Harefield Anzac Pilgrimage


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My Harefield Anzac pilgrimage has been well and truly documented - see my blog at www.bruceweb.com.au/correspondent. But here are some photos to accompany this wonderful story. Up early, I cycled from my house to Marylebone Station in North London to catch the Chiltern Railway out to Denham. On the way I stopped to take this photo of the dawn in Kensington Park, just near the Palace where Princess Diana once lived. It was bloody cold and there was ice everywhere. Although I made it to the train station in plenty of time (so I thought) the bloody ticket machines decided they didn't like my emergency replacement VISA card. So I had to line up at the ticket counter, and of course, a busload of Asians just happened to walk in at the same time and I got stuck waiting in line for 15 minutes, uagh... Missed my train by about 20 seconds thanks to this, and sat down to read a book for an hour. Looked up to see in mild amusement that the same people who had queued for so long in the ticket line were now all queued up outside the coffee shop. I will never understand the British fascination with queuing. In my opinion, better off coming back later when it's less busy - unless of course you NEED to catch that next train... Generally speaking, it's fairly easy to get your bike on the trains in the UK. Most companies have fairly good cycle policies, which is fantastic for doing little day trips around the country. You can often pick up train fares one-way for about £5. I got myself a £3 fare to Hastings last week, cycled to Brighton and then got a £3 fare back from there too. Cheaper than the tube in peak hour!
The train trip to Denham is only about 26 minutes, but it feels like we are now well and truly out of suburbia. Welcome to Harefield! First pub that I pass is the Horse and Barge. Might stop in here for a pint on the way back from the church. Too early now, it's not actually open yet. Bugger.
On the otherside of the road from the Horse & Barge, I'm amused to see that the bus stop is officially named after this fine establishment. This photo is taken at the top of Church Hill Road, which I had to climb to get from Denham into Central Harefield. It's pretty much the main road through town. I am starting to see some old houses and shops as we come into the centre. Love the clear blue skies and the crisp, fresh air! The Harefield Pub. For some reason, I only just figured out the significance of the name Harefield, when I notied the sign hanging outside this pub. Obviously there is (or used to be) a lot of hares or rabbits around this area?
Just through the main street of the town and off to the left (West) is the entrance to Harefield Hospital. This sprawling complex sits on the grounds of the former Harefield Estate which was taken over by the Australian Army in 1915 to form the #1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital during WW1. The main entrance to the reception area. Another view of the hospital entrance from further back.
The plaque honouring Alexander Fleming, the famous pharmacologist who was appointed to this hospital in the 1930's and who is attributed with discovering penicillin. Inside the reception area. Funnily enough, nearly deserted even though the hospital is clearly fully operational. But then it is just two days after Christmas. I notice the sign leading to the Anzac Centre. Inside the Anzac Centre (which is kind of a mini reception area for one of the specialist wings of the hospital) are a series of photograph displays and commemorative plaques. I took photos of the photos hanging on the wall, and the lighting unfortunately wasn't very good for my camera flash. Still, some of the photos are worth reproducing here. This photo shows an amputee playing a game of cricket. Despite batting whilst standing on only one leg, this digger is all smiles. Notice the one armed fielder in the background, and the nursing sister at wicket.
This photo depicts one of the nursing sisters petting a kangaroo. What's a kangaroo doing in Harefield? Morale support for the injured and probably homesick diggers is all I can think. Cute though. This is the 'Amnesty Wheel'. It was drawn up like a pie chart with each slice representing a different room or ward within the hospital. It is signed by every Anzac who was present at the hospital at the time of the ceasefire on 11th November 1918. Hopefully you can read this after it's been uploaded, but it's the commemoration plaque that describes what the Anzac Centre is all about.
   
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Description: Back in 1915, the Australian Auxiliary Hospital was established upon the grounds of Harefield Estate, some 20 miles north-west of central London. Had it not been for a letter I received from my dearest Patron of Cronulla SLSC, Barry Ezzy some nine months ago, this particular fact may have slipped by me unnoticed. However since Barry's father was apparently treated out here during WW1, I soon found myself on a train, heading out to research the Anzac link at Harefield, and meet the Vicar of the local church which is the focal point of possibly one of the finest annual Anzac Day tributes outside of Australia...
Location: England

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