Out in this month's Essex Life magazine:
Part of a series by Pen & Sword Publishing that focuses on individual towns in the Great War, Chelmsford in the Great War is a fascinating book that has been written by someone who is clearly fascinated by a global conflict that had a huge impact on local life.
Chelmsford in the Great War provides an account of the local men who went off to fight, but in the manner of all good books about World War 1, Jonathan Swan doesn't forget the people who were left behind and has written a book that will be a great addition to any local historian's collection.
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Sunday, 24 May 2015
Private William Peel Myers of Bradford - update
This is spooky - I made another ebay acquisition this week and discovered that it is a third postcard from William Myers to his sister Hilda. This one is dated July 17th 1917, which now means that Willie was in Chelmsford for at least five months.
Saturday, 23 May 2015
Great article in the East Anglian Daily Times...
...and I didn't write it! Many thanks, Steven Russell!
Thursday, 21 May 2015
Another review...
This is from Amazon:
"I have to admit some bias here. I was born in Chelmsford and apart from stints at university and in India, have lived in the city for most of my life. Furthermore, I am a keen student of military history and met many First World War veterans in and around Chelmsford in the 1980s. They would have loved to have seen this book.
"Jonathan Swan has done a first rate job with this book. It's a book that has appeal both to those interested in the First World War and to those who are interested in Chelmsford. There is plenty in here that I was unaware of and the easy narrative is well-supported by early maps, photographs and street plans of Chelmsford. I found the latter particularly interesting and, for instance, had never realised that there were originally "Wellington Cottages" at the end of "Waterloo Lane". That harks back to an earlier conflict of course but Jonathan certainly knows his stuff when it comes to the First World War and there are useful chapters on the Volunteers (The so called "Gorgeous Wrecks" who seem to be a generally forgotten home army), The Specials, Camps and Airfields, Joining Up, Trade and Industry, and so on.
"This is a book that can be easily dipped into and out of and, having read a number of books in this series, I have to say that to date, this is by far the best. But then again, as I said at the start, I am biased. All bias aside, the author has done his research well and above all, this is a very readable book. It's one thing to dig out the facts, quite another to offer them in such a compelling manner.
"I gather the book has been selling well in and around Chelmsford. Long may that continue, and I hope it reaches a wider audience than Essex. It certainly deserves to do so."
"Jonathan Swan has done a first rate job with this book. It's a book that has appeal both to those interested in the First World War and to those who are interested in Chelmsford. There is plenty in here that I was unaware of and the easy narrative is well-supported by early maps, photographs and street plans of Chelmsford. I found the latter particularly interesting and, for instance, had never realised that there were originally "Wellington Cottages" at the end of "Waterloo Lane". That harks back to an earlier conflict of course but Jonathan certainly knows his stuff when it comes to the First World War and there are useful chapters on the Volunteers (The so called "Gorgeous Wrecks" who seem to be a generally forgotten home army), The Specials, Camps and Airfields, Joining Up, Trade and Industry, and so on.
"This is a book that can be easily dipped into and out of and, having read a number of books in this series, I have to say that to date, this is by far the best. But then again, as I said at the start, I am biased. All bias aside, the author has done his research well and above all, this is a very readable book. It's one thing to dig out the facts, quite another to offer them in such a compelling manner.
"I gather the book has been selling well in and around Chelmsford. Long may that continue, and I hope it reaches a wider audience than Essex. It certainly deserves to do so."
First reviews...
A letter received via Pen & Sword:
"I’ve just finished reading your book on the First World War in Chelmsford. I’m an Essex ex-pat, having lived over here very happily for fifty years, but always homesick for Chelmsford – people can’t understand how anyone could miss Chelmsford! We’ve visited frequently and although all my relatives are gone, I still have many friends there. I was brought up in Chelmsford/Springfield/New Hall (I was there during the WW2 bombing) and was at the High School 1950-58.
"I want to congratulate you on the magnificent and scholarly work and to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it, as I’m sure so many others will. I buy most books about Chelmsford’s history and once I had started this I could hardly put it down.
"Main reasons were of course my familiarity with the town in much later years, and the town as I knew it (ie before new roads, demolition and expansion). Not much chance of being in horse-drawn cart bringing milk churns in from Boreham through the town centre nowadays! I could therefore relate to so much description, and was delighted with the level of detail you managed to convey. Your inclusion of so many maps was brilliant.
