The Albert Freeman Diaries - 1917
January 13th
Aeroplane came down in Ricky Park. Went up to see, as to guarding same all night, but men from RTC Ruislip came over for duty. (Royal Tank Corps)
January 16th
Albert mentions seed potatoes.
A food shortage was now growing as farm workers were called up to fight in the war. The Local Authorities made plans to help improve the situation, especially with potatoes, considered a staple food and easily grown.
February 22nd
Representatives from Board of Agriculture called re land for cultivation, Croxley House Park.
(Croxley House at the northern end of The Green, owned for many years by the Woolrych family)
Aeroplane came down in Ricky Park. Went up to see, as to guarding same all night, but men from RTC Ruislip came over for duty. (Royal Tank Corps)
January 16th
Albert mentions seed potatoes.
A food shortage was now growing as farm workers were called up to fight in the war. The Local Authorities made plans to help improve the situation, especially with potatoes, considered a staple food and easily grown.
February 22nd
Representatives from Board of Agriculture called re land for cultivation, Croxley House Park.
(Croxley House at the northern end of The Green, owned for many years by the Woolrych family)
Croxley House, the home of the Woolrych family
March 1st
With Lomas re seed potatoes. Drafting letter to applicants. Ling called re gas at Croxley Green Vicarage.
(William Ling (mentioned) Gas Fitter and Bell Hanger, employee of Messrs Beeson & Sons Rickmansworth 1921 census)
With Lomas re seed potatoes. Drafting letter to applicants. Ling called re gas at Croxley Green Vicarage.
(William Ling (mentioned) Gas Fitter and Bell Hanger, employee of Messrs Beeson & Sons Rickmansworth 1921 census)
The Vicarage, home for the vicar of All Saints’ church. This image shows the extension that
was later added to the original building
March 7th
Croxley Green Red Cross Hospital, 8.45am to meet Mr Barton-Smith (Dickinson Institute) re additional lavatory accommodation for wounded soldiers.
Interviewing applicants for Seed potatoes & allotments.
(Albert spent some time identifying suitable land such as football pitches, meadows, school grounds to cultivate in the emergency.)
March 12th
Tyler at Croxley Green Red Cross Hospital (Dickinson Institute) testing drains to new lavatories.
Croxley Green Red Cross Hospital, 8.45am to meet Mr Barton-Smith (Dickinson Institute) re additional lavatory accommodation for wounded soldiers.
Interviewing applicants for Seed potatoes & allotments.
(Albert spent some time identifying suitable land such as football pitches, meadows, school grounds to cultivate in the emergency.)
March 12th
Tyler at Croxley Green Red Cross Hospital (Dickinson Institute) testing drains to new lavatories.
The Institute New Road, used as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) The nurses pose outside with a group of casualties ready to take them up to The Green for an outing !
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The First Aid room where a casualty is having a dressing changed by a Red Cross nurse
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A soldier receiving care from two nurses replacing a dressing on his arm.
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The soldiers that are recovering are able to enjoy a game of billiards
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A time to relax during their convalescence, and the possibility many will have to return to the war in Europe again.
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There were many male orderlies who were employed at the Institute, unable to enlist in the war. Assisting with the recovery of the wounded, they were able to take the casualties in heavy mobility wheelchairs to The Green.
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A welcome visit to The Green
April 3rd
Croxley Green in afternoon with Mr Tom Godwin, Watford Gas Company, measuring length of new main from New Road to back of Croxley House & taking particulars of same.
April 12th
Watford Urban District Council offices re Seed Potatoes and at LMS goods sidings with Barlow unloading same (Probably at the Rickmansworth, Church Street, LMS Railway Station.)
Labelling bags for Croxley Green & arranging for carting to Rickmansworth, Watford U.D.C. Offices.
April 17th
Croxley Green with Messrs Royal & Tom Godwin re Gas supplies viewing site for Meter House etc.
April 19th
Croxley Green re gas main, Copthorne Road, Greenside Cottage, taking particulars for laying on gas. Sears shop – Scots Hill, ditto
May 4th
Seeing Mr Catesby re Letter of Munitions. (Mr. Catesby lived in Highfield House, Scots Hill)
Re main Croxley Green bulk supplies Station Meter.
May 30th
Meeting: Food Economy – Ebury Hall (Rickmansworth)
May 31st
(Albert notes in his diary, Tyler inspects a house (Ricky) re waste of bread found in dustbins. This was obviously unacceptable due to the food shortage and the council began investigating and searching dustbins)
June 14th
Meeting re a Public Slaughter House.
July 3rd
Seeing Mr Kennedy re- mains across Green – no objections provided reinstated properly.
