WW2 Secrets of Red Heath House - The P&O Company
As the WW2 conflict in Europe was moving closer and it seemed certain that the United Kingdom would become involved, many large businesses in London began to consider how to safeguard themselves as well as continuing to work as normal. During the early part of 1939 many of the Company's most important files and contracts were photographed and duplicated.
The opportunity arose for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company based in the City of London to move the office staff and much of its record keeping out to the safety of the countryside. The Company successfully acquired the use of Redheath, a mansion house in the Sarratt Lane, close to Croxley Green.
A plan was devised by the P & O Company whereby the Heads of each department as well as the staff were sent notification of the Company's emergency actions in readiness for such a move and by August 1939 they had moved to 'somewhere in the countryside' to avoid detection.
The following is an extract taken from the original document notifying the intended arrangements.
The opportunity arose for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company based in the City of London to move the office staff and much of its record keeping out to the safety of the countryside. The Company successfully acquired the use of Redheath, a mansion house in the Sarratt Lane, close to Croxley Green.
A plan was devised by the P & O Company whereby the Heads of each department as well as the staff were sent notification of the Company's emergency actions in readiness for such a move and by August 1939 they had moved to 'somewhere in the countryside' to avoid detection.
The following is an extract taken from the original document notifying the intended arrangements.
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
July 1939
STAFF ARRANGEMENTS IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEAD OFFICE AND CITY PASSAGE OFFICE
The following is circulated for general information.
Each member of the staff will receive separate individual
instructions as to what he or she is to do.
In the event of an outbreak of war, it is intended
that the work of the above Offices (except for certain
Departments specially mentioned below) should be carried on
in the city by skeleton staff. Bedding and emergency
supplies of food will be available should necessity arise.
This may be regarded as a temporary arrangement, until the
situation develops and it becomes possible to decide upon a
new basis of organisation to meet War conditions.
If circumstances permit, the Management will notify
all departments when the emergency arrangements, which are
outlined herein, are to be brought into operation. However,
if a situation of emergency were to develop very rapidly -
possibly during a weekend - this might not be possible.
In that case, if the Government announce over the wireless
that the evacuation of school children from the London area
is to begin, the staff should take this as equivalent to a
notification from the Management that the emergency
arrangements are to operate forthwith, and should act
accordingly.
1. Departments to evacuate
The Accounts, Stock and Pursers’ Cash Departments
will be transferred immediately to the Company’s premises
at Red Heath, Croxley Green, near Watford, and one or two
representatives of each of these Departments will be
appointed to report as early as possible at Red Heath to
arrange for reception. In addition, a selected squad from
each of these Departments will report at Head Office on the
morning following the emergency notification ( even if this
should be a Sunday), to arrange for the transfer of current
work and necessary books, papers, &c. If sufficient notice
is given, it may be possible for the transfer of books &c.,
to be done before emergency conditions obtain, but this
cannot be relied upon.
The remainder of the male staff of these Departments,
(excluding those under the age of 30 and any others who may
have been called up for service) should report at Red Heath
after a lapse of two days. Ladies in these Departments,
should remain at their homes until called for, following
the instructions under heading 3.
Sleeping accommodation and messing – under camp
conditions- will be provided at Red Heath, though in due
course it is hoped that members of the staff may be able to
find lodging in the neighbourhood. It is intended to
maintain at Red Heath a hostel for ladies, and as soon
after the emergency arises as arrangements are sufficiently
far advanced, the ladies attached to these departments will
be asked to report for duty.
A separate notice will be issued shortly in regards to methods
of reaching Red Heath.
July 1939
STAFF ARRANGEMENTS IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEAD OFFICE AND CITY PASSAGE OFFICE
The following is circulated for general information.
Each member of the staff will receive separate individual
instructions as to what he or she is to do.
In the event of an outbreak of war, it is intended
that the work of the above Offices (except for certain
Departments specially mentioned below) should be carried on
in the city by skeleton staff. Bedding and emergency
supplies of food will be available should necessity arise.
This may be regarded as a temporary arrangement, until the
situation develops and it becomes possible to decide upon a
new basis of organisation to meet War conditions.
