Measles killed Thomas Welch in 1919

At the weekend I was researching for more information on my husband's family tree. I found quite a bit of information on John Thomas Welch  (1876 - 1950) in his WW1 attestation file, including a copy of a death certificate of one of his son Thomas.  An attestation file for those who do not know was the file kept on all men and women that signed up for war effort.   

Little Thomas Welch of Bradford Street in Birmingham died at just 10 months of age. The cause of death was measles and bronco pneumonia. It sort of highlighted that measles was a dangerous disease in the early twentieth century and still is today...
Also you can find information in the most unlikely places and it saved me money on purchasing another death certificate. I use the Ancestory website as I think its the most useful and has more information added every time I look.

This isn't a photograph of Thomas, just another little boy (dressed as a girl as was the fashion then) The family were so poor that no photographs would have been taken.

So this is my memorial to Thomas Welch (1918 - 1919). A short life...long remembered. Rest in peace.

Photographs of the Victorian dead

Photographs of the Victorian dead - A Victorian conundrum! 

The Victorians were very happy to take photographs of their dead ... children, wives, fathers and other relatives. Not some thing that we do very often today. Yes we still do take pictures of still born babies and our children that die young; but to whip out your mobile and take a photograph of dear departed grandma - no. Can you imagine the Facebook likes! I was being flippant when I mentioned Facebook. I can not imagine that someone would post photographs of their stillborn baby on Facebook for the world to see. But my daughter in law has told me recently that someone had. Very sad and a bit unsettling. Yes share with close family and friends, but not to expose to people who you do not know on Facebook. 
  
It never crossed my mind to look closely at some of the Victorian photographs that I had in my possession. But after reading an article about how the Victorian photographers took their pictures of the recently deceased. (This article did appear on Facebook, with hundreds of photographs shown) I was surprised to find at least 2 of my Victorian photographs were of dead children.

Wooden stands

This young boy was in a collection of old photographs that I brought a few years ago. Notice the wooden stand behind him and the classical arm on the post. The stand holds him upright and his hat must be pinned to his trousers. His hand is not actually holding the hat. Unfortunately there is no name or an indication where the photograph was taken on the back.

Some rather rude and obnoxious person added a comment to this page recently, and stated that the stands were to keep people still whilst they took the exposure. Well - anyone who has had a child would realize that a wooden stand is like giving a new toy! Ideal to slouch against, bang or tap with your head, heel or arm. No - probably not a good way to keep a child still!!
The stands would hold a person upright, probably had head pieces and under arm supports. The Victorian's were very good at making things fit for purpose - far better than we are today.

People and children were much shorter as well as lighter then. Most due to being under-nourished. Rigor mortis sets in after 4 to 6 hours, where the body stiffens. But apparently not so much in babies and children. This was due to their muscle being absent. I am assuming this would have made it easier for the photographer to position a child.

Eyes open or closed? 

Unfortunately, as a nurse I have had many an occasion to witness death. Most people will die with their eyes partially open or open. It is us, the living that close them. I did it because that was what had always been done. I did not question why? Is it because when someone's eyes are open - they still look alive? Or is it because by closing someone's eyes, they look asleep. More at rest and at peace. I think it is done for the living, not for the dead. So that we did not have to look into eyes that had no soul or what ever makes us human and so alive!
Any how I digress - if you are planning to have a photograph. Would you want their eyes open? So instead of closing them, maybe the family would open rather than close their eyes soon after death.
If their eyes were closed - they could have died in hospital or else where? There are photographs of people who have died with very odd looking eyes. It appears that the eyes have been drawn in after wards, so they look open. Not sure whether it was the photographer who did this (though he would need to be very good at it or his income would drop!!), or a close relative or loved one when grieving, long after wards.

When was the photograph taken?  

So this got me thinking about the Victorian era! What did they do to get a photograph - the pure logistics of it?
For a start most people died at home. They did not go to hospital very often. Cared for by their relatives, who were there at their death. Once someone had died, the family would wash and dress them for burial. Cremation was not carried out very often as now, it became more a necessary in the 1950s as we started to run out of burial ground space.
They would have been seen by a doctor to issue a death certificate after 1879, before that they just needed to register a person' s death at the church or nationally after 1837. No cause of death was needed. To be honest, most of the times it was unknown.
** These were England's regulations and will differ in other countries.

