Edward Lake Gowlland: medical and military man, freemason and .....

1876 - 1942

Early Life

Edward is a distant ancestor being the husband of the wife of the brother-in-law of the 2nd great-nephew of wife of my 6th great-uncle. The details of his life have required me to give him his own post. What appears below (and the photo) is partly taken from the excellent biography on http://www.gowlland.me.uk/biographies.htm#zzedwardlakegowlland

Edward Lake Gowlland was born in Thornton Heath, Surrey to Richard Sankey Gowlland and Jessie Katherine Lake. He had 2 younger sisters: Katherine and Dorothy.

I will leave the biography site to provide more information on his ancestors, otherwise I would just be repeating everything already covered there. I will briefly say that in the 1881 England Census tells us that his father was a Private Secretary for HM Office of Public Works.

On 16 October 1893 Edward is listed on the register at University College London, for those taking medical exams. I was rather surprised to find that, in 1899 while still a medical student, he is initiated into the Freemason Lodge of Sancta Maria. The the list of members shows virtually all are in the medical profession from St Mary's Hospital and there is a brief history of the lodge at https://gsml49.freemasons.london/about/ on the site of the lodge with which Sancta Maria amalgamated in 2008 (Gihon Lodge).

A quick Internet search shows tells me that Sancta Maria was only founded in 1897, initially meeting in Freemasons' Hall, but in 1899 it had moved to Mark Masons' Hall. https://www.dhi.ac.uk/lane/record.php?ID=5491. Among its famous members were Sir Alexander Fleming and Sir Bernard Spilsbury.

In 1900 Edward has moved to Bournemouth, holding the qualification of Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries (LSA) which later became a registrable qualification with the British Medical Association, when it was founded in 1858. Edward is not in Bournemouth very long as in 1900 he is now living in a boarding house in Paddington, London and is listed as a medical practitioner. 

Married Life

On 10 February 1902 Edward marries Dorothy Mary Thornhill, whose father Herbert is listed as a gentleman. Edward's own father is still at HM Office of Public Works. Edward and Dorothy move to Faversham in Kent where Edward joins the Freemason, Lodge of Harmony. He is now practising as a surgeon and physician in the firm of Anderson and Gowlland, listed at address of 54 East Street and 7 Newton Road. I have not been able to find out more about this firm.

Edward and Dorothy continue to live at 54 East Street and in 1907 Edward's name appears in the UK Navy Lists for 1907, against East Swale; I am unsure of the significance of these Sick Quarters records at the moment. The 1911 England Census shows that Edward must be running a successful medical practice as he now employs 3 servants and a governess for this 2 sons (twins Langton and Geoffrey born in 1903). 

With the outbreak of World War I the records show that Edward is sent to France where he achieves the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He is back living in the family home in Faversham in 1915. 

Things go wrong

On 29 January 1916 Dorothy receives a letter from Edward while she is living with her parents (dated 23 January). He writes,

Dear Dor

I think in these very bad times it will be best if you can persuade your mother and father to go to Faversham and live with you and shut up their house (this is of course no business of yours or mine but merely a suggestion for economy) they to pay you each what you paid them for board and lodging. I .. to tell you now that I have been particularly stupid and broken the 11th Commandment, which I didn't mean to do until after the War. Our life together has been so peculiarly unhappy that I am sure you will be glad to know that we need never live together again. I met someone in Devon whom I am fond of and we were found out, the result will probably be in the papers very shortly. I mean that the lady's husband is seriously thinking of taking proceedings and I am frightfully sorry that this should have come now when I simply cannot sit down and write business letters there is no time and opportunity. I have written to my Bankers to say that they shall in future send you £23 rather than £29 per month, as you won't have to pay for your board and lodging.

Yours affectionately

EG

Dorothy replies to Edward on 01 March 1916,

Dear Edward

I have been thinking on the situation arising out of your letter to me of the 23rd Januar 1916, and for the sake of our children I have come to the conclusion that I will allow bygones to be bygones but in return I ask you to give up this other woman and to now provide a home for me and the children and to live with me and them whenever your military duties will allow you to home whether on leave or permanently. If on consideration you are now ready to do these things for me and them please let me know as soon as possible when you will provide a home for us so I may make all the necessary arrangements before the children return from School for the Easter holidays. I may say I have not told the boys of your conduct as I have no wish to poison their minds against you and I hope they may not hear of the trouble which has arisen between us. 

Yours faithfully

Dorothy

Edward writes to her again on 03 March 1916

Dear Dorothy

You must understand me well enough to understand that I should not have behaved as I have done without due consideration. I adhere to every word of my letter dated 23rd January 1916 and under no circumstances do I intend to give up "this other woman".

I am very glad that you have not told the boys, it can serve no purpose to make them unhappy. I have written to them and told them that we shall not live in our old home and I want you to understand that my conduct in this other matter has had no bearing whatever on the necessity of leaving our house. 

Yours 

Edward Gowlland. 

On 10 March 1916 Dorothy petitions initially for a decree of restitution of conjugal rights. In short it required Edward to return to the marital home. Dorothy was granted her decree and it was served on Edward at 9 Bedford Row in Middlesex, where he was currently living. He was given 14 days to obey.

On 14 July 1916 Dorothy petitions for divorce. In a letter supporting her petition she states that Edward has not returned and is therefore guilty of desertion without reasonable cause; he has also frequently committed adultery with Mary Florence Alexander. She goes on to say that between the 02 and 08 May 1915 Edward and Mary Florence committed adultery at the Cotteridge Private Hotel in Woking and repeated this activity on 20, 21 and 22 May 1915  at the "Galloway", Commercial Road in Woking. 

Dorothy states that Edward is a Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps and is now living at 4 Grafton Street, Fitzroy Square in Middlesex.  

On 20 October goes back to the court and states that, since then, Edward is guilty of adultery coupled with desertion. The court rules that the couple's children stay with Dorothy and that Edward needs to pay his wife's costs of £42 9s. 5d. In later proceedings Dorothy provides further information and petitions for maintenance; Edward is initially given 6 weeks to respond but is then allowed a further 2 months to respond. I am unsure from the documents if Edward responds to this? In 1929 there are further proceedings regarding maintenance. At this the court orders that Edward pay Dorothy £200 tax free from October 1929, in monthly instalments for as long as they both shall live. 