If circumstances permit, the Management will notify
all departments when the emergency arrangements, which are
outlined herein, are to be brought into operation. However,
if a situation of emergency were to develop very rapidly -
possibly during a weekend - this might not be possible.
In that case, if the Government announce over the wireless
that the evacuation of school children from the London area
is to begin, the staff should take this as equivalent to a
notification from the Management that the emergency
arrangements are to operate forthwith, and should act
accordingly.
1. Departments to evacuate
The Accounts, Stock and Pursers’ Cash Departments
will be transferred immediately to the Company’s premises
at Red Heath, Croxley Green, near Watford, and one or two
representatives of each of these Departments will be
appointed to report as early as possible at Red Heath to
arrange for reception. In addition, a selected squad from
each of these Departments will report at Head Office on the
morning following the emergency notification ( even if this
should be a Sunday), to arrange for the transfer of current
work and necessary books, papers, &c. If sufficient notice
is given, it may be possible for the transfer of books &c.,
to be done before emergency conditions obtain, but this
cannot be relied upon.
The remainder of the male staff of these Departments,
(excluding those under the age of 30 and any others who may
have been called up for service) should report at Red Heath
after a lapse of two days. Ladies in these Departments,
should remain at their homes until called for, following
the instructions under heading 3.
Sleeping accommodation and messing – under camp
conditions- will be provided at Red Heath, though in due
course it is hoped that members of the staff may be able to
find lodging in the neighbourhood. It is intended to
maintain at Red Heath a hostel for ladies, and as soon
after the emergency arises as arrangements are sufficiently
far advanced, the ladies attached to these departments will
be asked to report for duty.
A separate notice will be issued shortly in regards to methods
of reaching Red Heath.
The Company felt it was vital to save both historical and day to day records. From the beginning of the early 19th century, beginning with a regular steamer service between London and Spain and Portugal, the Company rapidly expanded worldwide which can be viewed here....
https://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline
When the British Government declared war on Germany the Company's emergency plans were put into action and within months their entire fleet had been requisitioned. The earliest casualty was Rawalpindi which sank on 23rd November 1939 after a brave but futile fight against two German battle cruisers. In the icy waters of the North Atlantic, there were few survivors. The war at sea had begun.
Although the move to Redheath was 'kept quiet' local residents did begin to wonder why a number of horse boxes were appearing in the grounds and what were they being used for? They were in fact storage facilities to house the records from the London offices.
Staff now working in a country environment who were not able to easily travel from the local stations in Croxley Green and Watford back to their home on a daily basis were billeted in military-style huts and a barn utilised for catering arrangements. Others would most probably have tried to find more comfortable accommodation locally.
A skeleton staff remained at 122 Leadenhall Street including the Chairman and Deputy. There were a few near misses but the offices remained unscathed, especially in the Blitz.
The Company remained at Redheath until 1946. Recovering from six years of displacement, a huge change in direction was required. A postwar fleet needed to consist of larger, faster but fewer ships. The Company concentrated its efforts on cargo and built six new liners, acquiring seven more and commissioned P&O’s first fleet of tankers.
A brief history of Redheath
The history of Redheath goes back to the 17th century and was owned by the Baldwin family. Thomas Baldwin bequeathed the estate to his nephew, his sister's son, Charles Finch. He rebuilt the original Tudor house for a red brick house in 1712.
Originally from Watford, the Finch family were extremely wealthy, but after many years of family ownership decided to let the house from around 1900 to Mr and Mrs William Newall. The Newall family played an active role in the village life of Croxley Green, but sadly their sons Nigel and Leslie were killed in France in WW1. A memorial to them can be seen in All Saints church. The family decided to leave Croxley Green in the early 1920's and the house was bought in 1922 by the younger brother of the third Lord Ebury.
The house fell into various ownerships until it was purchased in 1952 by Lord and Lady Poole. They in turn sold the house and grounds to York House School in 1966.
Taken from
1.The original document regarding the wartime arrangements by the
P & O Company was sent to F H Penney and kindly provided by David Penney for the website.
