CHIN-WAG Newsletter
Villiers Park Educational Trust’s commemoration of the First World War through
extracts from the Old Etonian’s and Eton Manor’s CHIN-WAG Newsletter
No. 6. Vol. 1.
“Hope sings eternal in the breast
E'en when the worst we fear.
God’s in His Heaven! Then leave the rest
To Him, and greet the coming year.”
H.E.S
January 1915.
well-it is because Mr. Townsend is a good kind gentleman;
who, by the way, delighted us all, old and young, whether
on service or at home, with his seasonable and topical
drawings in the Christmas CHIN-WAG. Father's friends are
ours.
Squad! Shun!! Right tu'n! Dismiss!!
“CHELSEA”
HM.S. Arethusa,
c/o G.P.O., London.
The E. B. C. Reserves
It would require somebody more than Rudyard Kipling
and "Eye-Witness" combined to do full justice to our
club-force-especially at times. That we are “getting-on",
"improving", and so on seems to be the unanimous
verdict, but that might mean seven days C.B. if we were
under the colours. Speaking seriously, the squad is
nothing like so awkward as it used to be, and if some of
the "juniors" were just a little bit more serious and
thoughtful, the drill would be greatly improved.
To my way of thinking, on December 14th, we tempted
providence more than if we had gone to the front to
fight the Germans; for on that date, our acting-editor
entertained Mr. Townsend, the eminent cartoonist, and
afterwards brought him up to the drill-hall. Perhaps no
more had better be said about it, but we had better keep
our eyes on Punch, and if the E.B.C Reserves are not
enshrined in it for posterity,
Dear Mr. Wagg and all the B'hoys,
Just a line hoping you are in the best of health, as it leaves
me, I have received the CHIN-WAG quite safe, and I only wish
it, came out weekly and not monthly; it is quite a pleasure to
read the news from home. I don't suppose there is an Old
Boys team, this year, as from what I can see, they have all
joined the army or navy: well, I hope they will like it. Those
who have joined the R.N.B at the Palace are having a good
time from what I read in CHIN-WAG. They are not like us
when we are at sea; we get four hours sleep on the deck and
think we are lucky if we can get six in our hammocks. When
we are in harbour we have leave from 1.30 till 5.30 p.m., and
we can go ashore one day in four as they work the leave in
part watches. Before we can turn in, we have to get all our
boats up and turned in ready to go to sea at any hour of the
night. We also have airships' gun's crew, and we have to see
that the ammunition is ready to be used at a moment's
notice, and that the gun is in working order. The gun's crew
know where each other sleeps so that we can all be shaken
and can muster at the gun in case anything was to come
along. One watch is called at 5 o'clock and the rest of the
hands at 5.30 a.m. every day except Sunday, when we have
15 mins extra lay in.
Well I shall close as I have to wet the tea for supper. Well
CHIN-CHIN and the best of luck to you and all the Knuts, and
the boys who have taken their places in the fighting line.
I remain,
Yours truly,
Ernest C. SMITH, alias "SMUTTY."
Beef and Pudding Billiards
The Beef and Pudding Billiards on Christmas Eve was a great
success. First went to E. Illsley, second to W. Smith. W. Bass, A.
Wilson, J. Biggs, W. Cowcher and R. Bets were non-starters, and
their opponents therefore received a bye.
Please revisit www.villierspark.org.uk each month for the next
edition of CHIN-WAG from a century ago.