Once a body was prepared, it was kept in "state". That means, it was placed in a coffin and placed in the best room of the house for the family to all say goodbye and pay their last respects.  Not prepared by a funeral director and taken to a funeral home as done by most today.
Note - For many young babies, they did not have their own coffin. Because of money being tight. Many would pay an other family (not related) to place their baby in an adult's coffin at burial.
 
I am guessing that if you had money. The photographer would come to your home and take "in mortem" photographs. Otherwise you would have to take the body to them. So when would this happen? My best guess would be on the way to their funeral and burial. Most burials would be done quickly - within a day or two following death. As with no special preparation of the body or cold storage, the body would soon start to decompose and start to smell.
The coffin would be most likely carried if you were poor. If you had money then it would be taken in a carriage to the church for burial.
I would suspect that the photographer's studio would be positioned on a church route. The family would stop briefly and have some photographs taken - before completing their journey to the church and the person's final resting place.
If you know how and when they went for a photograph - please leave a comment. But if you are rude and an obnoxious troll it will not be published.

Agnes Hart 1896 - 1903.                

I looked also at my own relatives and thought that this photograph was a bit suspect. I am guessing this was Agnes, but seeing another photo with this girl and her family. It doesn't look like Agnes but Margaret Piske.

The little girl is seated with a boy standing besides her. I do not know who they are, but as a guess it may be may be Agnes Hart born 1896 and died 1903 with her younger brother. One of the 13 children my great grandparents had.
If you look closely their is something around her head. On one side it looks like a hand and a shadow behind her! How they got the dog to sit there I do not know. Maybe he is dead also and stuffed? Must have been a brilliant photographer that managed to get two children and a dog to sit still!! The photograph is not brilliant - but on the original there is a hand and shadow behind. One day I will get around to taking another copy that is better.

February 2022 update - Latest thinking was that photographs were not taken with the body standing or sitting but lying down in a coffin. But rumours came from somewhere. Babies were taken with their parents holding them too. Maybe we will never really know.  

Morbid - yes. But when they didn't have mobiles to record their life. It would be something done to preserve memories that are so precious.

Updated 21st February 2022

Victorians and death memorial photographs

I would say that the Victorians kept more memorials of their loved ones when they died. With photographs of their graves, of their loved ones when dead, hair jewellery and other keepsakes. Today we are able to take plenty of photographs with little cost. So able to keep our memories. However I do like to buy unusual things and when I found this photograph in a frame at a car boot last years. I couldn't resist. It was only 50p and as usual my family said - what do you want that for!

The frame is falling to bits but the glass has preserved the photograph card inside in an excellent condition. The grave is of a Richard Lee Colman. It says he was late of Barby who died at Willenhall. April 30th 1900, aged 66 years. It has the verse "And now lord what is my hope: Truly my hope is even in thee"
Of course I was intrigued - who was he and why had the card been commissioned as a memorial keepsake?  Also noticed that the flowers are under a cover? Like the ones used for cakes. Not seen that before.

So my research stared. he was born in 1834 at Barby in Northampton shire. This small village was about 5 miles from Rugby. So not a great distance from Willenhall in Coventry where he died. He left a will, so was a man of means at that era. His will states that he was a farmer. He left his wife Mary Ann Coleman (nee Haddon) and his son, Thomas Joseph Lee Coleman his money of £508 17s. A lot of money at that time.
In 1861 he lived with his father a retired farmer in Barby with his wife and young son Thomas aged 3 months. By 1871 he was still a farmer at Ashby St Ledgers in Northampton with 51 acres employing one man and a boy. Interestingly he has Thomas aged 6 and 10 year old Jone S Coleman as his sons then? The 1881 census sees him as a farmer now with 105 acres at Braunston in Derbyshire. With 1 labourer as well as his sons Tom and Thomas aged 20 and 17. He seems to have moved by 1891 and is in Willenhall on the London Road. Still a farmer living at "The Farm" He has his wife and Lee Colman aged 21, his son (Think this should be 31)? helping him as well as a servants Henry Walker aged 19 and Alfred Clarke aged 17 helping on the farm. There is also a visitor Mary Wood 25 staying there. Of course by 1900 census he had died and the farm in Willenhall belonged to his son Thomas aged 36, who had a wife Sarah and two small children Dorothy aged 2 and Richard 3 months with his mother Mary living on her own means. A servant Hanah waring aged 16 helped around the farm.

