Chapter 1. Victorian Life
This story has been prompted partly by the autobiography penned by my father, Albert Edward Kearey 1889-1971, a retired Cartage Manager, working for London North Eastern Railway (LNER), whose age at the time was 67; it contains: factual happenings, family records, and impressions, written and experienced only by him. His written work stimulated my delving into recorded history during those years, to add some forgotten facts and figures. Importantly, the whole has rested upon census forms for addresses, locations and job descriptions, plus certificates: of births, marriages, and deaths, to arrive at the facts of ‘who, where and when.’ My request to the Irish Herald for Grant of Arms, which has been accepted, has resulted in Clan status for the family; this has stimulated further searches into Irish and family history. Albert’s autobiography, written after his retirement, records his birth on the 21st March 1889 to Alfred Kearey and his wife Martha Sutton living at 5 Salem Gardens in the District of Paddington in the County of Middlesex.
Albert was the couple’s fifth son; later three daughters, and a further three sons, were to be born all of which lived in northwest London around the Royal Borough of Kensington. Thomas, the first child, died in his first year sealing the Irish habit naming the first son for ever and the second son was born later that same year. The family of ten children were brought up on the living wage of their father, a house painter and their mother’s occasional contributions earned as a local midwife and nurse. Martha had been, before marriage, a trained school teacher financed by her father, a Vicar and Chaplain to the Lord Mayor of London. Married women were at the time considered to be housewives and mothers, expected to maintain a well ordered home-life for the family. Married women, it was thought, could not do both adequately – it was believed that the children would suffer. This philosophy was accepted as the truth and upheld by Church and State. Later World Wars demanded the use of women to man industrial machines – the production of war materials being essential. The results turned out to be proof that women could equally do the tasks previously thought to be the preserves of men; however, it also became clear that child welfare had to be looked after outside the home. The same social changes occur for ageing parents – no longer do the youngest daughters of today’s parents stay at home and take on this burden. The State now becomes involved, becoming the controlling factor for all things associated with child welfare and the care of the elderly – especially for the poor, through the local doctor’s surgery – increasing the amount of tax paid by all. Education has been directed through a National Curriculum for all ages, from five till sixteen, onwards to sixth form till eighteen. It is expected for the majority to seek either a University Education or Apprenticeship.
Albert’s writings are revealing in that it gives a close-up of his childhood and pre-work life in Victorian Britain, unfortunately, he leaves out many important facts about his social and business life: as a keen Masonic worker, twenty years as a decorated Army Volunteer, and one of the original founders of The Old Contemptibles Association. There is also no mention of his Irish heritage even though Alfred and Martha’s first born son was named Thomas in keeping with tradition, his religious convictions, his piano tuition, courtship, marriage, children and grandchildren. One can only speculate why! These more intimate personal facts have been included in this book to make the story more rounded about the society of the time and to give continuity. There is no doubt that Albert needed a disciplined life which stood him in good stead.
Albert continues…my father (Alfred Kearey 1854-1917) was a house painter and stainer. His father, Thomas Kearey 1820-1867, a whitesmith, had died at an early age and left a large family of nine children. His wife – my grandmother, Hannah, I never knew, she too had died before I was born. Their family name was Chuter-Kearey, father Henry and mother Julia nee Stovold and according to family lore, had married ‘beneath her status in life’. She was apparently a helpless woman, and it seems she had really led a sheltered life, for she was unable to cook, make a bed or sew, and after my grandfather’s death, the children did all the housework. The family lived in a cottage on Salem Road.
Our house was small, consisting of four main rooms plus a kitchen, and an outhouse. It possessed a back-garden which backed onto the outside walls of the stables in Queens Mews. My maternal grandparents William Sutton and Martha Pearce lived next door to our house; my grandfather, a carpenter, had his work shed at the bottom of their garden. My grandmother Martha kept a hand laundry and employed women to deal with the excess work which came from a number of the large grand houses built in Bayswater in those days and had been trained as a school mistress. She had two sons, and seven daughters. One of the sons, William, enlisted in the Royal Marines and took part in the war of Egypt of 1884. He was invalided out, and soon after returning home died. The remaining son, and five daughters married at an early age, leaving just the two daughters, Emma and Tottie, at home.
Martha Sutton married Alfred Kearey in Kensington 1878, after being trained a school teacher. Her father, Willian Sutton, a Vicar in London.
