Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ

We are very fortunate to receive a great variety of records into our care, and sometimes a deposit takes us pleasantly by surprise.  On this occasion, it was an intricately hand-drawn map of 1943 by Corporal Robert H Wiley showing the area of operation in East Horsley of No 9 Platoon, 'A' Company, 5th Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Battalion Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard.  The map contains illustrations including a timber 'Hut that Jack built' by Company Sergeant Major (CSM) J Whitehead and a gun dog with rifle and bayonet. Also included are the names and ranks of platoon members; the commander, Lieutenant W T Turner, was head gamekeeper of Fuller's Farm, and the platoon was known as 'Fuller's Farm Fusiliers'. Around the edge of the map are inscribed places and names of buildings associated with East Horsley.

The artist, Robert Harland Wiley (also spelt Wyley) came to East Horsley with the Central Electricity Board (CEB) in 1939. He was born in Rawdon, West Yorkshire, in 1910, the son of Percy, a cabinet maker, and Eliza Jane (née Coates).  In January 1937, Robert married Katherine (Kitty) Annie Wright, a dressmaker, at St Mary's church, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. The wedding was covered in detail by the local press which reported that the couple were making their home in London where the bridegroom was employed as a draughtsman by the CEB. It also mentioned that the CEB had presented the couple with a canteen of cutlery as a wedding gift.

For the next two years, the Wileys lived in Harrow, Middlesex, but the 1939 Register shows Robert living and working at Horsley Towers in East Horsley, while his wife was back with her family in Melton Mowbray.  The CEB had purchased Horsley Towers when it decided to evacuate its operations from London on the outbreak of war. As the house was not large enough to accommodate all the staff, the CEB had eight interconnecting huts erected in the grounds. The staff worked from 9.30am to 5.30pm and every other Saturday.

At Horsley, many CEB employees were involved in the formation of a Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Social Council. This co-ordinated the social and recreational activities of business communities evacuated from London, which comprised thirteen firms employing over 2,000 staff.  Whilst initially developing sporting and social activities, the Social Council also encouraged community work to help the war effort, and was later extended to include representatives from firms permanently resident in Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ.  The Council's journal, 'The Horsley Boarder', paints a vivid picture of the lives, interests and activities of evacuated staff.  Contributions include witty illustrations by 'R H Wiley', notably '1939 and All That' (January 1940 issue) and 'Moving Times' (March 1940 issue).  The journal also reports that Wiley was unanimously elected as representative of the Art Class on the Social Council.

During his time in East Horsley, Wiley also enlisted with the Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard. As a man in his thirties, it is unclear why he was not conscripted into the Armed Forces but perhaps he had a reserved occupation as a CEB employee.  Wiley served as a corporal with No 9 Platoon, 'A' Company, 5th Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Battalion Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard, one of three platoons based in East and West Horsley.  Again, Wiley's artistic skills came to the fore with the creation of this beautifully illustrated map.

It appears that the map was created to mark the third anniversary of the formation of the Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard (initially known as Local Defence Volunteers).  In 'Around & About Horsley' (Winter 2000 issue), Alan Bowley recalls that the anniversary was celebrated by special parades of Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard units throughout the country on Sunday 16 May 1943.  'On that Sunday, 'A' Company paraded at Station Parade, East Horsley … It then marched along Ockham Road North, then The Street, and up to the Guildford Road, turning off at Blake's Lane, up to the Hog's Trough at Woodcote.' Here, an impressive demonstration of weapons was given by the Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard and, afterwards, tea was provided by their wives.

Little more is known about Robert Wiley, particularly where he developed his artistic talents.  His last connection with Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ is in the 1945 Electoral Register where he and his wife Katherine are listed at Port Quin, Green Dene, East Horsley, and they most likely moved away when CEB staff left Horsley. By 1965, Robert and Katherine were living in Wilmslow, Cheshire.  Robert died in Cheshire in 1995 aged 85, while Katherine died in 2020 at the grand old age of 108!

With thanks to Dr David Strong who discovered the map in a property in East Horsley and kindly donated it to Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ History Centre in February 2025.

Sources

• Alan Bowley, 'Say 'Halt' three times and then shoot', in 'Around & About Horsley', number 171, Winter 2000 (reference J/73/69).
• Pam Bowley, 'East and West Horsley in World War II' (1986)

Images

Select image to view a larger version.

• Hand-drawn illustrated map in ink by Corporal Robert H Wiley, Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard. Shows area of operation in East Horsley of No 9 Platoon, 'A' Company, 5th Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Battalion Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard, 15 May 1943 (reference )
• '1939 and All That ' illustration by R H Wiley, published in the January 1940 issue of 'The Horsley Boarder' magazine, 1940 (reference )
• ''Moving Times' illustration by R H Wiley, published in the March 1940 issue of 'The Horsley Boarder' magazine, 1940 (reference 9348/1)
• Photograph of members of East Horsley Platoon, Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Guard, 1940s (reference ) which may include Corporal R H Wiley.