Diary of Thurstan Holland-Hibbert, 2nd October 1915 - 3rd February 1916

To England and family

Thurstan Holland-Hibbert

Thurstan Holland-Hibbert

[October] 2.

Saw doctor who put me down to be ‘boarded’  He told me to wait, then an orderly came in with names of those for England. My name was in the list! Could not believe it. Straight away down to harbour, onto an enormous ship the Grampian1 standing yards out of the water. No cargo. Night on ship.

3.

Coaling. V2. came on board. Tug to take us out of harbour and off we went

4. 5. 6.

Arrived Gibraltar  off again 9.30

10

Two destroyers met us

11.

Arrived off coast 3.30 a.m. Saw England once more! Shall never forget the joy, green trees, grass, houses. Australians most interested, impressed about the green and the small fields. Arrived wearing helmet& khaki uniform & trousers, weight 9 st as against usual 11 st.

We were towed into Davenport. Ambulance to North Rd Station, train to London. Arrived 4.45 I made for a taxi but was seized and sent in a Rolls Royce to 3rd London General Hospital driven by a young lady in uniform. Sent to a long tin hut called “Rosebud Villa” Given tea, bread, butter and found we could get leave to go home for the night. Set off thro black out streets to Paddington Hotel, telephone to Hale (butler) at Putteridge3 to tell him to meet me, tell nobody. Spinney chauffeur and Hall (TMC’s valet) in car. Went in by back door. Took boots off, crept into the Hall. Blew my horn, there they were. V.2 had got back in faster boat. Diana4 brought down from her bed quite calm and ‘knew’ me from photographs, when asked who I was said “Dad”

Could not believe it possible. Lovely clean everything. Cold grouse for supper. Felt so very grateful.

Oct 12th.

Up to Wandsworth hospital again. Board. Very casual questions. Given 7 days leave “only provisional” & told I should hear from them.

Nov 3.

Had a wire from W.O.5 “Prepare for Near East on receipt of instructions as to passage” Had had no Board9 and my doctor said I was still full of bugs.

11th

Telegram from W.O.5 “1700 AG4[?] reference my third even number orders therein cancelled”

Went to The Grove Kitchen Sanden house to see the parents of Crumplen the only man missing from my troop after the march across Salt Lake. Knocked at door and he opened it! Been wounded & got home before I did.

15th

Got a certificate from my doctor that I was not fit for service Near East.

Began negotiations with various people to transfer into the Greys. If I am to be shot at again Id rather be with pros than amateurs.

Dec 13

After various orders reported at Hertford Yeo depot commanded by Barre Goldie6

Drilling on in Panshanger park7. Chief N.C.O’s, men who had not volunteered for foreign service. Gave a lecture in p.m.

14. 15

Hertford8

16.

Board9 at Bedford. 2 more months leave given in England

Intermittant visits to Hertford depot continued till

Jan 24

Board9 at Bedford. Passed for active service. Impossible to understand why I was sent for as I had been given 2 months by previous board.

Feb 3 1916

Transfer papers ‘in’ & Goldie6 said no good going to Hertford any more.

Thus my connection with Herts Yeo Ended & I was transferred into The Greys, with whom I was till the end.

Notes:

1 SS Grampion was launched on Thursday, 25th July 1907 at Alexander Stephen & Sons yard in Glasgow. It was a passenger cargo vessel of 9598 grt. It was destroyed by fire on 14th March 1921 whilst undergoing a rebuild in Antwerp andin 1925 it was sold for scrapping at Rotterdam, cf. http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=3500

2 Viola Mary was Thurstan’s wife

3 Putteridge Bury was at that time the home of Thomas Meadows Clutterbuck, a brewer and Viola Mary’s father.  He had the old house pulled down and a new mansion built in the style of Chequers where he had lived from 1898 to 1909.  The house is now a conference and event centre owned by Bedfordshire University.  For more information on its history see http://www.beds.ac.uk/putteridgebury/about/history

4 Diana was around 2 years old at the time.

5 War Office

6 Barré Algernone Highmore Goldie (9th May 1870 – 2nd December 1949) Temporary Captain in Yeomanry.  Served 2nd/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry September 1914 – June 1915 (Temorary Captain 1st December 1914); 3rd/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry June 1915 – February 1917 (Temporary Major whilst commanding regiment 28th January 1916 – 23rd February 1917)

7 Panshanger Park between Hertford and Welwyn Garden City was then owned by Lord and Lady Desborough (Ettie, nee Fane.)  Ettie was the niece of the 7th and last Earl Cowper. The Cowpers had owned the land since the early 18 Century.   The park is now owned by a gravel extraction company and is being slowly opened to the public. For more information see http://friendsofpanshangerpark.co.uk/

8 Where the Yeomanry depot was located.

9 Army Board where men were considered for active service.

HALS Reference: D/EYO/2/131

This page was added on 25/03/2016.

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