My mother often told us, that when she visited her great-grandparents – the Pearce family, her great grandmother would tell her that when she used to see her great grandmother, she would be told incidents which occurred before and after the great fire of London in 1666, so that it seems our family had much to do with the great city of London. Salem Gardens was demolished by William Whiteley – the founder of the firm which bears his name – he went to school with my grandfather Sutton. He apparently was a close-fisted man, and any pretty looking girl assistant in his employ was soon the object of his desires. He met an untimely death years later when one of his offspring took revenge by shooting him.
Martha Pearce was the eldest of her family and appeared to be the drudge of the home. Little affection was shown to her by my grandmother, and in a fit of rage one day, when my mother had adopted a ‘quiff’ to her hair, she turned my mother out of the home. My mother sought refuge with a friend who lived in Caroline Place, who too, was a laundress. As she had no room in which my mother could sleep, accommodation was found for her underneath the ironing table. My father, who previously had known my mother, then came on the scene. Shortly afterwards they married.
After my birth, three girls and four boys blessed the family: Lillian Maud, b1890, Elsie Beatrice, b1891, Edith May, 1894, William Benjamin, b1898, Sidney Reginald, b1900, Edward Albert, b1920, (adopted) my mother added to the family budget by acting as a midwife to the families in the neighbourhood, and also as a nurse to those with other complaints. Sundays at our home when I was young, was never an enjoyable day. We were clothed in our Sunday best: shirts stiff with starch, trousers finely creased, black school shoes and school jackets worn. We had to attend Sunday school in the school in Queens Road (now Queensway, between Cromwell Road and Kensington Gore) and then afterwards the girls and boys were marched under a master and mistress to St Matthews Church in St. Petersburg Place for the long-drawn-out service. This church was the most imposing place. Pews were rented, I can well remember the aristocracy attending the service, followed in some cases by a footman carrying a bible or prayer book for their employers. On mother’s day, they were ushered into their pews, which had doors, by women whose job it was to see that they had a hymn book and cushion, to make sure that they were comfortable. These women wore black poke bonnets and white aprons. After church we would, in fine weather, walk to the top of the road to Kensington Gardens which contained the Serpentine River. To the north was Hyde Park and to the west Green Park, Constitution Hill, and Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, The Mall and Birdcage Walk a little further west.
The Kensington Royal Palace was occupied by royalty in those days, one being that of Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyle. Kensington Gardens on Sundays seemed to be the holy of holies. One had to walk and not run or else a Park Keeper would soundly admonish us for desecrating the Sabbath. In most of the churches near Kensington Gardens, the ladies and gentlemen would adjourn to the gardens to be seen strolling along the avenue leading to the Albert Memorial. This walk was termed the Parade, and there, up and down, paraded the ladies and dandies, bobbing and nodding to their acquaintances, but of course, observing us poorer youngsters with looks of disdain. Similarly those on horse-back would be exercising along The Mall. Children’s nannies dressed in black pushed their highly ornate prams with lace edged crème sun-shades at a gentle pace through the gardens.
Before the use of natural gas – first used in 1785 – gas production began in 1827, coal fires were burned in all homes for both the rich and the poor; for cooking, boiling water and heating; industrially, coal produced gas and the necessary power for manufacturing. This massive use of coal was felt in London which suffered from many dense yellowy, impenetrable fogs – making security from theft, muggings and rape a frequent reporting. Bronchitis, a common complaint of the elderly, particularly those that smoked, added to the shortening of men’s lives.
