Billeting The Troops

A photographic postcard sent on 5th November 1914 by a soldier who gave his address as D Company, 15th Battalion [Civil Service Rifles], London Regiment, 10 Essex Road, Watford. It was sent to a Mrs S. Cooke of Herne Hill.

Dear Aunt, Many thanks for both belts which are very useful. Am now in a fine private billet as above for the winter. Sid & all at home are very well; so am I. Hope you all are too. Your affec. Nephew, Bob.

Local councils were involved in monitoring the billeting arrangements. In Hemel Hempstead: 

Samuel Rawson was in charge of monitoring the billeting arrangements which would have involved over 2,000 men. A large number of households agreed to take one or more of the 'khaki boys'. For each soldier billeted there was a payment of 6d a night for the bed, 5d for breakfast, 1s 1d for dinner and 3d for supper. Billeting was an attractive proposition for many of the townsfolk, although in many cases soldiers fed in the Army mess, rather than in their billet. Those who did not want to take soldiers into their home were given little option. There were almost certainly incidents such as one reported in St Albans where a lady informed the billeting office "that the only accommodation she had was the door mat. 'Very well, we'll book two for that' was the order." ...

Finding suitable accommodation was not the only problem. At Mr Locke's suggestion the Waterworks Committee "agreed to the fitting up of several of the disused washing baths at the Waterworks for the benefit of the troops." The perennial issue of whether the Town should have public conveniences also reappeared on the agenda. The large increase in population would have resulted in further work as at Luton where "Special attention is being given to the sanitary condition at the places where the men are billeted. The troops have their own staff for the purpose, and they are working in close conjunction with the Corporation's sanitary staff. The Corporation are clearing refuse daily." At the same time the Minutes of Hemel Hempstead Rural District Council showed that Thomas Lighbody had to make special sanitary arrangements at Shendish and elsewhere.

Extract from The London Gunners come to Town

Such real photographs can often be enlarged to show the cap badge, and hence identify the unit.