Mexborough and Swinton Times January 30, 1915
Recruiting Meeting at Denaby
Colliery Managers Appeal
At a recruiting meeting held at Denaby on Thursday week, Mr H Watson Smith (manager of the Denaby Pit) said that Denaby and Cadeby had done very well indeed.
Over 300 men had gone from Denaby and 500 from Cadeby, but still more men were wanted for His Majesty’s forces. Germany had been preparing for years and years and all machinery had been planned out, even to the very step of every man in their army.
Mr Smith stated that one of the Denaby men, on going for his money that day, said he had enlisted and added, “I might as well go there and stop them from coming here. I had far better go and fight for my wife and children in France than have to fight for them here after the Germans had killed a lot of our people at home.” (Cheers)
That showed the spirit of the men, said Mr Smith. If there was anything to be done but require bravery and in June he will choose the South Yorkshire miners before anyone else. They were second to none.
Appeals for us recruits were made by Mr H Whitehorn and Councillor James Walton, and at the close of the meeting several men offered their services.