Welcome Home Dinner for Skegness WW1 Soldiers

WELCOME HOME To the Skegness Men who Served and Won
DINNER AT THE PAVILION Splendid Reception

Skegness townspeople last night gave a Welcome Home to all the men of  Skegness who served in H.M. Forces during the War on Sea, Land, or in the Air, and nearly 300 were present at the dinner given in their honour. It was a fitting function given in commemoration of Armistice Day, and the guests had a right royal time. Soon after Armistice had been signed, Coun. T. Marshall brought forward the idea that a Welcome Home should be accorded the men upon their safe return and something should be done in recognition of all the hardships and suffering they had endured for the sake of the Old Country, and for the protection they had given to the homes of the inhabitants of the dear old homeland. Delay has been occasioned as the committee were anxious that all the men should be released from their duties and returned to their homes. When the peace celebrations were held in the Summer it was found to be an impossibility to entertain the men as was proposed, because of the largeness of the proceedings on behalf of the children on that day, so the committee decided to postpone the function until the end of the Season, and again it was thought that the anniversary of Armistice Day would be the most suitable occasion on which to give the men a Welcome Home. Unfortunately after ample thought and consideration that had been given, many men were unable to be present owing to their military duties for which the committee felt deeply sorry at their absence.

Coun. Manton has taken a most active part in collecting subscriptions and bringing the affair to a successful issue.
The large hall of the Pavilion had been gaily decorated with bunting and flags of the allied nations by the Misses Phillips and presented a pleasing appearance, whilst the tables were beautifully decorated with flowers, etc.
Nearly 300 men sat down to a sumptuous repast, provided by Mr. and Mrs. F. Trevitt, and presided over by Mr. Coun. W. P. Moody, J.P., who was supported by the Rev. Wm. Disney, Coun. B. Bycroft, Messrs. A. T. M. Porter, W. Frearson. R. Hudson, the Hon. Secretary. Coun. J. T. Borman and others.

The following ladies kindly waited upon the men: Miss Coun. Rankin, Chairman of the Ladies Committee, Miss Lea, Miss Chalmers, Mrs. Wm. Frearson, Miss Crofts, Alm. Kiss, Mrs. Allan, Mrs. Coetmore Jones, Mrs. Martin – Simpson, Mrs. Wragby, Mrs. John R. Hill, Mrs. G. H. J. Dutton, Mrs. C. F. Grantham, M.B. E. , Sister Carlton, Mrs. Leighton, Mrs. Harding, Alm. G. Dunkley, senr., Mrs. F. Wood, Mrs. Wrote, Mrs. Horry, Mrs. R. Hudson, Mrs. Bernard, Miss Horry, Mrs. Pinney, Mrs. A. T. M. Porter, Mrs. J. Crawshaw, junr., Mrs. Longthorne, Miss L. J. Walker, Mrs. G. Dunkley, Mrs. Parkin, Mrs. Woodhead, Mrs. H. Cooper, Mrs. Kinsley, Mrs. J. R. Shepherd, Misses Phillips and others under the supervision of Mr. F. J. Rowe.
The carvers were: Messers C.F. ,Grantham, J.P., J. Archer, H. Forman Parkes, W. Turner, C. Parkin, G. Wells, H. Stow, Coun. H. Manton, Messrs. Collishaw and Bloomfield, and the following were, in charge of the  refreshment department: Coun. D. Haley Coun W. Hudson, Messrs. B. F. Boyer, C. Shepherd, J. R. Shepherd, H. W. Woodroffe, and Grunnill; whilst the cloakroom was taken charge of by Messrs. Martin and Bonner.
A suitable menu card for the occasion, on the front of which was the figure of Victory, and at the base, a picture of men from the Homeland and every British possession who had fought in the war, the whole surmounted by the different arms of the many Services. On the inside were the following inscription:—

SKEGNESS PEACE CELEBRATION.
WELCOME HOME to those Members of His Majesty’s Forces from the Town of Skegness who had served on Land, Sea, or Air during the War 1914-1919.

The menu was as follows
Let every man do his best. —Henry IV.
MENU.
Hot Roast Beef.
Roast Mutton.
Boiled Mutton and Caper Sauce.
Ham and Chicken.
Jugged Hare.
Brussels Sprouts. Haricot Beans.
Carrots and Turnips.
Plum Puddings.
Apple Tarts.
Mixed Pastries.
Jellies and Blanc Mange.
Cheese and Biscuits.
For now we sit to chat as well as eat. —Taming of the Shrew.,
Toast :—The King.

