19/12/1914   Captain Wootton, J. P., Adjutant H.C.B.

The adjutancy of Capt. H. Wootton to the Hunts. Cyclist Regiment [Reserve] has given much satisfaction.  Capt. H. Wootton, although a comparative young man, is well known throughout Huntingdonshire, and is very popular in the Northern part of the county, and at Fletton where he has spent practically the whole of his life.  Born at Eye Green 39 years ago, the son of the late Mr. William Wootton, Captain Wootton came to the district a year or two later.  When he was 8 years of age he lost his father, who was in the United States.  He then went to Fletton, and 19 years ago became associated with the London Brick Company.   Quite early in his life he was identified with public affairs, and particularly in the work of the Old Fletton Parish Council, of which body he was elected a member at 23 years of age.  On every occasion he has had to fight for his seat, and it is a tribute to his popularity that he has never been defeated.  When the movement to obtain Urban powers started he was one of the strongest advocates.  Placed at the head of the pole in 1902, when the first contest for seats on the new body took place, Capt. Wootton was unanimously appointed chairman, and by virtue of that office became a magistrate.  Fletton was not alone in giving him its confidence, for he was elected by the neighboring parish of Woodston as a Poor Law Guardian.  That was in 1909, and he has held the seat ever since.  Three years ago he was elected by the parish of Stanground South as its representative on the County Council, and he is a member of the County Finance Committee, the Main Road and Bridges Committee, the General Purposes Committee and the Rates Assessment Committee.  It was mainly through his perseverance that the Standing Joint Committee has decided to build a Police Court at Fletton.  In consequence of the war that work is in abeyance for a time, but the site has been selected, and the land purchased.  Although his business and public affairs claimed much of his time and attention, national matters also interested him.  Nearly ten years ago he joined the old Hunts. Volunteer Battalion, and for five years he served as a sergeant under Col Herbert.  The County Territorial Association afterwards elected him as Officer Commanding the National Reserves in Hunts., and when the war broke out he was requested to take 20 men and non commissioned officers to Huntingdon, where they were engaged for several days arranging for the transit of horses and the care of the same as they were received from the purchasing agents.  In August Capt. Wootton was offered a commission in the Cyclist Battalion by Lord Sandwich, and on the 21^st of that month he was gazetted Lieutenant.  He volunteered for Foreign Service, and having spent some time at the Huntingdon depot, he proceeded to the Yorkshire coast, where that Battalion is now stationed.  With Capt. Musk, he was sent back to Huntingdon to organise meetings in the county with the object of raising a reserve Battalion, and within four weeks upwards of five hundred men were recruited.  Meetings were held in various parts of the county, and the most successful was that at Fletton, where sixty men offered their services, and fifty were accepted.  On the 9^th of the present month Lieut. Wootton as he was then was promoted to the rank of Captain and Adjutant of the Battalion.   His service in the ranks has led him to understand the men, and to take a great interest in them, and that he is highly popular with them is a sure thing.  It was no doubt that through his great influence that at a meeting held at the Huntingdon Wesleyan Church a week or two ago some 250 men signed the pledge.  At the same time the Hunts. Cyclist Battalion Temperance Society was inaugurated. In religious matters Capt. Wootton takes an active part.  He is secretary of the London Road Wesleyan Guild, and education secretary of the Peterborough Wesleyan Circuit.  As chairman of the Fletton Nursing Association, he has also rendered good service.  Not only is Captain Wootton giving the whole of his time in the service of his country, but he is also making every effort in his power to relieve the sufferers of the war.

