Restoration Project to Conserve The Old Contemptibles’ Association Standard - Bishop's Stortford Branch
In 2016, after several attempts to get this project off the ground, The Royal British Legion Bishop’s Stortford Branch applied for, and was awarded, a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant to restore the Old Contemptibles’ Association Bishop’s Stortford Branch Standard which was, at the time, on unprotected open display in St. Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Stortford, in a heavily worn and degraded condition.
The Standard originally in St. Michael's Church
The project was a collaboration between:
- St. Michael's Church
- Royal British Legion Bishop's Stortford Branch
- Rhodes Birthplace Trust (Governing Body of the Bishop's Stortford Museum).
Project Objective:
To promote the long-term preservation of this important local historic artefact through professional conservation, prior to it being made available to local residents and schools for the purpose of education and remembrance through its inclusion in the public display at the Bishop’s Stortford Museum.
The Old Contemptibles’ Association
The Old Contemptibles’ Association was formed in 1925 and its members were survivors of the First Expeditionary Force which served in France and Flanders between 5th August and 22nd November 1914. Its commander was Field Marshal Sir John French. The term “The Old Contemptibles” is said to come from a dismissive reference by the Kaiser to “that Contemptible Little Army”. The Association was created in order to maintain the camaraderie of the “Contemptible Little Army” and to offer its members support for matters such as finance, health and unemployment. The Association’s members were known as “Chums”.
Old Contemptibles’ Memorial Plaque in St. Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Stortford
The Bishop’s Stortford Branch of the Old Contemptibles’ Association
The Bishop’s Stortford Branch of the Old Contemptibles’ Association was formed in 1938 and held its first church parade on 21st August that year at the Castle Gardens. The Branch held its first meetings at the Half Moon Hotel in Bishop’s Stortford and, by the time of their first AGM in 1939, the Branch reported it had 80 Chums (members). All Old Contemptibles’ Associaton branches were given dispensation to carry their own branch Standards. The Bishop’s Stortford branch closed c1970.
Conservation Work on the Bishop’s Stortford Standard in St Albans
Preparing the worn and degraded Old Contemptibles’ Standard ready for conservation work
In March 2017, the Standard was delivered to the conservators’ workshop in St Albans where it was professionally conserved and stabilised and later returned to Bishop’s Stortford Museum in July 2017.
The Professionally Conserved and Stabilised Old Contemptibles’ Standard on Display at Bishop's Stortford Museum
The conservators' work produced visually striking results.
Please visit Bishop's Stortford Museum to see the Standard up close and in much more detail.
Standard on display at the Bishop's Stortford Museum
A ten year loan of the Standard to the museum was agreed. Newly appointed Museum Curator, Chris Lydamore, and Assistant Curator, Alex, were in the early stages of planning a re-display of the museum’s collections and had stated the need to address the under-representation in the display of the contribution made by local residents during the First World War, both as military personnel on active duty, and the impact that their service had on the home civilian population.
Oral History as part of The Museum Display Project
The conservation and display of the Standard was therefore the perfect opportunity for the museum and RBL Bishop’s Stortford Branch members to carry out a linked oral history project to capture the related recollections and experiences of local residents and their families. These include contributions by Cyril Banks (Merchant Navy), Peter Abbott (Royal Engineers), Norman Snook (Royal Irish Fusiliers), Kathy Stanes (Branch Vice-Chair) - her grandfather John Fox Gimson b.1875 was a Sea Captain on SS Matatua and was torpedoed three times, and Les Hutchin (Royal Navy) and his wife Doreen who recounted what it was like to be a child during WW2 in Bishop’s Stortford.
The display also includes the story of Robert Taylor, one of the Bishop’s Stortford Chums.
Informative school packs, information and trail leaflets were also created as part of the project.
Visiting the Display
Oral History Anecdotes:
Parading the Old Contemptibles’ Standard Through the Streets of Bishop’s Stortford
Our local Veteran, Cyril Banks, provided a living link to the project as he told us that his Uncle, Ernest Banks, had paraded the Old Contemptibles’ Standard through the streets of Bishop’s Stortford. Ernest was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty under fire in 1918 – see his citation (PDF click here), medal roll and example of his medal (photos below).
Although Ernest did not qualify as a Chum, as he did not arrive in France until July 1915, he may well have carried the Standard at the behest of the Chums and they recorded that they had a good relationship with the British Legion.
Ernest Banks' Medal Roll
Example of a Distinguished Conduct Medal
Cyril Banks, who passed away in May 2022, was an Artic Convoy and Normandy veteran who lived in Bishop’s Stortford only a few miles from where his Uncle Ernest returned from the First World War. Cyril never missed the Poppy Appeal Launch and regularly took part in Branch events and activities.
Cyril Banks
Unveiling of the Standard’s Display at Bishop’s Stortford Museum
On 28th August 2017, over 60 guests attended the unveiling of the Standard’s display at Bishop’s Stortford Museum.
Unveiling Day
Photo left to right: Squin Clarke - RBL Club President, Jim Wyatt - RBL BS Treasurer, Clive Kitchener - RBL BS Committee Member, Terrie Archer - RBL BS Secretary, Denise Hudson – RBL BS Poppy Appeal Organiser, Kathy Stanes – RBL BS Vice-Chair, John Robinson – RBL BS President, Julie Hanley - Poppy Appeal Volunteer
Unveiling Day
Photo left to right: John Robinson – RBL BS President, Norman Snook – Veteran, Cyril Banks – Veteran, Peter Abbott – Veteran, Les Hutchin – Veteran, Alan Kendell - Veteran
Unveiling Day
Photo left to right: Doreen Hutchin, Kathy Stanes – RBL BS Vice-Chair, Norman Snook – Veteran, Cyril Banks – Veteran, Peter Abbott – Veteran, Les Hutchin – Veteran
Legacy of the The Old Contemptibles’ Standard Project
The project provides our local schools and young people with opportunities to learn (via school packs, trails and the oral history archive) about those who fought in the War, their families, and what Bishop’s Stortford was like at that time.
The Standard itself is a visually striking object in the display and it helps to deliver a long-lasting message of honour, sacrifice and commitment of our Armed Forces past and present and we see that as the legacy it provides.
The Royal British Legion Bishop’s Stortford Branch’s Commitment
TRBL Bishop’s Stortford Branch know that it is vital to pass on the message of Remembrance and we arrange visits to local schools and youth organisations to tell them about the work of The Royal British Legion, and our annual Armed Forces Day Parade provides an opportunity for our community to thank members of our Armed Forces including our local Army, RAF and Sea Cadet Units.
Cyril Banks and Joan Abbott School Visit
RBL Bishop's Stortford Branch School Visit
