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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Berkshire => Topic started by: janjim on Saturday 01 April 17 09:53 BST (UK)
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Mabel Edith Kate Greenfield (later known as Mabel Broadbridge) was born in 1895 at Newbury. She was daughter of Ada New who had married John Greenfield, but later was known as Ada Broadbridge.
We believe that Mabel became a Missionary in Shanghai between 1937 and 1946 during the second Sino-Japanese War.
I wonder if anyone in Newbury knew of the work she performed over there, and also believe that there is a book out called "Too Old at 40", The Story of Mabel Broadbridge; about her missionary work in Shanghai.
It would be interesting to know if any persons in Newbury knew about her life.
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The book is available on Amazon.
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Thank you, will check
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Hi Janjim. I am Mabel Broadbridge's great niece. She was Aunt to my Dad - now 87. Mabel's sister, Alice (born 1904 or 06? & died in 1952) was my Dad's Mum. I never met Mabel & my Dad last saw her before she went to China in about 1937. Mabel wrote to my Dad often from China & used to send him small gifts. My Dad then lost contact with the Broadbridges as his own parents marriage broke up during the war & he stayed with his Dad. As far as I know the Broadbridge family came here to Birmingham in the early 1900s. The family lived in Handsworth & Dad Broadbridge was a tram driver. According to my Dad the Broadbridge family last lived in Cornwall Road, Handsworth. There were three girls Mabel, Annie & Alice. Dad is certain there were two sons but there may have been another, my Dad can't quite remember. As far as I know Mabel didn't carry out any work in Newbury. She worked in B'ham in a factory (I think) & then at some point went to China. During the war she was in a prisoner of war camp run by the Japanese. After the war she continued to stay in the Far East - as far as I know in China & then Hong Kong. In the early 70s she returned to the UK & lived in Southampton. Mabel died in 1980. I have the book you refer to. It is written by John Butterworth & gives a lot information on Mabel's life. Do try & get the book, I got it off e-bay. Hope this is of some use to you.
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Wonderful to hear from you, Mabel's Mother Ada New is my Great Aunt, older sister to my Grandfather Charles Edmund New b. 1876 in Newbury.
Ada New married John Greenfield in 1895, he was a House Painter at that time. Their children were:
Mabel Edith Kate Greenfield b. 1895 Newbury
Charles John Greenfield b. 1897 Newbury d. 1897
Charles William John Greenfield b. 1898 Newbury
Frederick George Greenfield Broadbridge b. 1903 Handsworth
Albert Edward Greenfield Broadbridge b. 1905 Handsworth
Alice Phoebe Greenfield Broadbridge b. 1906 Handsworth
Ada Annie Broadbridge b. 1911 Handsworth
I have been quite an amount of research of late, think we need to contact each other by private message, if you are able to do so.
My Grandfather Charles Edmund New came to Australia in 1912 where a number of the New family members progressively migrated. Grandpa New often spoke of his lovely sister Ada.
jan