SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: On Remembrance Sunday, using a treasured service sheet from Croydon Parish Church from more than a century ago, DAVID MORGAN outlines early efforts on the home front in World War I, and some of the many sacrifices
Early casualty: Capt Eric Schooling, killed in action in October 1914
The edition of the Croydon Times for October 31, 1914, 110 years ago, brought readers up to date with several local events related to the Great War.
There was a novel way to support the troops at the front, namely the first Chocolate Day in Croydon. It had been held in the borough a week earlier. It was organised by Mrs James, whose husband, Dr PW James, was serving at the front. He had told his wife that he thought chocolate would be a real boon for the soldiers.
Other local authorities picked up on this idea and the City of York sent all York men serving in the forces some Rowntree’s chocolate at Christmas. Rowntree’s was one of the biggest chocolate manufacturers in the country, and were based in York. In 1915, the scheme had been extended, and all troops serving on the Western Front were sent a box of Rowntree’s chocolates.
Queen Mary, famously, sent tins of chocolate, and tobacco, too.
In Croydon, Mrs James collected together a group of ladies to assist her, as well as Dr Beard who acted as organising secretary. The Chocolate Day was held in the Public Hall and thousands of people called throughout the day to leave their chocolate donations.
Many of the gifts had little notes attached to them, wishing the soldiers well. The total amount of chocolate donated was 4,514lbs, just over two tons. More than 20 cases of chocolate were sent over the following day and another 90 on the Monday, sent to the 10th Brigade (4th Division) British Expeditionary Force.
Croydon’s chocolate day: the Croydon Times report of the death of Rev Schooling
Some people also donated cash, and £24 remained – equivalent to almost £3,500 today – less expenses, to purchase further chocolate. The committee planned to organise a similar event to supply gloves and mittens to Surrey troops.
The newspaper also informed its readers about the semi blackout conditions, with Croydon streets being darkened each night. The Commissioner of Police stated that in his opinion it was necessary to continue the precautionary measures. The Emergency Orders were due to run out at the end of October, but he felt they were bound to be extended. Zeppelins, German long-rang airships armed with bombs, were a real and constant threat.
The darkened thoroughfares had also resulted in the London General Omnibus Company curtailing some services and cancelling others. Routes were not covered if it was thought the roads were unsafe because of the darkness, while other services were restricted because of a lack of buses. The War Office had commandeered large numbers of buses to help with transportation to and from the front in France.
Croydon residents had already seen 72 buses, painted slate grey, passing through the borough on Monday October 26, at the start of their journey to France.
Croydon Parish Church, what we now know as Croydon Minster, also reacted to the first few months of the war. At the suggestion of the bell ringers, the vicar agreed that there should be a muffled peal before the morning and evening services on November 1, as a tribute to those whose had already fallen.
Treasured treats: one of the chocolate boxes, from Rowntree’s, sent to all soldiers at the front in 1915
When those muffled bells rang on that Sunday, no one at the church knew that the brother of the church’s senior curate, Rev Cecil Schooling, had been killed the day before.
Captain Eric Schooling, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was shot dead in the trenches at Gheluvelt, in Belgium, during the frantic battle to stop German troops reaching Ypres and then on to the North Sea coast.
Little did anyone foresee that almost three years later, the senior curate at those services would himself be killed at the front, while serving as a chaplain in the forces. Those muffled bells would toll for him, too.
The archive of Croydon Minster has a most treasured order of service, dated July 2 1917.
That was the day when a memorial service was held for both the Schooling brothers and for another local soldier, Utten Lamont Hooke, Colonel Commanding 3/4th Royal West Surrey Regiment, who was killed on June 21 that year, the same day that Rev Schooling lost his life.
It would have been a packed and sombre congregation in the church that Monday evening. The Mayor and Mayoress were in attendance, together with various aldermen and members of the council. Whitgift School cadets and a contingent of local police and special constables were on parade. The vicar, Rev Canon LJ White-Thomson, based his address on a text from Revelations, “They loved not their lives unto the death, therefore rejoice.” And he read the eulogies for each man.
