HERTS Yeomanry doings as far as they concerned T. Holland-Hibbert between 1912 and 3rd August 1914

Yeomanry

I joined 1912 chiefly owing to the insistence of G.C Clayton¹ a friend of the family: and also it was the thing to do.  The first activity was having to attend drills in the Drill Hall at Watford (now demolished).    Used to get down there in the evenings from work  in London and S.M. Rogers (a most excellent 21^st Lancer) took us & the few men who used to turn up.  Rifle instruction.  Then came camp in Broxbourne Park owned by Major George Smith Bosanquet.  Getting my uniform was an ordeal.  I was horrified  at cost of even the blue silver fogged waistcoat £17.  Silver pouch on belt.  Everything with high collar and a white one just showing.  If it did not fit exactly it was really awful.  Mine didn’t.

Thurstan Holland-Hibbert

I had a horse of my mothers. The men were mounted by various dealers who made a business of it.  The only part at all of the whole of my service in the yeomanry that I enjoyed was the horse part.  Percy Cazenove was my sqd leader.  Tagg the vet used to walk down my troop, teach me to tell the ages.  The evenings were awful.  Nobody allowed to go to bed till the Col did. (Lord Essex²)   I don’t know what he played but it was called “gambling” & all sorts of whispered stories about what he lost.  We all used to sit round on sofas and wait for bed.  1/2 in morning choked by my collar.  Hour after hour.  Drinking too all men.  With my teetotal background, I was horrified.  All the gas about the wine, port.  Lovely silver on table.  Everybody who joined had to give some.  My Father presented 2 silver candlesticks for me and my brother.

One Easter we went to Colchester & did some training with 20^th Hussars.  Was interested in the way the troop horses knew the drill, just what to do.  Was not interested in anything else!

Next camp 1913 was Patcham Down near Brighton.  All I remember about that was winning the officer flat race on my horse “Cuthbert”

Luton Hoo

Next camp was Luton Hoo 1914. On one field day at Saddeden Row a horse rolled into a nettle filled ditch, went mad with the stings.

Lady Wernher³ and companion Mrs Marks came to mess. She sat next Archie Clayton⁴ who was serious minded and a dedicated yeoman. She could not get a word out of him.  “Now Mr Clayton please shock me.”  As he failed to shock her she proceeded to tell him that a barrow full of preventatives had been picked up in the back after the first camp weekend.

Reggie Halsey⁵ was agent to Wernher   Very full of himself  Stupid laugh.

Notes:

¹ Presumably father of Archibald Charls William Clayton, see ⁴ below

²Lord Essex retired in April 1913 after twelve years in command.  He was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Abel H Smith.  Lord Essex was appointed Honorary Colonel to succeed Lord Clarendon in November 1914.

³Zia Wernher was the wife of the deceased Sir Julius Wernher (died 1912.)  She owned Luton Hoo estate.

⁴ Archibald Charles William Clayton (24th October 1867 – 1944), Captain.  Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry September 1914 – October 1915 (A Squadron Egypt; Dardanelles.  Temporary Major while commanding squadron 28th August 1914); and November 1916 – April 1919 (D Squadron – Mesopotamia.  Commanding squadron.  Despatches twice.)

⁵ Reginald Halsey (10th August 1873 – 30th May 1927) , Captain.  Served Hertfordshire Yeomanry Depot August – September 1914; 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry September 1914 – November 1915 (B Squadron – Egypt; Dardonelles); March – August 1916 (D Squadron – Mesopotania) and April – August 1918 (B Squadron – Egypt/Palestine)

HALS Reference: D/EYO/2/131