Welcome to the town page for Herne Bay. Explore your town map to discover people who lived in your town during the First World War.

 

The building in the picture is The Huntsman and Horn Public House which stands opposite the Parsonage Farmhouse. In 1916 the War Office selected the meadow east of Parsonage Farmhouse in Broomfield as a suitable site for a landing ground. The field was commandeered and seems to have been used mainly for target practice. A room in the farmhouse was used as an office. After the war the airfield continued to be used and in 1932 was visited by Sir Alan Cobham's legendary "Flying Circus" with flights at five shillings a time.

Records show that the Licensee during 1910-1913 was Mr Frederick Ingleton and Mrs Ann Ingleton was the Licensee during 1918-1922. Unfortunately we do not know if the pub was open during the War years.

Source: http://www.dover-kent.com/2014-project/Huntsmans-Horn-Broomfield.html and ©Herne & Broomfield Parish Plan Steering Group 2004





The transcribed text reads:

21 September 1914

Dear Doll I expect you will be surprised to hear from me, but I thought I would like to write you a few lines hoping they will find you well through this fearful time, when I expect is a time of great anxiety for you as well as us but still we must hope for the best. Do you know where Jim is and if he is alright as we have not heard lately Love from Agg

To Miss D Luff

Hawley Cottages

Wanborough

Surrey

Image courtesy of Darrienne Price

The first images relate to the Garrison Institute at Herne Bay. In February 1917, the recently-opened Kings Hall was taken over by the Army Canteen Committee (subsequently renamed the Navy and Army Canteen Board) and renamed the Garrison Institute and Theatre. It provided facilities for service men to obtain hot suppers and light refreshments and also to enjoy recreational activities such as dances, whist drives and music hall. Incidentally, the Navy and Army canteen Board would form the nucleus of the newly-formed Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) in 1921. The first image shows staff and customers outside the Garrison Institute in 1917

The second image is a poster advertising entertainments at the Garrison Institute in July 1917.

There are also four public information posters issued by the Herne Bay Urban District Council - 2 relating to aircraft raids and a further 2 relating to food production and food rationing.

The remaining poster is an advert for the purchase of National War Bonds during War Weapon Week in July 1918.

From the Collection of the Herne Bay Historical Records Society

These two images are of casualties at the Military Hospital in Reculver Road, Herne Bay during the Great War and the wounded men are wearing 'hospital blue' uniforms. The military took over the two Passmore Edwards convalescent homes in Reculver Road and transformed them into a military hospital which (together with adjacent marquees) could accommodate a total of some 320 men.

Courtesy of the Collection of the Herne Bay Historical Records Society

A postcard showing the Downs, East Cliff in Herne Bay. Notice the text is written sideways, this was often done to fit more onto a card or to try and discourage the postman from reading the cards. The card was sent 10th June 1917

The transcribed text reads:

‘My dear Win _ Here we are – seems we have been too busy to write before. Hope you also R. are fit. Been to Margate today. See you on Sunday. Love from G and self. Best to R please Ys Mildred’

‘Miss Bathurst, 12 Goodmayes Lane, Goodmayes, Ilford, Essex’

Courtesy of D Price

This postcard is a rare treat to see. A novelty card, the front of the picture shows a Bi Plane where the wing of the plane folds out to show different views of Herne Bay. The postcard is from a father to his child and is an eye witness account of seeing these planes.

The transcribed text reads:

‘I saw 5 of these air ships down on the ground last Thursday evening. They came down not 5 minutes walk from here. From father’

‘Thurza Horton XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'

Courtesy of D Price

This image shows a group from the 'B' Company Kent Cyclist Battalion posing at the Pier Head. At the outbreak of war in August 1914, men of the 'B' Company of the Kent Cyclist Battalion - two-wheeled marksmen capable of crossing virtually any terrain at a speed of eight miles an hour - were stationed at Herne and ordered to patrol the sea-wall at Reculver. Their task was to keep a sharp lookout for the expected German invasion.

Image and text from the Collection of the Herne Bay Historical Records Society

These Images show the War Shrine outside Herne Bay's Town Hall (the site is now occupied by the HSBC Bank - the Town Hall was destroyed by fire in 1925). War Shrines (also known as Street Shrines) were common throughout the country during the Great War - the first street shrine being set up in south Hackney in London in mid 1916. The shrines were used not simply as a focal point for remembering the dead, but also to pray for the living who were away on active service.

Herne Bay's War Shrine was unveiled by Brigadier-General the Hon W E Cavendish and dedicated by the Bishop of Dover on Saturday 24th February 1917. The second image depicts the scene at the town's War Shrine on Armistice Day 1920.

Image and text From the Collection of the Herne Bay Historical Records Society

From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Horn Family: ‘James Horn Jr’: Courtesy of Diana Jones Nee Horn

This is the story of my Grandparents and their family during WW1. They were, I should think, a typical agricultural family of the period. They had 10 children, 5 sons and 5 daughters:

The eldest son James, a groom, was the first son to go to WW1. He married Mabel (Mab and Jim) in 1912. I have postcards sent to the family from Egypt and a card from Mabel telling them how lonely she is:

The transcribed text reads:

‘Dear Edie. Just a card & thanks for the P C Jim sent me a time back hoping you are well. Mab tells me you had a good time when you were at Tadworth and that you have been doing yourself well on the farm this year. Just fancy Jim getting off with one of these girls.'

The postcard below, we believe, is from Mabel.

The transcribed text reads:

'4.8.15 Whitstable: Dear Ma. How we wish all were here today. The sea is lovely and just now the sun is shining lovely. Love to all yours etc M ta ta.'

‘Miss Horn, Staple Street Farm, Nr Faversham, Kent’

James returned home safely and in retirement they lived in Reculver Rd Beltinge where I spent summer holidays, visiting aunts and uncles.

Image and text courtesy of Diana Jones Nee Horn

This image shows Herne Bay's War Trophy - a captured German field-gun - at the entrance to the Pier.

Following the cessation of hostilities and the close of the Great War, it was common for towns throughout England to be given British tanks or captured German field-guns as trophies and in recognition of their efforts in the National War Savings Scheme. Cities and larger towns normally received tanks, while the smaller towns were usually presented with field-guns. Originally displayed in the roadway in front of the Pier Theatre, Herne Bay's War Trophy was later removed to the War Memorial Park and finally - after protests from ex-service organisations that it appeared to be aimed at the War Memorial itself - to the foot of The Downs. It remained on this site until the Second World War, when it was duly removed and recycled as part of the war effort.

From the Collection of the Herne Bay Historical Records Society

The postcard below also shows Herne Bay's War Trophy. The date of this postcard is not known but it is believed to be post First World War.

Courtesy of D Price