The Witley Camp Steering Group Year 8
Sculptit Workshop 1 day 2 005.jpg
Witley Camp in World War 1 Reproduced with the permission of the Canadian War Museum
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CONTENTS BACKGROUND TO THIS PROJECT
Chapter 1 – Witley Camp in WW1 Chapter 2 – Examples of pupils work about WW1 Chapter 3 – Witley Camp in WW2 Chapter 4 – Polish Resettlement Corps Chapter 5 – Rodborough Hill (temporary) School Chapter 6 – Sculpt-It Art Workshops Resources – Where you can find out more information about Witley Camp
The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded Rodborough Technology College a grant to carry out the project “Remembering Witley Camp”. In 1951, Rodborough Hill (temporary) School was founded in the empty army barracks of Algonquin Camp. it moved to its new site at The Pleck in 1960. For this project, the pupils have researched the history of Witley Camp and have made pieces of artwork that reflect their local community and history. The project principally involved Years 8 and 9. Year 8 worked with artists to make sculptures and mosaics; Year 9 researched the local history. Thank you to Godalming Museum, the Surrey History Centre and all the local people who have helped us with this project. If you would like any more information about this project, please contact Sarah Flew on 01483 411100 or email sflew@rodborough.surrey.sch.uk Soldier’s Head sculpture inspired by WW1 helmet
Photo of three soldiers stationed at Milford Camp in WW1. Photo taken at A.P.Taylor, Photographic Studios Milford.
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Chapter 1: Witley Camp in World War One
December 17th 1918 CANADIAN GIFT TO WITLEY CHURCH
May 18th 1919 THE KING’S COLOUR FOR CANADIANS
MEMORIAL OF GOOD WILL
PRESENTATION BY THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT
The old Church of All Saints, Witley, Surrey, has often been filled on Sunday evening with Canadians from the camp, and four of the battalions have deposited their colours in it for safe keeping. Last spring some men of the 134th Battalion formed the idea of placing some memorial in the church as a token of the good will which had existed between them and the villagers. Officers and men worked together, and £77 was quickly subscribed, and some oak panelling has been placed all along the south wall of the nave bearing the inscription “To the Glory of God. This oak panelling was placed in this ancient church of the Motherland by Canadians in Witley Camp, 1918. United by loyalty in sacrifice and faith.” This gift, of which Witley is very proud, has been dedicated by the Bishop of Winchester, in the presence of the Hon. O. J. Doherty, Canadian Minister of Justice, who took the place of Sir Robert Borden, prevented at the last moment from being present, and of Brigadier-General Hill, G.O.C. Witley Camp, and some 300 officers and men, together with many of the people of Witley. After the vicar, the Rev. E. J. Newill, had told the story of the gift, the congregation sang “O Canada” to the accompaniment of a military band, and the Bishop then made the dedication “in token of the good will of the soldiers of Canada who, united by a common loyalty, came from far to share in the burden of war and in the glory of upholding he cause of righteousness, liberty, and justice.” In his address the Bishop dwelt on the spirit of fellowship which had shone out so brightly during the past four years, and must be the keyword of hope for the future. Without fellowship, he said, life became narrow and meaningless.
Rodborough Chronicles
The Duke of Connaught presented at Witley Camp on Saturday the King‟s Colour to three battalion of the Second Canadian Division. These were the 18th West Ontario, the 20th Central Ontario, and the 24th Montreal. The Division to which they belong has recently come to England from France, and is now awaiting its return to Canada. The Duke, who was accompanied by Prince Arthur of Connaught and attended by Captain Ashworth, was received by the cheers of some thousands of soldiers, the whole camp turning out to welcome him. Four colours were presented – the King‟s Colour to each of the three battalions and a Regimental Colour, in addition, to the 20th. The band played the Salute to the Colours as they were borne proudly across the group to the ranks, drawn up in three sides of a square; and finally the National Anthem broke out.
Colours of The SSR. Reproduced with the permission of Judith Stewart
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POSTCARDS FROM WITLEY CAMP
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POSTCARDS FROM WITLEY CAMP
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POSTCARDS FROM WITLEY CAMP
19th May 1919 Witley Dear Jan, I send you a note to tell you I’m not dead and that we are having a good time here. Tomorrow, the 20th, we have to leave on a mission of 8 days to London. Today, we don’t do anything, we eat and then we sleep. That’s all we have to do at the moment. Greetings to the whole family. A friend, Translation of postcard by Miss Gubbels Rodborough Chronicles
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Chapter 2: Examples of Year 9 Pupils’ work about Witley Camp in World War One What the soldiers did to occupy themselves By Annabelle Ford Witley Camp The soldiers at Witley Camp had a lot of spare time meaning they had time to do things such as: Organising fund raising events – they got money for supplies by fund raising and organising regular and local events for the local community and soldiers to take part in for raising money. Organising games – boxing matches were organised, football matches were often played etc. Playing football or different sports – American football was popular because the soldiers were Canadian, pictures of boxing and assault courses suggests this did go on. Writing letters – many letters were recovered from Witley Camp. Writing diaries – many diaries have been found from WW1. Writing poems – lots of poems were sent to relatives and to people that knew world war soldiers, they have been found and there is a lot of evidence from them backing up theories about the war. Theatre – Near Witley Camp there was a theatre that provided leisure drama for the trainee soldiers. Shops – Shops were placed in Witley Camp so that the soldiers could buy necessities that they needed for life as a soldier. The place where these were positioned was locally known as „Tin Town‟ Canadian soldiers were kept at Witley Camp; this was used as a training base where they could keep up their soldier spirit while having accommodation on the journey to France. Witley Camp was the place where Canadian soldiers went to rest for a few days from travelling, just like many camps around England, while on their way to the front line. Many Canadian soldiers used Witley Camp as a training ground where they could finish their time as a trainee soldier. Witley Common was a good ground for shooting practice as no people were around. The Canadian soldiers used the Common for grenade throwing, machine gun practice and for basic gun training, while they were getting ready for going to France. The impact that Canada created when they came to Witley Camp was major. The local community was very privileged to have future front line soldiers training in their town. However, since the Canadians had rioted several times and even caused fires, the surrounding area had changed their first impression as the Canadians had now cost them just under £9000 in damage, replacing and refurbishing many burnt and damaged items. Rodborough Chronicles
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By Emma Berrill Spare time: Soldiers at Witley Camp entertained themselves during their spare time. As shown in the picture, boxing was a popular activity. Although only two people fought, the whole camp could enjoy watching. Also, during their spare time, Canadian soldiers would write letters to their friends and families. This is an example of a letter written by a Canadian soldier on arrival at Witley Camp, describing his journey:
My Dearest Mamma, ....Everybody was sick the 3rd. day when the sea became very rough but apart from that it was like a pond all the way. The Officers had the 1st class, and the 12th Brigade the 2nd class, and the 15th Brigade were steerage for half the voyage when we changed with the 12th. The food was AWFUL and I need not comment on the accommodations when I say steerage. However, the beds at Whitley Camp are about 6 inches off the floor on stands which makes it very healthy , and very unlike Winnipeg, where we slept right on the floor, over a sewer , almost. We have glass windows and electric lights and lavatories etc. under latest improvements This letter was written in 1916 during WW1. I think that this is a reliable source as it was written at the time by someone who was there, experiencing it.
