Hertfordshire Genealogy Talks   The Terriers in West Herts in World War 1 A talk by Chris Reynolds

Preparing the move to War Stations

In London, the Second London Division got ready for the move to war stations

As soon as war was declared volunteers started to turn up. Edwin Collen went to the headquarters of the 2nd London Division on 5th August. He was a retired major of the Royal Garrison Artillery, who had served on the North West Frontier of India in 1897-8, and won the D.S.O. in South Africa. He was appointed as General Staff Officer, Grade 2, and immediately started work on billeting and horse purchasing, as his diary shows: 

6th August: Hard at work all day on the billeting scheme, which was finally handed to units about 8 p.m. The Divn. is concentrating at its temporary war station, St Albans. The only likely problem is "horses" but these are coming in fairly well. The horse census scheme seems to work smoothly. 

8th August: Busy now on horse purchasing returns trying to make up totals by classes of what the purchasing officers have actually brought and handed over. Horses do not come in as quickly as they ought and my private opinion is that many of the purchasing officers, not having had any military training, do not keep the detailed account of their purchases carefully enough and confusion inevitably arises ... By tomorrow evening units will probably be up to full strength as regards men and complete as regards equipment, etc. (except uniform for some recruits) ... The horse purchasing has been stopped tonight till the Exped. force has gone.

Extract from The London Gunners come to Town

Every unused building was commandeered - which caused chaos a month later when the school holidays ended.

SCHOOLS RE-OPEN MONDAY BUILDINGS VACATED BY MILITARY EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS  [At a meeting of the Hemel Hempstead Education Committee] . .. .  It was reported that the following schools would be available for use as usual:-   George Street  Queen Street  Cowper Road Infants  Two Waters Senior  And possibly Apsley Boys' School  OTHER ARRANGEMENTS  In regard to the other schools it was resolved to try and arrange for the temporary use of premises as follows:-    For Piccott's End School - the Congregational Sunday School, Christchurch Road.  For Bury Road School - The Baptist Church Sunday School, Marlowes.  For Apsley Girls' School - Salem Chapel, Featherbed Lane, and part of the Baptist Church Sunday School, London Road.  For Boxmoor Boys and Girls' Schools - the Baptist Church Sunday School, London Road  For Apsley Infants - The Wesleyan Church Sunday School, Two Waters.  Two Waters Infants School - The Baptist Church Sunday School, London Road.  Authority was given for these arrangements to be made, and for the necessary desks and apparatus to be removed to the places named. The schools, both proper and temporary, will consequently re-open on Monday next after the summer vacation at the usual times.