(Note: The Penney family had a Furnishing Company firstly in New Road (1950's) and then relocated to the Watford Road opposite the Red House P.H.)
2.The Rickmansworth Historian No5 Spring 1963 by F. I. Paddick
3. https://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline
https://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline
When the British Government declared war on Germany the Company's emergency plans were put into action and within months their entire fleet had been requisitioned. The earliest casualty was Rawalpindi which sank on 23rd November 1939 after a brave but futile fight against two German battle cruisers. In the icy waters of the North Atlantic, there were few survivors. The war at sea had begun.
Although the move to Redheath was 'kept quiet' local residents did begin to wonder why a number of horse boxes were appearing in the grounds and what were they being used for? They were in fact storage facilities to house the records from the London offices.
Staff now working in a country environment who were not able to easily travel from the local stations in Croxley Green and Watford back to their home on a daily basis were billeted in military-style huts and a barn utilised for catering arrangements. Others would most probably have tried to find more comfortable accommodation locally.
A skeleton staff remained at 122 Leadenhall Street including the Chairman and Deputy. There were a few near misses but the offices remained unscathed, especially in the Blitz.
The Company remained at Redheath until 1946. Recovering from six years of displacement, a huge change in direction was required. A postwar fleet needed to consist of larger, faster but fewer ships. The Company concentrated its efforts on cargo and built six new liners, acquiring seven more and commissioned P&O’s first fleet of tankers.
A brief history of Redheath
The history of Redheath goes back to the 17th century and was owned by the Baldwin family. Thomas Baldwin bequeathed the estate to his nephew, his sister's son, Charles Finch. He rebuilt the original Tudor house for a red brick house in 1712.
Originally from Watford, the Finch family were extremely wealthy, but after many years of family ownership decided to let the house from around 1900 to Mr and Mrs William Newall. The Newall family played an active role in the village life of Croxley Green, but sadly their sons Nigel and Leslie were killed in France in WW1. A memorial to them can be seen in All Saints church. The family decided to leave Croxley Green in the early 1920's and the house was bought in 1922 by the younger brother of the third Lord Ebury.
The house fell into various ownerships until it was purchased in 1952 by Lord and Lady Poole. They in turn sold the house and grounds to York House School in 1966.
Taken from
1.The original document regarding the wartime arrangements by the
P & O Company was sent to F H Penney and kindly provided by David Penney for the website.
(Note: The Penney family had a Furnishing Company firstly in New Road (1950's) and then relocated to the Watford Road opposite the Red House P.H.)
2.The Rickmansworth Historian No5 Spring 1963 by F. I. Paddick
3. https://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline
Leadenhall Street 1896 P&O Offices on right
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The P & O Line building in Fenchurch Avenue
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The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company July 1939
STAFF ARRANGEMENTS IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEAD OFFICE AND CITY PASSAGE OFFICE The following is circulated for general information. Each member of the staff will receive separate individual instructions as to what he or she is to do. In the event of an outbreak of war, it is intended that the work of the above Offices (except for certain Departments specially mentioned below) should be carried on in the city by skeleton staff. Bedding and emergency supplies of food will be available should necessity arise. This may be regarded as a temporary arrangement, until the situation develops and it becomes possible to decide upon a new basis of organisation to meet War conditions. If circumstances permit, the Management will notify all departments when the emergency arrangements, which are outlined herein, are to be brought into operation. However, if a situation of emergency were to develop very rapidly – possibly during a weekend - this might not be possible. In that case, if the Government announce over the wireless that the evacuation of school children from the London area is to begin, the staff should take this as equivalent to a notification from the Management that the emergency arrangements are to operate forthwith, and should act accordingly. 