Painting by Dame Laura Knight „Physical Training at Witley Campâ€&#x; Rodborough Chronicles
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By Joanna Curtis The soldiers at the Witley Military Camp in their spare time would take part in a number of varied activities including boxing. The other soldiers would place bets between each other. This kept camp moral high and fighting. The camp had all its own facilities, including shops, theatre and other entertainments. Part of Milford Common was used as a baseball pitch and one of baseball‟s most famous players, Babe Ruth, played there. Another famous figure, Wilfred Owen, a renowned poet, was also based at Witley Military Camp. He was English, and enlisted in the Fifth Reserve Battalion Manchester Regiment. He arrived at Milford Camp in June 1916. Many of his amazing and powerful poems were inspired by his time in the war and he was gravely critical of it. This is very plain to see in one of his more famous poems, DULCE ET DECORUM EST: “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,” He hated the way war reduced respected and respectable men to nothing more than a row of bodies to make up the number to send over the top to face enemy machine gun fire. He wrote very vividly and memorably about the horrific sights of the war which helps me empathise more fully. He always took a negative approach when writing about the war as he, like so many others, had been pressured into the war by peer pressure and propaganda. Also in their spare time the soldiers would write home to their loving families, wives, children and parents. As quite a good amount of the time the soldiers were very young and still living with their parents, they would write home often to check up and remember their families as they did not know when or if they would see them next. This postcard below was sent home from a soldier to his family.
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By Kate Amy There were some points in soldiers‟ lives where the soldiers weren‟t busy. During this time they would find ways to amuse themselves. They would do many different leisure activities; we can prove that they did things for fun because of various resources. One of the things they used to do is boxing. They would hold tournaments on a regular basis, it was encouraged by seniors because it kept the soldiers fit and healthy and was a good training exercise. The painting by Dame Laura Knight shows two men fighting in a ring; you can only assume that the two men were soldiers. Around the edge of the boxing ring, there are lots of soldiers watching the fight. If you look very closely at the picture, they look excited and interested in the match taking place in front of them. Photograph from Ann Pledge‟s Collection More proof that the soldiers did boxing is in this picture (above):
If you look very closely, it is possible to see that the soldiers are standing by boxing equipment. On the wooden frame, there are punch-bags. The soldiers would have trained using these. The punch-bags look like they have been made by the soldiers, who wouldn‟t have had much, if any money to buy professionally made punch-bags or other sporting equipment. You can tell a great deal about what the soldiers did in their spare time from this photo (left): Photograph from Ann Pledge‟s Collection At a glimpse, it looks like an ordinary photo of the camp. But if you look closely you can see a man riding on a bicycle. The man is wearing a soldier‟s hat so he was probably a soldier. It shows that some men, instead of walking to places, would cycle. It was beneficial to them, because it would save time and would keep them fit and healthy. They may also have gone riding in the Godalming and Witley area, in their spare time, for fun. If you look even closer at this photograph, although it is near enough impossible to see in such a small image, there is a soldier on a horse. It was probably an officer because he is wearing a hat. To see this you have to zoom right in on the image. The soldiers would have cared for the horses in their spare time. The majority of the soldiers that were in Witley Camp were from Canada. Canada was, at the time, part of the British Empire and the Commonwealth. The Canadian Troops came over from Canada to fight on the British side, against the Germans. Britain had an empire at that time; it consisted of a number of countries, including Canada, India and Australia. Canadian soldiers were staying at Witley Camp and this is why they were there.
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The Impact on the Local Community By Michael Evison Non-Profitable Impact on the Local Community Although the camp was forced upon the area it was not always a good thing. Soldiers – The training and fighting at the camp sometimes posed a threat to local businesses and safety. Men – The thousands of young men, of course, caused huge levels of disruption although the officers attempted to keep them isolated. Space – Another problem was that the community was based around the woods and a huge area of that land had been absorbed by the army causing many arguments and major disruption. Noise – Of course, the sound of 40,000 soldiers training and doing sport caused huge levels of noise disrupting work in the local community. Pollution – The use of training artillery and machines caused huge levels of pollution.
Profitable Impact on the Local Community Soldiers – The soldiers were people for many of the locals to look up to and they gave the locals hope that the war would be won. Men – The men were very nice in the town and gave sweets to the local kids, befriended the townspeople and gave many locals extra business/income. Profit – Many of the local businesses, like the bar and post office, had a huge surge of business while the men were up at the camp. War – Obviously everyone benefited as they helped us win the war! School – As an act of immense kindness after the end of WW2 the Canadian army gave the camp to become a new local school named Rodborough School. This was later moved up to Rake Lane becoming today's Rodborough Technology College.
Matthew Bradbury The local community of Witley and Godalming changed rapidly with the creation of Witley camp. Local stores prospered with the sudden increase of customers with money and lots of time to spare. However, not everyone was happy. Local people who didn‟t own shops often got annoyed with unruly soldiers wandering around late at night. People were also annoyed at the sudden disturbance of peace. Photograph from Ann Pledge‟s Collection Rodborough Chronicles
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Kate Amy Almost everybody who lived in Witley was changed by Witley camp; in some way, their lives were altered. Some of the impacts were positive, for example, teenage girls and young women liked the soldiers being there. Other people, however, were impacted in a negative way, for example, some people weren‟t able to go for walks on Witley Common because of the position of the soldiers‟ base. Local shop owners got extra business from the soldiers in the time when the Witley Camp was there: Photograph from Ann Pledge‟s Collection If you look closely at this photo you can see that there are young girls standing outside the shop. These girls would probably have been from the local community. On days off soldiers would have gone into the local community to visit local shops, pubs or houses. During the time spent in Witley, some of the men would have met young women.
The Commonwealth and Witley Camp By Matthew Bradbury At the time of World War I Canada was part of the British Empire. Many Canadians felt strong ties to England as most had immigrated when it was first colonized. In 1914, just before the beginning of WW1, Canada had only 3,000 soldiers but this was quickly bolstered by recruits. 30,000 soldiers were sent to Britain to train, 15,000 planes and flyers and 3,000 navy recruits. In total throughout the war, Canada sent 60,000 soldiers to England and eventually France. Many of these soldiers would have stayed at Witley Camp.
The Canadian flag during WWI
Rodborough Chronicles
A map of the British Empire
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Letters Home - Created By Pupils By Chernel Sharp Dear Family, I have been training at Witley Camp for a few weeks now and I miss you all very dearly. I hope you are all well and donâ€&#x;t worry about me too much. So far we have been training really hard. And we still have leisure time. I have taken part in boxing tournaments, relay races, and I have also learnt how to play snooker. The rest of the soldiers think I am getting quite good! So although I have found training quite challenging, I still have a fun and an entertaining time doing all the various activities. I have also taken part in a Baseball match which our team won, only by a small margin but we were all still thrilled! Doing all the activities have kept me fit and healthy which is very good and helps out with all of my training regime. I always do my best in training because we are preparing really hard for the fight. Although we spend most of our time in the camp using the shops and enjoying the various activities, we are allowed to go out into town and meet the locals. We can also eat out and enjoy the local food, for example fish and chips. Last week we went out and played some more baseball on Milford common; this was part of the preparation in training for the final big game the next week. Anyway, I hope you are looking after the house well and keeping the fields in good shape back at home, and please do ensure that you are taking care of Smithy the dog. I will remind you again that he must be taken for walks daily to make sure heâ€&#x;s kept healthy. I am missing you all dearly, keep in touch, Augustus.
