Category: Military
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One of the more unusual early postcards of Maresfield features an airship flying over Underhill. Your first thought could be “Zeppelin” – was this one of Prince Münster’s chums, paying him a flying visit from Germany? However, closer examination of the airship design shows that it’s not a Zeppelin – the distinctive tailfin pattern identifies…
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Sir (Harold Arthur) Thomas Fairbanks was an Orthopaedic Surgeon, and a Captain with the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War 1. In 1914, he was with the 85th Field Ambulance of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who were stationed at Maresfield Park, before heading to Flanders and the horrors of Ypres. His photograph albums…
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Villagers were encouraged to make the troops feel ‘at home’ in both World Wars. The picture above shows the Hollobon family entertaining three soldiers at their home at Five Ash Down about 1917. Mr Francis Hollobon is wearing his Local Defence Volunteers uniform. Young Frank Hollobon (front left) is sporting the cap of the soldier…
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The UK Government confiscated Maresfield Park Estate from the German born owner, Prince Münster at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 and it was turned into an army camp. Nissen huts were erected on the open land. The guardroom was just to the right inside the archway at The Lodge, and sentries paraded…