Important artefact: the Parish Church order of service from July 1917
Captain Eric Schooling, it was said, had been the youngest officer in the British Army back in 1901 when he went out with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment to South Africa to fight in the Boer War. He was a career soldier, who was promoted to captain in 1913.
His regiment was in Malta when the Great War broke out. His battalion formed part of the 7th Division which landed in Zeebrugge. After a forced march across Belgium, they subsequently lost nearly all their officers in fierce fighting around Ypres. Although he was not personally known to the Croydon residents, he was described as a “memorable hero”.
Initially Captain Schooling was reported as missing, as his fate was uncertain. Eventually witness statements confirmed his death. A corporal of his unit wrote: “Truly, could you have seen him, you would not grieve. You could not. He was grand. I shall never forget his last stand as long as I live. No man could have set a more noble or finer example. It was impossible to exaggerate it, and I am proud to say that I fought at his side.”
Sergeant Scrivener, another of his men, wrote from Altdamm, where he was a prisoner of war, that his captain’s last words to him before he was shot were, “Mind, no surrender.”
Both Schooling brothers attended Tonbridge School.
Colonel Hooke was a well-known local figure. Born in Croydon, he had joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) as a lieutenant in 1906. He was active in the Masons, being a member of the Addiscombe Lodge, and was a Freeman and Liveryman of the Carpenters’ Company.
His job as listed in the 1911 census was a wine buyer.
The third battalion of the 4th Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment was raised at Windsor in April 1915. Hooke was appointed commanding officer. The battalion was sent to the Western Front in May 1917, finding themselves close to Arras. Hooke survived a month at the frontline, being killed by a shell when near the chemical works at Roeux. He was buried at the Level Crossing Cemetery, Fampoux.
Commanding officer: Colonel Utten Lamont Hooke
White-Thomson told the congregation that whenever had met Hooke he had thought that the men under his command had a most capable officer, who was a true Christian gentleman.
Rev Cecil Schooling had been a curate at the Parish Church for six years and White-Thomson spoke about his value as a colleague and as someone who always put his heart and soul into everything he did.
Schooling had made an impact on many aspects of Croydon life. As well as his duties within the Parish Church, he was an integral part of St Edmund’s Church too. He served as a Special Constable and was on several local committees. The special peal of bells back in 1914 would have meant so much to him, as he was also member of the Parish Church bell ringing team.
Schooling was appointed as a chaplain to the forces in December 1915. Initially he was placed in a hospital in France. He worked there for several months, from where came a testimony about his efficiency and devotion to his work. He went to the front two months before he died. He found himself among many Croydon men and he witnessed at first-hand a great advance at the beginning of June.
Only half an hour before the memorial service was due to begin, White-Thomson had received a letter from Schooling’s parents outlining the tragic events which led to their son’s death.
Curate and chaplain: Rev Cecil Schooling
“He had left his position of comparative safety, so it appeared, to warn some of his men to take cover as there was danger about. During his mission to tell them, he was struck by a shell and severely wounded. He died peacefully the next day.”
His parents added that he died as he would have wished, for his church and country, claiming a hero’s death. Rev Schooling was buried in the military cemetery at Lijssenthoek in Belgium.
The memorial service ended with the hymn, Peace, perfect peace, with the final organ voluntary being the Dead March from Handel’s oratorio, Saul, which is still played at the Cenotaph each year as part of the nations’ mourning.
The optimism of the Chocolate Day in 1914 had been replaced by the harsh reality of war. There was still a determination to succeed but the price was high, much higher than was first thought. There were great debates about what the army needed to win the conflict.
Chocolate had slipped a long way down the list.
David Morgan, pictured right, is a former Croydon headteacher, now the volunteer education officer at Croydon Minster, who offers tours or illustrated talks on the history around the Minster for local community groups
If you would like a group tour of Croydon Minster or want to book a school visit, then ring the Minster Office on 020 688 8104 or go to the website on www.croydonminster.org and use the contact page
Some previous articles by David Morgan:
- Surrey Street’s Pightling holds unique place in WWI memorials
- Croydon churchwarden’s outstanding service in war and peace
- Flash, bang, wallop, what a picture! And all by Royal command
- The church fire that consumed a thousand years of history
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
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