The card was photographed by T J Lloyd of 26 Earl Street Coventry.

 So there you go - someones life from a memorial grave side photograph. Do I have a connection - well Willenhall was where I used to work as a midwife. The area was where the farm was! Hows that for a coincidence. Soon will look at a photograph of a boy that was taken at death. Morbid but interesting as its someone in my family.            
   

St Cyprian's Church Hay Mills Birmingham War memorial

Tucked away alongside the River Cole in Hay Mills Birmingham is the beautiful St Cyprian's church. This Church of England building holds many monumental inscriptions and a very large war memorial plaque dedicated to the men who died in WW1 and also many plaques for WW2. This church is very dear to me. It was the one I attended when I was young and lived in the then small industrial surrounded suburb. When I was young the church was found along a small lane by the river's bridge separating Hay Mills from Small Heath. On the right were a row of old cottages and on the left the Horsefall factory. The factory is still there but the cottages and bridge have now gone, making way for the busy road byepass, Asda and large traffic island.

There is the large wooden war memorial plaque on the right as you enter the church. There is also a hand written roll call of the men of the parish which includes both wars. As well as numerous small individual dedicated plaques around the church. We went along on their open day last summer (2014) and had a brilliant afternoon talking to the vicar and members of the church.

The World war One wooden war memorial has the following names:

T Aston
J Adams
W Babbington
J Bagnall
T Baldwin
A J Balston
S Banner
R Batsford
J Bentley
E Billingham
A P Billings
P Birch
F J Bird
T Bird
A Bliss
W H Bowden
G N Bradbury
A J Brealey
N B Brealey
O Busby
H Butler
I Butler
E G Carr
H Caldicott
F W Collett
E A Cooper
W T Dale
J Darby
W Darby
C N day
F G Day
J Dorrell
R Dorrell
W E J Davis
A Deakin
E E Delve
C Downard

J J Dumbleton
A F Eccles
A Edwards
W Evans
W Flagg
B Fletcher
C Fletcher
C Gibson
W Goode
C Green
F Green
J A Grice
J H Griffiths
A H Harley
C Hawkesford ORD
H Hazeldine
J Hilley
G Hill
H Hodgetts
J W Holton
L E Hood
J Hughes
T G Ireland
L C Johnson
W Ledbrook
J W Leech
O Lines
S Longbottom
G Malin
H Malin
J A Mallard
E Mansell
M C McKey
V J McKey
R J Moore
W G Mountain

 


E Nabbs
W Pedler
A Perry
E Plows
E Potts
S Price
A Richards
J Roberts
G Rollins
S R Rooke
F C Sannter
T Seymour
J D Sharp
S Simpson
A H Sims
B G Smith
H H Smith
L Smith
P Smith
W Smith
G Stride
F Thorpe
R Tydeman
H A Walker
Lawrence Waters
Leslie Waters
B Watts
D Watts
H C Wiley
C V Wilkins
E Wilkins
A Wilkins
E W Willis
W H Willis
L T Wilson
W Woolley
H J Young

This long list is from World War One. I will write another blog shortly for WW2, as the list is long and combined with the parishioners of Hay Mills as well as a few single dedicated memorial plaques. There are many other plaques that are not war related that I will cover at some point also.

