Speaker Meeting with Dr Luke Flanagan

Canadians in the First World War

At this speaker meeting the talk was given by Dr Luke Flanagan about the role of Bexhill in the training, convalescence and hospitality of Canadian troops in the first world war.

There were three main sites used. The troops were housed in the Metropole Hotel (the site of the De la Warr Pavilion now), they trained on the site now occupied by St Augustines Church (with sports and drill in Egerton Park and on the promenade) and there was a convalescent camp in Cooden (Princess Patricia’s Red Cross Hospital). Officers were lodged in the Manor House in the Old Town.

The Commander was LtCol Critchley who knew the area as he had been at Meads School , Eastbourne in 1908. Originally the troops had been at Crowborough but this was unsuitable for practice at trench warfare and rifle practice (firing over the sea was safer than firing where houses may be). Critchley is also credited with introducing greyhound racing to Britain.

The Canadians, although in the British Empire, were keen to run their troops in their own way and to this end had their own officers and a ministry in London. The Duke of Connaught, the Governor General of Canada, visited Bexhill several times to inspect the troops and local people lined the streets to see him.

Local businesses adapted to Canadian tastes in food and clothing and, as most young Bexhill men were away in the army, the Canadian soldiers fraternised with the young women a great deal and some were married at the end of the war. There were clubs set up for the Canadians, mainly by religious bodies; here men could relax, write letters home and enjoy free refreshments and indoor games. One of the clubs was based at the old Bexhill Observer offices in Sackville Road.

The convalescent hospital at Cooden was originally set up by the Royal Sussex Regiment but the Canadians took it over and again set up clubs for the soldiers and organised sports whilst they recuperated.

There was some tension, especially with French Canadians, when conscription was introduced in 1917 but by and large Bexhill adapted well to their transatlantic visitors.