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Letters Home - Created By Pupils By Bethan Jones "O" Battery Reserve Brigade C.F.A. Milford Camp, Witley Surry England Dear Mother, I really must write to you tonight or you should think I am "missing" or "hung up on the wire" but as you see I am still going strong. Thank you for the parcels you sent me. I received them this morning and was very glad to have a dry pair of socks to wear. We have been having rotten weather around here (it hasn‟t been great in the tents) but tonight it has got warmer and I guess we'll have good weather for Easter weekend after all. I have been in command of training the people on the guns all day today; I can‟t hear myself think. The noise makes my ears feel like they are bleeding. But Major said the shooting was fine so I guess that I‟m not going under. Since I‟ve been moved to Witley Camp I have made loads of new friends. I‟ve met Wilfred Owen, he writes like an angel. When he gets out of here he will be a famous writer, I tell you Mother. Anyway yesterday was my first day off in 15 days. We played baseball and I had Babe Ruth on my team so we won easily. He can hit the ball so hard it sounds like one of our guns is going off! Although it wasn‟t the same story when it came to his boxing he can‟t throw a punch at anyone. Tomorrow I will leave to go to London as an escort for a fellow going to prison for being absent without leave. I pity the poor devil but he has given me a chance to get away from this place and see the "Big Smoke" (London) again. I promise to take you there one day. Well, I must stop now. All my love, Your son, Joshua x Rodborough Chronicles
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Letters Home - Created By Pupils By Francesca Davies We are finally here, “Hurray”! The ship journey here was horrendous; you know how sea sick I get! However, I am feeling a lot better than I was. Mother, I did think that coming on this camp would be challenging but oh boy its like nothing I have ever put myself through before. There is so much physical training and activities to get you fit and ready for war and I just need a long deserved rest! For the few days that I have been here I have realised how much I value you for giving birth to me in Canada. I far prefer it to here. Everyone is so uptight and grumpy in England. I suppose I should be grateful that I am with my own people. There are thousands of us Canadians here and however hard I try to look I still can‟t seem to find Jane‟s son Billy. Maybe he has gone to another camp nearby. I am sharing a tent with numerous people that I don‟t know but none of us knows anyone so we are all in the same boat! I thought that living in a tent all the time would be bad enough but for the last two nights we have been having Zeppelin raids and so far around 80 people have been killed by the bombs. Mother, please could you send some English money over because they don‟t take Canadian coins here. Although there have been some downs during the last few days my new friend Dan and I went to see a show at the theatre across the other side of the camp. It was great and I had a really enjoyable evening. I wish that you were here....well actually I don‟t because your back would soon get sore because of sleeping on the floor. Also it is cold, damp and a hell of a lot of hard work! Mother, don‟t ever join the Army! Miss you lots but I‟ll be home before you know it! Lots of Love,
Jack xxx
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Newspaper Articles - Created By Pupils
The Surrey Times Article written by Rachel Denne Last Saturday night fires blazed through Witley Camp as the men there rioted. It seems that the delays in shipping the 20,000 men back home to Canada had agitated the troops. The majority of Tintown, so called due to the buildings that make it up, was burned to a crisp along with a smaller part of Little Tin-town. It is still as yet uncertain as to whether or not the fires were a deliberate act of violence or an accident caused in a moment of adrenaline rush. It is, however, clear that the fire to ruin Little Tin-town, over half a mile away, was a deliberate act. The riots are believed to have derived from a large group of men who gathered at one of the parade grounds to protest against the delay. A soldier from the camp, who wishes to remain anonymous, was there
Tintown after the riots Rodborough Chronicles
when it happened. 'After the war ended everyone was pleased and eager to return home. We were aware that this wouldn't happen instantly, but expected the first lot of men to leave in a few days, a week at the most. When this didn't happen people got irritated. No one understood why we still had to be here, after all the war had ended so there was no use for soldiers anymore. A few days before the riots people started talking. They threatened to riot if we were kept in the camp much longer, but very few expected that anyone would actually do it. On Saturday a group formed and headed to one of the parade grounds to protest. Many planned to do it peacefully, or so we all thought. Once the fire started people, naturally, panicked. Tin-town was burning quickly and shortly after so was Little Tin-town.'
(photo supplied by Mrs Brenda Liddle)
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Newspaper Articles - Created By Pupils
Theatre and Shops Burn Down Article written by Bethan Jones Last night at 9:30 fire broke out at “Tin Town” on the Portsmouth Road. Further delays in repatriation of the Canadian troops due to labour troubles at Liverpool docks caused another disturbance among Canadian troops based at Witley last night. Their protests lasted a short time, but as the men made their protest the incident subsided. Unfortunately, during the protest, some buildings caught fire; by what means has not been ascertained. When the fire broke out all men turned to extinguishing the flames, but they could not prevent the considerable damage. The fire destroyed a dozen shops, the Garrison Theatre and a Salvation Army hut, and three shops from Little Tin Town about half a mile away. One man was also injured. The camp Fire Brigade and the Godalming Brigade were present. It was necessary to pull down three or four buildings before the fire was brought under control. We spoke to General Sir R.E.W Turner, V.C; What do you feel about the situation? I am horrified at the behaviour which took place last night. I walked around the Rodborough Chronicles
camp this morning and the destruction that had taken place was almost heart breaking. What do you feel about the Canadians? We all know the sacrifice Canada has made for us, however they have ruined their reputation. A disgrace has been brought to the name of Canada by the conduct of a few whom I have urged to practice some patience. When will the Canadians be leaving Britain? Although all men were meant to leave in the next fortnight; due to strikes this is not possible. We are hoping to have shipped the majority of them by the end of July. Nearly 60,000 were repatriated in May, and with the sailing of the Aquitania on Saturday upwards of 200,000 Canadians had sailed for home since the Armistice. If the June shipping programme had not been interfered with another 50,000 Canadians would have sailed by the end of the month, leaving 20,000 to 30,000 to be repatriated in July. England will keep on fighting and with great help of the Canadian troops. However the strikes have seriously hammered the Canadians‟ reputation, at a time when everything was going so well.
