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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 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.
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
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Leadenhall Street 1896 P&O Offices on right
Picture
The P & O Line building in Fenchurch Avenue
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
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