Albert’s memory of his abduction in 1892, at the hands of a chimney-sweep, paints the picture of London’s sordid life at the time. Chimney’s had to be regularly swept by the local chimney-sweep – to draw up the smoke; young children were used to crawl up narrow winding chimneys to free the soot attached to the brickwork often towing a rope behind them attached to a circular brush to be pulled out of the chimney at the top. Albert’s rescue by his mother demonstrates her strength of character and her will to assert herself. Child labour was often the only way families in both town and village could survive. School holidays aided the use of children in the field; many simple industrial operations could be performed by children. Albert remembered an incident in life which occurred in Kensington Gardens. He continued… In company with my three brothers, one Saturday morning, we had been sent to the Gardens. I was about two or three years of age – in fact, a toddler. When my brothers came out of the Park to return home, I apparently had been forgotten when they came out of the gates. I, in childish ignorance, trotted off on my own quite happily, when a chimney sweep saw me, picked me up, and planted me among the sacks of soot and brushes on his barrow. My brothers had returned home, and then suddenly noticed my absence. My mother was quite alarmed of course – ran up to the Park gates and, knowing the evil reputation of Notting Hill in those days, made her way in that direction by God’s good grace in her search, she espied a sweeps barrow, with her baby planted in it parked outside a public House, where the sweep had stopped to regale himself. As my mother got to the barrow, the sweep came out and my mother told him he had taken her child. The sweep tried to maintain that I was his child, but on arrival of a policeman, I soon clinched matters by yelling out to my mother and trying to clamber in her arms. I was soon restored to her, and the sweep was sent off by the policeman with threats of a summons. Kidnapping then was still in vogue, and Notting Hill with its slums was a noted place for all sorts of infamy. Kensington Gardens brings back the memories of coaching days, often, especially when we were on holidays, we would sit in the Gardens along Bayswater Road, and see coaches bowling along to Windsor, Ranelagh or Hurlingham, with four horses and the guard blowing his coaching horn. The infant school had no desks, children sat on eight ascending broad steps or ‘galleries’. It was here we were taught the Prayer Book to prepare us for confirmation, and from the bottom, ‘No. 1.’ then advanced up the scale to the higher classes, these were held in the larger hall of the school. Boys were apart from the girls, but each room held about five classes. There were no classrooms. Lessons were conducted in one big room by the head teacher Mr Dexter, an assistant, and about three female teachers. We were supposed to pay 2d per week for our lessons, but I never remember paying and, in any case, it was not compulsory. We were taught our multiplication tables by learning them in a sing-song manner which I think was very effective and of course the alphabet and spelling of small words like cat, dog etc. It was a happy little school and the girl teachers I remember were very patient and kind. After we reached the age of five we were sent to the junior school in Queens Road, now called Queensway.
I remained at this school until we moved from Bayswater to Kensal Green where I was sent to another school with a very high-sounding name of Princess Frederika Higher Grade school. Boys and girls were apart. It was a miserable school with elderly women teachers. I remember my teacher, who always seemed to be in the dumps, being dressed in deep mourning. I was glad when later we moved again to Paddington where I went to a school governed by the London School Board in Amberley Road, Harrow Road, adjacent to the Grand Canal and Westbourne Green.
I still have a great affection for that school. The headmaster Mr Williamson was a kind but strict man, and the teachers appeared to be capable and efficient. There were five classrooms, and when I left school, I could master the three ‘R’s. I knew a little French which stood me well in the First World War. We were taught elementary algebra, composition, drawing, geometry, and woodwork, and altogether we had a most comprehensive curriculum of learning.
I never forgot this school. I can cast my mind back to those dreary days when, in the autumn and winter months when it began to get dark, the teacher lit the gas lamps attached to wall brackets. This produced a miserable yellow flame which hardly penetrated the gloom, and often the thick yellowy fog, which prevailed in London in those days seeped its way into the classroom. All businesses and developing railways, houses and flats used coal for power: heating, washing and cooking. The coal deliveries were a daily feature throughout London. The coalman with his horse and cart, with his waxed hood and apron, hoisted the hundred-weight sack onto his back in preparation to pour the coal down shoots and coal holes in the pavement into the cellars of every building. The coal varied in quality, the cheapest produced even more smoke than expensive anthracite.
One thing I always remember is that we started each day with religious instruction. We had to learn parts of the Bible by heart, including prayers, and hymns. At the end of each day, we sang our closing hymn and recited our prayers. We too were taught to pay respects to older people, to take off our caps to masters and to lady teachers, to say ‘Sir’ when spoken to and generally to observe those courtesies which these days are ignored. Our spelling compared to the scholar of today, was of the highest order. We had to write properly and legibly. Copperplate handwriting was the standard and generally attained.
One thing however I rebelled at and this was the use of slates and pencils. No provision was ever made for cleaning slates, and these were either licked clean or boys spat on them and rubbed them with their coat sleeves. We certainly had exercise books, but these were provided for regular subjects – slates were used for less important subjects but I repeat, they were repulsive. Masters had authority to punish boys when this became necessary and to enter the culprit’s name in what was termed ‘The Board School, Cane and Punishment Book’. This was regarded in great awe by the boys, but it made us feel that we had to obey and so respect the question of discipline and order, making boys into respectable lads and later as fit parents of the future generation.
