Soldiers in Town
Hertfordshire was a training ground for troops going out to the First World War and troops were mainly stationed in Watford, Bishop’s Stortford and St Albans. With all the soldiers coming to Hertfordshire for training they needed to be billeted in local homes. It fell to the police to accompany the billeting officers when they went round homes to tell you how may soldiers you would be putting up – for a pittance! The effect on local areas of having thousands of young men billeted and training in their towns was enormous.