Sometime ago I was sent the following information about a family called Blatchley who with various friends had strong Bitton connections. I had not come across them before and therefore they do not appear in my KINGSWOOD INDEX.  I was reminded of them following my recent posting concerning the Box Tunnel. This is the letter I received from Mr Guy Hirst:

“BLATCHLEY

“The Blatchleys came to the area in the 1820s from the Longleat Estate.

William the father (1771-1854) was an Innkeeper and may have been the 'William Blatcham' who appears as landlord of the Tennis Court Inn at Deanery Road, Warmley in Pigot's Directory of Gloucestershire, 1830. He had retired back to Longleat to a rent free cottage by 1839.

Charles Blatchley, (elder son), (1796-1879), Half Pay Lieutenant RN - paid off from the navy in 1825, began a new career as a railway civil engineer possibly at first with the local Bristol & Gloucestershire Railway from Coalpit Heath. His first child was born at Mangotsfield in 1828. Charles went back to sea 1830-4 and then returned to Kingswood, where his second son was born in 1836.That year Charles found a job with Brunel on the Box Tunnel and left to live at Box. Charles’ lifetime friend and colleague William Glennie was living at Bitton in the 1830s and also moved from the Royal Navy to Brunel. Glennie's wife was the daughter of the great art publicist Henry Aston Barker* (inventor of the panorama and son in law of Captain Bligh of the Bounty) who retired from London to Bitton at this period.

John Blatchley, (younger son), (1803-1862), was a butcher. He married Ruth Fudge in 1828 and had 3 children at Kingswood Hill. Ruth died in 1834. By 1836 the family had moved to Newport, Monmouthshire. When his second wife died in 1847, John and the children struck hard times and ended up in 1851 in the Keynsham Workhouse as John seems to have had a 'settlement' at Oldland. After another spell in Newport he died back in the Keynsham Union House in 1862.

Clara, John's eldest child born 1829 at Warmley remained in the area and appears not to have gone to Newport. In 1851 she was servant to the Moravian Minister Peter Cornelius West at Siston. She married in 1858 at Bitton and left for Liverpool in the 1860s.

John's second wife was Mary Ann James (1809-1847) daughter of George James (b Mangotsfield c1779) and Hannah Ponting (b. Stapleton 1778)

George James was a pork butcher and moved to Newport in the 1830s probably from Bristol where he had lived since his marriage in 1802.

Finally Sophia Grace nee Blatchley (1794-1880) sister of John and Charles, lived from about 1821 to 1835 at Warmley, Bitton, Kingswood with her Exciseman husband William.

“Kind Regards

Guy Hirst.”

I was intrigued by the connection with Bligh of the “Bounty” and decided to check out the information provided.

WILLIAM BLATCHLEY (1771-1854)

William Blatcham is listed as the Landlord of the Tennis Court in 1830. see warmley history. It seems clear from the note concerning John Blatchley (below) that he is indeed the same as William Blatchley.

William Blatchley married Joyce Scriffen Crokett at Longbridge Deverill, Wilts, 4.12.1792.

In 1841 William Blatchley and his wife Joyce aged “69 & 67” respectively are living at Horningsham, Wiltshire. William is said to be of independent means. In 1851 they are at Cock Road, Horningsham, as follows:

William Blatchley, 80, occupation “Old Huntsman” born Bath, and Joyce, otherwise Joycey, his wife aged 71.  The death of William Blatchley was registered at Warminster, Wilts in 1854 and that of Joycey at Kensington in 1859.   

CHARLES BLATCHLEY (1796-1879)

C.B. promoted Lieutenant, RN, 2.4.1824, “Morning Post”.

Charles Blatchley & Charlotte Gale married Kingswood, Bristol 18.12.1827.

(Yet to be checked: Blatchley baptisms at Mangotsfield.)

In 1841 living at Box, Wilts:

Charles Blatchley, 41, Navy Half Pay, born Wilts

Charlotte, 38, not born in Wilts, with Frederick, 5 & Alfred, 4, plus a maidservant.

In 1851, Charlotte, aged 50, born Southleigh, Oxon., is living at Ivy Cottage, Victory Parade, Dawlish with Alfred, her son aged 13, born Box whilst

Charles, 55, born Longbridge Deverill, now a Civil Engineer and Charles, his son, 22, also a Civil Engineer are living at Chipping Campden, Glos.

