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Post by BereniceUK on Apr 11, 2017 11:00:52 GMT
HOAXED A TOWN.
"Wit" Keeps Crowd Waiting for Arrival of Troops.
A stupid hoax has been played upon the people of Maidstone.
A young man, in the uniform of the City of London Rifles, arrived at an hotel in the town and stated that the London Rifle Brigade, numbering 6,000 men and 200 horses, had received orders to move on to Maidstone from Crowborough camp, and that he had been sent on in advance to engage rooms for officers.
The Mayor, on learning of the report, got into communication with the author of it, and was informed that it was true.
On Wednesday evening all Maidstone turned out to welcome the troops. For hours dense crowds waited, but no troops arrived, and when the Mayor made inquiries at Crowborough a reply was received that nothing was known of any order to move to Maidstone.
Meanwhile the young man who circulated the report disappeared from the hotel without paying his bill.
(Morecambe Visitor, 7 October 1914)
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