Smoking Concert – Chichester Observer – Wednesday, 14 November 1917

SELSEY.; The Rector and the Volunteers. In a reference to a recent smoking concert held the Cinema Hall at the invitation of the Platoon Commander, N.C.O’s and men the 8th. (Selsey) Platoon of "B” Company, 9th. Battalion Sussex Volunteer Regiment, the Rector, the Rev. K. H. MacDermott writes the November issue of the "Parish Magazine" : The guests invited were the men of Selsey, but unfortunately, for reasons we do not pretend to understand, only a few of those invited accepted the invitation; Perhaps the absentees will explain their reasons to our brave fighting lads when they return home —the lame, halt, blind,maimed,mutilated, maddened, aged, sorrowed—all of whom will want -to know (and they will have the right to ask) what the men at home did for their Country while they were suffering tortures at the Front. Frankly speaking as a N.C.O., the Rector is disappointed that there is not more support afforded to the Volunteers by the men of Selsey, who if unable to join the Volunteer force themselves might at least do their best to encourage those who have enrolled. A pleasant incident in the programme the smoking concert was, a cheque given to Sergeant Ryan, Instructor of the Selsey Platoon. The amount subscribed was not vast, but it was given with hearty goodwill as a slight token of esteem by the members of the Platoon, who deem themselves lucky in having so excellent a tutor in the soldier's art.