Dear Atalanta and Kanskar
I read your correspondence regarding Annie van den Driessche (nee' Pinnell) with interest. I am a family and local history volunteer researcher at the Vale and Downland Museum Wantage Oxon and am at the moment interested in researching events in Wantage during the Great War 1914-1918 for an exhibition next year. During WW1 there were approx 50 Belgian Refugees staying in the Wantage Drill Hall in Springfield Road. The managers of the 'refugee centre' were Annie and Ivo.Annie was also the Superintendent of the women munitions workers at Wantage Engineering Ltd where some of the Belgians worked. There is a photo of the munitions workers with I believe possibly Annie in the centre. I have several questions that you maybe able to help with:
There were Pinnells at Charlton near Wantage at Parsonage Farm. Any relations to Annie?
Are there any family stories of Annie and Ivo's time at Wantage?
I am also looking for the names of any of the other Belgians who were in Wantage at the same time. Can you help?
Thank you
Trevor