The other party

So let me now give the other side, regarding the "other woman", Mary Florence Reiffenstein who was born in Glasgow, Scotland to Christian Eduard Reiffenstein and Lillias Jane Corbet. Her family had moved first to Camberwell and then settled in Hampshire. Mary had 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

In 1902 Mary Florence had married William Ryrie Alexander who was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. The couple had 1 daughter. In 1914 William went to Canada on special enrolment as a draughtsman in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. 

On 31 August 1915, having returned from Canada, William files for divorce on grounds of adultery, and names Edward Gowlland as a co-respondent. In his supporting letter William refers to the same instances as Dorothy Mary, and we know from Edward's correspondence that has been he who was told or discovered the two. 

William states that he lives in England, but is currently stationed at the Napier Barracks and is a Lance Sergeant in the 30th Canadian Regiment. Mary is living Wodcombe Hyde Road in Paighton, Devon. At another hearing the court rules that his daughter will stay with him, presumably he will move out of the barracks. William receives his Decree Absolut on 16 August 1915 and there is one final proceedings for costs held in May 1916 which rules that  Edward Gowlland needs to pay costs of £69 12s. 8d.

At this point we know that Dorothy has only recently started on her divorce proceedings, but we must assume that once Mary was divorced she and Edward were still meeting up.

Later Life

In July 1917 Edward Gowlland marries Mary Florence Reiffenstein in Kensington and he continues to practice medicine in Surrey until his death in 1942. Mary dies on 18 June 1962 and leaves her effects to her now married daughter (from her first marriage) and a Richard Dallas Wood (solicitor). The value was £1865 18s.

In 1920 William marries Sibyl Marguerite Harrison in Thanet. The couple later move to Kensington where William is listed in the 1939 England and Wales Register as the director of a print supply company. William dies in 1951.

Dorothy does not re-marry. The 1939 England and Wales Register has her living with her mother; both women are living on their own means. They are still living at Dorothy's marital home and the women appear to have 3 other women living with them. Dorothy dies on 07 May 1963. Her home address is now listed as 28 Kenilworth Road, but she dies in King Edward Hospital. She leaves £890 6s. 8d. to her son Langton.

Final Words

I feel I need to make some sort of concluding statement. I doubt that "adultery" was unusual at this time (any more than it is now). Both men were in the military at a time when the country was at war, meaning the men would have spent time overseas or stationed at barracks in England, but away from home. I do feel sorry for Dorothy as she wanted to put Edward's affair behind her and for the two of them to make a home for their boys again (though they obviously went to boarding school). There has clearly been some trouble in Dorothy and Edward's marriage which has created increasing pressure and contributed to the situation. There is no hint at the state of marriage between William and Mary and, in this case, it is the wife who was having the affair. The only one to come out of the whole situation worse off is Dorothy. Although she received maintenance for the rest of her and Edward's life, she did not re-marry and was probably not making ends meet due to the 3 lodgers listed with her and her mother in 1939. Mary lived the longest and left a small sum compared to Mary.

The success of French Huguenot silk weavers

Introduction

In 1685 Louis XIV, King of France, revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had granted religious tolerance towards Huguenots (French Protestants). I will write more about this elsewhere, but want to focus on one individual in this post.

John Samuel Mignot

1826 - 1908

John is my 1st cousin 5x removed. He was born in Bethnal Green, East London to Samuel Mignot and Elizabeth Maria Dear. He had 3 brothers and 3 sisters. It was John's grandfather, Alexis Mignot, who had come from Picardie, France and settled in the area. He was a silk weaver and this trade continued in the family.

The 1841 England Census shows John living with his father, and some siblings in Warwickshire; both father and son are listed as silk weavers. 

On 03 March 1850 John married Esther Parsons in the Parish Church of West Hackney. The records indicate that, by this time, his father had also left Warwickshire and was working as a book binder; Esther's father was a baker.

The 1851 England Census shows John and Esther living at 38 Squirries Street, in Bethnal Green. He is working as a silk weaver and she as a dress maker. Sadly the couple had no children, as Esther died sometime before mid 1854.

On 15 October 1854 John married his 2nd wife, Margaret Ann Clark in St Barnabas, Bethnal Green. Margaret's father was also a silk weaver and John's father is again listed as one. About a year later John and Margaret have a son called John. In total they had 3 children: 2 sons and 1 daughter.

The 1861 England Census is difficult to decipher and John's occupation is unclear. Whatever he is doing, Margaret is doing the same. John is listed as a silk weaver, but his parents do not have the word silk next to them. By the 1871 England Census John has clearly been successful; he is now listed as a silk manufacturer employing 8 hands.

The London Gazette of 19 August 1873 provides information on a petition by John, made on 30 July 1873, in respect of improvements in the manufacture of twilled fabrics for covering umbrellas, sunshades and parisols [sic]

I have been able to get a copy of part of his petition which had sample of the fabrics.

The London Gazette of 10 October 1873 tells us that John's petition was approved on 20 September. 

The 1881 England Census lists John as an umbrella maker, but the 1891 England Census again lists him as a silk weaver. It is interesting to note that Margaret does not have an occupation listed against her name in 1881, which perhaps indicates that she did not need to, due to John's success. Unfortunately Margaret died in 1887. 

In 1900 John's success is obvious from the listing in the Post Office London Directory for that year. The company of John Samuel & Son Mignot are now listed at 1 Fell Street, Wood Street, EC. It should be noted that they are just one among a long list of umbrella and parasol makers listed in the directory.

Looking on a modern map we can see that Wood Street is a long road running from as far north as St Giles, Cripplegate (near the Barbican) to Cheapside in the south. I am not entirely sure where Fell Street is; I get a location near Baker Street or St Paul's Cathedral!

The 1901 England Census shows that the Mignots have moved up in the world, as they are living at 21 Colebrooke Road in Islington. John seems to have retired, with Alfred (the son from 1900) listed as umbrella maker, and Alfred's wife, Eliza [Woodham] as a book keeper. In 1904 the family have moved again as the Electoral Register lists John and Alfred as tenants in common, living at "Norfolk House", Chadwick Road, Leytonstone. 1 Fell Street is listed as the qualifying property. At the time Leytonstone would have been even more suburban and green, than their address in Islington. Chadwick Road today is still near large green areas and not far from Whipps Cross Hospital. 