Just a random small choice of these brave men researched a little more shows George and Harry Malin of 155 Speedwell road, hay Mills. Both wire workers in the mill. George died aged in his late 20s to early 30s and his brother was 3 years younger. I picked this family out as they have links within my husband's Lightfoot family tree.
Corporeal Mathew Charles McKey was in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire regiment. Born in Small Heath and died of wounds aged 30 on the 11th October 1917 in France. He was a French Polisher by trade.
Victor James McKey was born on the 12th December 1892 in Birmingham and lived at 225 Coventry Rd. He served in the Royal Navy and was killed on the 6th August 1914. His body was never found. The ship he was on was the HMS Amphion, which was destroyed by a mine. Tragically he was only 21 years of age.
There is another plaque within St Cyprian's that is dedicated to two other men. It says the following:

To the glory of God and in loving memory of

Capt Arthur Joseph Brearley.

1st/7th Devon Regt

Attached Special Brigade R E

Killed in action in Belgium

June 20th 1917

aged 27 years

Also

Lieut Norman Blackburn Brearley

12th Royal Warwickshire Regt

Killed in action in Mesopotamia

April 17th 1916

Aged 22 years

They gave their lives that we might live in freedom

This tablet is erected by their parents. 

       

In memory of Donald Hankey, Second Lieutenant, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

I found this book amongst my late uncle's things. It is called A Student in Arms in memory of Donald Hankey. A Second Lieutenant of the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment who was killed in action on the Somme.  Now I think it belonged to my grandfather Michael (Mick) Hart who was also in the RWR as a private.

The book is a mixture of fact and fiction in essay form from a serving officer during World War One. It recounts the sights and smells of the men and the conditions they were in. From signing up to the actual marches to the battles and when stationed in the trenches.

This is the inscription at the front of the book. Now I think it says Sharples ???? from C M ? F, September 12th 1918. But I may be wrong. Anyone else see what it actually says?

It is a very easy to read book and I managed this in one afternoon. But I do read far to fast according to my husband! Well worth reading if you are interested in WW1. Its still available quite cheaply on the internet to buy.

One passage caught my eye in the chapter A Student, His comrades, And Church. The men and boy here stand out in character and you know who they were in an instant. It just gives such an in site into life in 1915 and early 1916:

"Then there were the boys of the old platoon. There was Wullie, the dour pessimist from Manchester way, who died in England. Wullie was, I doubt not, a good workman in civil life: but he was sadly awkward at his drills. The student who was his sargeant, was ever pointing out his deficiencies, as it was his business to do; but Wullie could bear it no longer, and losing his temper told the sergeant in plain language of the North Country that had him set, and did not give him a chance. And because the student who was his sargeant kept his temper and was able to recognize the genuine grievance of a real trier, and answered with a soft encouraging words, Wullie never forgot it, and was his staunch supporter till the end.
Then there was Tommy, the Londoner with the big nose and the lively temperament. Tommy was Wullie's chum, because both were straight, clean-living men, and faithful to their wives. And though their temperaments, aye, and their class, were the same, and both had suffered for them in the rough life of the working world.
There was Dave too. Dave was a pit lad from Lancashire. His speach was plain and homely, not to say pungent. His humour was quaint and pithy. His strength and will to work were without equal. He was a faithful and loving husband and father to the little woman and kiddies in the far Lancashire village; and because the student who was his sergeant was able to help him a bit to go and see a child who was dying, Dave never forgot it. And when the sergeant fell from his high estate, Dave said "nowt," but used to purloin his mess tin and make it shine like silver, for in the art he was mighty cunning; and the student knew what he meant, and will not forget.
Then there was little Jim, from Brum, at sixteen. He was the awkward grace of a colt, and the innocent, pathetic eye of an antelope, mischief and secret mirth lurked in the corners of his mouth, and his heart was strong and undismayed like the heart of a lion. Jim shall not be forgotten"

Donald William Alers Hankey. Who died aged 31 on 12th October 1916. Son of Robert and Helen Alers Hankey, who lived at 1 Chesham Place, Brighton. He is remembered with honour on the Theipval Memorial.          