"Another fascination was reading so many names I knew – and in some cases knew the people referred to – and many would probably have been the grandfathers or great-uncles of people I knew at school. We had a Margaret Horsnell at CHS in my time, I think, and perhaps she was connected with Alick. My own family connection with this war was from elsewhere in Essex, but some of my older relatives were working at Marconi’s."
"I’ve just finished reading your book on the First World War in Chelmsford. I’m an Essex ex-pat, having lived over here very happily for fifty years, but always homesick for Chelmsford – people can’t understand how anyone could miss Chelmsford! We’ve visited frequently and although all my relatives are gone, I still have many friends there. I was brought up in Chelmsford/Springfield/New Hall (I was there during the WW2 bombing) and was at the High School 1950-58.
"I want to congratulate you on the magnificent and scholarly work and to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it, as I’m sure so many others will. I buy most books about Chelmsford’s history and once I had started this I could hardly put it down.
"Main reasons were of course my familiarity with the town in much later years, and the town as I knew it (ie before new roads, demolition and expansion). Not much chance of being in horse-drawn cart bringing milk churns in from Boreham through the town centre nowadays! I could therefore relate to so much description, and was delighted with the level of detail you managed to convey. Your inclusion of so many maps was brilliant.
"Another fascination was reading so many names I knew – and in some cases knew the people referred to – and many would probably have been the grandfathers or great-uncles of people I knew at school. We had a Margaret Horsnell at CHS in my time, I think, and perhaps she was connected with Alick. My own family connection with this war was from elsewhere in Essex, but some of my older relatives were working at Marconi’s."
Saturday, 16 May 2015
Private William Peel Myers, 5th Yorkshire Regiment
Interesting postcard showing Broomfield Road, dated 1917. The pub is, of course, the Compasses, a much smaller building than it is today. The wall on the right hand side can still be seen, and the Cedar of Lebanon brushing the top of the wall now towers over the road. The 'x' marks the area where the author of the postcard was billeted, one of the big houses like Rannoch Lodge.
And then a standard postcard of the High Street, junction with Springfield Road.
Both of these postcards were sent by the same man, 'Willie', to a Miss Hilda Myers, of Hill Crest, Carlton Drive, Heaton, in Bradford. From the language used in the letter Hilda seems to have been young, and in the Broomfield Road card there is a mention of Mother and Father. A search on ancestry.co.uk throws up a William Peel Myers, aged 13 in the 1911 census, and living at the Hill Crest address with Hilda and parents William and Clara Myers. Father was the managing director of the family firm of S. P. Myers & Co Ltd, a worsted manufacturer in Bradford.
William junior's military records still exist. He attested shortly after his eighteenth birthday in October 1915, under Lord Derby's Group Scheme (ie not conscription); and was called up on 9th May 1916, when he joined the 2/5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment. He was sent to France on the 3rd of August where he joined his unit in billets.
The big question is what was William doing in Chelmsford in late 1917?
It would appear that he suffered a number of health problems. In addition to scabies he suffered from impetigo and was hospitalised in Cheltenham in November 1916 and after another attack in June 1917 his medical category was downgraded to B1. His eyesight also caused him problems and in October 1917 he found himself at the military ophthalmic centre no. 19 at Chelmsford. It was at this time he sent his two postcards to Hilda.
Unfortunately we have no records of this important medical facility. There were several of them around the country, including Lincoln, Manchester and Nottingham, and a number were attached to Casualty Clearing Stations in France. From what we know of the medical personnel at the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital there were no ophthalmic specialists there, so we might conjecture that the military hospital at Oaklands might be the location. According to the British Medical Journal these were set up in early 1916 'at important stations in the various commands'.
By January 1918 William had been fitted with spectacles and was sent back to France with the 1/5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. In May the Germans launched a major offensive which advanced rapidly through Belgium and France. William was taken prisoner and was reported missing on the 27th May. He spent the rest of the war at Sprottau prisoner of war camp in in lower Silesia, Poland, and was repatriated in January 1919. Thanks to his father's efforts, he was released from military service the next month to return to his job as a clerk and assistant manager in the family business.
William Peel Myers died in December 1980 at the grand old age of 83. He was just one of thousands of men who passed through Chelmsford during the Great War.
And then a standard postcard of the High Street, junction with Springfield Road.
