Watford Detail

• by cyngast moderator

  Does anyone know what a Watford Detail was?

  The very last entry on this page says " 1 O.R. proceeded to England as a WATFORD DETAIL." (Author's use of uppercase.) This was for 31 Dec., 1918, and the battery had just moved to Germany by train from Solesmes.

  Posted January 18, 2016 5:50 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  I believe there were barracks at Watford, which elements of the 2nd Division were based at, so it could be a term for somebody being sent back for training or, at this stage, even demobilisation.

  Posted January 19, 2016 9:22 AM

• by cyngast moderator

  Thanks, Rob.

  I've noticed in several diaries that coal miners seem to have had priority in being demobbed. I assume that's because coal was desperately needed for the 1918-1919 winter. At first, I wondered if a Watford Detail had something to do with that, but there is no reference here to the man being demobbed, and there were prior comments in the diary of a few men going to a camp for demobilization.

  Posted January 19, 2016 5:50 PM

• by ral104 moderator, scientist

  Oh yes, mining was a crucial occupation - in fact, many miners were exempt from service to begin with, although a good lot of them joined the RE tunnelling companies.

  I think the best bet here is that the Watford Detail was the element of the unit back at base who looked after training, stores etc.

  Posted January 20, 2016 9:10 AM