Olton Friary Cemetery, Solihull war graves

Years ago now, I went to visit the Olton Friary cemetery looking for an ancestors grave. Not at that point was I recording war graves and I can not really remember why, but I took a couple of photographs of three war graves in this cemetery. A little later researching the war graves I discovered 20 graves erected by the War Graves Commission were situated in the Olton Friary's cemetery.
The Cemetery and Catholic church are in the grounds of the building that was erected in 1873. Initially as a the St Bernard's Catholic Seminary or a place that priests trained. This was moved in 1889. The plot was taken over by the Capuchin Friars and it became the Franciscan Monastery of Immaculate Conception.. In 1981 it again changed hands and was taken over by the Sacred Heart fathers and brothers of Betharram. the Church of the Holy Ghost and Mary Immaculate, also known locally as the Olton Friary was built in 1929.
I am not sure if there is a war memorial plaque in the church but here some of  the war graves in the attached church yard.

 Private P Larkin of the Royal Arm Service Corps who died the 11th April 1921. 0/28806
This was Patrick Larkin who was 25. Residence at 6 Back 60 Bordesley Street, Birmingham. A tool maker by trade who died from TB. His mother Margaret was a widow and charwoman. When researching I sent for several death certificates. Patrick's was one of them.

Private F Merchant of the the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. Number 44512. Who died on the 20th August 1920 aged 23. He was the son of Alexander and Catherine Merchant of 59 Blythswood road, Acocks Green in Birmingham.

Francis Joseph Alexander Merchant was an apprentice diamond mounter in Birmingham. Alexander Merchant his father was an accountant and Francis was one of three children and their only son. 

Now the War Grave Commission has 20 names but in the "scatty Sue" tradition I have only written down 19. So I will update this blog with the 20th name and more photographs later this year after I visit again.

Here are the men that I have with some research:

William Narey Boocock, second lieutenant of the Royal Warwick Regiment (retired). He was 26 years old when he died on the 3rd March 1919. Son of James Henry and Mary Boocock. He was born in Bradford in Yorkshire.

Now when researching, I discovered that the mens graves were not always where you thought they should be. The above is William's death certificate. He died in Gloucestershire, Bristol of the flu and pneumonia. His father lived in London and William gives his last address as being Ben Rhydding, Warwick rd, Acocks Green in Birmingham. It appears that the family run a hardware store probably on the Warwick road.

Martin Carty a sergeant flight engineer of the Royal Airforce Volunteer reserve. He was 36 when he died in December 7th 1944. Number 2221707. Son of Michael ( a police constable) and Ann Carty of Birmingham. Husband of Phyllis Ada Carty of Billesley in Birmingham.

James Cooney, a private in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 4th Battalion. He was 26 in November 11th 1916, when he died of the flu. His number was 22427 and his last address was 52 Willis Street, Ashted, Birmingham.

  
He died at the military hospital on the Isle of Wight.

James Brian Egan, Sergeant (W OP/Air Gnr) of the Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve, number 2220647. He was 20 on the 18th April 1945 when he died. Son of Joseph and Winifred Clara Egan of Olton, Birmingham. James lived at 111 Reservoir Rd, Olton.

Peter Heritage Firkins second lieutenant Royal Armoured Corps 1st Gloucestershire Hussars. Aged just 22 on the 10th July 1943. Service number 261951. Son of Raymond and Philippa Marguerite Firkins of Edgbaston.

George Cruise Griffin pilot officer of the Royal Airforce Volunteer Service Reserves 165 squadron. Number 118532. He died on the 8th November 1942. His last address was 1 Hurst Green road, Bentley Heath.

Arthur Guest corporal in the Royal air Force (Auxiliary) 916 Balloon Sqdn. He was 32 in February 12th 1943 when he died at the Emergency Medical Service Hospital, Warwick. Son of George Frederick and Emily Guest Husband of Mary Olga Irene Guest of 374 Warwick Rd, Solihull.

Thomas Bernard Hames, private Royal Army Ordinance Corps. He died on the 8th March 1943. Service number 7593427. Son of Edwin Percy and Maud Hames of Birmingham and husband of Winifred May Hames of Balsall Heath. Born in 1917 in Bromsgrove and aged 26 years when he died.

Bernard Francis Hare, Aircraft man 1st class of the Royal Airforce 44 sqd. He was 21 and died on the 14th November 1940. Service number 648104. Son of Bernard Thomas Hare (silversmith) and Mary Hare (nee Hyland) of Birmingham. He was born on the 4th November 1919 in Birmingham. This family was so sad to research. Mary Hare was widowed in 1930. She lost a daughter at 2 years and then her only son at 21.