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Newspaper Articles - Created By Pupils
THE WITLEY TIMES Article written by James Ventress Yesterday, during the day and through the night, fires blazed at Witley camp; also known as „‟Tintown‟. The fires were eventually put out this morning by the local fire brigade and some of the soldiers. The fire was believed to be caused by the soldiers rioting and demonstrating about the cancellations of military boats going from Liverpool back to Canada. The fires were believed to be started by angry Canadian soldiers. There is significant damage to the theatre on the site of the camp and a few of the shops and buildings in the camp. Eyewitness reports suggest that there were lots of soldiers who were causing damage to the buildings. Mary Marshall, the lady that runs the theatre in the camp, had this comment on the matter,
‘I was appalled at the behaviour of the soldiers to their own camp. I rushed to get out of the building before it collapsed on top of me. I’m very angry at the soldiers for nearly killing me and I will certainly not be rushing to work at the camp’. That was the opinion of one of the workers of the camp. When we asked the soldiers for their opinion, one of them told us, „We have every right to riot because we have given up our time and risked our lives for this fight. Now it is over we would like to return home to see our families but they have refused to let us go back and cancelled the boats. We just want to go home’. This event has put the celebrations of the end of the war to a halt and we hope for the good of the country that this issue is resolved soon.
Photograph supplied by Mrs Brenda Liddle Rodborough Chronicles
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Chapter 3: Witley Camp in World War Two BACKGROUND By Pete Andrews from the Hankley Common Atlantic Wall Trust Constructed by the British and occupied by the Canadians, the three camps at Witley were each used to hold a Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (one unit for each infantry division) from 1941 to 1945. During the construction of the sewage works for the WW2 camps (clearly visible from the aerial photos at the north west of the camps) the Canadians found equipment including helmets and even live hand grenades, buried by their WW1 predecessors when they departed. The camps were originally numbered, but were given names in May 1941 just as the Canadian troops were moving in. Witley 101 became Algonquin, Witley 102 became Laurentide and Witley 103 became Jasper. The Canadians were not impressed with the standard of construction with poor sewerage, damp and cold huts and the brick walls very lightly built. The accommodation improved over the war years. These units held infantry reinforcements for the Canadian infantry divisions and the troops trained on the nearby commons. Training was not without incident and at least one Canadian died in an accident involving a live grenade on Thursley Common. The Canadians had a Grenade range and a 2inch mortar range just opposite the Thursley junction on the A3. In the event of the camps being badly damaged in a major air raid, the Canadian troops were to evacuate to Royal Common. Later in the war, part of a Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit was located at Laurentide camp and, along with other various tank units, trained with self propelled guns (M10 tank destroyers) on the Miniature and Sub Calibre ranges on Thursley Common (the latter is still visible today as a series of banks dug into the hills south of Rodborough Hill). The Hammer ponds were used to train infantry in assault crossings using folding boats. On 22 January 1944, three men from Algonquin camp captured a German air force officer who had been shot down in the area. The Canadians based at the Witley camps (Algonquin, Jasper and Laurentide camps) would also have reinforced the local Home Guard in the event of an emergency, plans existing to send infantry sections to strengthen Home Guard roadblocks in Milford, Elstead and Tilford. Each summer the Canadians took part in large exercise with the Home Guard and their records show they had great respect for the local Home Guard units. As well as having local defence plans working with nearby Home Guard, the camps were also responsible for training Home Guard from as far away as Alton and Blackheath, as well as those from Haslemere, Godalming and Shackleford. The most notable Home Guard exercise took place in July 1941 when the Canadians acted as 'invaders' attacking the Home Guard defences. Although taken very seriously, the exercise at times sounding like a Dads Army episode, with the Canadian using a fake funeral to smuggle two men armed with Tommy guns and hidden in coffins to walk through the Home Guard lines and capture their HQ. Apparently the Home Guard stood to attention and saluted the hearse and its escort as it made its way through their defences. From 1945 to 1946 some Canadian vehicle storage troops were based at Jasper camp, working with the large vehicle parks at Pepper Harrow, Tilford, Shackleford and on the Hogs Back. The camp (and the commons) were used to store thousands of surplus vehicles.
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When the Canadians left, the camps were taken over by the PRC and housed all their headquarters troops (not just the pay office). I've found no record of Polish families living at the camps but, given that they could house several thousand people, I would not be surprised if they did. However, a 1947 list only shows Tweedsmuir as being designated as a Family Camp. One list suggests that some disbanding Polish artillery units were briefly based at the camps which might account for the lack of reference to families being there. Apart from the Canadian camps, other army units were based in the area. The ordnance and recovery sections of both British and Canadian armoured brigades were located at Witley Park, the brigade headquarters being in Hindhead and the armoured battalions at Tilford, Milford and Headley. The vehicle parks have already been mentioned and there were also Canadian truck and tank transporter units based in Godalming. Quite separate was the secret Admiralty research establishment at Witley, which had its own Home Guard unit. The only account I've found of the ammunition explosion is from a unit based on the opposite side of the A3 to the explosion. Despite several walls being demolished, roofs being lifted off and 400 panes of glass being broken, their only casualty was the Records Officer who was in the shower at the time, a brick falling from the wall and hitting him on the head! My name is Bob Whyborn and I am a member of the Rural Life Centre. I live in Witley and knew the Camps well. My sister Maud worked for Heather's the newsagent in Church Road, Milford and on a Sunday morning we would both go on our push bikes to the three camps on Rodborough Hill delivering the Sunday newspapers. We would take these to the mess rooms and lay them out for the soldiers to buy and the left overs we would take round to the huts. When the soldiers paid we would have to watch out in case they tried to substitute Canadian cents which were useless to our boss and he would have docked our wages! This would have been in 1942 and 1943 and then I was called up into the army.
Allan Stow, who is now a volunteer at the Rural Life Centre, was a schoolboy during the war years and remembers Witley Camp and the Canadians quite well. He was in the Milford Church Choir and would sometimes sing in the Camp chapel and would receive two shillings in payment. He says, "Many of us boys would wait at the bottom of Rodborough Hill and ask the soldiers for anything that they could give us such as stamps, coins, badges, anything Canadian and we particularly asked for Sweet Caporal cigarette packets which had pictures of all the wartime planes on the reverse and were collectable in sets. The soldiers were wonderful, they would turn out their pockets and wallets and give us whatever they had. Some soldiers wore kilts, quite a novelty to us, these of course were from the Scots Canadian Regiments and there were also French Canadians who we could not understand! We would also visit the Camp at Christmas for parties and film shows such as Mickey Mouse and Popeye and would be given toys made by the soldiers. It was great fun climbing into the back of the army trucks for the journey to the Camp. Other memories include exploring the rubbish dumps and finding such trophies as bullet and shell cases, sometimes even live ones!"
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SURREY ADVERTISER – 23 JUNE 1945 EXPLOSION SHAKES WIDE AREA WITLEY AMMUNITION DUMP BLOWS UP FIREMEN’S DANGEROUS TASK Residents in the greater part of South-West Surrey heard and felt the effects of a series of heavy explosions which occurred on Sunday night at the ammunition dump at the Canadian military camp at Witley. Firemen and soldiers fighting the fires which followed were exposed to grave danger, but no one was killed, and of those who were injured only three – all Canadians – were taken to hospital, none in a critical condition.
Hundreds of panes of glass in the hutments at the camp were broken by the blast, and the roofs of some of the buildings were damaged. The end of one of the buildings, in which officers were playing billiards and table tennis, was blown in. Some of the officers were blown over, but were not hurt. They attributed their escape to the fact that a cinema curtain at the damaged end of the building was in position. The men on guard at the dump, although shaken and blown about by the blast, appear to have a miraculous escape.