After grace had been given by the Rev. Wm. Disney, The Chairman in a few well-chosen words proposed the health of the King, and said:
The Chairman proposed the loyal toast and said with the exception of proposing the toast of  “The King,” there would be no speeches. The directions of the Committee were that the proceedings should be of a ” free and easy ” order, but as he was addressing their guests who have so nobly represented Skegness and the Empire in every theatre of war, it was his honour and pleasure to extend to them a most hearty, warm, and cordial, Welcome Home from the townspeople of Skegness. They are indeed proud to be their hosts, and thanked them for all the service they have rendered, and to wish all the greatest happiness in the future, and a very enjoyable evening. They all rejoiced in the success which had attended their efforts, and they thanked God for the wonderful deliverance. As a result of the great conflict several countries had been deprived of their ruling sovereigns, but the British Nation had maintained its traditions and her people by self sacrifice and determination. As far as the British Throne was concerned it had resulted in His Gracious Majesty King George being more firmly established than ever, and also in the hearts of his beloved people. He had indeed done his duty as a ruler in addition to working in his garden at Windsor and making the journey to Lincoln to ride in the Tanks, which were first made in this county. Gentlemen- Long may he live in health and happiness to uphold the dignity of the State and Empire, and to be the liberal Patron of the many sports and pastimes of his People.
“The King” was toasted with musical honours.

Major L. Sawyer said that though the Committee had decided there should not be any speeches it was felt by the men that a vote of thanks should be accorded the towns-people for the most excellent and warm welcome that had been extended to the men who had served that evening. He could conscientously say that if the orderly officer had come round, the answer ” No complaints” would have been general. (Laughter). They were all the same today since demobilisation—just true British Tommies. In his army career he had also had a great admiration for the infantry man, and had carefully studied the British Tommy, arriving at the conclusion that there were no human beings alive that could come up to the standard of the Britisher. People could not, nor could the other branches of the service, realise the hardships that the infantry soldier had to go through. He goes out light-hearted to the trenches, which were a beastly place to reside in, kept up a cheeriness which was marvellous, and went over the top with a spirit that showed a determination to win. People have heard the news that the troops were ordered to attack at dawn but they had not the slightest conception of what that order meant to the Tommies in the trenches as they waited for dawn to appear. He wished to accord to the townspeople a hearty vote of thanks for the welcome they had extended to the men who had fought for them.

Capt. C T. Jessap seconded, and said that no man could go away without thanking the townspeople and Committee for the splendid arrangements of the welcome accorded to them. A year ago the War was finished, and the British Tommy did it in spite of the mistakes made by the higher officials. Their spirit and determination carried them through, and if they would continue to receive that same kind of spirit and determination now they had returned to civilian duties, which might not be quite so good in some instances as before the War, he felt confident that England would be greater and better conditions would prevail in the future. That was what they all had been fighting for. Every man who could be called a man put their whole spirit into their work during the War, and those men would act in the same manner in their civilian life. Skegness people know how to carry out a good thing, and they had provided a splendid repast for the men that evening. He hoped that all men would remember they held a duty to the civilian State and he felt sure that duty would be loyally carried out.

The following musical programme was rendered:—
Glee, “O who will o’er the Downs,” Messrs. A. T. M. Porter, J. S. Kinsley, F. Trevitt, R. Dutton, J. R. Shepherd, H. Mather, and G. Dutton.
Song, ” Brave Old Contempible,” Mr. C. H. Major.
Duet, ” Long, long Trail,” Messrs. R. and G. Dutton.
Song, ” Chrysantheum,” Mr. Jessap.

Song, ‘Memories Return ” Mr. Marriott Song, “Asleep, in the Deep,” Mr, J. S. Kinsley.
Quartette, ” Little Tommy,” Messrs. G, Dutton, Mather, Trevitt and Porter. Selections by Mr. Howe.
Song, ” My Ain Folk,” Mr. G. F. Ball.

Song, ” The Rose of No Man’s Land,” Mr. T. Wright.
Song, .” Laughing Song, Mr. J. Taylor.
Accompanists —Messrs. R. G. Dutton, C. T. Jessap, and W. R. Leaver.

During the intervals the Chairman presented a beautiful gun metal medallion [pictured below]to the Skegness men. On the front was the Skegness Coat of Arms around which were the words “In token of the gratitude of Skegness,” and on the reverse side was Britannia placing a crown of laurels upon the head of a fully equipped infantry soldier, whilst in the background was a dreadnought, howitzer, airship and aeroplane, depicting the various Forces that resulted in the successful issue; and the following words ” Served in the Great War, 1914 – 1919,” the medallion was enclosed in a silk and plush-lined case, and on the inside of the lid ” Presented by the People of Skegness.”
Mr: R. Hudson, the Hon. Secretary, explained there had been a difficulty in compiling a correct list of the Skegness men who were entitled to a Medallion. It was to be presented to the men who were working and living at Skegness at the outbreak of the War. and also to the men who were natives of Skegness and joined up in other towns. Though the list was as complete as possible, if anyone missed thought they were entitled to one, if they would send in their names their application would be investigated by the committee, and if found correct the committee would present to them a Medallion.

[The pictures below depict one of the original medallions given to the Skegness men who served in the Great War, as described above. Unfortunately, ninety-one years later, the lid to the case has been lost. Nevertheless, it is a valuable piece of Skegness memorabilia which will be donated to our Skegness Museum, should it ever come into being.]

List of men who have accepted the Committee’s invitation to dinner:

List of name who accepted but were unable to be present:

List of names of men who have declined or were unable to accept the Committee’s invitation to Dinner:

[The rest of this list is very difficult to photograph due to the binding of the newspaper into the folio. If you are really anxious to view the rest of the list, comment below and I will attempt to re-photograph.]

Source: Skegness News 12th November 1919