I can find no trace of any of them in 1861. Charlotte, wife of Commander Blatchley, RN,  died on 31.12.1864 at Saltash (obit 6.1.65, Royal Cornwall Gazette) and in 1871, Charles, a widower, aged 75, Greenwich Pensioner, Commander retired, was living at St Germans.  

His death at Saltash, Cornwall, December 3, 1879, “Commander, RN, aged 84” is recorded in the R. Cornwall Gazette 5.12.1879.

Frederick Blatchley esq, of Port View Saltash, s.o. the late Cdr Blatchley married Mary Kate eldest d.o. Rev Edward Polwhele, Rector of Pillaton. (Morning Post 13.7.1882)

JOHN BLATCHLEY (1802-1862)

“the son of the Landlord of the Tennis Court Inn” gave evidence at the Inquest on Isaac Gorden who was murdered after leaving the pub. (see Morning Chronicle, 6.12.1824) James Caines Bush and Mark Whiting of Kingswood were later hanged for the crime.

John Blatchley makes no further appearance in newspaper articles. I have yet to check his marriage to Ruth Fudge or the baptisms of his children. 

In 1841, described “brewer” (not butcher) he is living at Charles Street, St Woolos, Newport, aged 38, with his wife Mary, 32, and children William, 4, Mary 16 months, and Emma, aged 10, who must be the child of his first marriage.

In 1851, he is not in Keynsham Workhouse but in premises belonging to William Williams, a shipping labourer, and is described as a “painter, journeyman”, born Crockerton, Wiltshire. With him is his son William aged 14, “painter’s boy”, born Newport.   However, in the Keynsham Workhouse are Mary A. Blatchley, 11 and Charles Blatchley, 5, “pauper scholars”, birthplace unknown.

In 1861 John is not in the list for Keynsham Workhouse, but William, now 26, seems to have gone to Droylsden, Manchester, where he says he was “born Gloucestershire” and is living at 9 Durham Street, with his wife Jane aged 25. In 1871, William is still living in Lancashire, now aged 35, a shopman, and says he was born “Monmouthshire”. He has a different wife, Eliza, and five children. Things are looking up for they have a servant, Eleanor Ascroft, aged 15.

It is intriguing to notice the contrast in fortune in the lives of the brothers Charles and John Blatchley.

CLARA BLATCHLEY, (ca1829-1903) the daughter of John Blatchley was a maidservant at the home of the Moravian Minister, Peter Cornelius West at Potters Wood, Kingswood in 1851.

She married Robert Stone, junior, a paper maker, and in 1861 they were living at Oldland Common with their baby son, Frederick, aged one. By 1871 they had moved to Everton, Liverpool where Robert was now working at an india-rubber factory and the family had grown to six children. In 1881 he was an outdoor officer for the Local Marine Board, and in 1891, a Restaurant Manager! A Jack of All-Trades! Robert died aged 56 in 1892 and in 1901, the widowed Clara was staying with her son William, his wife Ethel and their large family at Lambeth. She died in 1903, aged 73, back home in Liverpool.

SOPHIA GRACE, nee Blatchley (1794-1880)

sister of William & Charles Blatchley, married William Grace and in 1841 was at Husbandman’s End, Shipton on Stour, Worcs. William aged 50, (born ca 1791) not born Worcs, Sophia aged 45 (bca 1796) not born Worcs, and their ten children!

In 1851 they were at 12 Caroline Place, Marylebone:

William Grace, 63 (b.1788), retired Inland Revenue Officer, born Enford, Wilts

Sophia, 57 (1794) born Longbridge Deverill

Eliza, daughter, 15, born Cirencester, plus a visitor, nine year old William Hurford, born Brighton.

In 1861, they are still at the same address: William, now 73, “Officer Inland Revenue” though the family business seems to be taking in washing: Sophia, now 66, Louisa, 35 (b.Bitton), Caroline, 28, (b. Kingswood Hill) and Eliza, 25, (b. Cirencester) are all described “laundress”, whilst so Thomas, 25, “assists at home.” The only exception to the enterprise is Maria, 26, (b. Kingswood Hill) a governess.

Sophia Grace, 85, died in London in 1880.