The scene of the explosions was on the northern edge of Witley Common, nearly half a mile from the Portsmouth Road, at Rodborough Hill. Here in a series of Nissen huts set amid pine trees, was stored a considerable quantity of ammunition of various types, and other explosives. The nearest of the many camp hutments is nearly 400 yards from the ammunition dump.
After the first explosion, ten medical officers were on duty at the camp medical inspection building and dealt with about 20 casualties in the camp, the injuries being mostly cuts and abrasions. Only three were taken to hospital – Major O.J.Atkins, injured left foot; Pte. A.W.Wallace, shrapnel wounds; and Sergt. J.R. Trebar, a blast injury.
MULTI-COLOURED FLAMES
COURAGEOUS FIREMEN
The first of the explosions was the most terrific of all, and occurred shortly before 10.30 p.m. A column of dense black smoke shot into the air several hundred feet.
Senior National Firemen officers and pump crews from Guildford, Godalming and Witley were on the spot soon after the first explosions. A plan to fight the fires was quickly drawn up after a survey of the maps of the dump, and the additional pumps and men required called in from all over Surrey. High military officers gave the benefit of their expert advice.
A “Surrey Advertiser” reporter, who was at Milford at the time, arrived at the camp within a few minutes. A large Nissen hut near where the explosion occurred was then blazing furiously, and exploding ammunition was shooting out multi-coloured flames in all directions. Within less than half an hour of the first explosion there was a second not quite so loud, and again black smoke billowed high into the air. A quarter of an hour later there was a third, about 100 yards from the others, but in this instance the smoke was white. Following another interval of about 16 minutes there was a fourth explosion in another part of the dump. Throughout this period there was a machine-gun like rattle of exploding small arms ammunition, intermingled with the detonation of what appeared to be grenades, mortar bombs and mines. Shortly before midnight there were two or three further heavy explosions , and, after the noise had quietened down there was a final explosion, less severe than some of the others, at about 4 a.m.
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One of the biggest problems confronting the N.F.S. was the existence at one end of the dump of a large quantity of highly dangerous containers and bombs, which it was imperative to move to prevent the necessity of evacuation over a very wide area, and the risk of large loss of life. Lines of hose from a hydrant were run out rapidly over a distance of over one-third of a mile, and when the N.F.S. officer in charge of this operation called for two volunteers to man the branch pipe, over 12 men present put up their hands. Army lorries were waiting ready. One stack was comparatively easy to move, but the second was situated in the middle of the stacks of burning and exploding explosives of all kinds, including hand grenades and rockets. Despite the nearness of an unexploded stack of heavy ammunition with great blast and fragmentation range, in the early hours of the morning the pumps were brought into operation, the second stack was cooled down and the surrounding fire controlled to such an
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extent that military and N.F.S. personnel were able to load it into lorries. A further contingent of the N.F.S. having laid lines of hose from the stream under a hail of shrapnel, were fighting to get into the dump at the other end. Four attempts were made under highly dangerous conditions. A few minutes before the hose lines were complete, a second, and third terrific detonation took place. Not after the first explosion were the men at this section able to meet their colleagues near the centre of the dump, and then with small arms ammunition flying in all directions. Their jets, however, rapidly killed these. Yet a third contingent was forcing its way into the centre, against hazards no less severe. The fires were under control by 4 oâ€&#x;clock. The Army and N.F.S. officers were even with their experience with similar fires and military action on the Continent, amazed at the devastation caused by the fires and explosions. Some of the craters were 70 feet across and from 12 to 15 feet deep. As a further precaution, police officers in a car, fitted with a loud speaker, toured the neighbouring villages and Godalming, after the first explosions, and advised householders to keep their windows open.
FAMILIES EVACUATED In the Moushill Down area, where there are a number of houses less than half a mile from the ammunition dump, several families were temporarily evacuated to the Church Institute, Milford. At Milford, Witley, Thursley and Shackleford a good deal of damage in the form of broken windows, dislodged tiles and ceiling plaster was caused by the blast. Even in Godalming and Haslemere similar damage was done at a number of houses and shops. Very few civilians suffered injury. Mr. Nelson Wootton, of George Road, Milford, was standing in his scullery when a piece of glass from a shattered skylight penetrated his back. Superficial cuts were also received by Mrs. Bligh, of Kennel Moor Cottage, Lower Moushill, Milford, and a boy named Hayden, of Forked Pond Cottage, Thursley. An official statement issued by Canadian military headquarters attributes the explosion to spontaneous combustion or an internal explosion, and praises the behaviour of the troops and the N.F.S.
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Presentation of Colours Presentation of Colours to First Battalion The Royal Regiment of Canada and The South Saskatchewan Regiment by His Majesty the King and Queen Elizabeth at Witley, Surrey on 16th July 1943
Reproduced with the permission of Judith Stewart
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MY WARTIME MEMORIES By Audrey Smith On the bank where my family, the Hawkins, lived at Crossways Cottage, Witley, our dad affectionately known as “Old Tom” worked as carter for Mr. Vic Elliott, the market gardener. Our stables were just a few steps away from the house. The Canadian camp was at Rodborough Hill and the surrounding common land. We were lucky enough to have the Canadian soldiers camped in our yard because they had their searchlight in the field where the runner beans were planted. And there were many rows which were picked and boxed to go to Covent Garden to feed the hungry. Another time, when my mum took me up the field with our dog Nip, a soldier sat me on the seat of the searchlight and spun me around. That treat still sticks in my mind because my sisters and my brother were at school and they didn‟t know about that. Our soldiers camped in the cart shed. They slept there and were fed there. The big Army lorry would come at meal times. The cook would call out “Pig, pig” – maybe to make us laugh, which we did. Dad supplied the straw for bedding if they needed it and they had their water from the tap in the yard. We were the most well-fed family in Witley. The soldiers always made sure us kids – and there were five of us – had plenty of little treats. I still remember the soldiers‟ names – Buck Rogers, Roy Carson, Wilf Hellier and Jay Sumner. They left us suddenly and were posted abroad. One of them, Buck Rogers, came to visit us after a long time and he gave me a little Air Force man, which you would put on a slope and would walk on its funny little legs. One more memory was on a Saturday, if they could get the time off. They used to smarten up and smell so nice to go to “the jigs”, which was the dance at the Chichester Hall. All the local girls would go and a lovely time was had to ease the stress of war. Another happy time was the Christmas party for the school children which the soldiers gave us at their Camp. We had to learn the Canadian National Anthem to sing at our thanks to the soldiers. Our schoolmaster, Harry Swallow, made sure we were word perfect. We were all given a handmade present from the soldiers. My sister and brother had a wooden scooter each, all painted and safe to ride and I had a lovely dolly‟s swinging boat. How I wish my mum hadn‟t lent it to the family who lived opposite, as that‟s how I lost my lovely gift. When we had our soldiers in our field, we all felt safe and sound. It was a sad day when they left us, but so was the sound of the sirens giving the dreadful warning but the allclear siren made you feel happy once more.
