All creatures great and small were up for discussion 100 years ago this week in The Argus, as flies were the hot topic.

Our reporter of the time thought it “somewhat remarkable ... the wide difference in the attitudes of local authorities in regard to certain matters”.

What had irked our reporter so was the varying responses that local authorities were taking to the issue of flies and their spreading of diseases.

Battle Rural District had placed so much importance on following all Government advice that their health inspector had been instructed to exterminate all flies and “look upon [them] as agents in communicating illness from one person to another”.

Residents were also advised on the strong importance of “perfect cleanliness” in the home.

By contrast, members of neighbouring Ticehurst Rural Council were reported to have grown tired of all the advice long before they had even got through half of the flies.

Members were also reported to have said that “they might be able to deal with the matter with an army of inspectors”.

The Argus was also prepared to ask the important questions of the age, namely in the headline for one article: “Can caterpillars think?” reporting on a lecture by Frederick Enock who had been studying the insects for more than half a century.

His conclusion was they showed conscience awareness of their marking and colouration and were able to use that knowledge to protect themselves from birds.

Their ability to complete a cryptic crossword was not commented upon.

In the courts, a “drunken cripple” was cautioned for getting excited about the war.

Don Heaver, of Tower Street, was charged with being drunk in Leslie Street on August 3 after a PC McMullan found him lying on the pavement.

In his defence, Mr Heaver said: “I was excited over the war.

“I had several old soldiers to see me and I had a glass too many.”

Other court stories also showed that the more things changed, the more they stay the same.

Frederick Harbour, of Burstow, was fined 1s for driving a horse and van without a light in East Grinstead while Daniel Walker was fined 2s 6d for not sending his child regularly to school.