The masters of today are not to be compared with those of my boyhood days. We then had a master who taught us in all subjects. He knew us individually and our faults and failings and helped us. The master of today is a so-called specialist. For perhaps an hour he will teach us mathematics, to one form, then go on to another form for another hour and so on. He teaches nothing else but his specialism. The same applies for teachers in other subjects. They do not know their scholars individually, and all they seem to be interested in is to get one or two boys or girls so well advanced as to reflect credit on their so-called teaching ability.
I have to butt into my father’s discourse to emphasise that Albert was taught to play the piano at an early age and remained an accomplished player of the piano and pipe organ all his life attending many events being invited to play before company, to accompany singers and films, school assemblies and church.
Albert continued…I joined the Great Central Railway Company (GCRC) in March 1904. At that time there were no vacancies for junior clerks, and I was posted on probation on work in the Goods Office. A few months later a vacancy occurred on the staff of Thompson McKay & Co Carting Agents to the G.C.R and I was appointed as junior clerk at the age of fifteen. The Cartage Dept. then came under the jurisdiction of the District Manager. We had over 600 horses then, one Milnes Daimler 5-ton motor (rack and pinion drive, iron tyres) and a 10-ton Yorkshire Steam Wagon. All our horses were young and some untrained Carmen (horse drivers) were detailed off as “young horse carmen” for breaking in these animals.
As agents we carried out town as well as railway cartage, making cartage of heavy articles a speciality. Lots Road Generating station was a particular delivery for us. All bed plates, transformers and dynamos were carted by Thompson McKay, and practically all the sub stations were also serviced. Boilers up to 40-tons in weight were carted, and amongst the various jobs were, the Quadrigram at Constitution Hill, Queen Victoria’s memorial, Buckingham Palace, Duke of Cambridge’s statue, Whitehall, Hercules, Hyde Park, and many others. All this accomplished by horse cartage, at times twenty horses employed.
To cope with this heavy traffic, we had special cartage vehicles necessary to haul the 40-ton boilers and 40-ton boiler-cutts. All these specialities made my job more interesting and I soon learned to work outside my ordinary clerical duties: harnessing horses, feeding them, visiting the various markets and docks, outside office hours cover, doing anything to improve my knowledge connected with cartage work – it became almost a hobby, town cartage accounts, detention charges, ordering of provender and dealing with stabling. In 1910 we had additions to motor haulage in the shape of two 5-ton Rykneild motors (iron tired) one, 5-ton Straker Squire, two 3-ton Leylands and two 30 cwt Karriers (chain driven). Most of these motors were double shifted. We had no repair staff, running repairs were carried out by the drivers. Saturdays were regarded as ‘shed days’ for cleaning and adjusting. Any breakdowns were reported to Inspector Begent at Gorton, and in an emergency the services of Messrs Kersays, Motor Engineers, Marylebone, were sought. Six years after joining I learnt to drive and took out my first licence. I took frequent opportunities to drive after office hours with motors destined for our Limehouse Depot, or with motors collecting parcels from the London offices. At that time traffic dealt with at Marylebone Goods Yard consisted of practically all fish from Grimsby, wool for Huddersfield, glass from St Helens besides the ordinary run of goods. At times traffic was so heavy that teams had to be hired at the rate of 4/-s per ton for general traffic, and 5/-s per ton for dock traffic. Most teams had a vanguard – a body of men to off-load. My work routine carried on until World War 1 began in 1914. Being in the Territorial Army I was mobilised immediately for war service in early 1914, returning to work late in 1919. The Edwardian economy, business structure and social attitudes rested in part on the philosophy of Imperialism, and that was about benevolent exploitation and economic advantage. However, what marks the period was the direct intervention by a number of well-meaning individuals to improve the social and economic opportunities for all.
Britain’s population in 1901 was 42 million and growing fast. Railway goods traffic grew by one thousand per cent and the first of many steam tractors were now used to tow pantechnicons. The numbers of Carmen, carters and carriers grew in London to over a quarter of a million men and the delivery of coal and heavy equipment soared.
