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:"A happier union could not be conceived and their mutual taste for gardening in its highest stage of development. Nothing but loving care and infitite trouble could have made Silk Wood and the surroundings so supremely lovely."<ref>Botanical Society of the British Isles, "Report for 1879-1947", Vol 8, 1926, p. 99.</ref>
[[Image:Keith and Stewart Menzies 1914.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Keith (left) and Stewart Menzies just before they left for Belgium in 1914.]]▼
When the War began in 1914 Susannah's two eldest sons Keith and Stewart went to fight.<ref>Brown, A. C. 1987, ' "C" The Secret Life of Sir Stewart Menzies', Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, p. p.63.</ref> They were both in the Second Life Guards
:"I suppose this 2nd Battle of Ypres has been the fiercest of the war. it lasted 6 days and there must have been close on 100,000 casualities including British, Grench Belgian and German.....Then the artillery fire was something astounding - it fairly took our breath away as it never ceased day and night - one continuous roar of the loudest thunder<ref>Brown, A. C. 1987, p. 86.</ref>.
In 1915 Stewart Menzies joined the intelligence section of the army and remained there until the end of the war.<ref>Brown, A. C. 1987, p. 92.</ref> After the war both of Susannah's sons returned home and married soon afterwards. Stewart Menzies became a frequent visitor of the Holfords and came to stay with them at Dorchester House and Westonbirt.<ref>Brown, A. C. 1987, p. 151.</ref>
Suannah and George sometimes entertained royalty at Westonbirt. In 1922 Queen Mary visited Westonbirt and afterward the Queen sent a letter to the Holfords thanking them. She said "all the arrangements you were made were so perfect in every way and the expeditions were the greatest success and very enjoyable."<ref>Queen Mary, Letter to Sir George and Lady Holford, 16 August 1922. From website, Christies http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?pos=7&intObjectID=3729278&sid=, (accessed 11 Jan 2010)</ref>
▲[[Image:Keith and Stewart Menzies 1914.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Keith (left) and Stewart Menzies just before they left for Belgium in 1914.]]
==After the Death of George Holford==
▲When the War began in 1914 Susannah's two eldest sons Keith and Stewart went to fight.<ref>Brown, A. C. 1987, ' "C" The Secret Life of Sir Stewart Menzies', Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, p. p.63.</ref> They were both in the Second Life Guards who were sent to Belgium in October 1914. They fought at Ypres and Stewart sent Susannah regular letters to tell her that he and Keith were unhurt.<ref>Brown, A. C. 1987, pp. 76,81.</ref> In 1915 Stewart Menzies joined the intelligence section of the army and remained there until the end of the war.<ref>Brown, A. C. 1987, p. 92.</ref>
In 1926 George Holford died having suffered for some time with emphysema.<ref>Brown, A. C. 1987, p. 156.</ref>As George did not have any heirs his property passed to his blood relatives in accordance with the will of his father Robort Stayner Holford. The main part of the estate went to George's nephew the 4th Earl of Morley<ref>UKForestry Commission, "History of the Collection" http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6XDCU8, (accessed 15 Jan 2010)</ref>. However Susannah was well provided for as he left her his personal goods such as jewellery and furniture and also an annuity of 10,000 pounds sterling per annum which was a veryy large sum of money at that time.
Susannah remained at Westonbirt until it was sold in 1927. She then moved to London and lived in a very palatial townhouse in Upper Brook Street in Mayfair until 1940.<ref>British Phone Books, 1880-1984.</ref>She then moved to a large house called Dassett near Woking which still exists today. In 1944 she died at Dassett at the age of 80 and was buried at Brookwood Cemetery<ref>"The Times, 20 December 1943 in Death Notices and Obituary.</ref>. Memorial
==Endnotes==
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