For King and Country: Blackmore During the First World War (Part 3): 1914

Blackmore and the First World War: 1914 and the Threat of Invasion

There was a rapid escalation of events which culminated in Britain, in defence of Belgium’s neutrality, declaring war on Germany at 11pm on 4th August 1914.

The regular Army was quickly mobilised and sent to Mons in Belgium. The British Expeditionary Force, the BEF, was quickly pushed back to within 25 miles of the centre of Paris. This was the western limit of what became known as the Western Front.

Frederick Garnham

Frederick Garnham was born on 25th September 1887 in Chadwell Heath and baptised 22nd July 1894 in the Parish Church of Stondon Massey, the village where both his parents were living at that time.

His father was foreman at the Soap House Farm. Frederick married local girl Rosa Watts in December 1908 describing his profession on the marriage certificate as “Private in 2nd Bn. of Essex Regt.”. Their home was Lightfoots in Radley Green, which the 1914 Electoral Roll refers to “Radley Green via Blackmore”.

Called quickly to arms on outbreak of War, he was in Norwich Market Square where pictures of the troops were taken on 10th August. He sent at least two postcards home to his wife.

Postcard to Rose Garnham

Addressed Mrs F Garnham, Radley Green, Blackmore, Ingatestone.
Postmark: Norwich. 14th August 1914. 12.15pm

Dear Rose, This is a photo of our chaps on the Market Square. I received your parcel will write soon as we shift tonight with love from your affectionate husband Fred.

Second Postcard

Addressed Mrs F Garnham, Radley Green, Blackmore, Ingatestone.
Postmark indistinct.

Dear Rose, I could not get one of myself on so I have sent you one of some sort just to give you a little idea how we look. Well my dear you never said whether you received my bike safe from Chelmsford. ... We are in an out of the way place in Norfolk now when we get to a decent [place] again will send you [news?] ... goodbye dear wife from your loving husband Fred.

Frederick Garnham was killed in the Battle of the River Marne on 8th September and is buried in Montreuil-Aux-Lions, British Cemetery, about 45 miles east of the centre of Paris, and about 100 miles from Mons where the BEF had retreated.

His name appears on the memorial inside and outside of the church in Highwood, also inside Roxwell Church. His son, Frederick Wilfred Garnham was born on 4th September 1914.

Archibald Browne

Archibald Browne also served in the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment and was with the BEF in France.

His mother lived just over the parish border in Green Street, Ingatestone. We will return to his story later.

Bertie Millbank

Bertie Millbank was born in Blackmore on 13th January 1887. As a seven-year-old his name appears in the Sunday School Admission Register, but by 1911 he was serving in the Military, his home being in Romford.

He had by then no next of kin, though his elder brother Ernest still lived in the village. Sent with the BEF, Bertie Millbank died of wounds on 23rd September. He was 27 years old and was buried with French allies in a cemetery in what is now the business district of Paris.

Hospitals for the Wounded

Back in Essex plans were being put in place to receive wounded men either for convalescence or treatment.

The Budworth Hall in Ongar became a hospital with thirty beds, receiving its first patients in the autumn. The number of beds available was increased to 62 in 1917.

In March 1917 Mr Gladstone gave over his mansion, Blake Hall, for the use of 35 or more wounded officers.

The Threat of Invasion

With an invasion of England anticipated Reeve wrote in October that:

“Artillery and Engineer Officers have been busily surveying the district during the past three weeks with the purpose, I believe, of deciding on the best method of obstructing a possible raid on London.

An outer line of defence appears to run through Ongar, Stondon and Doddinghurst: and my little field has received attention.

Field guns I think would, on necessity, be brought here, and would range eastward in the direction of Chelmsford”.

In November Reeve observed that:

“It would hardly be too much to say that Stondon is becoming honeycombed with trenches, and the Church, owing to its being set upon a hill, is a prominent centre.

The slopes declining from the Hall to the brook contain a network of passages, giving shelter to riflemen who will give, if necessary, a stern reception to the enemy coming down the opposite hill from Paslow Common.