4 years later John Samuel Mignot died. 

Normally the death of the main individual would mean the end of the post, but I wanted to complete the story of the family. The 1911 England Census shows that Alfred and his family (wife Eliza and daughter Eliza Dorothy) have moved again. They seem to like the name "Norfolk House" but are now living at 32 Poppleton Road in Leytonstone. Strangely Alfred is now listed as a glass bottle maker being assisted by Eliza Dorothy, who is listed as a clerk; presumably she has taken over this similar role from her mother.

Looking at a modern map Poppleton Road is actually at the end of Chadwick Road, so it may be that the family had not moved after all, but that their property stood at the end of Chadwick Road and had possibly been re-designated?

Alfred continues to be listed in various directories at Poppleton Road, until 1922 when he has moved to 66 Pall Mall in Essex. This appears to be near Southend on Sea and even further out from his Bethnal Green roots; it would also seem to explain another fact. On 12 April 1886 Alfred had been initiated into the Freemason Lodge of Confidence, with his profession listed as a silk manufacturer. He is still listed in their records up to 1922 when the family moved, probably indicating it was too far to travel to the lodge from Southend.

Eliza Woodham, whom Alfred had married in 1891, died in 1935 followed a year later by Alfred himself. The probate records confirm that the family had moved to Southend, as Alfred dies in the Southend Municipal Hospital in Rochford. By the time of her father's death, Eliza Dorothy, the couple's only child, was married to Henry Dunbar Pearson, an electrical engineer. Both Eliza Dorothy and her husband are named on the record. Alfred's effects are recorded as £7473 9s. 10d.

Who lived in 15 Cobbett Road?

Introduction

I blame this research on a book which was published in 2017.

Mr Keith Billinghurst, The Origins and Evolution of the Progress Estate: Eltham's Garden Suburb which covers the reasons for the building of the Progress Estate in Eltham, as well as other garden villages. In short, the Estate was built to accommodate the workers at the Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich and Keith's book was written to coincide with the centenary of the Progress Estate, and it got me thinking about who lived in my house. Using Keith's book as a starting point I visited the Greenwich Heritage Centre, in Woolwich, which at time of writing, is closed for redevelopment, though enquiries can be made to staff at Charlton House. I also created a tree on Ancestry. To qualify for a house on the Estate you had to be working in the munitions and be from outside the area. When I use the word qualification below, this relates to an individual's entitlement to appear on the Electoral Register

Timeline

1915 - the property is built as part of the Progress Estate

1916 - there were no electoral registers taken during World War I

1917 - despite the lack of electorial information a baptismal certificate told me that the Hills family were living in the property

1919 - members of the Hills family are joined by the Roberts 

1921 - there are now two families living in the property: Roberts and Griffin

1922 - only the Griffins are in residence

During World War II there is again no electoral information, but in 1945 the Griffins are still there, so it must be assumed that members of the family were living at the address during the war years.

1945 - Griffin and they remain in the property until 1968

1969 - unknown

1970 - the Ruane family are living at the address

2000 - my partner and I buy the property from the Ruanes

The Hills Family

The first confirmation I have of the Hills family living in the property is the baptismal certificate of Thomas Hills and Gladys, of their second son from 1917.

The 1918 Electoral Register shows that Thomas qualifies by occupation, presumably at the Arsenal, and Gladys qualifies as his wife.

On the death of her husband, Gladys continues to live in the property, qualifying by occupation, until about the mid 1920s. She appears alone in the 1920 Spring Electoral Register and I am unclear whether she moved out, died or married.

In 1937 Thomas John Hills comes to live in the property and is joined the following year by his brother Frederick Charles Hills. In 1939 Frederick alone is living with the Griffin family.


The Roberts Family

The first record of a member of this family is the 1918 Electoral Register, which lists Charles Roberts living with the Hills, and qualifying by occupation; so he is also working at the Arsenal.

In 1919 Charles is listed in the Electoral Register with an Elizabeth Roberts, however they are both absent in 1920.

In Autumn 1920 John Roberts is living alone in the property.


The Griffin Family

The property is occupied by the married couple, James Griffin and his wife Gladys Roberts in 1920, and they have a son James who is born in June that year. I have not been able to prove that this Gladys is the widow of Thomas Hills, but it would not be a ridiculous thought.

The Autumn 1920 Electoral Register does not list the couple, but they are back living with John Roberts in 1921. At this point I assumed that the latter was Gladys' father.

The Griffins continue to live in the property, with any children under voting age, until 1937. During this time Gladys appears to have taken to using her full name, Gladys Elizabeth Mary Griffin. The property also appears to have become a family home, in the ownership of the family, as it is listed in Kelly's Directory as a private residence.

They are also joined in the property by another Hills' family member and yet another in 1938.

During World War II as with World War I, limited electoral registration information was collected. I have found no records for the property from 1940-1944.

By 1945 James and Gladys now have children of voting age: one daughter Elsie Pauline and one son Denis W Griffin. The following year Denis has left the property, but the year after, 1947, the Griffins appear to have had another daughter reach voting age. Her name may also explain why Gladys senior, had adopted a full name. Their second daughter is called Gladys Mary Griffin.

James and Gladys continue to live in the property with their two daughters until they are rejoined by their son Denis in 1952. Sadly at the end of the year, James Griffin dies. In 1953 Gladys and her three children are living together in the property.

In 1954 Elsie has left, and the remaining three members of the Griffin family live together until the death of Denis in 1962. Mother and daughter continue to live in the property until the death of Gladys Elizabeth Mary dies in 1966.

Gladys Mary Griffin is now joined by a male John T Griffin who would have been 18 years, voting age.

I was unable to trace a record for 1969.

The Ruanes

In 1970 the property is now owned and occupied by Shirley and Thomas Ruane and they remain in the property until my (now ex husband) and I buy it from them in 2000.

I am still here.

Members of the Medical and Scientific Profession

This is a list of the men of medicine and science in the tree. It was common for professions to run in families as will be seen below.


Kenneth William Benson

 1945 - 2008

I have to start with the most recent, as he is my much missed Dad. He was born in Assam, India to John Gordon Benson and Elizabeth Moncrieff Blake. He studied and qualified from the University of Calcutta in 1968 and took advantage of the opportunity to come to the UK for practical experience. His intention had always been to then go back to India, but circumstances there meant he took the exam to go to the USA, and by this time he had met my Mum, Sylvia Ann Wanger. The two married, and I was born in 1973.

