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On 17th March 1909, a battalion of Guards was experimentally conveyed
from London to Hastings in motor cars in about three hours. A report went out
quoted by the New York Times a few days before:
"LONDON, March 13. - England will prepare for a new battle of Hastings next
Wednesday. This is no military necessity in the expectation of there being
actual hostilities, but the scheme is to show how troops may be transported
under novel conditions from London and assembled on the sea front at St
Leonard's... this movement is devised by the War Office to carry out the idea of
conveying troops by automobiles. ..over 500 automobiles have been offered for
use by patriotic citizens who will pick up the Grenadier scots and Coldstrema
Guards... thence proceeding fifty four miles to Hastings."
The patriotic citizens in this case were principally members of the
Automobile Association who picked up the troops and their equipment at the
London barracks and ferried them to the coast. The provocative title 'Invasion
of England' reflects the invasion paranoia of that year and the efforts of the
military to show themselves in a state of preparedness.
Clearly it was a well publicised event. In the film you can see the crowds
that have turned out to watch the spectacle along the route. Speed doesn't seem
to have been a particular feature of the journey - there is a moment when a
heavily laden vehicle labouring up a long hill appears to be in danger of being
overtaken by an old countryman with a walking stick. Clearly the novelty of
seeing so many motor cars justified for contemporary audiences the very long
shots as the cars pass the camera. Several camera crews turned out for this,
event including Urban, Walturdaw and Gaumont. This film, released by the Rosie Film Company is the only one that survives.
Bryony Dixon
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Complete film (4:41)
