1914
William Leslie Green was a lance corporal in the Territorials when war was declared on 4
August 1914.
On August 10, the 700-strong battalion of the Sherwood Foresters assembled in Newark
market place and marched to Radcliffe. They stayed overnight and then marched to Derby
before catching a train to Harpenden where he spent a year training. Leslie wrote to his
parents William and Edith, saying, "when the others have been resting, we have had to run
about after rations. By the way, we are only allowed a three-quarter ration on this job. We
arrived at Derby safe and not many sound. I had no trouble with my feet; I had filled my socks
with brassic powder."
Full letter to parents - 11 Aug 1914
Willam Leslie Green and the Sherwood Foresters travelled by train to Harpenden,
Hertfordshire, for training. The Battalion was inspected by Lord Roberts on 29 September.
The Retford Gainsborough and Worksop Times of Friday 17 August 1914
This Section is Under Construction
RETFORD TERRITORIALS MOBILIZE
The Royal proclamation mobilizing the Army and Special Reservists and
embodying the Territorial Forces was received at Retford on Tuesday night at
6.50. Without delay printed notices setting forth the call to the colours were
posted in the town and district by the police, and crowds of people assembled to
read them.
The orders directed that the Army Reserve be called out on permanent service,
that all regular reservists must report themselves at once to their respective
depots, and that all Special Reservists must immediately report themselves for
duty. All men belonging to the Territorial Force were ordered to report to their
headquarters.
By 8.30 in the evening, every member of the Retford Company of the 8th
Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters was on parade in the Drill Hall in Beehive-
street with the exception of 14, and by 9 o'clock there were only three
unaccounted for. Albert-road and Victoria-road and the vicinity of the G.N.
Railway Station were crowded with people, and no little excitement prevailed. It
was reported that the Company were to entrain for Newark by the midnight train,
but the order was cancelled before 10 o'clock, and the Company dismissed to
assemble on Wednesday morning.
Dr. Thompson and his assistant have examined the whole of the men, and only
seven were rejected as medically unfit.
Sergt. Instructor Hancock has been kept hard at is since the return of the
Regiment from camp. Yesterday he purchased the following items in Retford from
Messrs. W. Roseby and Sons, Winter and Son, E. R. Procter, and T Walker:- 95
flannel shirts, 85 vests, 115 pairs of pants, 50 pairs of socks, 12 towels, 100 tins of
dubbing, 50 note books and 25 pencils, 55 razors, 55 pocket knives, 70 lather
brushes, 50 tooth brushes, 50 tins of Vaseline and 10 combs. These articles were
distributed among the Company at last night's parade in the Drill Hall. Twenty-
eight pairs of boots and 74 slippers will be given out at Newark.
It was announced last night that the Company would leave Retford at 8.30 o'clock
this (Friday) morning for the headquarters at Newark. Lieut. W.H. Smith will be in
command with Second-Lieut. James. Captain Wordsworth, commanding the
Retford Company, is on the staff of the Notts. and Derby Brigade. Sergt.-
Instructor Hancock will accompany the company to Newark, and it is expected
that a few days later he will proceed to rejoin his Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of
the Sherwood Foresters.