We settled in the UK with Dad practising as a GP in Staffordshire.


William Woolhouse

1643 - 1723

He is the grandfather of Henry Disney (below) and I can only speculate that this might have influenced Henry's choice of career. He is also the father in law of my 2nd cousin 12x removed. He was born in North Muskham, Nottinghamshire to William Woolhouse and Elizabeth Cade.

In 1660 he entered St John's College, Cambridge and graduated with a Masters from here in 1672. By the time he had completed his medical studies he had already married Mary Hacker (in 1670 in Flintham, Nottinghamshire). The couple had 4 children: 2 girls and 2 boys.

Henry Disney

1701 - 1760

Henry is my 3rd cousin 11x removed. He was born in Lincolnshire to John Disney and Mary Woolhouse. In 1721 in entered Queens College Cambridge and the following year he moved to Magdalen College. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1727 and went to Leyden for practical experience.

In 1730 he married Martha Roebuck in Warmfield, Yorkshire. The couple had 1 son, Henry Woolhouse Disney. 

I have not yet been able to find out much about his career.

James Minot

1659 - 1696

James is not a direct ancestor, but his surname is a deriviate of Mignot, which is Huguenot (French Protestant). He was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts to George Minot and Martha Stocke. James' parents had married in Essex, England and migrated to the USA in 1630 so George could join the Dorchester Company (a company of merchant fishermen). 

Read more about the company here http://www.smplanet.com/teaching/colonialamerica/colonies/dorchester

James married Rebekah Jones in 1687; she had also been born in the USA. Sources indicate that James was a medical doctor, but they have been difficult to confirm.


Frank Ernest Musgrave

1856 - 1944

Frank is the 1st cousin 3x removed of the wife of my 5th great-uncle. He was born in Leeds, Yorkshire to Albert Musgrave and Mary Ellen Booth. 

Frank studied at Cambridge and Leeds Universities and qualified as a surgeon. In 1893 Frank married Louisa Stead and the couple had 1 daughter. The Musgraves made Leeds their home and Frank ran his practice here until his death.

The Falconers

Alexander Falconer

1874 - 1953

Alexander is the brother in law of my 2nd great uncle. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland to George Falconer and Mary McKillop. Alexander was 1 of 8 children; his father was a shipmaster who died in Ireland.

Alexander turns up in UK and Irish Medical Directory for 1900, working out of Tyrconnel House in Earby, Yorkshire. I have not managed to find him in either the 1901 England Census or 1901 Scotland Census, so must assume he had permanently moved to Yorkshire.The Directory shows that Alexander had qualified as a surgeon in Aberdeen, and was working for the Midland Railway and Other Friendly Societies and two other insurance companies, for workers.

Between 1900 and 1904 Alexander may have married Elizabeth Dougan Gibson, though again I have not located any records. In 1905 the couple have a daughter and 5 years later a son. Alexander remained practising in the area and was followed into the profession by his son.



George Donald Falconer

1910 - 1992

Son of Alexander (above) and nephew of wife of my 2nd great uncle. George was born in Yorkshire. In 1927 Alexander went on a trip as he is recorded in the UK Incoming and Outgoing Passenger Lists. He left the country in July 1927 for Port Said, Egypt and returned in September the same year.

On 20 October 1928 Alexander is registered to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. By 1933 he is living with his parents in Yorkshire and the UK and Irish Medical Directory for 1900 for 1935 we can see he is working out of the same place as his, after graduating in 1933 as a surgeon. I am not sure how long Alexander continued to practice with his father in Yorkshire, but in December 1939 records show him marrying Lesley Mary Wilson in Wallasey, Cheshire. I have not found Alexander in the 1939 England and Wales Register. Nor have I found a record of any children for the couple.

George remains practising in Wallasey and the UK and Irish Medical Directories show that he had taken further studies, which he had completed in 1936 and that he had served as House Surgeon at the Victoria Centre Hospital in Burnley and as an Assistant Medical Officer at the Municipal Hospital, also in Burnley.


William John Carlyon Anstie

1910 - 1942

William is the 3rd great nephew of the wife of my 6th great uncle. He was born in Devon and died in Ceylon. I will write more about William in https://myfamilyhistoryfacts.blogspot.com/2019/08/in-remembrance-of-those-who-died-in_28.html


Edward Lake Gowlland

1876 - 1942

Edward is the husband of the wife of brother-in-law of 2nd great-nephew of wife of 6th great-uncle. The details of his life would fit into so many categories, he was not only a surgeon, but also served in the military, was a Freemason and went through a divorce. He is therefore getting his own post.

The Toogoods of Somerset

Jonathan Toogood

1784 - 1871

Jonathan is not a direct ancestor, but has a career worthy of note. He was born in Sherborne, Dorset to John Toogood and Ann. Jonathan was apprenticed at the age of 14 to an apothecary-surgeon, Mr Hill Dawe in Bridgwater. After completing his 5 year apprenticeship he then continued surgical training at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, under surgeon Mr John Abernathy.

In 1806 he returned to Bridgwater and started work. He also married Ann Giles, and the couple went on to have 12 children, 3 of the boys followed their father into the medical profession.

Jonathan is remembered particularly for founding the Bridgwater Infirmary in 1813, an account of which is available in https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/biography/dr-jonathan-toogood-the-story-of-the,lesley-sutcliffe-9781527208261

Although retiring in 1845, Jonathan retained active in the area.


Isaac Baruch Toogood

1811 - 1887

Son of Jonathan (b. 1784) and Ann. He was born Bridgwater, Somerset and, while following his father into the medical profession, he became a General Practitioner in Devonshire. In 1838 he married Ann Elizabeth Henwood, whose father was listed as a Gent. The couple had 2 sons.


John Giles Toogood

1809 - 1875

He was the brother of Isaac and also born in Bridgwater, Somerset. Unlike his brother, John did follow his father in becoming a surgeon, specialising in ophthalmology at the Eye Dispensary. He appears to have taken over from his father, when he retired.

In 1840 John married Elizabeth Hiron, the daughter of another surgeon. 

