horsham days

Harry Mollins' first stop was the English market town of Horsham, West Sussex.

Harry trained at Camp Raffey near Horsham until April 12, 1916. He speaks about the nearly constant rain and physical drills, writing letters and waiting for letters, going to church, reading books such as Martin Eden by Jack London, and a Horsham social life that included teas, theatre, dates (but no-one as lovely as the girl at home), musical evenings, skating and, of course, bike rides.

This photo is of Harry Mollins (far right), Harry and Fred Fownes (I think) and an unidentified friend on rented bikes in Horsham.

Sunday, Dec. 26, 1915
Paraded to church again this morning, the same church as yesterday. It was a beautiful morning, clear and warm. We were dismissed in town and a number of us went to a restaurant for dinner. Fred Fownes, Harry [Fownes] and I hired bicycles for a few hours and had a delightful ride thru the country. Fred Fownes and I then went to tea at Mrs. Hulme’s. In the evening met the same two girls we were with last night and went for a walk. Got back to the camp about ten o’clock.

A few years ago my father retraced some of Harry's travels in England and this is Carl Mollins, Harry's son, on that same Horsham Street almost 90 years later.