Empire Day Celebrations

Empire Day Celebration, Podington 1908 [Z1306/89/6]

Wednesday 24th May 1916: Empire Day has been celebrated today in schools across the county. At Dunstable Road School in Luton the celebrations were presided over by the Mayor and Mayoress, and attended by a number of honoured guests including one 16 year old boy who, despite his age, has returned wounded from the Front. The children sang hymns and choruses, and the Mayor gave a speech explaining the meaning of Empire and its stand for right and justice. At Christ Church Infants school each child wore a daisy, the emblem of the Empire, and most wore red, white, and blue ribbons and carried flags. They sang patriotic songs including “Rule Britannia”, and the top class entertained the others with a game of soldiers and nurses. The soldiers had rifles and marched in order to battle, while the Red Cross nurses, wearing aprons, caps, and crosses, bandaged up the wounded. In the afternoon the children made daisy chains.

Source: Luton News, 25th May 1916

Recruitment March Reaches Podington

Wednesday 2nd June 1915: The 2/5th Bedfordshire Regiment continues to make progress with its recruiting march. Yesterday’s route began at Turvey and called at the Reformatory School at Carlton where it was greeted enthusiastically. From there it progressed via Harrold to Hinwick and Podington. At 5.30pm the troops reassembled and marched to Hinwick House, the home of its commander Major Rouse Orlebar; when they arrived were inspected by the regimental colonel, the Honorable Victor Russell, who had travelled from Newmarket for the occasion. After the formal inspection the men were put through their drill by their commander’s eight year old son Master John Orlebar in “a remarkably smart manner for one so young”. The house and grounds were opened to the public for the occasion, and many people took full advantage of the opportunity. A stage was built in the coach house and the visitors enjoyed a concert given by soldiers from the battalion, some convalescent patients from the hospital now in operation at Hinwick House, and Major Orlebar’s brother Beauchamp. The Sergeant-Major gave an exhibition of club swinging and humorous selections were performed by Lieutenant Hart.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 4th June 1915

Letter From a Wounded Soldier

Wounded soldiers at Hinwick House 1915 (Mrs Orlebar to left of Red Cross nurse) [X464/91]

Sunday 21st February 1915: Hinwick House, the property of the Orlebar family at Podington, has been in use as a V.A.D. hospital since last November.[1] Mrs Faith Orlebar, the Commandant of the hospital, has kept in touch with a number of her former patients. Today she received a letter from Patrick Feeney of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment who is now recovering at Wrest Park[2]:

7934 2nd Warwick Regiment 
Wrest Park Hospital
16.2.15

Dear Mrs Orlebar 

Just a few lines, in answer to your postcard which I received this morning and pleased to hear all are keeping well. I am still in bed yet and I am going on alright. I am expecting the doctor to let me up today as I think I have had enough in bed. I must tell you that Grey is very poorly after his operation on Saturday. He has not got over it yet. They took a bone out below his eye so he has had a lot of pain with it but I hope it won’t be long till he get rid of it. I am pleased to hear Cheeseman’s leg is going on alright – hoping that Mr Beauchamp and Father and Mother are keeping alright.[3] Well I can say no more at present. Hoping to see you soon.

I remain yours etc P Feeney

Source: Transcript of letters to Faith Orlebar, 1914-15 [OR2343/19]

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[1] The Rushden Research Group website gives further information about Hinwick House Hospital. http://www.rushdenheritage.co.uk/Villages/BDFvillages/hinwickVAD.html

[2] Lance-Corporal Patrick Feeney died on 12th November 1916 while serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq).

[3] “Father and Mother” meaning Faith and her husband.

Letters to Mrs Orlebar

Major Richard Rouse Boughton Orlebar and Faith Orlebar, 1914 [X464/87]

Tuesday 29th December 1914 (Podington): Mrs Faith Orlebar has received another letter of thanks from another former patient at Hinwick House hospital, Private C. Clark. He says:

“I am pleased to tell you that we all got Home quite safe and comfortable, but we did not get very long, 8 days, and that is not long enough so I am going to see how my arm gets on and then if it is any worse I will apply for more leave. I hope the other seven boys are all right and enjoying their motor rides and nice walks which I should like to have now, but there is no young ladies, they have all gone for nurses.[1] Give my best wishes to all the girls and I hope to se them again if I go out and get wounded which I expect will be the next thing.”[2]

She has also received a letter from her old friend Mrs Edith Craven of Hove in Sussex thanking her for her Christmas greetings.[3] She says: 

“it was very interesting to hear how this awful war is affecting your and your surroundings. It is most useful work Rouse has got started at the House - & it must be a joy to our Tommies to find such appreciative interest.  … One can hardly realize that we are actually living in the time of the ‘Great War’ of which so much has been said for years, though owing to the barbarian Germans everything is far more terrible than anyone could imagine! God give us Peace in the coming year!”

Source: Transcript of letters to Faith Orlebar, 1914-15 [OR2343/19]

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[1]  The transcript of the letter is annotated “The children and governess used to take the men for walks at Hinwick”.

[2] Another note tells us that the girls were “Hinwick House servants, one of them a widow of 47”.

[3] Apparently Edith Craven (nee Sartoris) who was originally from Rushden.

Letter from a Grateful Soldier

Wounded soldiers at Hinwick House Auxiliary Hospital, 1915. Faith Orlebar is to the right of the Red Cross Nurse  [X464/91]

Wednesday 9th December 1914 (Podington): Hinwick House at Podington has been operating as a military hospital since 21st November.[1] Mrs Faith Orlebar, who is serving as commandant, has received a grateful letter from one of the hospital’s first patients:[2]

Rifleman Kennedy
1st Rifle Brigade
7.12.14

Dear Mrs Orlebar

Just a line to tell you that I arrived home quite safe – Mrs Olebar I am sorry I did not write before. I have had a lot to do since I have been home. Mrs Orlebar I write to thank you for having looked after me well at your Dear Old House and I must say If I had been a Lord’s son you could not have done more for me. I did enjoy myself very much. Mrs Orlebar, I hope you and Major Orlebar and Mr Beecham Orlebar and all your Dear Family are in good health, as it leaves me at present and please remember me to all. Mrs Orlebar my hand is about the same. I cannot use it yet but I hope to soon. I am pleased to say my wife is going on fine and my family. My wife ws pleased when she saw me, and when the wife had a proper look at me she said how well I looked and when I told her about all the nice food I had she said no wonder you look well. Mrs Orlebar, if Major Orlebar do have to go to the front I hope he will have a safe journey and a safe return and good health and good luck. So now I must close so goodby.

I am yours truly
Private Kennedy
1st Rifle Brigade

Source: X464/91

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[1] For more on Hinwick House as  a military hospital see this website produced by the Rushden and District History Society Research Group http://www.rushdenheritage.co.uk/Villages/BDFvillages/hinwickVAD.html
[2] Faith Orlebar was the wife of Richard Rouse Boughton Orlebar, son of Richard Orlebar, the owner of Hinwick House.