Horsham history

I sent this hasty message to my father on Saturday. 

From: Me

To: Dad

Subject: Horsham
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:43:28 +0000
En route to Horsham and can't remember what places to look for -- there's the street where the pic is taken and then a pub he went to, but not sure where ...Julie xo

I had decided to go to Horsham in West Sussex to see where my Canadian grandfather, Harry Mollins, was stationed during World War One before being deployed to the battlefields of France, where he fought in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, among others. The weather was very touch-and-go and I didn't get out until quite late in the day, so I decided this would be the day I would go to Horsham.

My father has Harry's war diaries, so we know a fair amount about what he did in Horsham, although he died when my father was 14 -- and long before I was born.

He kept small leather-bound diaries for three years during the war. We don't know what happened to the fourth -- if it was lost or destroyed, but we assume he had kept one because he did so all throughout his life. 

My father transcribed all the diaries and visited Horsham in 2000 with my mother.

My sister summarized my grandfather's Horsham experience on her blog, and I have summarized her summary and posted some of the pictures I took today :)

Harry trained at Roffey just outside Horsham until April 12, 1916. 

He wrote in his diaries about the rain, physical drills, letter-writing and waiting to receive letters, attending church, reading books, and a social life that included teas, theatre, dates, musical evenings, skating and cycling.

This photo is of Harry Mollins (far right), Harry and Fred Fownes (we think) also from his hometown of Moncton, New Brunswick, and an unidentified friend on rented bikes in Horsham.

My father replied to my email:

From: Dad
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 02:27 PM
To: Me 
Subject: RE: Horsham
 

JGM:
The only other thing we can think of was the King's Head Hotel, but your Mum understands that it no longer exists. 
   He took singing lessons nearby and I'll send the teacher's name if I can find it.

   Also this I wrote for a diary report:
    

Before facing those life-threatening actions across the English Channel, Harry spent happier times during recesses from combat training in southeast England and in days off up in London or down in Hastings.

During his training time in southeast England, in a camp on the outskirts of the Sussex County town of Horsham, Harry also spent hours polishing his powerful baritone singing skills. He took lessons from a lady in town.

And on a pass of 12 hours or longer, he occasionally, as his diary puts it: "picked up a girl for the fun of it."  

At times, he would also treat himself in a local hotel. 

[About 80 years later, son Carl and his wife Joan on a trip to Horsham visited that hotel, donated to the owner copies of Dad's diary references to the pleasing place--and that turned out to make our meal free.]

I took the picture above of the King's Head Hotel -- where he stayed -- which is now an Ask Italian restaurant.

My father followed up with a second email:

From: Dad

Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 03:09 PM 

To: Me

Subject: RE: Horsham

Also, from your Mum's diary and memory, on our visit in March, 2000, to Horsham we met a citizen living near the place on the road where Dad and pals were photoed on Clarence Road. Mum sez they were interested in the history of their neighbourhood. We gave them copies of the photos. Mum also mentions our interest in pleasant local church, St. Mary's, dating from 1247 -- so now 765 years old.

As well, a theatre where Dad went. now an Arts Centre.

Here is another picture I took:

And apropos of nothing

 It was actually quite a hike around town and out of town to Roffey. I know why they rented bicycles. I managed to catch a bus from Roffey to the Horsham Railway Station. 

From there I took a train bound for London Victoria to Three Bridges and changed to one that would take me to London Blackfriars instead.

listen to ‘Horsham where my grandfather was stationed in WWI’ on Audioboo