Sailing of First British Cor tingent Recalled: Dodging the Emden While Shanghai celebrates Armistice Day marking that historic occasion on November 11, 1918, at the precise hour of il o'clock when the Great War! became to an end, memories will be!
Fevived of another day, historic for the British community in China, when the first contingent of volunte rs left answer to their country's call That date was September 25, 1914 when a small party, most of whom are described in contemporary news-
Paper reports as prominent athletes, {eft on the French Mal s. Polynesien. They numbered a bare dozen. All served with distinction on various fronts but when "Cease Fire" rang four and peace again descended on the world after four years of bitter struggle their ranks had been thinned Since the Armistice their number hat been further reduced but they were gallant little company.
The First Party 'The roll, quoting from a newspaper report at the time, read as follows' Messrs. C. Vernon. H. Martin (Noel, Murray and Ca.) RW. Wingrove (British Claarette Ca. Ltd), F. R. Barry, V. Davies ("Shang-hal Mercury"), A. 8. Campbell (Alex Campbell and Ca), G. H. Brown, BIN. Bostock, of Hankow, C. A. Peake (Municipal Electricity Department). E "Creasy (Shanghai Municipal Police), Dr. D. N. Macteod, F. A.
Musgrove, and G. Ruxton.
'A series of photographs on this ured by a mer frustrate the dept chow the enthusiasm which sti red the community when the frst contingent left. The night before their departure a "grand patriotic concert" had been given at the Grand Hot Bubbling Well Road. and the next day. September 25, the French Bund was lined with people waving British and French flags as the tender Whangpoo conveyed to the steamer not only the Buitish party but a number of French reservists and three French sailors whose joviality and comradeship left indelible impressions on the mem of members of the party interviewed by the "North-China Herald."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.