Metadata
WORK ID: YFA 6358 (Master Record)
| Title | Year | Date |
| A LONG TRAIL A-WINDING | 1982 | 1982-01-01 |
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Details
Original Format: Super 8 Colour: Colour Sound: Sound Duration: 12 mins 56 secs Credits: Camera Alick McTurk, David Hunter Sound Harold Parnaby Narrator Fred Lee Producer Eric Lord Subject: Wartime Agriculture |
| Summary In the 1980s, Willerby Film Club made an 8mm film capturing the memories of three Wagoners: Billy Thompson, Horace Harrison and Jimmy Hodgson, who all recall signing up, mobilisation, and their experiences of the Mons Retreat during the First World War. At the onset of the war, the Wagoners were among the first men to be called up. They were not ... |
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Description
In the 1980s, Willerby Film Club made an 8mm film capturing the memories of three Wagoners: Billy Thompson, Horace Harrison and Jimmy Hodgson, who all recall signing up, mobilisation, and their experiences of the Mons Retreat during the First World War. At the onset of the war, the Wagoners were among the first men to be called up. They were not trained soldiers, but were highly skilled at driving horses and wagons, working on the estates of Sir Mark Sykes in the East Riding of Yorkshire....
In the 1980s, Willerby Film Club made an 8mm film capturing the memories of three Wagoners: Billy Thompson, Horace Harrison and Jimmy Hodgson, who all recall signing up, mobilisation, and their experiences of the Mons Retreat during the First World War. At the onset of the war, the Wagoners were among the first men to be called up. They were not trained soldiers, but were highly skilled at driving horses and wagons, working on the estates of Sir Mark Sykes in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The film opens with the stone monument by the roadside in Sledmere, East Yorkshire. This monument is dedicated to the Wagoners.
Title – Willerby Film Unit Presents
Title – A Long Trail A-Winding
There are scenic shots of the scenic countryside. A horse pulls a wooden machine to harvest the grain as the narrator describes what life was like for the farmworkers at the time of the First World War.
Billy Thompson, Horace Harrison and Jimmy Hodgson, all are interviewed and recount stories of how they signed up for the war, making their way to France, and their experiences of the Mons Retreat during the First World War. The men also speak of “The Silly Quid.” This was a result of a reserve set up by Sir Mark Skyes. The reserve of 1000 men were recruited and paid £1 as a retainer which became known as “The Silly Quid.”
The interviews are intercut with footage of the horses working the fields and accompanied with a narration. The film also talks about the effect mechanization had on the Wagoners and their horses.
The film closes as the three men, gathered together in the pub, sing the song A Long Trail A-Winding.
Closing Credits:
Camera Alick McTurk, David Hunter
Sound Harold Parnaby
Narrator Fred Lee
Producer Eric Lord
Title – The End
Context
On the fringes of the village of Sledmere House, East Yorkshire is a memorial dedicated to the memory of a skill unique to the Yorkshire Wolds. It tells the story of postilion wagon drivers that signed up to the Wagoner’s Special Reserve, a company formed for the War office by Sir Mark Sykes of Sledmere, who believed their talents were perfect for overcoming front line logistical problems he had experienced first-hand during the Boer War. Work was difficult to find pre - war, and those in...
On the fringes of the village of Sledmere House, East Yorkshire is a memorial dedicated to the memory of a skill unique to the Yorkshire Wolds. It tells the story of postilion wagon drivers that signed up to the Wagoner’s Special Reserve, a company formed for the War office by Sir Mark Sykes of Sledmere, who believed their talents were perfect for overcoming front line logistical problems he had experienced first-hand during the Boer War. Work was difficult to find pre - war, and those in agriculture had to pay for boots at a cost of 16 shilling from a yearly wage of £5. Hours were long, 6am till 6pm seven days a week so when Sir Mark Sykes offered a £1 to join the special reserves they all agreed this was the ‘silly quid’ as they believed war was just not on the world stage. It is thought that 1200 men with over 20% being over 40 years of age joined the Wagoner’s Reserve.
Once World War One had been declared, Wagoner’s, untrained as soldiers but skilled in driving horses were one of the first groups to be enlisted and became part of the Army Service Corps often working with horses not used to the battlefield, moving essential materiel food, ammunition and equipment to the trenches. They rode postilion style which meant they rode on the horses rather than guide the horses from the wagons increasing the control. Today postilions draw ceremonial vehicles on occasions of national importance such as state funerals. Many of these men would have died on the battlefields of the Somme and Passchendaele having re -enlisted to other military regiments and the film fittingly finishes with the tear like delicate petals of the poppy. For those that returned home to the Wolds they still carried on in their fields, now ploughing without their friendship of the horse. This film has also been used as part of our Filmed and Not Forgotten online exhibition which can be found here: https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/gROAZXoq |