Chapter 2. The Boys Brigade
By the time of the South African War 1879-1915, when my maternal grandfather Harry was an Army Police Sergeant, it became obvious to the British Government that Volunteers and Conscripts to the army were unfit for the task needing better food and meaningful exercise to stimulate proper muscular growth – to enable them to become reliable soldiers. Sir William Smith jumped into action initiating The Boys Brigade in Glasgow 1883, eight years later in 1891 The Church Lads Brigade was founded in London and later Lord Baden Powell introduced the Boy Scouts in 1910. The Boys Brigade was by far the more militaristic organisation being issued with wooden rifles during their drill nights. The aim of these associations, and others, were to take boys off the streets in cities, to give them weekly: military drill, physical exercise and social skills, including playing military instruments: drums, fifes and bugles, with a fortnight’s camp under canvas in the summer. The local brigade throughout Britain was led by a Captain, with Lieutenants, Warrant Officers, sergeants and corporals leading squads of seven or eight boys. The 6th London Company was progressive assisting boys in their hundreds to prepare for life. Albert had joined the 6th London Company, Boys’ Brigade in 1900, at the age of eleven. The Brigade’s uniform aped that of the army – white haversack, brown belt and pillbox hat [The bands of the pillbox hat were pipe-clayed and the buckles of the belt and haversack polished brass]. The lads’ conventional school uniform, plus lapel badge and everyday black shoes, formed the basic uniform. Dummy rifles were issued to provide the necessary equipment for drill and parade purposes. All the drill commands and actions followed those of the Army Manual, of the 1880s. When Albert reached the age of seventeen in 1906 both he and a number of others of the same age agreed to join the local Territorial unit at the Kensingtons Battalion Headquarters.
The Regiment enlisted their men from the locality as did many other towns throughout Britain eventually these men were nick-named ‘chums’ they knew each other intimately, went to school with each other and danced with their sisters. Most had been to local Board Schools, some from Church Schools. Some had been members of The Church Lads Brigade, others from The Boys Brigade, a few from The Scouts. Many knew each other there before volunteering. The Kensington Regiment prided itself on its smartness and its excellent marksmanship at the butts – Albert winning many medals for its rifle team. The other Battalions making up the 56th Division were also local men from neighbouring drill halls, and they too, were known to each other – it was after all a London Division. Nevertheless the history of the Territorial Army created in 1908 was an updated version of The Volunteers. The Volunteers were part-time soldiers paid an hourly rate – exactly the same amount as the regulars. They attended an evening’s drill session once a week, shooting at weekends, and undertook a fortnight’s summer camp every year. This force was raised to defend the country – to be on hand when the country threatened – when the regular troops abroad. Their Headquarters and Drill Halls were built in most large towns with their members drawn from the local citizenry. They were not expected to serve overseas nor transfer to other units but in fact did. It was these men, together with The Regulars, which made up the British Expeditionary Force. They became known as the Terriers and were considered to be part of the nation’s social fabric – The Gentlemen were the officers and The Players, the men. If this sounds rather amateurish and light hearted in many respects it was. It could be described as a club where local men met, acted out a soldier’s life, and had a drink at the bar. Most Regiments and Battalions had their own Masonic Lodge which was a further binding institution. Every so often there was a dance, an annual camp, and an outing for the officers and their wives. Weekend shooting – at various ranges – included Bisley. These were a respected pastime in the battalion’s calendar. The sergeants too – had their club, and bar, as did the men. This volunteer system allowed the government to have a body of men who worked together – were immediately on hand for an emergency, and understood military procedures.
The Volunteer reserves are an important fabric of the country. Having it in place allowed the government to use it for emergency relief and to back up the police force, and other national services. The regular officers were in the main men of the middle classes, conservative in persuasion, although ignorant of political theory. Their pursuits were hunting, playing cricket, and after dinner games, involving horseplay. Talking shop was something, ‘just not done! ‘The country in the late nineteenth century was defended by a small standing army, and Militia – a body of troops raised from the citizens by voluntary enlistment. In ancient times it was a force raised by the Lord Lieutenant of a county for the sovereign – to be on hand in times of invasion, rebellion, or similar emergency. The men were to keep themselves available and serve for six years; training was to be for twenty-four days annually whilst providing their own arms and equipment. Initially, the Lord did this by detailing off one-hundred men from his estates, placing them under the command of a captain. This recruitment was achieved by compulsion, but later, the body of men were Volunteers. The final acts of the Militia were in the Crimean War followed a little later by the South African War. Thereafter the Militia was superseded – to become a more professional force of trained Volunteers; this came about in May 1859.