Both of these postcards were sent by the same man, 'Willie', to a Miss Hilda Myers, of Hill Crest, Carlton Drive, Heaton, in Bradford. From the language used in the letter Hilda seems to have been young, and in the Broomfield Road card there is a mention of Mother and Father. A search on ancestry.co.uk throws up a William Peel Myers, aged 13 in the 1911 census, and living at the Hill Crest address with Hilda and parents William and Clara Myers. Father was the managing director of the family firm of S. P. Myers & Co Ltd, a worsted manufacturer in Bradford.
The big question is what was William doing in Chelmsford in late 1917?
It would appear that he suffered a number of health problems. In addition to scabies he suffered from impetigo and was hospitalised in Cheltenham in November 1916 and after another attack in June 1917 his medical category was downgraded to B1. His eyesight also caused him problems and in October 1917 he found himself at the military ophthalmic centre no. 19 at Chelmsford. It was at this time he sent his two postcards to Hilda.
Unfortunately we have no records of this important medical facility. There were several of them around the country, including Lincoln, Manchester and Nottingham, and a number were attached to Casualty Clearing Stations in France. From what we know of the medical personnel at the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital there were no ophthalmic specialists there, so we might conjecture that the military hospital at Oaklands might be the location. According to the British Medical Journal these were set up in early 1916 'at important stations in the various commands'.
By January 1918 William had been fitted with spectacles and was sent back to France with the 1/5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. In May the Germans launched a major offensive which advanced rapidly through Belgium and France. William was taken prisoner and was reported missing on the 27th May. He spent the rest of the war at Sprottau prisoner of war camp in in lower Silesia, Poland, and was repatriated in January 1919. Thanks to his father's efforts, he was released from military service the next month to return to his job as a clerk and assistant manager in the family business.
William Peel Myers died in December 1980 at the grand old age of 83. He was just one of thousands of men who passed through Chelmsford during the Great War.
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Oaklands Military Hospital
(The World War 1 field ambulance is my specialist subject so I'll try to be brief!)
At the outbreak of war the first military formation to arrive in Chelmsford was the 1st South Midlands Division, comprising some six thousand men. The health of these men was the responsibility of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).
Each division was divided into three brigades, and each brigade had an RAMC Field Ambulance attached. This was the first line of military health care, and provided both medical care and sanitary services to the brigade and division. The term "field ambulance" was primarily used to describe the casualty clearance or evacuation role of the medical unit, rather than any type of vehicle. Each field ambulance had a strength of 220 men, with 10 medical officers. These were formed into three sub-units which formed dressing stations; section A formed the Main Dressing Station (MDS, the HQ of the field ambulance), and sections B and C the Advanced Dressing Stations (ADS). Each section was further subdivided into a Bearer section and a Tent section. The former carried out the duties of collecting casualties, the latter provided basic medical and nursing care.
As a division was sent into action, the three field ambulances were deployed in support of the front line. The main dressing station was usually a couple of miles behind the line, but the advanced dressing stations were often within a few hundred yards of the trenches. The ADS could be set up in the cellar of a building, or in a dugout. The MDS would be in a larger building and, depending on the situation, might be able to erect its tents to provide additional beds. The three field ambulances would often work together in providing medical support to the whole division.
Casualties were initially collected from the battlefield by the regimental stretcher bearers (non-RAMC men from the battalion) and would be initially treated by the regimental medical officer (RMO) in the regimental aid post (RAP). The RAMC bearers from the ADS would go forward to the RAPs to collect the casualties and replenish the medical supplies. Casualties unable to walk would be carried by stretcher to the ADS or MDS where they would receive very basic treatment (change of dressings, immobilisation of fractures) before being collected by the Motor Ambulance Convoys and conveyed back to the Casualty Clearing Stations.
RAMC field ambulances at home still had medical responsibilities. Men who fell sick or were injured while in training (the "sick, lame and lazy"!) were seen at the regimental sick parade and sent to the local field ambulance for treatment. This might mean bed rest, or simple surgical procedures such as tonsillectomies, or treatment of fractures. More serious conditions would be dispatched to the military hospitals (such as Colchester) or the local civilian hospital if urgent.
The three field ambulances of the South Midland Division were initially headquartered at Hylands House when Sir Daniel Gooch offered it to the Red Cross. With the arrival of the first Belgian casualties in October 1914 the HQ was moved to Oaklands House, which was used by the various RAMC units during the rest of the war. Oaklands became the medical centre for the district and parts of the building were converted to operating theatres and wards. A large number of tents were erected in the grounds. Another military hospital (dressing station) was established at Eves Corner in Danbury. Given that there were three field ambulances per division there must have been a third but my research has not yet identified its location, although it has been suggested that it might have been at Warley.
