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| WW1 Camp at Hazeley Down - to see a larger image click on the picture above. |
A fine warm August Bank Holiday brought to the village the knowledge that war had been declared with Germany. The village Constable had already served mobilization notices to the Reservists who had left to rejoin their Regimental Depots, assuring their folk they would be back before Christmas.
Rumours were widespread, but one that became fact was that the War Office had requisitioned a large part of Hazeley Down from Mr J Best with the view of building a camp. The Royal Engineers with loads of building material moved in, and with the aid of local civilian labour, a vast Camp came into being to be known as Hazeley Down Camp.
Then came the Troops, the Field Batteries of Artillery of the Welsh Division. The village now echoed with a strange tongue, as the Welsh speaking Gunners quickly made friends with Owslebury folk and the Inns, “The Cricketers” “Shearers” and “The Ship” rang with the melodious singing of the Welshmen.
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Gunner Mark Hammond - 111 Heavy Battery,
Royal Garrison Artillery. An Owslebury man who was one of the Hazeley Camp soldiers.
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Soon the Batteries limbered up en route for Southampton and Ypres. Now came more Artillery to take over the Camp and again a strange tongue was to be heard in the Village, but this time the drawl of the Canadian Prairies and Backwoods. These Gunners were part of a Canadian Division which distinguished itself at Vimy Ridge.
With the departure of the Canadians the Camp became an Infantry Training Centre, and the Reserve Battalions of the following Regiments arrived: 14th London Regt. (The London Scottish), 15th London Regt. (Civil Service Rifles), 16th London Regt. (The Queens Westminsters) and the 20th London Regt. (Royal West Kents). The village now heard the skirl of Pipes and the Bugles of the Rifles as these Troops carried out extensive infantry training night and day in the locality.
The tempo of the War moved on to the carnage of Infantry in the Somme Battles, and weekly drafts left the Camp, en route to Shawford Station and Flanders, and to many a soldier, Owslebury was the last of the country he saw that he died for.
The night before these drafts left there was always cheerful parties at the Cricketers when the late Mrs S White and her brother Fred played the piano and violin for the troops. When at length the Infantry left the Camp they were replaced by a “White Russian Battalion” and Portuguese Infantry, more strange tongues for the Village.
What is left at Hazeley?
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| Hazeley Cross with wreaths in place |
A granite Cross, erected by the men of the London Regiments to their comrades who did not return. A Cap Badge of the Canadian Artillery worked in concrete, and a Gun Park where Mr P Best now houses his farm implements. |
