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Topics - halcyon.64

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We have just purchased this small grouping relating to the service of W. Shearring of Bermondsey. They appear to have been involved with the British Red Cross Society and the Bermondsey VAD hospital and the grouping was listed as having belonged to a female for this reason.

I've not managed to locate a W. Shearring who was with the BRCS based on their WWI Volunteer database. I did, however, find a William Shearring who was Mayor of Bermondsey during WWI. The role of Vice-President of the local hospital may fit with his position?

The grouping was originally bought in the UK in the early nineties. Would love to know more about it.

Thanks in advance
Kathryn

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Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / What is Bert's surname?
« on: Thursday 02 April 20 09:09 BST (UK)  »
Hello,

I bought a grouping belonging to a Royal Field Artillery serviceman by the name of Bert. Among the items was a very poignant photo locket with a photo of a soldier one one side and that of a young child on the other which included a lock of their golden hair.

There were some RFA insignia and one of the cards also bore that insignia. The second card is addressed to a Mrs B something. I have considered Blomer, B. Comer and B. Conner and none seem to fit. Bert could just be Bert but could also be short for Albert, Herbert, Hubert.

I was wondering if anyone here could decipher the surname. The address is real - 39 Swaton Rd in Bow East, London. Is it possible to look for addresses without a surname in the census?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Best regards,
Kathryn.

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World War One / 2'7 Cyclists ID bracelet
« on: Monday 19 August 19 10:41 BST (UK)  »
We have recently had a hallmarked silver identity bracelet donated to our museum. It would have had a leather strap at one point but we just have the metal part.
It is engraved with the following:
L'C R.J. Williams
2'7th Cyclists
291311 W.N.
I have looked in all of the usual places to try to identify this serviceman and would appreciate any information that people here may find.
Thanks in advance,
Kathryn.

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Armed Forces / Henry Thornton
« on: Thursday 23 May 19 08:17 BST (UK)  »
Hello,
I am hoping someone may be able to help me with information regarding Henry Thornton; Service Number 621 of the Royal Horse Guards. I have his service record from the NAUK. He was 19 years and 1 month of age when he attested on 4th February 1836, so was presumably born in either December 1816 or early January 1817. He was born in Reigate, Surry and at the time he enlisted was a cordwainer (a person who made shoes out of new leather).
He married on 25th November, 1850 but I can't work out who to.
He served abroad, was wounded and distinguished himself - I would like to know where if possible. He was still serving when he died aged 58 on 31st January, 1875 by which time he had served for a grand total of 38 years and 362 days.
I have a frame containing his good service stripes, a portrait plus his enlistment date - 2nd February - and death date.
I purchased this frame in Western Australia and would love to know how it ended up here. I would like to display it in our war and social history museum and having extra information would be wonderful.
Thanks in advance,
Kathryn.

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The Common Room / Looking for workbag doll owner
« on: Monday 06 May 19 01:27 BST (UK)  »
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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World War One / William James WILLIAMS - RNVR Depot Crystal Palace (HMS Victory VI)
« on: Tuesday 21 August 18 09:44 BST (UK)  »
I have recently bought a photo album that belonged to Petty Officer William James Williams of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. From what I have found out, he studied at Cambridge University where he was attached to Christ's College. He married Margaret (Maggie) A. Simons at Vaynor Parish Church on 7th August, 1918. There are reports of this in the Western Mail of 8th August and the Merthyr Express of 10th August, 1918.
He was a telegraphist/instructor at the Wireless School RNVR Depot, Crystal Palace.
Maggie was a teacher at Abermorlais School and was the youngest daughter of Rowland Simons of Taimawr Farm near Cefn Coed and Mrs Simons of Hanover Street, Merthyr (the address given in the front of the album).
I am struggling to identify William's service record. Who would have thought that there were so many William Williams?
The album contains many named photographic portraits of the people he presumably taught. I have managed to identify 50 with a good degree of certainty and a few others less convincingly.
I would appreciate any assistance to help me locate the service record of this particular William Williams.

Many thanks,
Kathryn.

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The Common Room / WWI Red Cross nurse - Theresa Marie CORNISH
« on: Tuesday 21 August 18 03:54 BST (UK)  »
I have recently purchased a nice grouping of items that purportedly belonged to a WWI nurse named Theresa Marie CORNISH. They were purchased at a house clearance in Sidmouth in 2012. The purchaser at that time wrote down some details about the nurse which included her name and the fact that she had served at a hospital in Boulogne, France during WWI and was evacuated from Guernsey during WWII.
I have had no luck locating any information about her and would appreciate anything that you may find.

Many thanks,
Kathryn.

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Armed Forces / Reginald Stuart Welch
« on: Friday 23 March 18 03:13 GMT (UK)  »
I have recently purchased a stained glass memorial to Reginald Stuart Welch. The inscription says that he was a musician and that he died on 22nd December 1915, aged 25, after months of service in the Urgency Cases Hospital, France.

His registration card shows that he was with the French Regiment with the rank Orderly. He received the French Victory Medal and the British War Medal but doesn't appear in the CWGC site as having died.

Can anyone help to unravel his story for me?

Thanks in advance,
Kathryn.

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Australia / Athol Cox and Eileen Merry
« on: Sunday 25 February 18 08:33 GMT (UK)  »
Hello. I have recently purchased a diary written in 1941 by Athol Cox. The seller told me that Athol and his wife (Eileen Merry) had originally come from Birkenhead in the UK and moved to Australia, where they adopted a relative who called them Uncle Athol and Aunty Eileen. They never had any children of their own.
I looked at the WWII Nominal Roll and there are 3 soldiers named Athol Cox - two were definitely born in Australia (Bathurst, NSW and Bairnsdale, Vic). The third - Athol Keith Cox - was born in Singleton - a place name in both Australia and the UK. His NOK is listed as Alfred Cox and his DOB 1920's
My feeling is that this is not the right person as his service number indicates he didn't leave Australia whereas this fellow was in Malta and the diary is Greek. I suspect he served with the British forces during WWII.
I would appreciate any information about Athol and Eileen so that I can tell his story better.

Many thanks,
Kathryn.

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