In August 1914, the Councillors of Dorking Urban District Council turned their usual fortnightly meeting into a War Emergency Committee. Its purpose: to carry out any work incidental to the War, including the creation of sub-committees to deal with such things as the relief of financial distress caused by the War, the provision of food and of coal to those in need, and agricultural matters. There was also a Surrey County committee, to which the UDC sent one member. The War Emergency Committee continued for the duration of hostilities, its priorities changing as circumstances dictated.
Among the men who rushed to enlist in 1914 were several council employees. Their jobs still had to be done but the UDC decided to pay half their wages and hold their positions open for them when they returned. Some of them were mobilised to serve in the National Reserve or the Territorial Army. Some were called up to the regular army, in which case their wages went to their wives. However, when it became apparent that half-pay plus Army wages added up to more pay than the UDC employees had previously received, it was decided to cease payments of half-pay to the men who had not yet been sent abroad.
Various regiments were billeted in Dorking, including the Royal Field Artillery and the Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders. The UDC welcomed the stationing of troops in the town. As each regiment left, the Councillors wrote to the Commanding Officer in order to commend the good conduct and exemplary behaviour shown by the troops who had been based here. Then they wrote to the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and the War Office to ask for more soldiers to be billeted in Dorking, pointing out that there were sufficient empty shops and properties to provide accommodation for 2,500 – 3,000 troops. However, the troops’ presence also created problems: sanitation and waste disposal had to be increased and special arrangements made for soldiers to use the public baths.
This was to provide help to those who were in particular need because of the War. Cases were referred to the committee members by clergymen and (later) army officers. They made weekly allowances of money or gifts of groceries or milk. The system relied on local knowledge and the willingness of volunteers to visit families and make judgements about what was required. Committee members were anxious about fraud but also generous and they publicised their work widely. Even so, they seem to have struggled to find recipients, soon reducing their meetings from once a week to an ad hoc basis.
Next : August Bank Holiday 1914