July 5th
Air raid warning 9.30am aeroplanes seen between Watford and Northwood. I saw puffs of shrapnel in sky beyond Moor Park. Very bad air-raid over London, 20 German planes. All clear 11.45 am.
August 17th
Making tracing of plan - Coach & Horses for Deed (Rickmansworth or Croxley Green as there is also a public house in Rickmansworth High Street with the same name?)
October 1st
Guns heard at 8pm – went to office received "Air – Raid Action Training". Star shells & shrapnel seen over Kings Langley & droning of large aeroplanes over town – Specials Out - All Clear 10.30pm
(‘Specials’ were unpaid residents who volunteered to meet the needs to watch vulnerable points in the town when enemy aircraft were spotted, in case of attack and fires etc from bombing.)
October 2nd
Took in Mr & Mrs Mackenzie and little girl from Muswell Hill and found bedroom for the 3 other girls at Bishops.
October 18th
Mr Oddie called re Miss Dugdale's letter as to emptying cesspool at The Grove.
(The Grove later renamed Dugdales, a property on the corner of Little Green Lane and Baldwins Lane. Mr Oddie, a Councillor and a leading coroner for Central London, lived Chess Side, Copthorne Road)
October 23rd
Albert mentions furniture loaned to Belgian refugees.
December 6th
Air raid 5am, on duty till 7am, heard guns distinctly from Council Office.
2 German planes brought down with crews of 3 in each plane.
December 30th
2.15pm- 4.45pm helped Mr Murray to count money in envelopes for Blinded soldiers’ children.
(Many soldiers returned home wounded and blind from German army attacks in France and Belgium, resulting in fathers unable to work. The funding was set up to help families)
Croxley Green in afternoon with Mr Tom Godwin, Watford Gas Company, measuring length of new main from New Road to back of Croxley House & taking particulars of same.
April 12th
Watford Urban District Council offices re Seed Potatoes and at LMS goods sidings with Barlow unloading same (Probably at the Rickmansworth, Church Street, LMS Railway Station.)
Labelling bags for Croxley Green & arranging for carting to Rickmansworth, Watford U.D.C. Offices.
April 17th
Croxley Green with Messrs Royal & Tom Godwin re Gas supplies viewing site for Meter House etc.
April 19th
Croxley Green re gas main, Copthorne Road, Greenside Cottage, taking particulars for laying on gas. Sears shop – Scots Hill, ditto
May 4th
Seeing Mr Catesby re Letter of Munitions. (Mr. Catesby lived in Highfield House, Scots Hill)
Re main Croxley Green bulk supplies Station Meter.
May 30th
Meeting: Food Economy – Ebury Hall (Rickmansworth)
May 31st
(Albert notes in his diary, Tyler inspects a house (Ricky) re waste of bread found in dustbins. This was obviously unacceptable due to the food shortage and the council began investigating and searching dustbins)
June 14th
Meeting re a Public Slaughter House.
July 3rd
Seeing Mr Kennedy re- mains across Green – no objections provided reinstated properly.
July 5th
Air raid warning 9.30am aeroplanes seen between Watford and Northwood. I saw puffs of shrapnel in sky beyond Moor Park. Very bad air-raid over London, 20 German planes. All clear 11.45 am.
August 17th
Making tracing of plan - Coach & Horses for Deed (Rickmansworth or Croxley Green as there is also a public house in Rickmansworth High Street with the same name?)
October 1st
Guns heard at 8pm – went to office received "Air – Raid Action Training". Star shells & shrapnel seen over Kings Langley & droning of large aeroplanes over town – Specials Out - All Clear 10.30pm
(‘Specials’ were unpaid residents who volunteered to meet the needs to watch vulnerable points in the town when enemy aircraft were spotted, in case of attack and fires etc from bombing.)
October 2nd
Took in Mr & Mrs Mackenzie and little girl from Muswell Hill and found bedroom for the 3 other girls at Bishops.
October 18th
Mr Oddie called re Miss Dugdale's letter as to emptying cesspool at The Grove.
(The Grove later renamed Dugdales, a property on the corner of Little Green Lane and Baldwins Lane. Mr Oddie, a Councillor and a leading coroner for Central London, lived Chess Side, Copthorne Road)
October 23rd
Albert mentions furniture loaned to Belgian refugees.
December 6th
Air raid 5am, on duty till 7am, heard guns distinctly from Council Office.
2 German planes brought down with crews of 3 in each plane.
December 30th
2.15pm- 4.45pm helped Mr Murray to count money in envelopes for Blinded soldiers’ children.
(Many soldiers returned home wounded and blind from German army attacks in France and Belgium, resulting in fathers unable to work. The funding was set up to help families)
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CLICK HERE for Albert Freeman Diaries 1915
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CLICK HERE for Albert Freeman Diaries 1918
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