Claud Ambrose Harris, Craftsman of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Aged 38, he died on the 12th April 1945. Husband of Christine Frances Harris and son of Clement and Florence Harris. Service number 14276558. He is interned in the family grave. His last address was 133 Stratford Rd, Shirley. Claud died in the Military Hospital in Lincoln.

Dennis William Harris Flight Sergeant (Nav) of the Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve number 1580053. He was 23 and died on the 18th December 1944. Son of William Clarence and Gertrude Agnes Harris of Kings Heath, Birmingham. Unfortunately I could find no information about this young man.

Edward Peter Jackson, private Lincolnshire Reg, York and Lancaster Reg 11th bn. Number 14733056. Son of Thomas C Jackson and Margaret Jackson of Acocks Green. he died at 19 on the 5th January 1945. Again I can find no further information on Edward.

L Jones, private in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was 32 when he died on the 15th March 1920. Son of Thomas H Jones and husband of Catherine Jones of 13 Leason Lane, Low Hill Wolverhampton.

Edward Mortimer Lane was a gunner in the Royal Artillery 120 Field Reg. At 20, he was just too young to die on the 1st May 1940. Son of Charles Henry and Charlotte Elsie Lane of Kings Heath, Birmingham. Little to add only that his death was registered in Warwickshire.

Gerard Scully sergeant (bomb aimer) of the Royal Airforce Volunteer reserve, 77 squadron. Service number 1219445 and son of Thomas and Freda Veronica Scully of Edgbaston. He died at 21 on the 13th May 1943.

Anthony Smith, staff sergeant of the Royal Army Service Corps. Aged 42, he died on the 10th November 1945. Son of Albert and Rose Julia Smith. His father Albert Smith was a town postman in Birmingham.

Frederick Clarence John Whitehouse, private of the South Staffordshire reg, 5th battalion and number 4918028. He died on the 1st March 1940 aged 20 years old. Son of Arthur James Whitehouse and Jane Anne Whitehouse of Harborne Birmingham.

Joseph Francis Wooley sergeant (pilot) Royal Airforce Volunteer reserve 350 (Belgian) squadron He died on the 8th July 1944 aged 21. Son of Joseph Wooley and Edith Wolley, nee Shakespeare.

As said previously there is another name to add to this list and so I will do soon.

At the going down of the sun. And in the morning we will remember them. 

    

After D Day 1944 - What happened Uncle Fred

Yesterday the 6th June 1944 - D Day was the 70th anniversary to remember those men that lost their lives for this country on Normandy coast and to those who fought in the conflict against Germany.
I know that the company my Great Uncle Fred was attached to took part in the D Day landings. He lived through this invasion but lost his life "Some where over France" on the 28th June 1944.
It is only now that I so wish that I had written down or taped the memories of my granddad. He told us great stories of his family when I was young. But the ignorance of youth believes that they will always be their in your memory, as well as your granddad will always be there!
So now it has been difficult to piece together my ancestors lives on the Ward's side and I know very little about my Great Uncle Fred. I don't know where he worked before the war, his childhood or did he have a girlfriend? What was he doing when he died? Worst of all we do not have any photographs of him.

My granddad, Joseph Ward and grandmother Doris ward in the 1950s.

My mom and uncle remember him on leave and fearless. The bombs were being dropped over Solihull. They were staying with their nan, my great great grandmother Elizabeth Ward. Who lived at the beginning of Valley Rd, Sheldon - which is now part of Solihull. As usual they were all under the stairs in the hope that if a bomb dropped on them. They would live and that the strong part of the stairs was enough to save their lives. Two houses very close, one at the very top of Rangoon road and one just around the corner on Jillcot Road were bombed during the war and people lost their lives there. The anderson shelter hadn't been built then. It was buried on the corner of Valley road and Old Lode Lane.  Uncle Fred was on leave and just sat on the settee. He refused to move, saying that he was not afraid and Hitler wouldn't get him! He was just 27 when he died.  

Jane Elizabeth ward.