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Scaynes Hill Village

From the MID-SUSSEX TIMES, 15th September 1914

Cuckfield and Haywards Heath were very much alive on Thursday and Friday as a result of the 1st London Division Teritorials being billeted in the towns.  The arrival of the men with their maxim guns and horses was a fine sight and many residents, besides decorating their dwellings with flags, turned out to welcome them.  The numbers exceed 6,000.  The men left Horsham in the morning and at Pitts Head Cross-roads, near Warninglid, H.M. King George was waiting to view the march past.

A pleasant evening was spent at the Anchor Inn, Scaynes Hill, on Wednesday, by invitation of host C. Matthews, when a social function was held to bid farewell to Messrs. T. Beard, J. Barnes, T. Baker, W.Catt, C. Gower, G. Heather, E. Knight, W. Rowland, J. Washer and L. Washer on their leaving to join the Colours.  Next morning the volunteers and a few friends drove to Haywards Heath Station in conveyances lent my Mrs. Clarke and Mr. Matthews.  Scaynes Hill children, by permission of their mistress (Mrs. Button) assembled at the top of the village and sang "Rule Britannia" and "God Save the King" as, with cheers, the party drove off.  The Cuckfiled contingent was given a good send-off, too, and the Rev. J.L. Brack, Rector of Ardingly, took some excellent snapshots at Ardingly Station of the soldier boys from his village.