Interestingly John also appears to have been admitted twice into Manor House, an asylum for lunacy patients in Warwickshire, in December 1855 and April 1856. It is not clear whether this was in a professional capacity or as a patient. 


Thomas Hiron

1786 - 1848

I have not, as yet, been able to find out much about him. He was born and died in Warwickshire. In 1810 he married Anne Archer and the couple had 3 children: 2 girls and 1 boy.

I do know that his son, also a Thomas, likewise became a surgeon and seemed to operate from the same location (the High St) as his father.


Thomas Wheatley Hiron

1819 - 1865

Thomas was also born in Warwickshire. He married Alice Fitzherbert Smith in 1846 and the couple went on to have a large family of 7 children: 4 girls and 3 boys.

Records show that Thomas died at sea, but I have not been able to find out more about this.


The Alexanders of Halifax

This family have produced the greatest number of doctors and men of science so far in my research. Much of the information has come from the excellent website https://sites.rootsweb.com/~calderdalecompanion/mma227.html#278

Elias Alexander (father of William b.1708)

1680 - 1732

Elias is the paternal grandfather of the husband of my 4th cousin 10x removed. There is not much information available at him, but I must assume that he was born and died in Halifax, Yorkshire.

William Alexander

1707 - 1786

William is the son of Elias and the father-in-law of my 4th cousin 10x removed. He was born and died in Halifax, Yorkshire. I have not been able to find details on his mother. From the website I know that William had trained to be a surgeon, though there are few records on Ancestry to back this up.

In 1730 William married Elizabeth Allenson and the couple had 4 children: 1 daughter and 3 sons.

The website says the family owned several properties and lived at a 3rd. William also wrote Plain and easy directions for the use of Harrogate Waters: adapted to the meanest capacity; and principally intended for the use of all who attend there (Edinburgh 1773)

Harrogate was among a number of places in the UK that had natural springs of sulphurous waters, which were deemed to have health giving properties; others were Bath and Buxton. A history of the Royal Pump Room in Harrogate can be found at https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/info/20151/royal_pump_room_museum/696/history_of_the_royal_pump_room_museum

From my brief search on the Internet I assume that William's book was like a handbook for those planning on visiting Harrogate and the regime they should follow depending on their condition. I recommend this article for more information Holman, Gavin. (2018). Taking the Waters - The lighter side of the Harrogate Cure, through the humorous postcards of the 1900s, which can be found at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323106271_Taking_the_Waters_-_The_lighter_side_of_the_Harrogate_Cure_through_the_humorous_postcards_of_the_1900s


John Alexander

1731 - 1801

John is the brother-in-law of my 4th cousin 10x removed and the eldest son of William (above. He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire to William and Elizabeth. 

The website says he practised as a Doctor in Halifax which I must assume meant he was a general doctor, rather than a surgeon. In 1762 he married Frances Hamer and the couple had 1 son and 1 daughter.


Robert Alexander

1739 - 1822

Robert is the husband of 4th cousin 10x removed and William's middle son. He was also born and died in Halifax, Yorkshire. 

The website shows that Robert had a more distinguished career than his elder brother. He practised as both a surgeon and apothecary. He appeared to have chosen to live in the family home, Hope Hall, but also in several other large properties, possibly due to his qualifications and status.

In 1768 Robert married Harriet Disney (my 4th cousin 10x removed) and the couple went on to have 6 sons and 2 daughters.

Robert supported a spa at Horley; he gave money towards the construction of the Halifax New Market (1790) and was a trustee of the Halifax Market Company. The latter was an organisation designed to build a market area forcing all stall holders to work from here, and not set up stalls or sell produce from baskets elsewhere.


William Alexander

1742 - 1766

William was the youngest brother who, was due to follow his siblings and father into the medical profession, but sadly died in training and unmarried in 1766.


William Alexander

1763 - 1808

William is the son of John (b. 1731). He was born and died in Halifax, Yorkshire and, while training as a doctor, he developed an interest in botany. I am sure there is more information to be found on this and I hope to track some down in the future.

In 1803 William married Harriet Pickford, who comes from another interesting family line with roots in Lancashire; I might cover that later! The couple had no children.

Gervase Alexander

1774 - 1857

Gervase is my 5 cousin 9x removed and the 3rd son of Robert (b. 1739). Naturally a lot more information is available about his life, as the UK and Ireland Medical Directories had started being compiled from 1845. In 1800 Gervase had married Ellen Hudson, and the couple went on to have 2 sons and 3 daughters. 

In 1802 Gervase is listed as a Captain in the Halifax Volunteer Corps of Infantry which had been established in 1794 to protect against potential military forces and revolutionary ideas coming out of France, after the Revolution. Gervase was not a member for long as the Corps was disbanded in 1802 only to reform in 1804. I do not know if Gervase joined again.

The UK and Ireland Medical Directories tell us that Gervase had studied and qualified as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Aberdeen in 1817. He was also a member of the Halifax Literary and Philosophical Society and went on to publish A Translation of the Odes of Horace into English Verse. The Society had been established in 1830 for the advancement of literature, science and philosophical research. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kuYVAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA348&ots=c7lHHKBOC4&dq=halifax%20literary%20and%20philosophical%20society%20history&pg=PA349#v=onepage&q=halifax%20literary%20and%20philosophical%20society%20history&f=false

I must add in passing that Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, the recent subject of BBC drama, was also admitted as a member of the Society. I will leave it to you to research her, if you wish, but details about the Gentleman Jack can be found at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00059m9

Disney Alexander

1769 - 1844

Disney was the eldest son of Robert (b. 1739) and had an equally interesting life. 

He married twice. The first time was in 1796 to Agnes Haigh, with whom he had 3 children: 2 boys and 1 girl. The second time was in 1811 to Mary Edwards. The 1841 England Census lists him as a physician, but unfortunately he died too soon to make the UK and Ireland Medical Directories.

The website at the start of the Alexander section says that he was a Methodist and interested in phrenology (reading the bumps on an individual's head). He succeeded a fellow phrenologist, Sir William Ellis, as Superintendent and Physician of the Wakefield Dispensary and the Pauper Lunatic Asylum. An Internet search will bring up many results and some recent books published on the institution. This page is a good place to start http://www.wakefieldasylum.co.uk/

Disney published extensively and I refer to the original website for a list of his works. 

