Impression sketch
of PC Holloway observing Henry Underwood talking to wounded soldiers.
A British Town
from Anglo Saxon Times
With a long
history, Walton on Thames
Lay at the heart
of a country's unity of war
Less than 20
miles from seat or power -
A picture place
in leafy county of Surrey.
The London suburb
of Walton had various
Large houses -
one of which was Mount
Felix estate - with an intention to turn
The Italianate
villa to become a riverside
Country club; but
was taken by War Office.
Initially holding
British troops, June 1915
Saw the villa
converted into a military
Hospital, for New
Zealand casualties - 350
Beds situated
between River Thames
And Walton Bridge, to be a model hospital.
With grounds of
18 acres, gardens and
Green fields allowed convalescent soldiers
Green fields allowed convalescent soldiers
Good walks -
while the Thames opened
Opportunities for
boating - such sights
Of hospital blue
were common in Walton.
A local Police
constable had his orders,
To provide
protection to the wounded
Men from the public - as in any liquors
Being given - PC Holloway
was on duty
In the Broadway,
wearing plain clothes.
Henry Underwood, a local man from
Sunbury Lane, appeared on road leading
A horse - when
four convalescent soldiers
In hospital blue,
spoke to him. With eager
Eyes Holloway
watched their exchange.
One of the four
passed him some money;
While three
stayed with the horse, one
Man went with Mr.
Underwood to walk
To a grocers on
Winchester Road - the
PC saw him re-emerge
carrying a bottle.
He was seen
holding a bottle of whisky
Under his coat
which he then gave
To the
soldiers - this led to Underwood
To stand before
County Bench, held
At
Kingston-on-Thames to be charged.
'A bottle of
whisky given to members
Of his majesty's
forces to intoxicate
Such soldiers' - Underwood
apologised
To state
initially saying no - believing
No harm in going
into a grocer's shop.
The men had given
him money and
He returned a
bottle of Johnnie Walker -
To be told police
had a problematic time,
To seek who gave
whisky to wounded
At Walton, such an offence was serious.
The Superintendent
Marshall felt
How public should
know of severity
Of punishment -
in further prevention
A charge to be
raised would gain
Him six months in prison
or £100 fine.
With the soldiers seemingly absolved,
The Chairman, on
this first such case,
Ordered Henry
Underwood would need
To pay £1 fine -
but in future any case
In Walton would a
gain a severe fine.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Treating
Wounded Soldiers - Warning To The Public. The Daily Telegraph,
[online] 28 December.
P.4. Col.4. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12072899/Daily-Telegraph-December-31-1915.html
[Accessed: 31 December 2015].
Source: File:
1915. World War One Anzac link remains in Walton to this day. 31 December 2015.
Available Online at: <http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/nostalgia/world-war-one-anzac-link-7577804> Accessed 31 December 2015
Source: File:
1915. Walton-on-Thames. 31 December 2015. Available Online at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walton-on-Thames> Accessed 31 December
2015
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 31 December 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #WW1England
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