Flanking trenches face toward the Rectory, while others are taken southward along the course of the brook to the village. In adjacent parishes the same work is observable.

On the slopes of High Ongar, and on the confines of Blackmore and Doddinghurst towards Swallows Cross bodies of men are busily engaged”.

The Navvies

Huge numbers of men were billeted in Stondon and the neighbourhood.

“Some 600 navvies arrived on the morning of November 2nd, some by railway to Ongar, and some by road in motor omnibuses.

The plan being somewhat unexpectedly adopted, little or no preparation had been made in the locality for the reception of the men. Some 400 were to commence work at once in Stondon.

In the event, at the cost of considerable discomfort, the first few days were successfully surmounted and then tents were erected here and there for the accommodation of the men, or they contrived to find themselves temporary billets.

A canteen was put up at Brook’s and Cannons Farm, which to some degree supplied the place of shops. This was afterward moved to a centre at Hooks End, Blackmore.

The appearance of a canteen was hailed with delight by the villagers, publican, and all: for it was becoming a real difficulty to know how to meet the wants of the invaders”.

The Navvies were replaced by soldiers who were quartered at Ongar, Blackmore, Stondon Massey and the neighbouring villages. Accommodation, some in tents, was arranged for 250 men in Blackmore alone.

Evacuation Plans

We, of course, know that the Germans did not invade England either in the First or Second World War so we have to imagine what life would have been like not knowing what exactly might happen.

A friend reliably informed Reeve that in the event of invasion trees and hedges would be levelled across the fields, six guns and two howitzers would be placed in field Nos. 69 and 70, and the Stondon’s church spire would be hurriedly demolished.

In December 1914 Reeve was asked to submit to the authorities the number of elderly or infirm residents, and children, who might have difficulty evacuating their homes at short notice.

Contingency plans were being put in place for the population to leave for Oxfordshire by by-roads while the Regiments present fought the invaders, being reinforced by troops travelling towards Essex and London on the main highways.

As each day passed though the likelihood of hostile invasion on the ground became less.

Billeting Soldiers

Billeting was common. Revd. Walter Layton Petrie, the Vicar of Blackmore, noted in the Church Council minutes of 28th July 1915:

“It was thought desirable to enter upon the minute book some account of the Billeting of Soldiers in the Parish and the concern of the parish in and during the War”.

Nothing else pertaining to the War is recorded in Minute Book until Memorials were discussed in 1918.

Ingatestone and the Military Presence

Before leaving the topic of the military presence locally Reeve noted on 1st May 1916 that:

“Ingatestone has, throughout the period of the War, been a considerable military centre owing to its proximity to the railway, and its position between the metropolis and the important camps at Chelmsford and Colchester”.

He notes in some detail a battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Welsh) who had arrived in Stondon on a route march from Ingatestone.

The guns they brought were left at the top of the hill near Soap House Farm, some 220 horses were watered at the village pond while the soldiers slated their thirst at the Bricklayers Arms.

Route marches were probably a common site in Blackmore and elsewhere.

The Christmas Truce

The Christmas truce of 1914 has become a legendary halt in hostilities. Revd. Reeve records a conversation he had with a soldier in early 1915.

“When travelling by train to London from Ongar on Jan 25th I had for a fellow passenger for part of the way a Lancashire man who had returned wounded and frost-bitten from the front, and was now sufficiently convalescent to be going for a short spell to his native county before returning to France.

His first-hand report of the conditions of things abroad was very interesting. He had often been for days together standing in water in the trenches, and the plight of the soldiers in the cold, wet, and filth was, he said indescribable. The Germans were in as bad or worse plight.

During an interval on Christmas-day some of the enemy had approached our trenches and joined in conversation with our men. One German soldier had given his cigarettes and offered him brandy.

In reply to the German invitation to drink with him the British soldier declined, until by way of assuring him took a pull himself at the flask he was offering! Lancashire shyness was then overcome, and the soldier accepted a draught of the “Cognac” for such it proved to be.

The time was soon over for these pleasantries, and the two dropped back again into their several positions, having apparently no special desire to kill one another, save at the call of duty!

I wished my fellow passenger a safe return to England at the close of war.”