Lives of the First World War

During April/May 1915 Lieut. Colonel Fred Taylor led the 2/5 Battalion on a 21 day Recruiting March through Essex. There were over 100 meetings resulting in 500 additional recruits at a time when it was proving difficult to attract them. The Adverts for these meetings appear in the Essex County Chronicle on Fridays throughout May listing the towns and villages for the next week. In the edition dated Friday May 14th 1915 the advert reads as follows: 'A Detachment, with the Regimental Band, will hold meetings at the following places. Come and hear what the men who are doing their Bit for you and your people have to tell you.' Thirty Five places are listed including for Sunday May 16th: Chignal Smealey 9.15 am Pleshey 10.30 am High Easter 12.00 noon Margaret Roothing 2.30 pm Good Easter 3.45 pm Roxwell 6.30 pm The advert states that a Separation Allowance would be paid to all married men and men could get married after enlistment without permission being obtained. Age on enlistment was to be between 19 and 38.

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