Departure of the First British Contingent With the threat of another war Imminent, it is doubly interesting to note this week; is marked by the 2ist anniversary of the departure from Shanghai of the frst party of British volunteers. for service in the ranks of His Majesty's forces during the Great War. On September 25, 1914, thirteen men left on board the M. a Polynésien, and although the Geparture of the. tender Whangpoo from the French Bund was timed for 3 o'clock that afternoon, crowds carrying British and French flags had othered long before that hour.
'The men who so gallantly answered their country's call' were all prominent local athletes, who could both ride and shoot. They were Messrs '7. C, Vernon, Hugh Martin (then of Messrs, Tibert & Ca. but now a Toco) sharebroker), R. W. Wingrove, F. Barry, V. Davies, A, S. Campbell, G. HI Brown, Bostock (of Hankow), A. Peake (who was then with the Municipal Electricity Dept, and is now with the Shanghai Power Ca).
B. E. Creasy, and Dr. D. N. MacLeod and the late Me. G, Ruxton of the Chinese Revenue Cruiser, whose death was recently recorded, and Mr. F. A 'Musgrove who Is still resident' In 'The enthusiasm on the jetty reached climax when the tender began to move away, stated the "North-China Herald" at' the time, and' the men left with the strains of the National Anthem and "Rule Britannia" ringing their ears. By the same tender, 0 number of French reservists lett for France, and they too were accorded 4 hearly send-off. "The Marseilialse" was being sung at one end of the Jetly anit "God Save the King" at the other.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.