Police at Hadham Hall

Soldiers AWOL

By Gill Munro

The Bishop’s Stortford police were contacted on 13th June 1915 by an Army officer, reporting that two men were absent without leave from the Royal Field Artillery stationed at Hadham Hall. The police were asked to inform the military police and to make enquiries at the railway station and surrounding area to try to track down the absconders. It was not uncommon for local police to become involved in incidences of AWOL in the area.

Hadham Hall and its grounds were occupied by troops in both wars. Owned by Mr William Minet, descendent of a Huguenot family, the grounds were used during the First World War. On the 9th June 1915 the 2nd & 5th London Brigade (formerly 300th Brigade) Royal Field Artillery arrived at their war station at Hadham Hall (Billets) for approx two months training. They were then moved on to an encampment at Stansted. (Source: WW1 War Diaries 300th Brigade Royal Field Artillery –June 1915 to August 1916 –National Archives, Kew) 

During WW1 soldiers who went absent without leave while on training were given punishment by NCOs and officers of the unit. This would often be extra fatigues or exercise or being confined to barracks or losing a day’s pay. Other crimes would include individual presentation such as being unshaven, losing kit, not saluting or addressing superiors correctly, being late on parade or after curfew etc. Some severe cases were given to the Military Police.

This page was added on 17/09/2014.

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