Victoria Memorial – Memorial To The First Diamond Queen

Posted on 2 June 2012 by
The Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace

The Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace (click to enlarge)

This famous monument, situated at the top of the Mall outside Buckingham Palace, will be prominent over the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend so I thought I’d post a picture probably taken by my gran, Ivy Alice Hibbitt (nee Dando), some time during the 1950’s. A postcard from her sent from London to my grandpa has recently surfaced. It’s postmarked 29 Aug 1955 and it’s possible this photo was taken on the same trip.

In many respects, the scene hasn’t changed all that much since the beginning of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign until now. The statue on top of the Victoria Memorial looks much shinier these days compared to back then and the white marble is cleaner too. Was the hazy sky a consequence of the ‘smog’ that London was accustomed to having at that time or was it simply a misty day? I rather like the old-fashioned cars and the policeman standing there in his helmet.

I wish Her Majesty a happy Diamond Jubilee and many more years to come.

(From my grandpa’s collection of old slides – see this post for more information.)

Posted in Grandpa's Old Slides |

The Mystery Of The Prayer Book

Posted on 31 May 2012 by

I have in my possession a Book of Common Prayer with Hymns Ancient & Modern previously belonging to a Florence Smale, or possibly Small.

Book of Common Prayer with Hymns A. & M.

Book of Common Prayer with Hymns A. & M.

Inside the front cover of the prayer book it states:

Florence Smale [or Small?, it’s difficult to read]
Prize for Religious Knowledge
W.G.F.
Easter 1904

Who was W.F.G.? A vicar or Sunday School teacher perhaps?

Inside the Book of Common Prayer with Hymns A. & M.

Inside the Book of Common Prayer with Hymns A. & M.

Inscription inside the front cover.

Inscription inside the front cover.

There is a note inside the back cover as follows:

Florence E C Small [could be Smale]
Oak Hill
East Budleigh
Devon
Somewhere in Blighty.

Note inside the back cover bearing Florence E C Small/Smale's address.

Note inside the back cover bearing Florence E C Small/Smale’s address.

Although Florence Emily C Small became Florence E C Smale when she married Charles Henry Smale, this book has been passed down to me, a descendant of her sister-in-law, a different Florence Smale (later Weaver), so it may not have belonged to Florence E C Small/Smale at all, even though the reference on the back cover definitely relates to her as she was from East Budleigh.

Posted in Ancestors Corner | Tagged , |

Ann Murch’s Antique Embroidery

Posted on 15 May 2012 by

Studying family history never ceases to amaze me – I never know what’s going to turn up next. Last week I was contacted by a distant cousin in Canada who mentioned that she owned a gorgeous embroidery which was worked by my 4 x great-grandmother, Ann Murch.

Antique embroidered map of England & Wales by Ann Murch

Antique embroidered map of England & Wales by Ann Murch

I know very little about Ann except that she was born in about 1780, married Joseph Dando, the elder, in Bristol in 1801 and died on 11th May 1831. Therefore, imagine my surprise to discover that such an object was created in the first place and that it has survived and stayed in the family for more than 200 years.

The embroidery takes the form of a map of England and Wales and bears Ann’ s name and the date, 1794. Ann would have been 12 or so when she made it. Although I’ve only seen it in photos, I should imagine the embroidery is a couple of feet high and it sits behind glass within an oval, gold-coloured frame.

Some of the place names are interesting too – the North Sea is called the ‘German Ocean’ and Scotland is ‘North Britain called Scotland’. I see Plymouth on there (spelt Plimouth), which is where I live, and Ann has included Bristol where she and Joseph shared their married life together.

Not only did I discover the existence of the embroidery but I also learnt from my cousin that there’s a family connection by marriage to the poet, W H Auden.

(Photograph kindly supplied by Sally Tozer)

[Update: since I first posted, I’ve managed to make further progress on some of Ann Murch’s ancestors. Click on Ann’s ‘Father’ & ‘Mother’ links on this page to see more.]

Posted in Ancestors Corner | Tagged |

716 Pte Robert Jones V.C. Fighting The Zulus At Rorke’s Drift

Posted on 18 April 2012 by
716 Pte. Robert Jones V.C.

716 Pte. Robert Jones V.C.

Last week, whilst I was in London for the day, I paid a visit to the Imperial War Museum. I had a specific reason for going – I wanted to see the medals on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, in particular, those which were awarded to Robert Jones V.C. (1857-1898).

I am related to Robert in two ways; his maternal grandfather, Richard Fryer (1792-1862), was my 4 x great-grandfather, and his maternal great-grandparents, Benjamin Pitcher and Sarah (nee Rice), were my 4 x great-grandparents. Put another way, he was my half 1st cousin 4 times removed as well as my 2nd cousin 3 times removed.

From the letters in his name, it is already apparent that Robert earned the Victoria Cross. In addition, he also received the South Africa Medal (1877-79) with 1 clasp: 1877-8-9.

716 Pte. Robert Jones of the 2nd Battalion/24th Regiment of Foot (later the South Wales Borderers) in Natal, was awarded the Victoria Cross for an act of gallantry in the defence of the hospital at Rorke’s Drift against the Zulus on 22nd and 23rd January 1879. The following citation was published in the London Gazette…

War Office, May 2, 1879.
THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Soldiers of Her Majesty’s Army, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty’s approval, for their gallant conduct in the defence of Rorke’s Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus, as recorded against their names, viz.:-
………………………
Regiment: 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment.
Names: Private William Jones and Private Robert Jones.
Acts of Courage for which recommended: In another ward, facing the hill, Private William Jones and Private Robert Jones defended the post to the last, until six out of the seven patients it contained had been removed. The seventh, Sergeant Maxfield, 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment, was delirious from fever. Although they had previously dressed him, they were unable to induce him to move. When Private Robert Jones returned to endeavour to carry him away, he found him being stabbed by the Zulus as he lay on his bed.

In 1964, the Battle of Rorke’s Drift was immortalised in the film, Zulu, which starred Stanley Baker and Michael Caine. 716 Pte. Robert Jones was played by Denys Graham.

The Lord Ashcroft Gallery was full of prestigious medals and equally impressive stories of brave men and women. In addition, we should always remember the noble efforts of the thousands of ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen who have fought, and in many cases, laid down their lives, in the numerous conflicts throughout the ages.

Posted in Famous Connections | Tagged , , , |

Survivors Of The Titanic – Addie Wells And Children

Posted on 13 April 2012 by
RMS Titanic

RMS Titanic

A little while ago I discovered that Harvey is distantly related to three survivors of the Titanic. To commemorate the 100th anniversary, Ancestry have released a range of records in relation to the disaster of 1912 .

Addie Dart Wells (nee Trevaskis), and her two young children, Joan and Ralph Wells, were travelling in 2nd class and managed to board life-boat number 14 before being picked up by the Carpathia. Among the records the family can be seen on the Titanic’s Outward Passenger list and the Carpathia’s Passenger list.

Addie was the great-grand-daughter of Harvey’s 3 x great-grandparents, John Barnes & Ann (nee Dawes) from Newlyn, Cornwall, near Penzance. Addie was also from Newlyn and would perhaps have known Harvey’s predecessors, his direct line having lived in Newlyn right up to the millennium.

Another useful website about the Titanic is the Nova Scotia Archives. The Wells family appear on the document entitled, List of Second Class Passengers.

Posted in Family History Links, Famous Connections | Tagged , |