Recruiting for WW1 – October Past Pavilion

The September issue featured the story of the cinema proprietor and military call up to fight in World War One. References were made to the role played by the Pavilion in the recruitment process. This month we focus on the efforts to boost recruitment in October 1914.

Recruiting for WW1 at the Pavilion

SELSEY. Recruiting Meeting- A meeting to promote recruiting, especially in the Territorials, was held at the Cinema Hall on Saturday night. The chair was taken by the Rector (the Rev. C. W. G. Wilson), and addresses were given by Captain Stephen, Dr. Humphreys, Mr. Archibald Hamilton, and Lieutenant Watkins, who is in command of the cyclist section of the Isle of Wight Territorials now quartered in the village. There was a good attendance of the general public, and it is hoped that there will be satisfactory results.

Chichester Observer 7/10/1914

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A Recruiting Entertainment. A variety entertainment to promote recruiting has been arranged for to-morrow (Thursday) at eight o'clock in the Cinema Hall. A first-rate programme is being compiled, consisting of war pictures, patriotic songs, etc. Addresses will be given by Colonel Johnstone, the Officer Commanding 9th Hampshire’s, and Lieut. Gibson, of the Sussex Regiment, who well-known in the district and has just received his Lieutenancy.in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment for gallantry at Mons. The meeting has been convened Captain Stephen, who is in charge the National Reserve, and Mr. Archibald Hamilton, late 1st Lieutenant of the R.S.R and Hon. Recruiting Officer for Selsey and District.

Chichester Observer 14/10/1914

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Recruiting Meeting. On Thursday the third and most successful meeting to promote recruiting was held at the Cinema Hall at the instigation of Captain Stephen and Mr Archibald Hamilton Hon. Recruiting Officer for Selsey and District. An excellent variety of entertainment took place and was followed by two excellent speeches delivered by Recruiting Meeting. Colonel Johnstone Officer Commanding 9th Hants and Lieut. Gibson. Colonel Johnstone, who at Mr Hamilton's invitation kindly consented to address the meeting, is regarded in high esteem at the War Office and inaugurated the 9th Batt Cycle Corps himself. He is well known as one of the greatest experts on military history of our time and has often been asked to lecture at the Imperial Institute, Whitehall. Lieutenant Gibson is well-known to Selsey men and his stirring adventures at Mons were listened to with thrilled interest. Both addresses were enthusiastically received. Captain Stephen made a most telling and felicitous speech in introducing Colonel Johnstone. and Mr. Archibald Hamilton, in dignified and most impressive language, in proposing vote of thanks to Colonel Johnstone and Lieut. Gibson, alluded to the heart-breaking experiences of several men, not only in Selsey, but in the surrounding district, who had been only too anxious to serve their King and country, but owing to ill-health were rejected. Surely their names competitors might be added to the already lengthy and weighty list of the Roll Calls of Honour, and he felt that he was voicing the feelings of many present in holding a brief for these unfortunate ones. Mr. Heron Allen, Scout Commissioner, made a speech to promote recruiting for the Boy Scouts, and justly remarked that they were doing men's work. At his instigation Sir Robert Baden Powell and headquarters have conferred upon Mr. Hamilton the Scout Order, of which Mr. Hamilton is justly proud, as it is so rarely bestowed. As regards the audience, the Cinema Hall was packed to overflowing.

Chichester Observer 21/10/1914

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Sir Archibald Hamilton was in charge of recruitment in Selsey. He was responsible for arranging many recruitment drives based at the Pavilion. He also organised, and often sponsored, fundraising events to support the war effort.

Our November “Past Pavilion” article is linked to his use of the Pavilion in the 1930s to aid recruitment to a very different organisation.