Audrey Smith’s story of when we had our own guardian angels on our land during the war years. Rodborough Chronicles
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Chapter 4: Polish Resettlement Corps Background The Polish Resettlement Corps was formed in 1946 (Army order 96/1946) from the Polish Land Forces, as a Corps of the British Army with the object of resettlement in this country, emigration or repatriation. Personnel of the PLF (Polish Land Forces) were given the alternatives of enrolment into the PRC, emigration or repatriation as PLF. Cost of passage was paid by the War Office. War Gratuities were granted for their period of service under British Command and they were awarded British Campaign Stars. Those who did not accept either of the alternatives were classified as recalcitrants. (Recalcitrants – those of the PLF who refused to be repatriated or to emigrate or to join the PRC were placed on special reduced rated of pay and were eventually forcibly discharged in June 1948 without any terminal benefits or War Gratuity). The Polish Naval Forces were absorbed into the PRC, initially as a separate wing. The Polish Air Force were formed into an entirely separate section of the PRC administered by the Air Ministry. Enrolment or commissioning into the PRC was for a maximum period of 2 years or lesser period on resettling, emigrating or repatriating. The Polish Resettlement Corps was an organisation formed by the British Government in 1946 as a holding unit for members of the Polish Armed Forces who had been serving with the British Armed Forces and did not wish to return to a Communist Poland after the end of theWW2. It was designed to ease their transition from military into civilian life and to keep them under military control until they were fully adjusted to British life. Witley Camp was used, between 1946 and 1949, as an administrative centre for the Pay and Records Office of the Polish Resettlement Corps. The agreement between the War Office and the National Trust was that Jasper and Laurentide Camps (Jasper and Laurentide comprised an area of 250 acres and included 350 huts) would be surrendered back to the National Trust by the deadline of April 1949. The land where Algonquin Camp was sited (an area of 100 acres with 150 huts) was not subject to this agreement because the land was not owned by the National Trust. The Ministry of Works officially de-requisitioned the complete site (of all three camps) in September 1949. All doors and windows were secured to prevent squatting. By July 1950, the Ministry of Works had evacuated all buildings except three huts in Laurentide Camp, in which there were 16 Polish families still in residence. The Ministry of Works experienced great difficulty in removing huts and restoring the site. The rate of progress was very slow at 1% a week; the progress was slow because of the difficulty in getting labour. In April 1953, the National Trust complained in a letter to the County Planning Officer that the Ministry of Works had failed to keep the terms of their undertaking to return common land to the National Trust by the deadline of 1949. By April 1953, the whole of Jasper Camp had been demolished and a good deal of the site works had been removed and reinstated. In Laurentide Camp, the bulk of the huts had now been removed, but the National Trust Officer made the following complaint: “In one corner of the Common, the Ministry allowed a number of Polish squatters to come in, in addition to the legal occupants of the huts, and they have now formed a small colony and are determined not to be moved out. The Ministry of Works are now saying to the Trust very smugly “we are so sorry that we cannot demolish the huts as the Poles have nowhere to go”. This seems to me intolerable behaviour since the original undertaking given to us by the army and reiterated by the Ministry of Works was not in any way qualified by the ability to rehouse the occupants of the camps, and the Trust has done more than could be expected of it by waiting patiently long beyond the date originally promised for evacuation. The danger that I see, is that if we sit down and do nothing, it will become a permanent housing site, since the Hambledon Council can obviously give very little priority to the Poles on their normal housing list ... In my view the rehousing of these Poles is a national matter rather than a local one, calling for a directive from Ministerial level, and above all I deplore the shilly-shallying attitude adopted by the Ministry of Works.” Rodborough Chronicles
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Living in Tweedsmuir Camp In 1946, Ernest Bevin reported that all Polish servicemen and women, who felt they could not return to their homeland, were to be granted passage to Britain to form the Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC).
Whilst our mother and her sister Genia chose to settle in Britain, her brother Jan
and his family decided to make their home in Chicago, America. Our records show that Dad arrived in the United Kingdom on 1 September 1946 and Mum on 26 July 1947.
In the first instance, all Polish servicemen and women landed in Scotland. From there they were transferred to various military camps around Britain. Some, for example, were moved to camps in Wales, some to camps in Huntingdonshire, now known as Cambridgeshire, and others like our parents to Witley Camp in Surrey.
Witley Camp was sited on the old A3 near Witley Village,
Surrey and it was there that the Polish servicemen and women, who eventually came to live in Tweedsmuir, were “released from the Polish Resettlement Corps to the reserve for the purpose of employment”. The camp in Witley was where our mother and father first met in 1947. They subsequently married in St Edmund King and Martyr Catholic Church, Croft Road, Godalming. Since Witley Camp was due to be demolished by the end of the 1940s, Mum and Dad began their married life in Tweedsmuir Camp, near Thursley, Surrey, England.
Zen was born in 1948 in
Diddington Camp Polish Army Hospital, St Neots, Huntingdonshire (now Cambridgeshire), and Wies in 1950 in St Luke‟s Hospital, Guildford, Surrey. Courtesy of Zen and Wies Rogalski. www.tweedsmuirmilitarycamp.co.uk
You can read more about Tweedsmuir Camp on
Pupils create mosaic memorial
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Reproduced with the permission of the National Archives Rodborough Chronicles
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Chapter 5: Rodborough Hill (temporary) School Background The Education Act of 1944 made it a statutory duty for all Education Authorities to provide secondary education for all in school specifically organised for that purpose; the Education Authorities were not allowed to simply expand primary schools. Following on from this in 1947, the school leaving age was raised to 15. The rate at which these initiatives could be carried out was dependant upon the local provision of money, materials and labour. In 1939, 5.154 acres of land at The Pleck was acquired by Surrey County Council to build a Central Church of England School; this project was not carried out because of the war and other reasons. Because of a lack of funds, Surrey County Council could not afford to build a new permanent school. The initial plan was to open the new secondary school on The Pleck site using temporary HORSA (Hutted Operation for Raising the School leaving Age) buildings. However, it was decided instead to use the existing accommodation which was available at the Algonquin Camp on Witley Common. In 1949 when this idea was initially proposed, there was considerable opposition to it. Eventually agreement was reached that the school could temporarily move to that site providing the site would be vacated by 1958 and the land restored to its original condition as common land. Notice of intention to establish the school was officially given in August 1950 and the temporary school, known as Rodborough Hill (Temporary) School, opened its doors in September 1951. The temporary school was established to provide for the older children from the villages of Milford, Witley, Chiddingfold, Hambledon, Shackleford, Puttenham, Compton,Thursley and Churt. The school had 260 pupils on roll in six forms, with a staff of 10 assistants and a Headteacher. The school was officially opened by Gen. Sir Robert Haining K.C.B. D.S.O, who was the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, on 22 November 1951. In 1953, additional huts were converted to provide three more classrooms. There was no proper school field and all games and athletics activities were conducted on a level patch of rough common adjacent to school. In the 1956/57 academic year, provision was made for the school to become two form entry (300 children at 30 children per class). The temporary school at Algonquin Camp closed on 19 February 1960 and the pupils transferred to the new school on The Pleck site, which opened on 24 February 1960. The new school dropped the word „Hill‟ from its name. There were objections to building the school at The Pleck because of running sand but, in the end, because no other suitable site was available, Surrey County Council decided to build it there. The school stands on a concrete raft built to overcome the possibility of subsidence. The school was designed by County Architect Mr.J.Harrison A.R.I.B.A and was built by Messrs. Riley and Whishaw Ltd at the cost of £113,105. The Council honoured its undertaking to restore the school site at Algonquin Camp to common land at a cost of £2,115.
