The Wagoners - Jim Jarratt 2017

The Wolds Wagoners (Wagoners Special Reserve) was formed by Sir Mark Sykes as a Territorial Army unit in 1912. In the Boer war he had seen with his own eyes the logistical problems of supplying an army at the front line, and as military transport was then largely horse drawn, believed that the pole wagon drivers who worked on his extensive estates and farms on the Wolds would be ideal for overcoming theses difficulties in the event of a war.
the Wagoners were a unique corps. “These men never got any military training. They were just paid a quid, which they called the ‘silly quid’ because they thought it was daft to give you money to do nothing. But they signed up to be available in case of war.”
When the conflict finally came, farm labourers and tenants signed up from all over the district. During the First World War, 1,127 men from the corps were called up to serve in the Army Service Corps and the Royal Engineers. Most were sent to serve on the Western Front in France, with little or no military training, and given the important (but often dangerous) logistical task of moving essential materiel: food, ammunition and equipment. Wagoners also served in Italy, Salonika and the Middle East.
800 Wagoners swerved in France and Belgium, and 80 never came home.
After the war Sir Mark designed the unique and quirky Wagoners Memorial outside Sledmere House in their honour.
The monument was unveiled in 1920 with a Guard of Honour and 2000 spectators. But not by Sir Mark Sykes. He had succumbed to the Spanish Flu in 1917.
The last Wagoner veteran died in 1993.

[@susandixon9772]

My mum will be so happy to see this. Thank you

[@jimjarratt1]

Glad you liked it. It's a fine story and a lovely unique monument.

[@susandixon9772]

@@jimjarratt1 have you done a song about margaret feather, who swum the English channel in 1956, she is a legend :)

[@jimjarratt1]

@@susandixon9772 no I have not, or even heard of it. But will check it out. You never know what you might turn up. Ideas often come from unsuspected sources.
The Wagoners came as a result of visiting Sledmere while compiling a walk for my Yorkshire Follies book a long time ago. Many years later looking at the photos I took there, I got the idea of making a music video based on the memorial.

[@susandixon9772]

@@jimjarratt1 hmm, I will keep my eye out. Just love your tunes

[@susandixon9772]

@@jimjarratt1 I cant find the book ? can you link me it please . My mum is from Yorkshire

[@markgrice8088]

Wards Lads..doin ther best,as Wards lads allas do..

[@susandixon9772]

excuse me, what's a ward lad? plz