History of the Wolds Wagoners Special Reserve - page 9
Image details
| Corps | RPC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Books |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | History of the Wolds Wagoners Special Reserve |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1988 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1908 |
| Late date | 1983 |
| Transcription |
in working the district of the Wolds that Capt. Sykes succeeded in encouraging so many farm hands to join the Reserve. In January, 1913, there were 200 wagoners, but by July of that year the number had risen to 400. A few days before Christmas of 1913, Capt. Sykes attended a meeting at the Pigeon Pie Hotel, Sherburn, to explain the purpose of the Wagoners Special Reserve. Other meetings of this nature were equally successful. Recruiting also took place during the annual driving competitions of 1913 and 1914 at Fimber, when quite a large number of men applied for enrolment. Most of the farm hands on the Wolds had been accustomed to h a n d l i n g horses since t h e i r childhood. These drivers were keen, intelligent and capable men, not much given to talking, but strikingly observant and ready to obey. It was customary in the Wolds, when there was heavy pulling, to work with a team of four horses, the driver riding the near 'wheeler' with a short rein for the off 'wheeler', and using long reins for the 'leaders.' - • • • . . . Wagoner 502 Walter Escritt ofGarton, ready to start in the driving competition of 1913 on a wagon owned by Frank Dee, Wood Hill Farm, Sledmere. The photograph captures the obvious pride of the Wagoners in their craft, by the well turned out appearance of both the wagon arid, horses. It also shows to the reader a typical Wolds farm wagon, sturdily built to handle the heavy work required of it. (Wagoner Escritt's details are to be found on page 13, Register of Recruits, Army Book 303, Wagoners Special Reserve). |
| Book number | R0397 |