Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 26 March 1918

Mexborough War Lecture

Mr C. H. Chandler, of the “Sheffield Daily Telegraph.” last night lectured in the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, Mexborough, on the work of the Yorkshire troops in France.

Mr. T. Allen, chairman of the Mexborough Urban Council, presided over a very interested audience.

Mr. Chandler referred in passing to the prevailing military crisis, and expressed the utmost confidence in the ability of the men at the front to weather it, and to hold their lines intact as they had done in crises as severe and perilous.

The situation would, he believed, have the effect of awakening this country to the realities of the situation, and of bringing us back to the spirit of 1914, which had been almost insensibly slipping from us.

Mr. Chandler dealt in most interesting fashion the sights he witnessed on the Western front during his visit to the Yorkshire troops, and dwelt specially upon incidents connected with men from the Mexborough district whom he met it, considerable numbers.

He mentioned one instance in which a Mexborough man, Private C. Allen, was deservedly decorated for an intrepid and determined enterprise against German barbed-wire defences.

Mr. Chandler also gave the audience an insight into the internal economy of the trenches and the impregnable spirit prevailing.

Mr. Chandler was heartily thanked, on .the Proposition of Mr. C. W. H. Peat, chairman of the Swinton Urban Connell, seconded by Mr. E. Tillotson, Swinton