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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: halcyon.64 on Monday 06 May 19 01:27 BST (UK)
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Hello. My husband and I have a a war and social history collection/museum on our farm in Western Australia. One of the things I am interested in is what disabled soldiers did for rehabilitation and work after the Great War.
I recently purchased a sewing workbag which comprised the top half of a bisque doll with a skirt used to place sewing items. There is still a cotton reel inside. It was made at The Royal Star and Garter Home for Disabled Sailors, Soldiers and airmen in Richmond, Surrey.
In a pocket on the skirt was a note - photo attached. I have established the authenticity of the note as Fydell House in Boston Lincolnshire was indeed hit by an incendiary bomb on Good Friday 1941, starting a fire. Supposedly at the time, the only person living there was the housekeeper named Phoebe Rennell who appears to have been a calligrapher of repute. However, I don't believe that she had any children and I can't find any links to people with the names Clara, Mollie or Peter . I'm willing to be corrected though!
I am hoping someone here is a better detective than I am as I would love to uncover the story behind the doll and its former owner.
Many thanks,
Kathryn.
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Thinking aloud..
Aunt Mollie was given it by Clara. So Mollie and Clara were either related or friends. But definitely of the same generation
Aunt Mollie gave it to 2nd recipient who had also been given a similar item by "Aunt Clara"
Makes you think Mollie and Clara are sisters.
Clara and Peter moved to Exeter in 1935. And Mollie was living in Exeter
text implies Clara and Peter are husband and wife - good for a working hypothesis anyway.
However there are no Clara and Peter couple showing in the 1939 that I can see.
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I think your reasoning is sound. So sorry that I’ve got you going round in circles like me! Thanks for your help.
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in 1939 Phoebe is at Fydell House. She is single
BUT there are two redacted entries. So is one of them the owner of the bag that was destroyed?
Its a long way from Boston (Lincolnshire) to Exeter!
Phoebe was born in 1883 so seems old to be the recipient of a new workbag from an Aunt in 1941.
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"Phyllis is my only joy"
Phyllis is my only joy,
Faithless as the winds or seas;
Sometimes coming, sometimes coy,
Yet she never fails to please;
If with a frown
I am cast down,
Phyllis smiling,
And beguiling,
Makes me happier than before.
Though, alas! too late I find
Nothing can her fancy fix,
Yet the moment she is kind
I forgive her all her tricks;
Which, though I see,
I can't get free;
She deceiving,
I believing;
What need lovers wish for more?
Charles Sedley
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I found that too and thought it was a rather strange name for a child's doll! I wonder what she looked like?
I have contacted the people at Fydell House and they are intrigued by the connection with their building. They are going to post the same pictures and story in their upcoming newsletter to see if anyone locally can shed any light.
Thanks again.
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Phoebe RENNELL made lovely documents of poetry in calligraphy I think.
Maybe the thing which was replaced was an illuminated manuscript of the poem lost in the fire.
Sue
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Thats a thought Sue.
When do we think the second lot of writing was written?
However - if the piece of paper with the first writing on it accompanied the doll, it seems logical to add your own bit of writing soon after receiving it.
So I don't believe the second recipient was a child.
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Oh, gosh that is the exact same doll I had,it is French Jumeau,not sure of the spelling.
Mine had a papier mache body with jointed arms and legs as originally they were little fashion mannequins for couturiers.
Her hands would have been very elegant ,which made dressing her as a child’s doll very difficult.
I got mine about 1941 or 2 when I was evacuated during the war.
Second hand of course as toys were hard to get and Mum ( aka FatherChristmas ) got me some little treasures .I did not know and would not have minded that they were not new.
She was named Miriam,as I had a little boy doll and he was Moses as he slept in my auntie’s sewing basket so to me like Moses hidden in the bullrushes in a floating basket from the Egyptians,Miriam was Moses’ big sister.
Closing eyes,and tiny teeth peeping in her mouth.Real hair .
A red white and blue “ target “ trade mark on her back and a number on her neck.
Strung together by very strong elastic cord.
Tiny little kid shoes.
I think a Jumeau Head has been used.
Made specially for the purpose you have,her arms also in porcelain unlike my full length doll which had the jointed papier mache limbs.
As to what ex servicemen made ,well I have a little sewing stool,opening lid and four small bun feet.Upholstered but now recovered by me but over the original fabric.
Label says:-“ Made by British ex Servicemen at the British Legion Village”.
The original fabric is classic 20/30s Art Deco.
I think small,items of furniture, toys, pegged rugs etc would be made by the ex soldiers ,sailors.
AlsoI think a type of woven furniture,Lloyd Loom, which was wire covered by twisted paper and woven . We had a chair and washing basket with a hinged opening and glass top.Very handy, painted in pale green with a little gold paint brushed on the corners. They were wedding presents to Mum And Dad .1933, it went out of fashion but is now very collectable.
I think the factory employed ex servicemen.
It is lovely to see “ Miriam “ again.
Thankyou,
Viktoria.
PS The Star and Garter Home was for retired stage people but stage people who hsd served in WWI would be there of course too.
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According to a tree on Ancestry
Phoebe Rennell's mother Lucy Elizabeth Bencraft had a sister Clara Louisa Bencraft who died 1938
and another sister Mary (Mollie???) who died in 1947
Can't see a Peter yet though
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What a lovely lot of replies. I am so glad I posted the question even if we don't solve the mystery.
Yes - Phoebe Rennell did a lot of illuminated Honour rolls after the Great War - assuming it is the same person (born in 1883). Someone else suggested that she could be the writer and receiver of the doll but she would have been in her fifties in 1935-41 so why would anyone be giving her a doll at that age?
