` land` twenty minutes before Zero Hour. This allowed his soldiers to get the advantage and capture the main objective of the Schwaben Redoubt.

Major General Oliver Nugent However along the rest of the line, the attack faltered and this caused the 36th Division to withdraw. In addition, German artillery focussed on ground behind the Irishmen which prevented them being reinforced and resupplied and made then vulnerable to the inevitable counter attacks by the Germans. The undernoted trench map shows the position of the 36th(Ulster) Division in Thiepval wood and the Germans complex of defences known as the Schwaben redoubt

The 32nd Division, who were attacking south of the 36th Division were caught in the pre-planned fields of fire by the German machine guns and despite great bravery being shown by the troops, none got into the German front lines. This failure meant the Ulstermen were isolated, caught in enfilade fire and made withdrawal inevitable. Stedman used excellent

animations to illustrate the development of the battle involving both divisions.

He then considered the strengths of the defenders and attackers. The German 26th Reserve Regiment had 7200 on strength, the 32nd and 36th Divisions, 9600 at the start of the assault. Therefore the Germans were outnumbered by 6 to 1, or indeed 9 to 1 if support troops are included. What the Germans lacked in numbers they made up for in firepower – their cleverly positioned machine guns. The 36th (Ulster ) Division suffered 5104 casualties on that first day, the 32nd Division, 3949 whilst history would record von Soden as the architect of the BEF`s failure with his meticulous planning of the German defensive system. The third presentation of the day was by the WFA President, Peter Simkins which was an appropriate follow up to that of Michael Stedman. `Hard Won Success – 18th Eastern Division at Thiepval – 26th September to 5th October 1916` Peter began by saying he felt the memory of the 18th Division is often overlooked. It was a Kitchener Division, raised in August /September 1914. How then did 18th Division succeed when 32nd and 36th had failed in July? The aim of the attack in 26th September was not to achieve a breakthrough but through a coordinated attack by II Corps was to deny the Germans the ability to observe over the Ancre valley. What was 18th divisions role – to assault north of the Authuille spur, secure Thiepval and the Schwaben redoubt. Artilery support consisted of 230 heavy guns plus 570 field guns, this combined gave 1 heavy gun per 20 yards of front, 1 field gun per 10.5 yards. Massed machine guns supplied an overhead cover `curtain` of fire whilst the guns provided a creeping barrage in front of the advancing troops. Four Mark 1 tanks were also employed. Peter showed some photographs of the effect of the combined barrage on the German trenches. Zero hour was 12.35pm in the afternoon – why ? – traditionally zero hour was early morning. In a dawn attack, if you succeeded in taking your target, you had to hold on for the rest of the day against the inevitable counter attacks. If you attacked after midday and capture your target before dark you had night to consolidate. This was an eminently sensible tactic suggested by Sir Ivor Maxse. Despite the overall success of the assault on the Schwaben redoubt it was not finally cleared of all defenders until October 5th. Why was the assault successful compare with July 1st ? More practice in the tactics of a set piece battle in the weeks leading up to the attack, but also devolution of command, Hubert Gough leaving it to Sir Ivor Maxse, who in turn left it to the battalion commanders. What were the casualty losses of the 18th Division ? On 26th and 27th September, 64 officers and 1456 men, but from 28th September until conclusion on October losses were 80 officers and 1990 men. Who then were the commanders involved in 18th Division. The Commander of II Corps was Sir Claud Jacobs, appointed 28th May 1916 and remained at his post until the end of the

War. Sir Ivor Maxse, GOC, 18th Division from 1914 to 1917 when he became GOC XVIII Corps. Known for his innovative methods, he was appointed Inspector General of Training in June 1918.