In Remembrance of Those Who Died in World War 1

Picture of the Cenotaph on Whitehall, Remembrance, Sunday November 2018.

Walter Belk

Jan 1885 - 13 Apr 1914

Walter is a very distant ancestor, through the Stapleton line. He was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire to John Henry Belk and Mary Ann Palmer. The 1911 England Census lists him as a wine worker labourer. He was single in 1911 and remained unmarried. 

Walter held the rank of Pioneer in the 9th Field Company, Royal Engineers. He was killed in action in Belgium and remembered at Tyne Cot Cemetery. 

Ian Hamilton Blake

Oct 1899 - 26 Nov 1917

Ian is 3rd cousin 3x removed. He was born in Wandsworth, London to John Andrew Blake and Ethel Georgina Milroy Hervey. I have been unable to locate him the 1911 England Census and nor have I found a record of any marriage or children. I believe he may already have been in France in 1911.

Ian appears to have been in training as a Flight Officer in the Royal Navy Support at Vendome, France. He is listed as dying due to injuries sustained in an aeroplane accident and is buried in Vendome Town Cemetery.

Alfred Ernest Borrington

Sep 1887 - 13 Nov 1917

Alfred is another distant ancestor, through the Peake line. He was born in Derby, Derbyshire to John Thomas Borrington and Sarah Dean. On 29 September 1900 he married Gladys Colebourne. The marriage details show Alfred as a timber merchant. The couple had 8 children: 3 girls and 5 boys. 

Alfred held the rank of Sergeant in the 15th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment. He died of wounds sustained at the Battle of Passchendale, 3rd Battle of Ypres, and is remembered in Part II, Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

Albert Victor Borrington

Feb 1895 - 05 Dec 1917

Albert is a very distant ancestor also through the Peake line. He was born in Derby, Derbyshire to John James Borrington and Catherine Annie Borrington, who were cousins. The 1911 England Census lists him as working in a cotton factory. He was unmarried.

Albert held the rank of Private in the 2/5th Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment. He was accidentally killed in a stove accident, while stationed at Ribicourt, France and is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval.

Albert Brindley

Apr 1898 - 04 Nov 1918

Albert is distantly related to me on my mother's side; I am yet to find the exact line. He was born in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire to Arthur Brindley and Esther Smedley. His attestation papers of 1916 list him as a bread baker. He was unmarried.

Albert held the rank of Lance Corporal of the 8th Battalion, North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales) Regiment. He was killed in action on the Western Front and is remembered at the Ors British Cemetery, Calais.

William Brown

Jan 1897 - 26 Feb 1917

William is the brother in law of my 2nd great uncle. He was born in Tunstall, Staffordshire to John Brown and Elizabeth Ann Fielding. The 1911 England Census lists him as a potter's handle maker. He was single and remained unmarried.

William held the rank of Lance Sergeant in the 7th Battalion, North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales) Regiment. He died of wounds sustained fighting in Amara, Ethiopia, and is remembered in the Amara War Cemetery.

Archie Edgar Benjamin Coles

20 Jan 1892 - 28 Mar 1916

Archie is the brother in law of my 1st cousin 3x removed. He was born in Simpson, Buckinghamshire to Benjamin Coles and Ruth Varney. The 1911 England Census lists him as an unmarried farm labourer. He remained single.

Archie held the rank of Private in the 1st Battalion, 48 Division of the Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was killed in action near Hebuterne (not far from Verdun) when a German shell exploded in his trench. He is remembered at Hebuterne Cemetery.

Maurice Frederick Stanford Gater

Apr 1890 - 03 May 1917

Maurice is my 1st cousin 4x removed. He was born in Manchester, Lancashire to Edwin Gater and Adelina Theresa Stanford, and was actually studying to be a priest when war broke out.

Maurice held the rank of Private in the 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers of the London Regiment. He was killed in action at the 3rd Battle of the River Scarpe (near Arras) and is remembered on The Arras Memorial in Faubourg-D'Amiens Cemetery.

Sidney Bill Jackson

Jan 1888 - 22 Sep 1917

Sidney is a distant ancestor through the Stapleton and Belk line. He was born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire to Chamberlain Jackson and Frances Mary Shepherd. The 1911 England Census lists him as a plasterer. On 19 August 1912 he married Emma Stocks and the couple had 2 girls.

Sidney held the rank of Private in the 11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. He was killed in action on the Western Front and is remembered at Cement House Cemetery, Belgium

Philip John Keeble

05 Mar 1896 - 05 May 1917

Philip is the brother in law of my 2nd great uncle. He was born in Bethnal Green, London to John Joseph Keeble and Eliza Colnutt. The 1911 England Census lists him as an unmarried fitting cutter, boot manufacturer. He remained single.

Philip held the rank of Corporal in the 8th (Pioneer) Battalion, Royal Sussex, British Expeditionary Force. He was killed in action at St Leger, on the Western Front and is remembered in the Cemetery of St Martin sur Coujeul.

Sidney Arthur Lake

20 Aug 1891 - 28 Nov 1911

Sidney is another distant Stapleton ancestor. He was born in Pirton, Hertfordshire to Arthur Lake and Edith Juliana Bunker.  The 1911 England Census lists him as a cow man on a farm. On 06 June 1915 he married Dorothy Kate Disbrey, but the couple had no children.

Sidney held the rank of Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was killed in action on the Western Front and is remembered at Le Cateau Communal Cemetery in Calais.

John Lees

1852 - 08 Mar 1917

John is the father in law of my 3rd great aunt. He was born in Burslem, Staffordshire to John Lees and Rebecca Wood. On 23 December 1871 he married Matilda Cartlidge and he is listed as being a potter. The couple had 7 children: 4 girls and 3 boys.

John held the rank of Private in the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. He was killed in action at Courcelette, France, and is remembered at the Pozieres British Cemetery in Picardie.

Gerald Legge

30 Mar 1882 - 09 Aug 1915

Gerald is a distant relative through the Harington, Carington and Stapleton lines. He was born in Marylebone, England to William Heneage Legge, Viscount Lewisham (6th Earl of Dartmouth) and Mary Coke. He had 1 brother. The 1911 England Census lists his occupation as a planter, though I am not sure of what. He had previously spent some time in the USA.

