Military Christmas Dinners – Chichester Observer – Wednesday, 05 January 1916

MILITARY ENTERTAINED AT SELSEY. TWO HAPPY GATHERINGS AT CINEMA. Christmas dinners, provided the residents of Selsey, were given on Wednesday and Thursday to members of the 9th Hants’ Cyclists stationed in the village, and other local men on active service, including the Selsey Boy Scouts, who are doing such excellent service as coastguards. The gatherings took place in the evening, the scene of the proceedings on each occasion being the Cinema Hall, which was gay with bunting and floral decorations. Vases of flowers adorned the long tables while the stage was bedecked with an abundance of foliage. The generosity of Selsey people had provided a host of good things, and the catering was superintended in his usual able way by Mr. J. Davis, of the Selsey Hotel. A circular appealing for assistance for carrying out the arrangements was issued by the Rector of Selsey, the Rev. K. H. MacDermott, on behalf of the Committee, which, with the Rector, was constituted as follows: Mr. E G. Arnell, J.P., Dr. P. C. Barford. Mr. J. Davis, Rev. A, E. Dymond, Mr. J. F. Fisher, Dr. A. A. Humphrys, Mr. L. Maidment, and Mr. C. Wakely. After dinner impromptu musical programmes were gone through, and there were also a few toasts. Those in attendance on Wednesday evening included Lieutenant Pixley, Lieutenant Barford, Quarter-Master-Sergeant Gosling, Sir Archibald Hamilton, Bart. (Lieutenant National Reserve and Hon. Recruiting Officer for Selsey and District), Captain H. Stevens, Petty Officer Searle, and Scout Master Adsett. Following the loyal toast, which was honoured at the instance of Lieutenant Pixley, Lieut. Barford submitted "The Royal Navy," to which Petty Officer Searle responded. Captain Stevens proposed the "Army,” and Quarter-Master-Sergeant Gosling replied. To Sir Archibald Hamilton was entrusted the toast of the evening, namely, "The 9th Hampshires,” and this task he successfully accomplished by delivering a complimentary and interesting speech. Lieutenant Pixley responded. The concluding toast was "Absent Friends,” proposed by Lieutenant Greville Williams. There were some seventy diners present, fifty of whom were of the Cyclists stationed in the neighbourhood. "The Loyal Birthday Song” created some amusement; the first verse is as follows; Now, who so was born in January, Stand up, stand up, And lift his voice and loudly sing, God bless our Sovereign Lord the King, God save our gracious King I The second and following verses were the same with the exception that for “January” was constituted “February,” and so on, viz., ‘‘Windy March,” ‘‘Rainy April,” ‘‘Flowering May,” ‘‘Sunny June," "Bright July," "Golden August,” etc. Everyone stood up when the verse of the month in which he was born was sung, and remained standing till the end. On Thursday those present included Colonel. Perkins (commanding 9th Hants Battalion) Captain Talbot Ponsonby (Adjutant). Lieutenant Harrison, Sergeant Major Symes (9th Hants Regiment), Sir A. Hamilton, Lieutenant Hodman, Lieutenant Greville Williams, Chief Petty Officer Bonner and others. Following the repast, toasts were drunk intermingled with musical items, the artistes being Mesdames Simpson and Baker, Misses Hill and Gotch, Rev. MacDermott and Walshe, Lieutenants Harrison and Greville-Williams, Chief Petty Officers Bonner and Chapman, and Messrs. W. Bonner and Barron, Corporals Bleach, Knight and Ashworth. Lieutenant Harrison proposed the ‘‘Royal Navy,” to which Chief Petty Officer Bonner responded; Chief Petty Officer Bonner gave ‘The Army,” for whom Captain Talbot Ponsonby replied; Leading Boatswain Anderson submitted "The 9th Hampshires," and Col. Perkins responded; and Sir Archibald Hamilton gave "Absent Friends.” In responding to the 9th Hants Cyclist Batt., Colonel Perkins conveyed thanks to all responsible, and also behalf of Captain Robson (the Company officer), who had been called away at a moment's notice on important Brigade duty.