In the beginning:

This was first published in The Salvationist in 2002:

"HERE’S an interesting story from CSM Leon Owers, who’s responsible for Mashbury Corps. Leon tells me that some weeks ago a woman, with her husband and a couple of friends, was driving through some Essex lanes and passed Mashbury corps hall. This was of particular interest to her, as her grandfather had been involved with the commencement of the Army’s work in that area. The group contacted London North-East Divisional Headquarters, who put them in touch with Leon. As a result of this, and subsequent correspondence, the party of four attended a meeting at Mashbury. After looking at a number of photographs it was confirmed that the inquirer’s grandfather was the late Major Isaac Watson, and during the same meeting the granddaughter’s husband read from a Young Soldier report of Major Watson’s 1950 visit to Mashbury to conduct 60th anniversary celebrations. The article relates how, along with seven cadets, Major Watson left the training garrison in Clapton with three horses and a caravan bearing the inscription ‘Faithful’ to take the gospel to the county of Essex, commencing their work in the villages of Mashbury and Good Easter. Also recorded is Major Watson’s diary entry regarding the start of the Army at Mashbury in 1890, when 90 souls were won in seven weeks. CSM Owers took the visitors to the field where the party ‘opened fire’. In all probability this was the field where the photograph reproduced here — showing Major Watson (seated, centre) with the cadets — was taken."