He achieved the rank of Captain in the 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment and was killed in action in the Dardanelles, as part of the action at Gallipoli. He is remembered on the Helles Memorial at Canakkale in Turkey. His will leaves his effects to his sister Joan Margaret Legge.

Nigel Walter Henry Legge-Bourke

13 Nov 1889 - 30 Oct 1914

Nigel is another distant relative of mine and cousin Gerald. He was born in Middlesex, England to Henry Charles Legge and Amy Gwendoline Lambart. He had 1 sister.

Nigel had followed the military tradition in the family and been educated at Eton and Sandhurst. He had initially served as Page of Honour to King Edward VIII (1902-6). 

On 06 February 1909 he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant of the Coldstream Guards and promoted to Lieutenant on 06 June 1910. On 26 April 1911 he changed his name by Royal Licence to Legge-Bourke, in accordance with the Will of the Honourable Henry Lorton Bourke. 

On 03 June 1913 Nigel married Lady Victoria Alexandrina Wynn-Carington at the Guards' Chapel at Wellington Barracks; they had 1 son Edward Alexander Henry (born 16 May 1914). In November 1913 he became a Freemason (more on that later). It is worth noting that his spouse had been sponsored by Queen Victoria and the couple's wedding was witnessed by Queen Alexandra, widow of Edward VII and the Prime Minister Asquith.

He went to France and Flanders as part of the British Expeditionary Force on 12 August 1914 and was killed shortly after on 30 October 1914, while commanding a platoon of No 1 Company, holding advanced trenches in Rentel Wood. 

Enoch Machin

Apr 1891 - 07 Aug 1915

Enoch is the uncle of wife of brother in law of niece of husband of great grandmother. He was born in Burslem, Staffordshire to Joseph Machin and Agnes Smith. The 1911 England Census lists him as a sagger maker (in the pottery industry); on 01 October that year he married Eliza Harrison. The couple had no children.

Enoch held the rank of Private in the 7th Battalion, North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales) Regiment. He was killed in action at the Battle of Gallipoli and is remembered at the 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery, Anzac in Turkey.

Joseph Charles Mignot

Jan 1886 - 29 Dec 1915

John is my 1st cousin 3x removed. He was born in Bethnal Green, London to Joseph James Mignot and Elizabeth Hannah Buck. He married Rosina Hickling on 03 August 1902 and his occupation was a cork packer and porter. The couple had 5 children, 4 of whom were still living at the time of their father's death: 2 girls and 2 boys.

John held the rank of  Rifleman in the 7th Battalion, 14th Division, C Company of the Rife Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own). He was killed in action at Vlamertinge in Belgium and is remembered at the Sanctuary Wood Cemetery in Ypres.

John Morris

1856? - 07 May 1915

John is, to the best of my knowledge, the uncle of my 2nd great aunt, but it has been difficult to confirm this. I know he was born in Limehouse or nearby, London to Daniel John Morris and Maria Court. His mother died in about 1900, which may explain some of the confusion in the records. I have been unable to confirm his location in the 1911 England Census.

What I do know is that John served as a Fireman in the Mercantile Navy and was drowned as the result of a submarine attack on SS Lusitania. He is remembered on the Mercantile Memorial at Tower Hill, London

Robert Benjamin Parker

08 Sep 1882 - 10 Aug 1916

Robert is a distant ancestor through the Seilor line. He was born in Hackney, London to Robert Benjamin Parker and Ada Wagner. On Christmas Day 1906 he married Dorothy Beatrice Samson and the couple had 2 children: 1 girl and 1 boy. The 1911 England Census lists his occupation as a packer at a vinegar works, in the brewing industry.

Robert held the rank of Private in 11th Battalion of the 20th (Pioneers) Division, Durham Light Infantry. He was killed in action, in the trenches at Colincamp, Hebuterne, in the Battle of Delville Wood, which was part of the Battle of the Somme. Robert is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in Picardie.

Frederick James Peake

01 Oct 1897 - 20 Oct 1915

Frederick is the 1st cousin of the wife of my 1st cousin 4x removed. He was born in Longton, Staffordshire to Thomas Peake and Lavinia Simcoe. The 1911 England Census lists him as a warehouse boy in the earthenware industry. He did not marry.

Frederick held the rank of Private in the 9th Battalion, London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers. He died of his wounds on the Western Front and is remembered at the Lapugnoy Military Cemetery in Calais.

Rupert Hancock Bertie Peake

1883 - 04 Jun 1915

Rupert is a distant Peake ancestor. He was born in St Martin's on Guernsey in the Channel Islands, to Thomas Peake and Harriet Smith. The 1911 England Census lists him in at a military base in Aldershot. He is listed as a single musician. Before going to fight Rupert married someone called Sarah, but it has not been possible to find out more about her.

Rupert held the rank of Sergeant in the Hampshire Regiment. He was killed in action 2 days after arriving at Gallipoli and is remembered on the Helles Memorial at Canakkale in Turkey.

William Thomas Peake

1880 - 14 Nov 1916

William is another Peake ancestor. He was born in Derby, Derbyshire to William Thomas Peake and Elizabeth Bell. On 03 September 1904 he married Kate Elizabeth Ferrett and the couple had 3 children: 2 girls and 1 boy. The 1911 England Census lists him as an iron worker in a loco works, in the railway industry.

William held the rank of Corporal in the Northumberland Fusiliers (I am not clear on the precise details). He was reported missing at the Battle of the Somme; his body was never found. William is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in Picardie.

Arthur Plant

1880 - 14 Apr 1918

Arthur is a distant Plant ancestor. He was born in Ecclesall, Yorkshire to William Plant and Mary Calton. In April 1905 he married Maud Elizabeth Hale and the couple had 1 daughter. The 1911 England Census lists him as a jeweller's porter.

Arthur held the rank of Private in the Yorkshire and Lancashire Battalion (I think). He was killed in action on the Western Front and remembered at Tyne Cot Cemetery. 

Charles William Plant

1886 - 18 Dec 1916

Charles is another distant ancestor via the Plant line and a cousin of Arthur (b.1880). He was born in Ecclesall, Yorkshire to Charles Thomas Plant and Clara Undy. The 1911 England Census has him working as a woollen merchant's assistant. In July 1912 he married Sarah Ethel Fountain and the couple had 1 son.