11/8/1914

CYCLIST NEW ADJUTANT

11/8/1914
CYCLIST NEW ADJUTANT
Captain Herbert Wootton, J. P., has received a host of congratulations on the promotion to that rank and to the office of Adjutant of the Hunts. Cyclist Reserve Battalion. He has risen very rapidly. He was only gazetted Lieutenant on August 21st. and his appointment ac Captain and adjutant is dated October 14th. Captain Wootton served for five years with the old Hunts. Territorials as sergeant, and on the outbreak of war joined the Cyclist Battalion and volunteered for Foreign Service. He was sent with Captain Musk, by Col. Herbert from the 1st Battalion in Yorkshire to organise meetings in the county for recruiting purposes, and has had much to do with the preliminary organisation of the reserve Battalion. Captain Wootton, outside his military duties, is a valued public servant. He represents Stanground on the Peterborough Board of Guardians, is chairman of the Fletton Urban District Council by virtue of such office he sits as a Magistrate, and the representative of Stanground South on the Hunts. County Council. He has had the unique experience of successfully fighting three elections within twelve months. Captain Wootton is keenly enthusiastic in his military duties, and is particularly proud that Fletton has headed the list in the number of recruits furnished for the new Battalion.
From a paper cutting = 30/10/1914   Recruiting at Broughton  A meeting was held in the school on Friday to obtain recruits for the Hunts. Cyclist Battalion.  Mr. W. M. Richards presided, and Lord Sandwich made a stirring speech.  His Lordship was ably supported by Capt. Musk and Lieutenant Wootton.  Several ladies were present, and were most enthusiastic, especially when three promising young men came forward to enlist.  Altogether six young men have joined the Battalion, making eight from the village, and two had previously joined the Yeomanry.

From a local paper dated 25/12/1914   Recruiting in the villages.   A few recruits have resulted from the meetings held at the latter end of last week arranged by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee.  At Alconbury Weston the Rev. W. S. Williams presided, and the speakers were Capt. Wootton, Messrs G. E. Oldmeadow and R. C. Grey.  On Friday at Great Staughton the chair was taken by the Rev. Rushforth, and addresses were given by Lord Sandwich, Captain Wootton and Mr. Oldmeadow.  At Hamerton on Saturday evening Rev. G. A. Green presided, and appeals for recruits were made by Captain Wootton and Mr. Oldmeadow.  

Local papers dated 25/6/1915 indicate :   The Hunts. Cyclist Reserve Battalion

From Peterborough Standard 17/10/1914 under a heading "The Hunts. Cyclist Battalion." orders for Sunday (< 17/10/1914)  gave the following change of company responsibility for the officers, it was also stated that these changes were by no means permanent.   Lieutenant  H. Wootton with Captain Musk were to take charge of a Home Defence Unit at Huntingdon.

" COL - SERGT.  WOOTTON'S MEN. " "A company of National Reservists, chiefly ex-Beds. Territorials under the charge of Col. Sergt. Wootton., J.P., of Fletton, arrived at Huntingdon on Thursday morning for the purpose of entraining horses at Godmanchester station.

27-11-1914.

25/6/1915 - The Hunts. Cyclist Reserve Battalion  -  There is every reason to anticipate that by the end of the week half the number of recruits wanted or the Reserve Hunts. Cyclist Battalion  of 400 men will have been enrolled, large numbers of respectable young men having joined the forces at Huntingdon this week.  Lieut Wootton is in charge of the Recruits, who are making rapid progress with their drill.

22 January 1916 - "The London Gazette announces that Captain J. C. S. MUSK is appointed adjutant of the HUNTS. CYCLIST Bat. and that Lieut. (temp. Capt.) sic, H. WOOTTON, relinquishes the temporary rank of Captain and vacates the appointment adjutant."

17/10/1914 under a heading "The Hunts. Cyclist Battalion." orders for Sunday (< 17/10/1914)  gave the following change of company responsibility for the officers, it was also stated that these changes were by no means permanent. Lieutenant  H. Wootton with Captain Musk were to to take charge of a Home Defence Unit at Huntingdon.  

From a local paper dated  27/11/17 =  Hunts Reserve Cyclists.

The Hunts. Cyclist Reserve Battalion has now been formally recognised by the War Office. Lt. Col. J. L. Stanley, the newly appointed commanding officer, has entered upon his duties and at the training of the men is being a put upon a definite footing. Lieutenant Wootton has been appointed as acting adjutant and Colour Sergeant Grover as acting Sergeant Major. Captain Welstead and Lieutenant Meredith were gazetted on Tuesday. The men are kept actively employed in company drill, musketry instruction, route marching and physical exercises, whilst the N. C. O. promotion classes, held nightly, are largely attended. It is hoped that the bulk of the men will received a uniforms next week. Large consignments of equipment having already been received. A good number of bicycles, which are being supplied by the Humber Company, have been delivered. Lord Sandwich has placed Hinchingbrooke Park that the disposal of the Battalion for drill purposes, Portholme, owing to the heavy rains, being unsuitable at the present time. It is understood that the list of promotions will be issued shortly.