We have a lot of items made by soldiers after the war - embroidery, art therapy paintings, leatherwork, pottery. I have a tray made from tiles and timber from St Dunstan's - a home for blind soldiers. I also have a WWII era photo album from a Cardiff munitions factory where they employed blind soldiers to sort cartridges. Another album from WWI relates to the British Red Cross Society in The Hague and shows mechanical and leathermaking workshops in a new rehabilitation hospital.
I find it all fascinating. Thanks to all who have contributed so far and special thanks to Viktoria for sharing her story.
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Wow! Good job! Surely that ties in?
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It depends if you think of it as a doll or as a work bag, doesn't it?
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Mary Campbell BENCRAFT she married Frank Wake BEHRENS who died 1899
Mary C BEHRENS is in Exeter in 1939
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Mckha489's interpretation in slightly different words-
Clara gave the doll to Author 1 in 1935
Clara gave the manuscript ( I'm sticking to my theory here ;D) to Author 2 at some time.
It burnt.
Mollie gave the doll to author 2 in 1945.
Suspect....Mollie is Author 1.
Sue
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Clara Louisa Bencraft 's married name was Spilsbury. She died, a widow, at 45 Cardigan Road, Leeds, Yorkshire, however a legal notice about her estate gave her late adress as 3 Prospect Street, Exeter. Probate was to a Major Francis Spilsbury.
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Viktoria, you might know something I don't (I'm sure you do!), but I don't think the Star & Garter Home was for retired stage performers.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Star_and_Garter_Home,_Richmond
Are you thinking of nearby Brinsworth House in Twickenham?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinsworth_House
We visited the beautiful S&G a few years ago on an Open Day.
Martin
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on our farm in Western Australia.
So, we've got to get it to Australia too.
the Bencraft's, other than the youngest, were born in Australia,
Clara Bencraft's son John Spilsbury seems to have ended up in Tasmania with his family, but judging by cemetery records it was before 1941. However perhaps it was given to one of his children on a visit back to England at some point? (Assuming it was Phoebe's given to her by Mary, who had previously been given it by Clara)
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I brought it to Australia to add to our collection. I bought it off eBay UK from a seller who purchased it at an auction. Details as follows: Lot 138 on 21st Feb 2019
Adam Partridge Auctioneers and Valuers,
The Cheshire Salesroom,
Withyfold Drive,
Macclesfield,
Cheshire, SK10 2BD, UK.
Not sure how that ties in as I am unfamiliar with the location of the various counties in the UK.
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;D ;D ;D
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Viktoria, you might know something I don't (I'm sure you do!), but I don't think the Star & Garter Home was for retired stage performers.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Star_and_Garter_Home,_Richmond
Are you thinking of nearby Brinsworth House in Twickenham?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinsworth_House
We visited the beautiful S&G a few years ago on an Open Day.
Martin
Thanks Mart, I wonder if I am getting mixed up ( I am anyway! ;D) with the support the home(s) get(s) from show business people,? I am pretty sure there is a connection.
Must have seen something onT.V.
Perhaps as they seem pretty luxurious show business people retire there?
I will google it which is what I ought to have done before rushing in!
Thanks again, you learn nothing new if you are not given the correct information when you are in error.( you are also I imagine bigger than I am
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D) Viktoria,( 5’)
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Googled it and they are for veterans and partners,especially veterans with dementia.
Was there perhaps a pub with that name ,connected to showbiz.
Can’t think where I got the idea .(It ‘s me tablits!)
Funny ( not really) that you remember perfectly well what did not happen but forget what did!
Cheerio ,Viktoria,I think.
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Thanks to all those who contributed. As usual, I am blown away with the knowledge and ability of the people on this forum. There is seemingly nothing you can't solve between you. You're all awesome! :) :) :)
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Was there perhaps a pub with that name ,connected to showbiz.
Yes there was Viktoria. I can just remember it, but it wasn't a real pub ;D
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_and_Garters
Carol
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Fascinating thread, though I don't have anything very useful to add....
But a couple of thoughts.
1) I can't really see that either of those notes were written by a "calligrapher of repute".
2) I like dolls. Nearer to 70 now, but I would still be delighted to be given one, (especially a sewing one as that is another hobby), and this one was intended to reduce the trauma of losing so many treasures in a fire.
3) Children will often grab a whole book title or sentence as a name, if they hear it often. When I was small, I was given a cloth doll from the West Indies I called "Cindy-don't-let-me-down", due to a very popular song at the time. :)
1956 Eddie Fisher: "Cindy, oh Cindy, Cindy don't let me down, write me a letter soon, and I'll be homeward bound." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jZVpTtYyPs
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Since posting this here, I have had confirmation that the second lot of writing really was done by Phoebe Rennell. By contacting the auction house, the people at Fydell House managed to get in touch with Phoebe's great niece Caroline whose own niece placed the doll in the auction. She said the doll was kept in her drawing room and Phoebe used to joke that everything of value was destroyed or damaged (in the fire) but the toilet rolls survived.
I fully agree with your second and third points. It sounds as though Phoebe lost everything in that fire so it was kind of her Aunt Mollie to give her the replacement doll.
When I was little, I apparently had a book with two characters in it called Amanda Sue and Samantha Jane. it is what I called my two cats way back then. I have no recollection of the book.
Thanks for your input.
Kathryn.
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Thanks for the update. Sad, in a way, that a doll with so much meaning attached to it, is no longer part of Phoebe's family, but wonderful that it has found a home where so much care and attention is being given to its preservation by yourself.
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Thank you! It's what I like doing best - rescuing treasures and telling their stories. Our museum is called 'Recollections of War' and that's what it's all about.
I have a few other items I'd like a bit of help with but should probably start new threads?
Thanks again,
Kathryn.