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The new school had the following facilities: 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Assembly Hall 2785 sq feet Small Hall/Dining Room 985 sq feet Library 1037 sq feet General classroom 809 sq feet General classrooms 486 sq feet General classrooms 481 sq feet General classroom 696 sq feet Needlework Room 698 sq feet General Science Lab 947 sq feet Elementary Chemistry lab Woodwork Room 1009 sq feet Housecraft Room 939 sq feet Housecraft Flat 217 sq feet Art Room 1029 sq feet Kitchen (300 meals capacity)
Number of children on roll Month September November November October October October October October October September
Year 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960
Number 258 281 297 326 344 364 352 351 362 382
The long walk to school down Webb Road
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Rodborough Hill temporary County secondary school Headmaster’s reports to governors dated September 21, 1951 (the first governors‟ meeting for the newly established school) Despite a number of setbacks in the work on the building, school opened according to plan on Tuesday, September 4th at 9.00am. The school bus service worked very satisfactorily and the children were here on time. Our first assembly was without music as no piano had arrived, and after prayer and a reading of Psalm 121, I gave the children a short address in which I told them how fortunate they were to be coming to such a fine new school and how important they were as founder members. I expressed the hope that they would, by their work and behaviour here, bring honour to the school, and that they would be loyal to it and proud of it. I concluded by wishing them a happy life here. After giving the children a few rules regarding their safety on the roads, behaviour on buses and care of the building, I read the lists and the children proceeded to their forms. In the afternoon we commenced the normal timetable. Organisation The school has been divided into six forms; a normal stream 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year together with a Lower School retarded form and an Upper School retarded form. Organisation in this direction would have been easier if the numbers had warranted treating the school as a two form entry school with eight forms. Our role at the moment is 258 and numbers in classes average 43. The number of girls is 134 and boys 124. There is a considerable degree of specialisation allowed for in the timetable, but for the present form teachers are, as far as possible, responsible for their own English, Arithmetic and Religious Knowledge. A great deal of equipment and furniture has not yet been delivered, the chief item being school desks and tables for three forms. At the moment we are improvising by using the dining tables and a set of old desks as a temporary measure. We now have a nice piano and this facilitates proper music lessons and Assembly begins every day with a hymn. Miss McGhie has undertaken most of the P.E., and despite shortage of apparatus, has got both boys and girls enthusiastic and active in this direction in a very short time. Art and Craft are proceeding quite satisfactorily under Mr.Harman and Mr.Cooper. Mr. Frogley had all his equipment and materials transferred from Meadrow and has been able to carry on with practically no handicaps. There is still much to be completed in the Domestic Science Room but Mrs Tomlinson has made a start with General Housewifery, Needlework and Mothercraft. The Calor gas stove and the “Rayburn” solid fuel stove are working satisfactorily. The Science Laboratory is still not yet complete but will be a fine, well planned and commodious run when fully fitted out. At the moment we are making very full use of the heath, woods and common adjoining the school in connection with the Rural Science and Biology teaching, and I have been amazed at the richness of variety in flowers, fungi, mosses, lichen and also in animal and bird life. Rodborough Chronicles
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The school is not, at the moment, well provided with facilities for organised games. We have made what use we can of the level common land around the school but this is rough, stony and cannot be marked out easily into courts and pitches. The playground quadrangle might be suitable for netball but the surface is so rough and sharp that it is in my opinion dangerous for games, and I have had to treat several very nasty cuts and grazes already. The gulley down the centre would also be a nuisance for games requiring a flat surface. As a result of negotiations with Mr.Tite, we have obtained permission to use Milford Heath recreation ground for games, but this is rather a long distance from the school. It has been possible to make provisions for gardening, as through the kind co-operation of Mr. Butler we have obtained the use of the existing school garden at Milford C. of E. School, and work is carried out there under Mr.Wastie on three afternoons a week. As the kitchen is not yet complete and we have no electricity, meals are being sent daily from the Chilworth Central Kitchen*. This arrangement seems to be working satisfactorily. On the whole the Children and Staff seem to have settled down very happily and, as far as we are able, normal secondary school work is being carried on. Most of the parents have been co-operative although a small minority have complained of the distance and dangers of the journey to school and the lack of what they consider to be adequate transport facilities. The attendance has so far been very good indeed. The school has now been divided into four houses and a boy and girl House Captain collected for each, giving us eight Prefects to assist in running the school. This morning we held a Harvest Festival Service. A fine collection of fruit and vegetables, flowers and other gifts brought by the children was later sent to the Milford Sanatorium. In conclusion I should like to place on record my appreciation of the co-operation and help which I have received from Mr.Howell and his Staff. We have had to contend with quite a number of difficulties but the assistance I have received from the Divisional Office has made what might well have been a rather worrying task an interesting and stimulating experience. *Later Minutes say that the electricity supply was connected in mid-October 1951 and the new electric cookers and hot plates were delivered in January 1952
Flora on the commons today
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Rodborough County Secondary School, Milford Headmaster's Report to the Governors, Thursday 3 March 1960 Since our last meeting we have completed our period in the temporary school on Rodborough Hill and have just made a start in the new building. We had hoped to move into the school at the commencement of this term on January 6th, but work was so delayed that this was quite impossible. The actual removal from Rodborough Hill was accomplished quite smoothly, but with very hard work, on Friday 19th of February, when the school was closed for the day, though large numbers of children rendered very valuable assistance during the whole period of removal of stock and equipment, which continued through Saturday 20th of February ...We were fairly straight by Tuesday evening and the school opened on Wednesday morning, the 24th February. Buildings and Equipment We are delighted with the new building, and though a number of minor snags and inconveniences have already come to light, I think it will be possible to overcome any difficulties fairly soon. A considerable amount of equipment has not yet been delivered and it is fortunate that we were able to transfer some essential furniture and equipment from the old school. The workmen have nearly finished and should be out of the building in about a week's time. General organisation The number on roll at the present time is 350. Now that we have moved into the new building, the school has been re-organised as a three form entry in the first two year groups, though 3rd and 4th forms still consist of two forms only.
