Booklet: Ashridge in World War II

During the Second World War troops were camped in the woods of the Ashridge Estate and a hospital was opened at Ashridge. This little booklet, Ashridge in World War II is based on the memories of people who knew Ashridge during the war and gives details of the regiments that were billeted there. The hospital not only took casualties from Dunkirk but also victims from the German bombing raids. In addition many women from London were taken there just before they were due, and some 3000 births were recorded there between 1940 and 1946.

While this delightful little booklet was published in 2009/10 I noticed that copies were still for sale at the National Trust shop at Ashridge a few months ago. 

This is one of my Hertfordshire History Books for Christmas

More Information about Ashridge

Booklet about the Tring Home Guards (2nd World War)

It is always worth checking the local newspapers of the towns you are researching, as many of them print heritage articles.

The Military

For instance the Hemel Hempsted Gazette has a weekly Heritage page and details often appear on its web site.

This weeks offering describes the activities of the Tring Home Guard during the Second World War. It is based on an informative booklet produced by the Tring and District Local History and Museum  Society.

Bombs on St Albans - World War II

While it is outside the period covered by this site some of you may be interested to see where bombs fell during the blitz of London between October 1940 and June 1941. The above comes from the Bomb Site map. The map covers parts of southern Hertfordshire as far north as St Albans.

Wiles & Lewis Suet Works, St Albans, World War 2

Ian Farrow writes from Northampton to say Our grandmother, Dorothy Maud Farrow, nee Welch, worked at Wiles and Lewis on Bernards Heath, St Albans. She recalled to us as young children, how she would box up the suet and enclosed in the boxes would be notes from the factory workers, which were sent out to the men in the War.  Occasionally, they would respond/reply to the notes.  .