After the Crimea War the government realised that the country had insufficient forces available to defend the state. It was decided to have a Volunteer Force made up of three part-time corps of infantry, gunners and engineers. It did not take long for this force to be considered an important part of the nation’s defence.
On April 29th 1859, war broke out between France under Napoleon III, and the Austrian Empire [the Second Italian War of Independence], and there were fears that Britain might be caught up in a wider European conflict. Lord Truro, one of a number of aristocratic county landowners, raised the 4th Middlesex Volunteer Corps [West London Rifles], based at Islington. He maintained command for twenty years. The 1st Middlesex [Victorias] and the 2nd Middlesex [South] were raised by Lord Ranelagh. All three were to prepare for this possible encounter.
Two years later many of these isolated bodies of troops were amalgamated into battalion-sized units. By 1862, the government issued a grant: to provide headquarters, drill-halls, transport, uniforms and equipment. Later, the government, appreciating the worthwhileness of the scheme, removed the financing from those of county precepts to a national commitment. To carry out the reorganisation of the commission, The Volunteer Act of 1863 was announced, whereby each man was to offer their services to her Majesty through the Lieutenant of a County. An annual inspection process, overseen by an officer from the regular army, was put into place, and the standards set by order in council.
In 1872, The Secretary of State for War, by the Regulation of the Forces Act, ordered the jurisdiction removed from the County Lieutenants. The Childers Reforms of 1881, nominated, ‘that the rifle volunteer corps should be volunteer battalions of the new ‘county’ infantry regiments’. Childers set about ensuring that regiments were henceforth made up of two battalions – one based at home the other overseas. The intention was that there would always be a body of troops capable of responding to an emergency.
These changes took a further twenty years to be completed, including adopting a standard dress and designated names and badges. The Volunteers now numbered a quarter of a million men. This reserve force incorporated: the Militia – the country regiments, the Yeomanry – the mounted infantry, and the Volunteers – the urban regiments.
In 1859, the 4th [North] Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps was formed at Islington, and the 2nd [South] Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps formed in Fulham. The West London Rifles became the 2nd. Volunteer Battalion of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps in 1881; four years later they moved to Kensington changing title to the 4th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps. A further six years saw its title change yet again to 4th Middlesex [West London Rifles] Volunteer Corps.
The stimulus for all these changes was the South African War of 1899-1902. Three-quarters of those that volunteered were declared physically unfit – to fulfil the duties of a soldier. This shocked the Home Office. A call was made to recruitment officers through the Inspector General to find out why so many men were in such poor health. The conclusions were the plight of the poor, substandard housing, and lack of a healthy diet. These were considered equal factors. The legislative reforms made by the Liberal government went some way to correct the deficiencies. However, this correction process took another ten years.
In The South African Wars Britain sustained nearly thirty-four thousand casualties for the cost of two hundred million pounds. It was declared, ‘that the war had been a shambles.’ It did however point the finger at national shortcomings. Britain signed an alliance with Japan in 1902, France by 1904, and Russia in 1907.
Chapter 3. Albert starts work
Albert Kearey started work at the age of fifteen – as a three month probationary clerk, in 1904, working in the Grand Central Railway freight department, attached to Paddington Mainline Station, This was the Headquarters of The Grand Central Railway Company [GCRC]. He served out his probationary period but unfortunately there was no vacancy for a full-time clerk.
Thompson McKay & Company, a large freight haulage company, held the licence to deal with all the railway company’s freight. They had their warehouse and distribution centre next door to the railway company. The GCRC suggested to Albert that he should transfer to this company – who were advertising for a trainee clerk. He applied immediately and was offered an interview by return of post.
At his interview he mentioned his membership in The Boys Brigade. This greatly influenced the selection committee. The Board recognised the dedication and discipline necessary to be a corporal, heading up a section. They complimented him on his excellent school report and the railway company’s recommendations, telling him that his application was likely to be accepted, which it was, two days later. The next ten years saw his development from junior clerk to cartage manager.
1904, was the year the Entente Cordiale was signed. This was a treaty which gave France a free hand in Morocco allowing Great Britain to take over the ‘governorship’ of Egypt. Germany saw this as aggressive… Any move by Britain was a stab in the back to the Kaiser, who was paranoid about Britain’s grand designs – he saw this as an attempt to corral his ambitions of expansion… This was the start of Britain and France becoming allied against Germany and the creation of the British Expeditionary Force by Haldane at the War Office.
