The Traveling Gardner’s in England

In August, 1939, John Willis Gardner, his wife Helen, their daughter Marion Gardner Jackson, and another companion were scheduled to travel to Europe on the New Amsterdam. The ship was very new as it entered transatlantic service in 1938, the second Holland American Line ship with that name. Though monitoring conditions in Europe with war possibly looming, the family planned to travel to several countries on the continent. The August 6 Herald-Whig article announcing their departure said they… “have traveled abroad probably more than any other Quincyans… .” 

The Gardner party left New York on August 15 and arrived in England on August 22 where most people they met shared their belief that war could be avoided. But on September 1, Germany invaded Poland and on September 3, England declared war on Germany.

In the booklet, “Two Months-Too Long in England,” Gardner said this trip would be their last as he had just turned 76. The American travelers hired a Packard with a chauffeur for $17.50 per day and began their visit by taking a driving trip around rural England. He wrote, “ I have motored many places in different parts of the world, but there is, in my opinions, no place to equal the beauty of rural England.” After only a few days, they began to hear war rumors and decided to return to London. Hotel rooms were scarce due to war preparations. They reached Oxford when war was declared. In London they found air raid warnings, blackouts, and general confusion on the streets. They were issued gas masks. Businesses and theaters were closed. Train schedules were cancelled, as the trains were turned over for troop transportation. Twice while in their hotel in London they had to leave their rooms in the middle of the night and go to the air raid shelter in the basement. They witnessed the first children being sent to the country for safety. They saw entire offices being packed up and moved to the country. He said, “the people seemed to accept the situation with a set jaw and determination… .”

While in England, Gardner was asked why America was not involved in the war. According to an interview he gave to the Herald-Whig on October 26, 1939, he answered, “Why should we and besides, you haven’t paid us for the last one yet. Which he added, didn’t make him very popular.”

The English press was censored, and blank columns appeared in newspapers where an article would have been. It was compulsory to carried a gas mask. Gardner did not always do that and was stopped by the police and admonished. Gas masks were to be returned upon leaving the country, thereby making it available for others. For some reason, one member of the Gardner party kept her mask and returned home with it.

Their scheduled return trip on September 26 on the Dutch ship The Staatendam was cancelled. The Gardner family had to find another ship which took them a few weeks as hundreds of Americans from England and the continent were trying to get away from the war. According to the October 22 Herald-Whig “They were held up for many weeks in England awaiting passage home.” 

For their safety, the American Embassy and the British government sent Americans out of London. The Gardners were sent down to the coastal city of Bournemouth, where they waited with nothing to do. Gas was rationed and cars were not used. Nothing was open. Looking out of their hotel room, they noticed men with binoculars stationed around the coast scanning for submarines.

 Finally, they received word that they could sail on the SS Manhattan from Southampton, on the southeast coast of England, on October 12th to return home. All Americans received a letter from the American Ambassador, Joseph P. Kennedy, dated September 27, 1939. Two ships were being sent from America for repatriation of its citizens. Ambassador Kennedy said, “I ask once more that everyone who does not have any urgent reason for remaining should go home without delay.” He was repeating the advice given to Americans on August 24.

The Gardner’s were assigned a two-bed cabin for their party of four with extra cots in all cabins. The ship was overcrowded with some passengers sleeping in all available spaces and costing 40% more than the trip over. 

First, they sailed to Bordeaux France to pick up additional passengers. While in port no passenger was allowed to leave the ship. They watched a convoy of 24 ships, 18 merchant ships and six warships leave. The harbor was blacked out but when ready to leave, lights were turned on to illuminate the American Flags flying on the ship, hopefully preventing a submarine attack on a neutral vessel. One liner headed to Montreal from Glasglow, the Athenia, had already been sunk off the coast of Ireland on September 1. The Manhattan’s trip to New York was uneventful. 

Upon arriving in New York, the Americans had to surrender their passports. The government did not want American’s traveling. That concerned the Gardner family as they were hoping to take a trip to South America. Reaching Quincy the family was interviewed by the newspaper and gave fairly detailed accounts of England’s preparations and what they went through as travelers. In addition, by early December, Mr. Gardner had written a booklet entitled, “Two Months—Too Long in England.”

His detailed description provides a snapshot of that time at the beginning of World War II. He quotes the letter from Ambassador Kennedy which was sent to the American passengers stating that the ship had been sent to England to retrieve Americans. Mr. Gardner wrote that only about 1/3 of the passengers were Americans and 2/3 were Jewish refugees. 

 At the end of the booklet, Mr. Gardner says, “As I am now in my seventy-seventh year, it seems probable that my traveling days are over….It has been a great pleasure during all these years to remember the many friends I have made during my fifty-seven years of business experience… .”

Sources

“Booklet Tells of Experiences of J. W. Gardner.” Quincy Herald-Whig, December18, 1939, 12.

Gardner, John W. Two Months—Too Long in England. Quincy IL: Author, 1939.

“J. W. Gardners And Mrs. Jackson Landing Sunday.” Quincy Herald-Whig, October 22, 1939, 4.

“J. W. Gardners and Mrs. Royal Jackson To Sail for England.” Quincy Herald-Whig, August 6, 1939, 4.

 “Quincyans Have Exciting Experiences in England; Journey Home Uneventful.” Quincy Herald-Whig, 

October 26, 1939, 16.