This is a photograph of an RAMC unit at Oaklands House. The conservatory has disappeared, but it is clearly at the rear of the building. There are seventy men in the picture, with only three officers, which suggests a B or C section of the field ambulance. The rear of the card is marked "B. E. N" or possibly "B. E. IV". The absence of medal ribbons and wound stripes from the men's uniforms suggests that this is either early in the war, or just as likely, a unit yet to go into action (1st South Midland Division was followed in 1915 by the 2nd South Midland Division, then the Lowland Division and so on). Please let me know if you have any ideas.
At the outbreak of war the first military formation to arrive in Chelmsford was the 1st South Midlands Division, comprising some six thousand men. The health of these men was the responsibility of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).
Each division was divided into three brigades, and each brigade had an RAMC Field Ambulance attached. This was the first line of military health care, and provided both medical care and sanitary services to the brigade and division. The term "field ambulance" was primarily used to describe the casualty clearance or evacuation role of the medical unit, rather than any type of vehicle. Each field ambulance had a strength of 220 men, with 10 medical officers. These were formed into three sub-units which formed dressing stations; section A formed the Main Dressing Station (MDS, the HQ of the field ambulance), and sections B and C the Advanced Dressing Stations (ADS). Each section was further subdivided into a Bearer section and a Tent section. The former carried out the duties of collecting casualties, the latter provided basic medical and nursing care.
As a division was sent into action, the three field ambulances were deployed in support of the front line. The main dressing station was usually a couple of miles behind the line, but the advanced dressing stations were often within a few hundred yards of the trenches. The ADS could be set up in the cellar of a building, or in a dugout. The MDS would be in a larger building and, depending on the situation, might be able to erect its tents to provide additional beds. The three field ambulances would often work together in providing medical support to the whole division.
Casualties were initially collected from the battlefield by the regimental stretcher bearers (non-RAMC men from the battalion) and would be initially treated by the regimental medical officer (RMO) in the regimental aid post (RAP). The RAMC bearers from the ADS would go forward to the RAPs to collect the casualties and replenish the medical supplies. Casualties unable to walk would be carried by stretcher to the ADS or MDS where they would receive very basic treatment (change of dressings, immobilisation of fractures) before being collected by the Motor Ambulance Convoys and conveyed back to the Casualty Clearing Stations.
RAMC field ambulances at home still had medical responsibilities. Men who fell sick or were injured while in training (the "sick, lame and lazy"!) were seen at the regimental sick parade and sent to the local field ambulance for treatment. This might mean bed rest, or simple surgical procedures such as tonsillectomies, or treatment of fractures. More serious conditions would be dispatched to the military hospitals (such as Colchester) or the local civilian hospital if urgent.
The three field ambulances of the South Midland Division were initially headquartered at Hylands House when Sir Daniel Gooch offered it to the Red Cross. With the arrival of the first Belgian casualties in October 1914 the HQ was moved to Oaklands House, which was used by the various RAMC units during the rest of the war. Oaklands became the medical centre for the district and parts of the building were converted to operating theatres and wards. A large number of tents were erected in the grounds. Another military hospital (dressing station) was established at Eves Corner in Danbury. Given that there were three field ambulances per division there must have been a third but my research has not yet identified its location, although it has been suggested that it might have been at Warley.
This is a photograph of an RAMC unit at Oaklands House. The conservatory has disappeared, but it is clearly at the rear of the building. There are seventy men in the picture, with only three officers, which suggests a B or C section of the field ambulance. The rear of the card is marked "B. E. N" or possibly "B. E. IV". The absence of medal ribbons and wound stripes from the men's uniforms suggests that this is either early in the war, or just as likely, a unit yet to go into action (1st South Midland Division was followed in 1915 by the 2nd South Midland Division, then the Lowland Division and so on). Please let me know if you have any ideas.
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| Men of an RAMC Field Ambulance at Oaklands House |
Sunday, 15 March 2015
Book launch
Great turnout at the Essex Record Office yesterday - more than fifty people attended and we sold eighteen books.
I think my talk went well, so a big thank you to Hannah at ERO and the folks at the Essex Book Festival.
