Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 15 November 1924
The Conisboro’ Ceremony
In the afternoon a procession was formed in Brook Square, Conisbrough, consisting of ex-Service-men, Ambulance Divisions under Superintendent C. Farrell, a detachment of the 5th K.O.Y.L.I., and Boy Scouts. Headed by the Conisbrough Subscription Brass Band a circular route to Coronation Park was taken where a vast congregation had gathered around the War Memorial, making one of the biggest crowds ever seen in Conisbrough.
After the singing of “O God our help,” the Vicar of Conisbrough (the Rev. W. A. Strawbridge) delivered an address. He said that this occasion was ten years and three months after the outbreak of the Great War and six years next Tuesday since the signing of the Armistice, and so we were observing this as Armistice Sunday by way of recollection of the past, and in anticipation of the Great Silence to be observed on the 11th of November. We could not forget owing to the epidemic around us, the seven hundred thousand unemployed ex-Service-men either because they were maimed or unable to obtain work owing to slackness of trade. The British Legion was doing a good work in assisting these cases. He would ask the churchwardens to set apart a Sunday for the collections to be given to the British Legion to assist known cases of hardship.
Quoting Kipling: “Lord God of hosts be with us yet, Lest we forget,” he stated that we were not likely to forget the consequences of the war. Our children may forget the observance of this day but those who had seen war and strife, would never forget. He appealed for a peaceful spirit among all classes. That gathering should prove that all could work for the common cause of peace and goodwill. We should remember our loved ones on that day. The Lord gave and the Lord took away without warning. We should try to help one another to a higher life, by “stepping stones to higher things” and not forget his thought of the resurrection of the dead. Whatever life may bring, suffering, sorrow, bereavement, disappointment, God was “an ever present help in time of trouble.” We must remember that they died that we might live and he trusted that we should never be called upon to partake in another war. He hoped and trusted that whatever wreaths that gathering placed on the Memorial, whatever memories they cherished would be a living link with the past and a hope for the future. He hoped that all would try to do to others as they would be done by and help in the welfare of England and the Empire. He concluded that that day should be an inspiration for all to do their part.
Mr. R. Coleman, who had done a lot of work with the Church Army, offered prayer, and then wreaths were placed on the Memorial. The “Last Post” and the “Reveille” were sounded by Bugler T. Ross, and the memorable gathering was over. Many wreaths were then placed by bereaved around the base of the Memorial, and the parade re-formed to march to Brook Square for dismissal.