Sir Ivor Maxse

Peter then went on to discuss some of the officers and other personalities involved in the successful operation. Brigadier General (later Major General ) HW Higginson GOC 53rd Brigade from 1916 until April 1918 when he was promoted to GOC, 12th Division. Brigadier General TH Shoubridge, GOC 54th Brigade 1016-1917, GOC 7th Division 1917-1919. From 1919 until 1923 when he retired on health grounds Shoubridge was Commandant of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Lt. Colonel Frank Maxwell VC – the gallantry award was made in the Boer War. He commanded the 12th Middlesex at Thiepval and subsequently became GOC the 27th Brigade of the 9th (Scottish) Division in October 1916. It was subsequently reported that when Maxwell addressed his men prior to the assault on September 1916 he said `take no prisoners`. He was killed in action at Ypres on 21st September 1917. 2nd Lieutenant Tom Adlam VC joined the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment on 18th July 1916. His mother died while he was on the front that summer but as the burial and service would have been finished by the time he returned to England, he chose to remain with his platoon. This innocuous decision would ensure he was with the battalion while they stormed Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt, otherwise he would not have been with them during the action that saw him win the Victoria Cross. Subsequently became Lt.Colonel of the 7th Battalion. Peter also mentioned other VC winners at Thiepval, Private Robert Ryder, B Company 12th Middlesex Regiment and Private Fred Edwards also 12th Middlesex. Sadly it appears that in later life Fred had to sell his medal to make ends meet. The 18th Division had been in the Somme sector for a year and had inculcated the teachings, experience and ethos of Maxse and as such the success at Thiepval was ultimately down to the prowess of the individual soldiers.

The final paper of the day was `Beyond the Verdun Ossuary. French Army Command, Combat and Perspective 1916` by Prof. Martin Alexander who is currently Professor of International Relations, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He has specialised in French military history and has written a number of books on the subject as well as contributing many chapters and articles.

Why had France to remain on the offensive? By 1916 there was stalemate in the west, which left Germany occupying a large swathe of France, much of it industrialised and rich in minerals. Even before the start of World War One France, certainly compared with Germany it had an ageing and weakening population – a generation of `old maids` - the women in black. Professor Alexander then made several good points, that the Russian invasion of East Prussia in 1914 had effectively saved France from collapse (transfer of German forces to stem the Russian advance). Strategic movement of troops from Joffre`s taxi cabs moving 5000 men of the 7 th Infantry Division from Paris to the Marne battlefield, and the Battle of the Marne itself which ensured the failure of the Schlieffen Plan. He the mentioned the combat developments, troop tactics etc from 1914 to 1916. The Lebel rifle, machine guns, the 75mm fast firing field artillery piece, all of which started to come on strength by 1916. Artillery developments – sophisticated use of artillery in counter battery work Use of aircraft. Improved command by control and communications. It should be remembered too that the French had been active in developing tanks, it was not just a British invention, and Prof. Alexander mentioned the St. Chamond, the Schnieder and the Renault FT17 , some of the latter were still in service at the start of the Second World War At Verdun the infantry had become like snails, living in and below the battlefields. France cannot sit in defence it had to engage the enemy to force them out of occupation, which in some respects explains the poor condition of the French trenches, a frequent complaint by British soldiers when they took over sections of line previously held by the French. By 1916 the war had become that of attrition ie a war of material logistics and he mentioned the French counteroffensives of October to December in the Verdun sector, led by General Charles Mangin which saw the recapture of many of the forts, including Douaumont. Mangin`s policy was to build on surviving and enduring – “Au Front” by a war of attrition – Verdun and The Somme to force Germany out.

Charles Mangin With the return of George Clemenceau in 1917 as French Prime Minister, there was more focus and greater political control of the war, with Prof Alexander quoting Clausewitz – “War is an extension of politics by other means”

George Clemenceau What then for France was the hidden lessons of the fighting of 1916 ? There had been a failure to see the nature of modern warfare and its wastefulness of life ie French effort had been wrong headed and wasteful, something not corrected until Petain`s appointment in 1917. There has been some academic efforts to rehabilitate the `offensive mindedness` of the French Army but Prof. Alexander again quoted Clausewitz in that the weaker side should adopt the defensive strategy. By `defensive strategy` - did he mean let the enemy come on to the defenders ?. That was the problem as by the end of 1914 the French army had sustained a casualty rate of 25% whilst leaving the enemy entrenched in French territory containing many of its most productive regions. Victory needed to be won but that could only be done by a truly Allied war effort but none of the allies had yet grasped that fully as 1916 turned into 1917. The afternoon was concluded with a Speakers Panel who fielded some excellent and knowledgeable questions from the audience. As said in the introduction to this Newsletter, part (b) will be out before the end of August – topics covered – Chesterfield August Meeting, Great War Forum Spring Conference, Douglas Haig Fellowship, `Perspectives on the Somme` - WFA York Conference, WFA Wolverhampton Conference and much, much, more. Grant Cullen