We again made our headquarters at Abbots Langley where Doris was born
on February 3rd 1916. Then followed one of the most difficult periods
of our lives. Father was away a good deal on deputation work.
When home he would turn to often doing washing, ironing or taking the
children for walks. Being wartime it was almost impossible to get any
help in the house.
Gordon, Betty, Phil (and AMW) at Abbots Langley
Family Group at Abbots Langley: GWW, Lawson, AMWwDoris, GrannywPhil, Bessie, Gordon, Nancy, Betty, Duncan
As our furlough drew to its close we were faced with that most
distressing of experiences, having to be separated from our two eldest
children. Never shall I forget the day when we took them to St.
Michael’s and left them there knowing that we would not be seeing them
again for four years.
So, in October, we took our journey back to Africa, travelling again
via S. Africa; haunted by the fear of being attached by
submarines. The ship on which we were travelling, S.S. Galway Castle,
was attacked and sunk on her very next voyage with great loss of life.
This tour we were sent up country to work amongst the Wakikuyu. Kabare,
where we were stationed, was a healthy place with a wonderful view of
Mt. Kenya from the house - Philip and Doris kept well and happy
although Doris was very frightened when a white man appeared one day.
The children and I only saw twelve white people during the 2½ years of
our stay there. Father used to go to Nairobi periodically for
Committee Meetings but always hurried back, riding the 90 odd miles on
his push bike, as he hated leaving us alone in such an isolated place.
GWW Philip, AMW Doris
It was interesting working amongst these pagan people who had so
recently had the Gospel message brought to them. Father’s work
included, taking simple services in the mud and wattle Church which was
also used as a schoolroom after the service. Men and boys came to be
taught but very few women and girls as they were away cultivating their
gardens. He also had classes for enquirers and later on for those who
wished to be baptized. We also had a small dispensary where simple
medicines were given out and where father often had to extract teeth.
In the afternoons he was away into the surrounding villages with some
of the recently baptized Christians who gave their witness to their new
found religion, singing hymns and praying.
During our stay in the lovely Kikuyu country, the rains failed
twice. There was a famine and water became very scarce.
Father conceived the idea of tapping a river on higher ground some
miles away and helped the people to cut a channel at different levels
out of the hillside, so that the water gradually ran down near their
villages, through their gardens to and beyond the mission station. The
people were very grateful for this and there was great rejoicing when
we saw the water.
Basil and Hugh were born while we were in the Kikuyu country. The
climate was ideal and the children were able to spend much of the time
out of doors under the trees. The evenings were cool, and,
because it was not possible to hold classes or meetings, the people
staying in their huts after dark because of wild animals roaming about
- we spent them in front of a lovely wood fire, reading, writing or
just talking.
Philip, Doris and Basil
This period of our life came to an end in June 1919 when we were
transferred to Mombasa again. Father had been asked to supervise
the teaching amongst Indian boys in the Buxton High School. It
was hard for the children to be cooped up indoors alter the free open
air life they had lived up country. Philip was nearly five and
full of energy which found expression in leading Doris into
breathtaking escapades, such as crawling along the guttering of an iron
roof near our house, finding his way up to the top of the Cathedral
where there was a flat roof with no protecting rail around it.
Baby Hugh lost weight and colour. So, after hearing from our
friends, the Rev and Mrs. Dunn that they would be willing to give us
shelter until we found permanent accommodation, we decided that the
best thing for me to do was to take the children to England.
Poor father, it was a distressing day for him when he saw our ship
sailing away from Kilindini in Dec. 1919. He continued working in
Mombasa, for another year, supervising the teaching in the Buxton High
School, also visiting and taking services for the English
Community. They appreciated his work amongst then so much that
they gave him a cheque for £100 when he left to come home to England.