The General Election of 1906, brought a Liberal Government, under Campbell-Bannerman, to power. Richard Haldane was appointed Secretary of State for War. The Liberal Party’s manifesto centred upon social reform. They intended to do something about the poor health of the
Working-class and the amount of unemployment – ‘greater equality and equal opportunities for all’, was the cry. The Liberals were determined to push through all their schemes related to social reform even if it created a quarrel between the two Houses of Parliament. Poor Campbell-Bannerman did not live long enough to see the fight for he died two years later. The only bill he did see become law was, ‘that medical inspection was to be introduced into state schools’. This laid the foundation of the modern system of school clinics. His other great works involved his Resolution, ‘that within the limits of a single parliament the final decision of the Commons should prevail’. This broke the power of the House of Lords.
Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary of the minority Liberal Government of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, appointed Richard Haldane to the post of Secretary of State for War. Grey had committed The British Army to go to the assistance of France, if attacked, needed a strong pair of hands to ensure the army was up to the task. After much thought Haldane concluded that an Expeditionary Force was needed – settled on six infantry units. These six units required back-up to cater for leave, sickness, casualties and deaths by a home-defence force. Haldane further supported his suggestions by having drawn up two Field Service manuals implemented by the new Director of Staff Duties Douglas Haig. The supply of officers was filled by volunteers from universities and public schools trained by Cadet Corps and university Rifle Corps.
Grey dress uniform and British Home Service Helmet the Shako decorated with a spiked dome. The Edwardian Age witnessed the signing of the Entente Cordiale with France and later, in 1907, with Russia.
It was realised by Chancellor St. John Broderick, that the army was not capable of fighting a protracted war without the support of additional troops. Volunteers had to be brought in to fight in the war… afterwards reform was necessary to change the system… the Liberal Secretary for War Haldane set about forming the Territorial Force. These Volunteers were mainly local business people, craftsmen and professional, lower and middle-class men training at weekends and at the summer annual camp numbering two hundred and thirteen rifle corps.
Viscount Haldane engaged Colonel Ellison as a member of his staff. A year later the reorganisation of the army was complete. The National Army was to consist of a Field Force and a Territorial Force. The Field Force organised to be ready for mobilisation in the event of war. The Territorial Force would be there to train – to support and effect the expansion, a new force of fourteen divisions. was created by Richard Haldane in 1908, [Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907] becoming the new reserve volunteer force, made out of the previously civilian-administered Volunteer Force: this made up of the Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteers – the Militia being mainly those officers and men from the counties, the Yeomanry the mounted rifles and the Volunteers, men from the towns and cities. The new volunteers, with an overall strength of just over a quarter of a million men, were part-time soldiers paid the same rate as the regulars whilst engaged in military activities.
At home, in 1905, the Kearey family consisted of Alfred – the father, who was a self-employed painter and stainer, and Martha – his wife. The eldest child, after the death of Thomas was Alfred who was twenty, Sidney, the youngest, was five. It was a family of six boys, the four eldest were at work, and two girls.
Britain’s isolationist stance came to an end when she agreed a treaty with Japan in 1902 and then again with the entente cordiale in 1904… It was on the cards that Germany would force an issue with France. That moment came when The Kaiser sent his troops through neutral Belgium to attack France… That momentous event however was not on the minds of these keen lads about to join the Volunteers…
In 1906, soon after his seventeenth birthday Albert turned up at the Kensington Volunteer Rifle Corps Headquarters by appointment, to fill in the necessary forms and take part in the medical. If these were accepted the recruit had to swear allegiance to The Queen. It had been a bit of a wrench leaving the Boy’s Brigade for he had been a keen member for eight dedicated years taking part in all the drill competitions, and playing the piano for the Sunday bible readings. He left at the same time as a number of his friends having discussed joining the Territorial. It was an auspicious time, not that Albert and his friends realised the significance they couldn’t wait to get the uniform on.
After signing on the lads were led to the Quartermaster’s Stores to receive their uniforms. This was the most exciting part as they all fancied walking down High Street, Kensington, in their new uniforms. The colour of the cloth was field-grey with shaped cuffs. The buttons tarnished – just waiting for all the hard work to turn them into sparkling brass. The helmet, grey too, looked very similar to a policeman’s helmet, plus a spike on the top. All the fittings: spike, badge and chin strap, came separately, also needing much cleaning. The recruits were each handed a kit-bag to carry the boots, socks, shirt and vests, plus the belt, scabbard and bayonet home. They were bursting with pride.
