Woodbridge During the First World War
Preparing for War
The government started to reform the Auxiliary Forces in 1872. Thirty six years later the changes culminated in the creation of a new body, the Territorial Force which was linked with Regiments of the Regular Army. By the start of the First World War, the two Regular Battalions of the Suffolk Regiment had been expanded by two battalions of Militia and three volunteer battalions.
In addition to forming the Territorial Force the War Office announced that the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem would provide volunteers to aid the Medical Service of the Territorial Force in the event of war. To provide this support a Red Cross Branch was established in every county and each Branch set up a number of Voluntary Aid Detachments to support the Territorial Forces Medical Service.
The Woodbridge Voluntary Aid Detachment for men, and another one for women, were formed in 1910. They were the first to be registered in Suffolk and were named Suffolk 1 and Suffolk 2 respectively.
The Suffolk 2, the Woodbridge Voluntary Aid Detachment for women, at an inspection in 1911.
On 4th August 1914 German troops invaded Belgium, a country whose neutrality Britain had guaranteed. The British Government sent the German Government an ultimatum to withdraw from Belgium by 11pm. No response was received so from that time Britain was at War with Germany.
At 8pm the King’s proclamation ordering the embodiment of the Army, Special Reserves and Territorials being put up outside the Post Office at Cross Corner. "A number of men rushed to see the purport of the proclamation and some cheering was attempted. The crowd quickly increased during the hours up to 11 pm and there was much discussion about the grave aspects of the war news. The Post Office was kept open all night and the constant going and coming of telegraph messengers on their bicycles aroused no little interest.” Next day members of the Royal Army Medical Corps left Woodbridge by early morning train. Towards the end of the afternoon the Territorials, headed by a band, marched through crowded streets to the Railway Station where the platform was crowded with the wives, children and friends of the men.
Royal visits during the early stages of the war
The Woodbridge Territorials about to leave Woodbridge Station on the day after war was declared.
Lord Kitchener was made Secretary of State for War and three days later he announced the creation of what was soon dubbed the 'New Army'. Almost immediately recruiting posters, depicting his stern image, were everywhere. In the Parish Magazine for Sept 1914 the Rector of St Mary's Church wrote, "The mass of the people do not realize that whilst Belgium was but a high-road to the enemy's plan, his true objective is Paris, and then London. The reports of the doings in Belgium should arouse the men of Great Britain to their own responsibilities, their country's need and the dangers which may even threaten their women and their homes."
By September the following year a total of 515 Woodbridge men had enlisted in the Armed Forces. 39.6% of them were in the Suffolk Regiment, 8.5% were in the Navy and 6.4% in the Royal Army Medical Corps. The remainder were distributed over another 57 regiments or units.
By January 1916 two and a half million men had enlisted nationally but the supply of volunteers was drying up. So in February, for the first time in its history, Britain had to introduce conscription.
By the end of the war at least 801 men from Woodbridge, some 37% of the adult population, had served in the armed forces and there is some evidence that the number may have been as high as 1100.
Two of the many photographs, taken by a local photographer, of young men about to leave to fight for King and Country.