A good day all round - I heard myself on BBC Essex radio in the morning, went on to the book launch, and then we popped into Waterstones in Chelmsford and there it was! Not only that, but a chap came in and bought a copy while we were there!
I think my talk went well, so a big thank you to Hannah at ERO and the folks at the Essex Book Festival.
A good day all round - I heard myself on BBC Essex radio in the morning, went on to the book launch, and then we popped into Waterstones in Chelmsford and there it was! Not only that, but a chap came in and bought a copy while we were there!
Friday, 13 March 2015
Essex Book Festival launch event
Tickets price £6 from 033301 32500
Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Buy it now!
Just had confirmation from Pen & Sword that the book is being distributed for sale, and it can now be ordered from Amazon - see Chelmsford in the Great War
Friday, 6 March 2015
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
The proofs have arrived!
A beautifully formatted pdf file arrived today - so rewarding to see the book layout at last.
The next task is to create the index, so enough blogging for the moment..!
The next task is to create the index, so enough blogging for the moment..!
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Alexandra Rose Day 1916
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| Alexandra Rose Day 1916: Moulsham Street |
This is an interesting ebay acquisition. The photograph shows a gaily decorated car with a male driver and two female passengers. On the back of the card it reads "From J. Meads Chelmsford. Alexandra Rose Day June 21st 1916"
The Rose Day was instituted in 1912 by Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of her arrival in the United Kingdom from her home in Denmark.
Silk roses were prepared by the ladies of the district, and sold to raise funds for the Queen's favourite charities and for local worthy causes.
According to the 1911 census the Meads family lived at 36 Moulsham Street. Jim Meads was a sign writer and had a shop at 11b Tindal Street. He was married to Caroline, and they had two daughters, Caroline and Lily, and a son, James, also a sign writer.
Those familiar with Moulsham Street will recognise that the car is outside the old Salvation Army hall, now the Lemon Tree Cafe. It is likely that the occupants of the car are the three younger Meads - James, Lily and Caroline.
The Chelmsford Chronicle of Friday, 23rd June 1916 describes the events of the day:
ROSE DAY
£300 from Chelmsford and District
Queen Alexandra's Rose Day was generally celebrated on Wednesday, and on all sides excellent results were attained.
For Chelmsford and district the arrangements were once more in the hands of Miss C. Meads, of Moulsham Street, whose efforts last year yielded £207 7s 6d for the fund, £160 of which was returned in the form of a grant to the Chelmsford Hospital. Miss Meads was well forward with her preparations when she was unfortunately taken ill, but her sister, Miss L. Meads, and her brother, Mr J. Meads, the well-known sign writer, carried on the the organisation without a hitch. From Chelmsford were also worked Brentwood, Witham, Terling, Widford, Roxwell, Sandon, Great Baddow, Galleywood, the Hanningfields, Stock, and Broomfield. In this work 85 lady sellers, neatly attired in white, worked indefatigably from 5.30 am till late in the evening. One who had worked all night knocked off at 4 am and took her place with the other sellers until 9 pm, resuming her ordinary night work at 10. At Terling the sellers were entertained by the military officers. In an hour at Warley Barracks £3 was raised. At Boreham House 8s 6d was given for a single bloom. Several little sellers, whose ages range from 8 to 11 years, were busy from 8 am until dusk, minus school hours.
Some of the military officers were very generous, one giving a sovereign for flowers for some of his men. By three o'clock over £94 had been counted from Chelmsford alone. All the schools in Chelmsford were visited, and coppers rolled in. In all about 300 gross of blooms had been prepared, and few were left over. At the main approaches to the town and at the railway station tables loaded with flowers were placed, and the table in front of the Cannon was decorated with natural wild roses gathered from the orchard of Mrs Lord, at Galleywood.
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| Moulsham Street today |
Friday, 23 January 2015
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Special Constable Gripper - History Notebook
My account of the work of Special Constable Herbert Gripper has just been published by the Essex Police Museum as History Notebook 60 and can be downloaded.
It is based on the journal and papers held by the Essex Records Office ((D/Z 137/1).
It is based on the journal and papers held by the Essex Records Office ((D/Z 137/1).
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Essex Book Festival
I will be talking about my book, Chelmsford in the Great War, at the Essex Book Festival at 11 am on Saturday 14th March, at the Essex Records Office.
Tickets are £6 each. I hope to see you there!
Tickets are £6 each. I hope to see you there!
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