Page 12 - Memorial Book intro Mousehole

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The gold key used at the opening,
is now part of the Haig Collection
in the Huntly House Museum, Edinburgh.
It has a London hallmark for 1928 –1929 Inscriptions are
(left)
British Legion
around the traditional
Lion’s Head Logo
(right)
British Legion Hall Mousehole
enclosing the details :
Opened by Countess Haig June18th 1929
Information and pictures regarding the gold key were kindly obtained and provided by Norman Willcock together with the excerpts from Percy Harvey’s diaries.
Lady Haig arrived at 2.50 pm. And placed a wreath of Flanders poppies on the War Memorial. The Last Post was sounded by trumpeter J. Denton. The party including British Legion members, Boy Scouts and St John’s Ambulance Brigade then proceeded to the Hall.
Once unlocked, the party entered the Hall and immediately, the new Legion flag was hosted outside the Hall.
A bouquet of flowers in Legion colours (blue and gold) was presented to Lady Haig by Stella Madron and little Lily Trembath presented her with a handsome rose-bowl bearing designs symbolical of the fishing industry, and made by Mr H Dyer, an ex-soldier.
Widows and relatives of the “Never to be Forgotten Thirty Six” were present with Paul U.D.C. Scholars of Mousehole and Paul schools were dismissed in time for the opening. Thanks to the efficient amplification by Messrs. Bateman Bros (Penzance), those outside were able to hear the speeches.
A remarkable fine replica of Badge was made by W C Holt and H Dyer. Lady Haig was presented with the gold key by Mr W Harvey (Messrs W Harvey & Sons) and R Bodinner contractors.
The platform included Lady Haig, H C Holt, Lord Vivian, Lord St Levan, Mrs W E T Bolitho, Miss St Aubyn, Mrs Asher (Chair Women’s Area Council), Col Trefusis, Mayor and Mayoress of Penzance (W G Goodfellow) and Percy Barton (Chairman S W Area).
Lady Haig addressed the assembly and said ‘I know you did this in memory of my husband and the brave men who served under him.....’ She thanked Lord St Levan for the site and said she was struck by the number of Mousehole men who had volunteered at the outbreak of war.
Lord St Levan...Thanked Lady Haig for her presence. ....It had been a happy thought to invite her...... It was up to every soldier and sailor to support the British Legion as much as they could. He hoped that the £300 would soon be
cleared.....Everyone appreciated what Lord Haig had done.....The British Legion was the one thing he thought about after the war....
Colonel Trefusis congratulated Mousehole hoping others would follow its example.
J. Hichens (Chair. Paul U D C) Welcomed Lady Haig....Her visit would be an inspiration to Mousehole British Legion. It would be worthy of the British Legion movement worldwide.
Lord Vivian on behalf of East Cornwall congratulated West Cornwall on its work at Mousehole.
Mr Goodfellow (Mayor, Penzance) appreciated Lady Haig’s visit....the British Legion existed to honour the dead and help the living.....
Mrs Bolitho thanked all and sundry. Lady Haig briefly replied.