Police raid on Hermitage Farm (1916)

“ ROUNDING-UP.”

CAPTURES IN THE HOP GARDENS NINE DEFAULTERS AND A NAVAL DESERTER,

The Kent Constabulary effected successful round-ups in pursuit of Military Service Act defaulters in the hop gardens at Wateringbury, Yalding, and Farleigh, on Tuesday and Wednesday last. The proportion of men amongst the immigrant hoppers this season is known to be small, therefore it was not, to be expected the “bag” would be very full. The raids, conducted by Sergt. Everett and a number of constables, had their sequel in the Malling Police Court.

On Tuesday the police went to Hermitage Farm, Wateringbury, where they secured three men, and on a Yalding farm they picked up three more, including a naval deserter. The arrest of the latter was effected by a stratagem resorted to by Sergt. Everett on the spur of the moment. As he was going through the hop garden in search of military absentees, he saw Thomas William Grange, who, upon catching sight of him, suddenly dropped hopping and broke away at a fast pace. The Sergeant gave chase, but the Navy man, as he proved to he, was “some” sprinter, and was getting away up the hill. It was then that the Sergeant proved himself a man of resource. “It’s no good trying to get away,” he shouted after his man, “the military are all round the top of the hill.” Jack Tar fell into the ruse, preferring to face the sergeant than to run into the arms of the sister service. Coming up to him the Sergeant asked for his papers, but the Bluejacket made a clean breast of it. “You have already been in the Navy, haven’t you?” the police officer asked. “ Yes, I am a deserter from H.M.S. Botha about nine months,” the sailor admitted, and he was taken into custody and conveyed to Malling with the conscripts.

On Wednesday morning, at Malling, before Mr. W. L. Wigan, Samuel Ellis, 30, Reuben Gregory, 36, Arthur Alpress, 38, and George Gray, 38, all arrested at Hermitage Farm, Wateringbury; and Leonard Alfred Wilson, 30, taken in the hop-field at Yalding, were convicted, on the evidence of Sergt. Everett,and his own confession, and was ordered to await Naval escort and to pay 5s. costs.

Grange, it is understood, entered the Royal Navy three years ago at Whitehall, and had been adrift from his ship for the past nine months.

On Thursday the second batch of men arrested at Kenward Farm, Yalding ; Bow Hill, Yalding, and at Tutsham, West Farleigh, were brought up at Malling, before Mr. H. J. Wood, the presiding Magistrate. William Stone,38, single; James Stone,24 ; and Walter Stone, 19, arrested at Kenward by Sergt. Everett on the 13th inst., were remanded for escort, and ordered to pay 5s. costs. Obadiah Smith, 25, arrested at Bow Hill, Yalding, on 13th September, denied that he had failed to report. Sergt. Everett stated that the man, who was single, when questioned by him in the hop garden, said he went up at Woolwich some time ago, but was told he was not wanted as he had varicose veins. Witness then asked why he had not reported for medical examination again, and Smith said he had heard some papers were sent to him, hut that another man sent them back. The Bench convicted, and ordered the man’s remand for military escort, and to pay costs 5s.