Looking for workbag doll owner

[mckha489]

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

[halcyon.64]

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.

[halcyon.64]

Wow! Good job! Surely that ties in?

[mckha489]

It depends if you think of it as a doll or as a work bag, doesn't it?

[mckha489]

Mary Campbell BENCRAFT she married  Frank Wake BEHRENS who died 1899

Mary C BEHRENS is in Exeter in 1939

[sparrett]

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  ) to Author 2 at some time.
It burnt.
Mollie gave the doll to author 2 in 1945.

Suspect....Mollie is Author 1.

Sue

[scotmum]

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.

[Mart 'n' Al]

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

[mckha489]

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)