The Kensington Rifles were adopted by the Royal Borough of Kensington, and granted permission to take the Borough’s Coat of Arms mounted centrally within an eight pointed star as their cap badge. Colonel A J Hopkins was the commanding officer for a further year and looked them over on the first drill night. The Kensington Volunteers moved to a purpose built Headquarters at Adam and Eve
The 4th Middlesex [North] Volunteer Rifle Corps [VRC] [Kensington Rifles], under the reorganisation of the Secretary of War, amalgamated with the 2nd. [South]Middlesex VRC, representing the London Boroughs of Kensington and Fulham. This amalgamation joined north and south Middlesex under one Battalion, to be called the London Regiment, Territorial Force Association. The 13th [County of London] Battalion, The London Regiment [Kensington] transferred to a Territorial Force, with its Headquarters and A-H Companies, at Iverna Gardens, Kensington.
In January 1909, the Army Council declared the Battalion should become a ‘line’ regiment bearing colours, relieving the battalion of its ‘Rifle’ designation. Brigaded with the Queen’s Westminster’s [16th London], Civil Service Rifles [15th London], and the London Scottish [14th London] in the 4th London Infantry Brigade. Lord Truro and Lord Ranelagh decided on a grey uniform with red facings, a shako with a glazed peak. The belts were to be black and the uniform trimmings were of buff laces with silver appointments. To contain an assortment of necessary items a starched white haversack completed the uniform. They became known as the ‘Grey Brigade’ mobilised for home defence at the start of the war although the uniform had been regularised to khaki some years previously.
The Regiments Headquarters was positioned close to the home of Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. King Edward VII was approached by The Regiment to ask if Princess Louise would associate her name with the regiment – he was to give his consent she took an interest in The Regiment organising the design and production of the regiment’s colours. The colours were duly consecrated and presented to the Regiment by King Edward VII at Windsor on the 19th June 1909. Thereafter the Regiment was referred to as the 13th London Regiment. The Princess Louise, four years later, consented to give her name to the Regiment.
General Sir Ian Hamilton was told by Haldane, on the 27th July 1914, that he was to command the Home Army – previously he had been Inspector General of all forces – Home and Overseas. His immediate duties were to defend the nation and mobilise the Territorial Force – who were at summer camp. This he accomplished rapidly, forming battalions, brigades and whole divisions, ready to replace regulars in overseas garrisons and fill up depleted ranks after the initial fight in late summer, early autumn. Hamilton considered the 1st London Division Territorial Force to be of ‘exceptional value’.
The 1st Battalion Kensington Regiment.
In 1914, the 1st Battalion were billeted in the White city stadium were there waiting to go to France – with The Expeditionary Force. The 2nd Battalion were at Abbots Langley, near Watford – their training, at summer camp, for ‘Home Service’; the 3rd Battalion was recruited much later.
The family moved again this time to 7 Errington Road, Paddington. Albert was twenty-four and a Sergeant in the Territorials and about to be balloted for membership to The Kensington Battalion, Masonic Lodge. It was November 1913 just nine months before war broke out. By the following January he passed to the degree of Fellow Craft in the Lodge and was promoted to Master Mason on the 4th March 1914.
From the 27th July 1914, Britain began to respond to the gathering crisis in Germany. Two days later, all British troops on leave were recalled and the army was mobilised. Lord Kitchener, the new Secretary of State, appealed for volunteers. An Expeditionary Force of six divisions [80,000 men] set sail for France… They arrived on the 6th August and moving northeast reached the small town of Mons, in Belgium. The first contact with the enemy was on the 22nd August. The agreement between Britain, France and Russia to go to each other’s aid began.
By chance, The Kensington Territorial Force had just been assembling for summer camps – had taken the train at Addison Road Station on 2nd August for Salisbury Plain. At 10pm that night they receive orders to report to their Drill Hall. Full marks must be given to their commander – that they were able to mobilise quickly, under their commanding officer Lieut. – Colonel F G Lewis, 1910-15.
The first days of August saw the ‘Battle of the Frontiers’ waged against the German Army by the Belgians and the French. The losses were terrifyingly high.