ONE hundred years ago this week the men of the town headed the call of the drums – many drums in fact – as the biggest recruiting rally held in the old port since the beginning of the war assembled on Southampton’s County Ground.

Not only was the event deemed a runaway success merely from the point of view of the spectacle it produced, but also from the gratification success it provided for the recruiting sergeant’s point of view.

As the big procession marched its way through the main arteries and thoroughfares of the town, it struck a chord with locals by bringing home the reality of the national crisis to the hearts and minds of the townsfolk.

Dense throngs lined the streets and those that did not cheer showed their sympathy to the cause in other ways, such as the many amongst the crowds who wore a miniature Union jack in their button hole, or the pockets of wounded men dressed in their blue uniforms of convalescence who were also silent but eloquent witnesses to the appeal to the manhood of the town.

Led by a decorated tram car carrying even more wounded soldiers, the procession made its triumphant march from the Dock Station accompanied by the band of the Training Ship Mercury, who played a lively melody of patriotic airs, followed by a body of smart youngsters from the Sailor’s Orphanage, and several hundred Boy Scouts flying the banners of their various patrols. In their business-like uniforms members of the Southampton Volunteer Training Corps of both Battalions, to the number of a few hundred or more followed behind. Then came the King’s Royal Rifles and the Hampshire Regiment, who formed an imposing procession of 300 men in khaki, a cyclists’ section and the town’s Fire Brigade completed the procession to the County Ground where the band of the Royal Garrison Artillery had entertained the expectant crowd awaiting the arrival of the great procession.

With everybody assembled, Colonel Bance, who was presiding over the affair in the absence of the Mayor, took to the stage with a pleasant surprise for the crowd. It was nothing less than a telegram from Lord Kitchener, whose name was received with loud acclaim. Lord Kitchener’s close association with Southampton, as one of its Freemen, was fittingly emphasised by the chairman, who described Lord Kitchener not only as “our greatest soldier and organiser”, but also as “one of ourselves.” Colonel Bance felt sure that Lord Kitchener’s words would be carefully considered and responded to by every man who could possibly do so.

A special appeal for able to men to join the Colours was also made by Sergeant-Major Brandon, upon the anniversary of him joining the forces a year ago. Limping on to the platform with the aid of a couple of sticks, having been wounded in the Dardanelles, Sergeant-Major Brandon said that every man was needed in the great conflict. The Dardanelles he described as the greatest hell, created by the Turks and the Germans, and in passionate and telling language he graphically described the scene and the heart rendering cries of his comrades for more men to come over and help defeat the Kaiser’s men. In a rousing call to arms Sergeant-Major Brandon said he would not leave the platform until he had got some recruits, and amidst tremendous applause and cries of “Bravo” a number of brave young men stepped forward before he proceeded with his speech, which created the greatest enthusiasm amongst all those present.