Charles held the rank of Gunner in the 49th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. He contracted bronchitis on the Western Front and is remembered at La Neuville Communal Cemetery at Corbie.

Ralph Plant

Jan 1885 - 18 Apr 1915

Ralph is a more direct ancestor, being my 2nd cousin 4x removed. He was born in Burslem, Staffordshire to Jethro Robinson Plant and Emma East. On 08 July 1905 he married Lily Brooks. The couple had 4 children: 2 sons and 2 daughters. The 1911 England Census shows him working as a railway plate layer.

Ralph held the rank of Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, King's Own York Light Infantry. At the time that he was killed in action he was Acting Sergeant for the Battalion; his wife had pre-deceased him 1912. I have not yet found where he is remembered.

Simon Jethro Plant

Jul 1893 - 26 Sep 1915

Simon is another 2nd cousin 4x removed and brother of Ralph (b. 1885). He was born in Wolstanton, Staffordshire to Jethro Robinson Plant and Emma East. I have been unable to find details of a spouse, but the 1911 England Census lists him as a miner trammer.

Simon held the rank of Private in the 6th (Service) Battalion, Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action at Gallipoli; I have been unable to confirm a memorial to him.

Albert Lindsay Taylor

Sep 1894 - 30 May 1915

Albert is an ancestor via my Ramage line, being my 2nd cousin 3x removed. He was born in Sunderland, Durham to James Taylor and Lindsay Ramage. He never married and the 1911 England Census lists him as an electrical engineer.

Albert held the rank of Private in the 1st/7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. He died of wounds sustained on the Western Front and is remembered at the Harlebeke New British Cemetery in Flanders.

Bertram Henry Vincent

Apr 1882 - 26 Aug 1914

Bertram is the of 1st cousin 4x removed of husband of 2nd cousin 7x removed through the Rossiter line. He was born in Barton St David, Somerset to George Vincent and Sarah Barber. On 10 January 1909 he married Annie Emily Rossiter. The couple had 2 children: 1 boy and 1 girl and  settled in Glamorgan, Wales. The 1911 Wales Census lists him as a fitter's labourer in the railway industry.

Bertram held the rank of Private in the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. He was killed in action on the Western Front and is remembered at Fontaine-au-Pire, in Calais.

Alwyne Walter Wagner

1893 - 13 Aug 1918

Alwyne is the paternal 1st cousin of the husband of my 2nd great aunt; a distant ancestor through the Seilor line. He was born in Hackney, London to William Wagner and Elizabeth Ann Wilkes. The 1911 England Census lists him as a dyer and a labourer. On 17 July 1915 he married Emily Dickinson. The couple had no children.

Alwyne held the rank of Private in the 9th Battalion, London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers. He was killed in action on the Western Front and is remembered at The Morlancourt Group of of Cemeteries.

Albert William Wanger

30 Jan 1896 - 31 May 1916

Albert is my 2nd great uncle. He was born in Bow, London to Charles Henry Wanger and Louisa Stapleton. The 1911 England Census lists him as a wood carrier. He never married.

Albert held the rank of Able Seaman in the Royal Navy. He is listed as being killed as as direct result of enemy action when the ship he was, HMS Indefatigable, was sunk at the Battle of Jutland. His body was lost at sea and he is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Charles Wanger

07 Apr 1892 - 22 Mar 1918

Charles is another 2nd great uncle, and brother of Albert (b. 1896). He was born in Bow, London to Charles Henry Wanger and Louisa Stapleton. The 1911 England Census lists him as working as a waiter in a restaurant. He married sometime before 1914 to Sarah Annie Keeble and the couple had 1 son, who sadly died in 1916.

Charles also entered the Royal Navy, where he held the rank of Stoker 1st Class. He is listed as being killed as a direct result of enemy action when HMS Gaillardia was sunk. His body was never found and he is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Interestingly the Wanger brothers' sister had married a professional footballer, who I have written about elsewhere.

George Thomas Wanger

16 Apr 1891 - 16 Aug 1917

George is my 2nd cousin 3x removed. He was born in Chingford, Essex to Harry Wanger and Fanny Spencer. The 1911 England Census lists him as a lithographic printer. He was unmarried.

George held the rank of Private in the 1st Division, Gloucestershire Regiment. He was killed in action on the Western Front and is remembered at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

James Frederick Wastell

Jan 1890 - 18 Aug 1916

James is my 2nd cousin 2x removed through the Mignot line. He was born in Bethnal Green, London to James Wastell and Annie Lock. The 1911 England Census shows him living with a relative of his mother's and that he works as a newsagent's assistant. He never married.

James held the rank of Rifleman in the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own). He was killed at the Battle of the Somme and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in Picardie.

Gilfred Wootton

Apr 1889 - 10 Dec 1918

Gilfred is the stepson of the wife of my 4th great uncle through the Gater line. He was born in Goldenhill, Staffordshire to James Wootton and Edith Alcock. He married Amelia Williams in July 1913 and was working as a potter's oven man. The couple had no children.

Gilfred was a driver in the 14th Brigade Royal Ammunition Column, Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery. He died of pneumonia on the Western Front and is remembered at Etaples Military Cemetery in Calais.

Richard Gerard Wellesley Williams-Bulkeley

21 Jul 1887 - 28 Mar 1918

Richard is another distant relative to me, and the Legges and Caringtons mentioned above. He was born in Mayfair, England to Richard Henry Williams-Bulkeley and Magdalene Bulkeley. He had 2 sisters.

Albert Edward Charles Robert Wynn-Carington (Viscount Wendover)

24 Apr 1895 - 19 May 1915

Albert is a distant relative through the Harington, Disney and Stapleton lines. He was born in Middlesex, England to Charles Robert (Wynn)-Carington and Cecilia Margaret Harbord. He had 5 sisters.

I have yet to find much information on him, but from Du Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 1914-1919, I know he was educated at Eton and Sandhurst and was made 2nd Lieutenant in Royal Horse Guards on 15 August 1914. On 08 March 1915 he went to France and was put in charge of the 8th Cavalry Brigade (The Blues, 10 Hussars and the Essex Yeomanry). He was injured at Hooge, on 13 May 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres. He was taken to hospital in Boulogne and died as a result of complications following the amputation of his arm. His body appears to have been returned to England and is buried in Moulsoe Churchyard in Buckinghamshire.

He never married.