Despite the fact that war had broken out in 1914, the 1915 season started with optimism. There was no change of Flag Officers at the A.G.M. in 1914, and the Club continued without drastic change. A sailing programme was planned and new Rules for the Paget Cup introduced.

This was to be of no avail since the conflict became much more serious than envisaged. In June all official racing and social events were cancelled, and in July the Club gave a river outing from Cambridge to Waterbeach for wounded soldiers under arrangements made jointly with the Red Cross.

The grounds were carefully maintained by Henry Curtis and it was agreed that the old cottage should be pulled down. This never actually happened but the first floor was removed and the rest of the building was converted into a cycle shed. Many members must have cycled to the Club and the cycle shed was clearly of high priority. The main club lawn was kept for hay and members not allowed access until after the hay crop was cut.

In July 1916 a tea party was held on the grounds at Waterbeach which had been organised for about 170 Serbian refugees and their teachers quartered at Westminster College, Cambridge. Two elderly gentlemen acted as hosts: ‘Grandpa’ Sanderson was pushed in a bath chair between the ranks of refugees, while Mr. Charles Stonebridge propelled himself slowly with the aid of two sticks. Club members and their children distributed plates of sandwiches, buns and cakes to a crowd squatting on the grass. A report in the Cambridge Daily News dated 12th August 1916 mentioned Frank Evans, Honorary Treasurer to the Club for many years, as having ‘the bulk of the arrangements in his hand’. The two motor boats used to convey some of the party from the Victoria Bridge in Cambridge to Waterbeach were Irene and Scout. These boats were listed in the 1903 membership card as belonging to F.H. Sanderson (Commodore 1905-1910) and J. Miller respectively.

In 1916 a change in the management of the River was proposed and the Club had fears over the consequences. There was a public enquiry, and this was to lead to the later Act of Parliament reconstituting the Cam Conservators. This change was to improve the river but to give rise eventually to financial problems for the club.