Forthcoming lecture of the Hounslow & District Society
The Royal Parks in the Great War is the subject of the next lecture of Hounslow and District History Society at the United Reformed Church Hall, Chapel Road, Hounslow, TW3 1UL on Tuesday 31st October 2017 at 7.45pm.
The speaker is Mr David Ivison, the Vice-Chairman of the Royal Parks Guild’s Management Committee.
Mr Ivison will explain that trenches were dug in Kensington Gardens, the lake in St. James’s Park was drained to build Government offices, secret experiments were conducted in Richmond Park and potatoes were planted in the flower beds outside Buckingham Palace.
The Royal Parks were managed by His Majesty’s Office of Works when war broke out in 1914. The parks were used extensively to aid the war effort, including growing crops to mitigate the shortage of food, storing parts of aircraft, hosting recruitment rallies and rehabilitating soldiers in newly-built hospitals. Showy plants were kept out of sight. Many employees joined up to fight and 24 never returned.
Mr Ivison’s book will be for
sale. Everyone is welcome. Non-members are charged £2.00 which includes
tea or coffee and biscuits.
October 20, 2017