1 Departments to evacuate The Accounts, Stock and Pursers’ Cash Departments will be transferred immediately to the Company’s premises at Red Heath, Croxley Green, near Watford, and one or two representatives of each of these Departments will be appointed to report as early as possible at Red Heath to arrange for reception. In addition, a selected squad from each of these Departments will report at Head Office on the morning following the emergency notification (even if this should be a Sunday), to arrange for the transfer of current work and necessary books, papers, &c. If sufficient notice is given, it may be possible for the transfer of books &c., to be done before emergency conditions obtain, but this cannot be relied upon. The remainder of the male staff of these Departments, (Excluding those under the age of 30 and any others who may have been called up for service) should report at Red Heath after a lapse of two days. Ladies in these Departments, should remain at their homes until called for, following the instructions under heading 3. Sleeping accommodation and messing – under camp conditions- will be provided at Red Heath, though in due course it is hoped that members of the staff may be able to find lodging in the neighbourhood. It is intended to maintain at Red Heath a hostel for ladies, and as soon after the emergency arises as arrangements are sufficiently far advanced, the ladies attached to these departments will be asked to report for duty. A separate notice will be issued shortly in regards to methods of reaching Red Heath. 2 Departments remaining temporarily in London All other Departments will remain in London, but only skeleton staffs will be required to report for duty but after the emergency notification. Those posted to the “Emergency Staff” should report at the office on the morning following the emergency notification (even if it should be a Sunday) and will continue to report day by day until relieved by other members of the staff from the “Reserve”, or until no longer required. All members of the staff other than those appointed to the “Emergency Staff” (and excepting those under 20 years of age and those called for service) will constitute the “Reserves” and should remain at their homes until called for, and follow the instructions given in the next paragraph. 3 Staff awaiting orders (Reserves) To facilitate communication with members of the Staff who are at home awaiting orders, individuals will be appointed in each area to act as Area Wardens. The procedure will be that when any member of the staff is required to report for duty in the city, at Red Heath, or elsewhere, as circumstances may require, the Office will communicate with the Area Warden concerned, who will in turn have the duty of communicating the message to the member of staff required. To ensure a smooth working of this arrangement all members of the staff are requested immediately to notify both the secretary at this office and the Area Warden in their area (whose name and address will be advised in the individual instructions which will shortly be issued) of any change of address or telephone number- whether permanent or temporary. The procedure of notifying the Secretary should be followed from to-day, so that complete and up-to-date lists will always be available. Under emergency conditions it is desired that members of the staff awaiting orders at home, as well as any appointed to the Red Heath or Emergency Staffs who may for any reason be unable to report for duty, should keep in personal touch with the Area warden in their area, and they should endeavour to report at least once in every three or four days, by telephone or otherwise. Members of the staff called up for service, or wishing to volunteer, should also notify both the secretary and their area Warden, but those wishing to volunteer are reminded that since the maintenance of a proper organisation to operate shipping services is of national importance, they should not commit themselves – even when they are at home awaiting orders - without receiving approval from the Management. The Management would like it to be understood that -4- many varied considerations have to be taken into account in appointing members of the staff either to the “Emergency Staff” or to the “Reserve”, as the case may be, and their decision should not be interpreted as reflecting their view as to the value of the Company of the services of any individual. 4 Male Staff under 30 Male members of the staff under 30 years of age have not been allocated either to the “Emergency staff” or to the “Reserve”, as it is assumed that they will be called up at, or soon after, an outbreak of War, for some form of service. They are requested, if possible, to notify the Secretary when called up. Those who are still available, and not under orders, seven days after the emergency notification should consider themselves on the “Reserve” staff, and report the fact to the Area Warden in their area. This does not apply to any in the Accounts, Stock or Pursers' Cash Departments, who, if available after this lapse of time, should, after notifying their Area Warden, report for duty at Red Heath (see remarks under heading 1). 5 Staff on Leave Any member of the staff who is on leave when the emergency notification is issued will be advised of the issue of this notice, or failing receipt of such advice should assume that this notice has been issued when the Government announce over the wireless that the evacuation of school children from the London area is to begin. He should regard therefore his leave has expired, and act in accordance with the individual instructions issued to him. |
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Acknowledgements
With thanks to David Penney for sending the original documents.
Taken from
https://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline
The Rickmansworth Historian No5 Spring 1963 F. I. Paddick
With thanks to David Penney for sending the original documents.
Taken from
https://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline
The Rickmansworth Historian No5 Spring 1963 F. I. Paddick
