The Summer Camp at Ashridge

July-August 1914

In 1914 the Hertfordshire Yeomanry  had had their annual camp in May at Luton Ho.

The men of the Hertfordshire Regiment were part of the East Midlands Brigade, which consisted of some 4,000 men from Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire. In 1914 their camp was held in Ashridge Park. In the first half of July advance parties started to set up a training camp on a large stretch of grass land adjacent to Ashridge House, the home of Lord and Lady Brownlow. "F" Company arrived at the camp on Sunday, 26th July, and once they had settled in a bugle called them to the cookhouse. Afterwards they donned their walking-out dress, with its attractive scarlet coat. Of the 130 men in the company only 18 were planning to do the minimum 8 days, with the rest intending to remain at the camp for the full 15 days. 

Serious camp work started on Monday, with parades, drill and a skirmishing exercise. In the evening there was musical entertainment with the band of "D" Company from Watford . On most evenings there were football matches for the Regiment's Inter-Company Football Cup. Tuesday's skirmishes in the direction of Hudnall Common, were followed by evening boxing matches, and then night operations. After Wednesday morning's skirmishes and attack the troops were allowed to attend the Ashridge flower show in the afternoon. Wednesday evening was used for a rehearsal of the massed bands, in preparation for the torchlight tattoo planned for the following Monday evening. The regimental entertainment on Thursday evening was provided by "G" Company, which was based at Hitchin. On Friday, 31st July, there were the camp sports. These included a tug of war, a cross country, Victoria cross and obstacle race, and an officer's chargers race. The less said about the performance of the local team the better.

The last of the local Territorial units to leave for their summer camp was the 2nd Hertfordshire Battery R.F.A. They left Watford at about 11 p.m. on the 1st August for Bellingham, Northumberland. There they were to be joined by the two other batteries in the East Anglian Brigade, the 1st Herts Battery and the Northampton Battery, under the command of the Marquis of Exeter.

Extract from The London Gunners come to Town

A visitor to Ashridge House at the time was Lord Kitchener. While there he received a telegram, and gave his apologies to his host: "Lady Brownlow, I am sorry but I must leave at once. Do not worry" adding "You will know why tomorrow."