Rodborough Petworth Road entrance Autumn 2008
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Surrey Advertiser SCHOOL AMONG THE PINES 260 CHILDREN AT THE OLD ALGONQUIN CAMP
8 September 1951 By HAROLD SMITH Among the pines and heather on Witley Common 260 schoolchildren recommenced their studies on Tuesday after the summer holidays at a new school adapted from buildings which formerly formed part of an army camp. The school is Rodborough Hill (temporary) County Secondary School. The camp, known as „Algonquin‟ Camp, was occupied by Canadians during the war. Well-built, single-storey brick buildings which once rang to the stamp of Army boots are now devoted to the teaching of children, and to this healthy spot now come the bulk of the children over 11 from Milford, Witley, Chiddingfold, Shackleford and Thursley. Headmaster of the school, Mr. M. G. Omant, B.Sc., has taught for 22 years in schools of all types in Middlesex and, lastly, at Preston Manor County Grammar School, Wembley. He is assisted by a teaching staff of ten. Mr. Omant said this of the new school: „BUILDINGS – I think it is a fine effort. I am personally very pleased to see good use being made of such comparatively convenient buildings. I think a first-class job has been done on their adaption for school purposes insofar as was possible due to the limits of site and layout and so on. „EQUIPMENT – As planned it will ultimately be very good. It hasn‟t yet all arrived. The authorities plan to give us all the equipment that is normally provided to a new secondary school. „SITUATION – It is a beautiful situation, on high ground with pine woods and heather. Inevitably it is a little remote.
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„TRANSPORT – There are special school buses to collect the children outside the three-mile range. There is no organised transport provided if they live less than three miles away. Some walk, some cycle. It is hoped that transport difficulties may be resolved in time. An improved public bus service up the Portsmouth Road would be of great assistance both to the scholars and the staff. „GAMES – There is no land set aside for games, but there is plenty of open space in the district of which it is hoped to make use. WET CLOTHES WILL BE DRIED The school has been adapted from a conveniently situated block of buildings set around a closed quadrangle. There are six classrooms, including a science laboratory, a headmaster‟s office and a comfortable room for staff. A special feature is a hot waterheated drying room in which the children‟s clothes can be dried on wet days. Apart from the drying room the buildings will be heated by anthracite stoves. The school has its own sewage disposal plant. Mr. Omant said that the science block was not yet complete, but would be very well equipped. A low voltage electrical circuit would be fitted for electrical experiments and each bench supplied with Calor gas Bunsen burners. The laboratory would be available for the teaching of general science with, it was proposed, a bias towards its rural or agricultural application. In an adjoining block are the hall-dining-room which Mr.Omant said held the whole school for assembly comfortably; a fine, large domestic science room, and a handicrafts room equipped with benches for woodwork
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and metalwork, a store for wood and, ultimately, a woodworking lathe and forge and metal working equipment. Besides assembly, said Mr. Omant, the hall was used for physical training and as a dining centre. Meals were served through hatches from a commodious kitchen which would be more or less all electric and where meals would be cooked on the spot. Mr. Omant said that before the school was opened the children went to their own county primary schools. These would be attended in future by children up to the age of eleven and would rank as junior schools. „We received children from five contributory junior schools.‟ Mr. Omant added, „and they are very thrilled about coming here.‟
THE STAFF The members of staff, with the subjects in which they specialise, are: Mrs. E. Tomlinson (domestic science and needlework), formerly at Milford C. of E. Primary School; Miss L. McGhie (physical training), formerly a lecturer at Cooper‟s Hill Emergency Training College, Englefield Green; Miss K. Galley (needlework and general subjects); Miss P. Springate (music); Mr. A. L. Wastie (gardening, science and games), formerly at Milford C. of E. Primary School; Mr. G. W. Collyer (history and general subjects), formerly at Witley C. of E. Primary School; Mr. H. T. Harman (art), formerly at Witley C. of E. Primary School; Mr. A. Frogley (wood and metal work), formerly at Meadrow County Secondary School, Godalming; Mr. C. W. Cooper (art-craft), formerly of Elstead C. of E. Primary School; and Mr. E. Hobbs (geography and science), formerly of Tower Bridge Secondary Modern School, London, E.C. The headmaster‟s secretary is Mrs. E. F. Holl, of Godalming. The caretakers, Mr. And Mrs. Gill, live on the premises in their own bungalow adapted from camp buildings.
The Commons, Summer 2009 Rodborough Chronicles
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CHAPTER 6 – SCULPT IT ART WORKSHOPS
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RESOURCES WITLEY CAMP & WW1 The Canadian Letters and Images Project http://canadianletters.ca/searchBasic.html Search for Witley and Whitley. Letters and postcards home Painting by Dame Laura Knight „Physical Training at Witley Camp’ http://www.friends-amis.org/197102610808_8_e.html Painting by Anna Airy of the Cookhouse at Witley (1918) http://dl.lib.brown.edu/jpegs/mjp/Airy/CookhouseWitleyCamp18.jpg Libraries and Archive Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/firstworldwar/index-e.html Exploring Surrey‟s Past website http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/ Search under Witley. Information on war brides that went to live in Canada http://ww1warbrides.blogspot.com/ Administrative army war diaries OF WW1 on Library & Archives Canada website all relating specifically to Witley – Eg, HQ, General staff, Medical services, Special Hospital, Dental corp, http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=WITLEY&s13=&s12=&l=20&s9=RG9&s7=952&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect2=THESOFF&Sect4=AND&Sect5=WARDPEN&Sect6=HITOFF&d=FIND&p=1&u =http%3A%2F%2Fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2Farchivianet%2F02015202_e.html&r=0&f=S Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group website. Search for Witley and Whitley. http://www.cefresearch.com/phpBB2/index.php Bruce in Khaki magazine made by the 160th Bruce Battalion. They were based at Witley camp, Surrey, from late 1916 to Spring 1918. During that time the unit published a monthly newsletter entitled "Bruce In Khaki". There were only 7 monthly ones published, as there was difficulty getting paper. http://military.brucemuseum.ca/v/worldwar1/documents/Bruce+in+Khaki/Bruce+in+Khaki+Vol+1+No+1/Pag e1.jpg.html Booklet „Liphook, Bramshott and the Canadians‟ published by the Bramshott and Liphook Preservation Society The Church on The Wey (the history of Godalming United Church) by Peter Andrews WITLEY CAMP & WW2 Book by C.P. Stacey & Barbara M. Wilson, (1987), The Half-Million: The Canadians in Britain 1939-46, University of Toronto Press. Website dedicated to WW2 war brides http://www.canadianwarbrides.com/today.asp CBC Digital Archives Film and Radio clips http://archives.cbc.ca/war_conflict/second_world_war/topics/1542/ Keeping Memories Alive: A Community Oral History Project on Ockford Ridge and Aaron‟s Hill A History of Milford, Witley and Surrounding Area by Elizabeth Forster, 1999, Witley Parish Council Milford and Witley in Living Memory by Valerie Box, 1999, Witley Parish Council WITLEY CAMP & POLISH RESETTLEMENT CORPS Tweedmuir Military Camp website http://www.tweedsmuirmilitarycamp.co.uk/Index.html Files WO32/- WO315/- at the National Archives at Kew http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Poland In Exile website regarding Polish Resettlement Corps http://www.polandinexile.com/resettlement.htm WITLEY CAMP & RODBOROUGH SCHOOL Surrey County Council files - CC933/8/17 and C/EM/245/1&2 at Surrey History Centre Correspondence between National Trust, Ministry of Works and Council – CC356/15 at Surrey History Centre The First 50Years at Rodborough School by Annie Boxall
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