WILLIAM GLENNIE

On Nov. 26 at Bitton, Lt. William Glennie RN  to Elizabeth Catherine eldest daughter of Henry Aston Barker, esquire of Willsbridge. (Marriage announcement Bristol Mercury 12.12.1833)

1841 census at Box, Wiltshire:

William Glennie 40 Lieut RN & Civil Engineer, Not born Wilts

Elizabeth Catherine, 30, Not born Wilts

& 4 children, Walter, 6, Harriet, 5, William, 3 & Catherine Sophia, 1, & 2 servants

1851 census at 23 Devonshire Terrace, St Andrew, Plymouth

William Glennie, 53, (1798) Lieut RN, Half Pay, b. Camberwell

Catherine Glennie, 45 (1806) b. St Geo. Southwark

William, 13, scholar, b. Bitton, Catherine, scholar, 11, b. Bitton, Isabella, 9, b. Sampford Arundel, Som,

Alexander W. 7 b. Sampford Arundel, Mary E. 5, b. Dawlish, Margaret G. b. Plymouth.

Marriage announcement: INGLES/GLENNIE. On 8th inst at Stoke Church, Devonport, Lieut John Ingles RN & Catherine Sophia, 2nd daughter of the late Lieut William Glennie RN of Nelson Villas, Stoke, Devonshire. (Hampshire Chronicle 20.1.1866)

HENRY ASTON BARKER 

Henry As(h)ton Barker & Harriet Maria Bligh married 1802. (Harriet Maria, daughter of William & Bligh and Elizabeth Betham was baptised at Douglas, Isle of Man 14 November 1782.

Henry Aston Barker Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, Southward Volunteers, 26.8.1807 (announcement, Morning Post)

The following comes from Wikipedia:

Henry Aston Barker (1774 - 19 July 1856) was a Scottish landscape and panorama painter and exhibitor, the son of Robert Barker whose business he continued.^[1]

Life and works

Barker was born in Glasgow, the younger son of Robert Barker, the famous panoramic painter, whom he assisted as a boy. When only 12 years old he was set to work making outlines of the city of Edinburgh from the top of the Calton Hill Observatory, and a few years later made the drawings for the view of London from Albion Mills. These drawings he afterwards etched.^[1]

In 1788 he came with his father to London, and soon afterwards became a pupil at the Royal Academy. Barker continued to be his father's chief assistant in the panoramas till the latter's death in 1806, when, as executor, he took over the business, and for 20 years carried on the exhibitions with great success.^[1]

He frequently travelled in the course of his work, and in August 1799 left England for Turkey, to make drawings for a panorama of Constantinople. When he arrived at Palermo, he called on Sir William Hamilton, the English ambassador at the court of Naples, and was introduced by him to Lord Nelson, of whom, he wrote, "took me by the hand and said he was indebted to me for keeping up the fame of his victory in the Battle of the Nile for a year longer than it would have lasted in the public estimation" (Barker's memoranda). The panorama of Constantinople was exhibited in 1802, and the drawings were engraved and published in four plates.^[1]

In 1801, Barker went to Copenhagen to make drawings for a picture of the battle, and while there he was again received by Lord Nelson. In May 1802, during the Peace of Amiens, he went to Paris and made drawings for a panorama of the city. After this many other panoramas were exhibited, the later ones being chiefly from drawings by John Burford, who shared with Barker the property in a panorama in the Strand, purchased in 1816 from Mr. Reinagle. Barker, however, still travelled from time to time, and visited, among other places, Malta, where he made drawings of the port, exhibited in 1810 and 1812; Venice, of which a panorama was exhibited in 1819; and Elba, where he made the acquaintance of Napoleon.^[1]

After the battle of Waterloo, Barker visited the field, and went to Paris, where he obtained from the officers at headquarters all necessary information on the subject of the battle. A series of eight etchings by Mr. J. Burnett from Barker's original sketches of the field of battle were printed and published, as were also his drawings of Gibraltar. His last grand panorama was the coronation procession of George IV, exhibited in 1822. Of all the panoramas exhibited, that of the battle of Waterloo was the most successful and lucrative. By the exhibition of this picture Barker realised no less than £10,000.^[1]

About 1802 he married the eldest of the six daughters of Rear-admiral William Bligh, who commanded the Bounty at the time of the celebrated mutiny. By her Barker left two sons and two daughters. In 1826 he transferred the management of both the panoramas to John and Robert Burford, and went to live first at Cheam, in Surrey, and then in the neighbourhood of Bristol.^[1]

Barker died on 19 July 1856 at Bitton near Bristol. A list of most of the panoramas painted and exhibited by Henry and Robert Barker were published in The Art Journal (1857, p. 47).^[2][1]. His brother, Thomas Edward Barker, though not an artist, also ran the family business, but later set up a rival panorama exhibition with artist Ramsay Richard Reinagle at 168/9 The Strand, London.^[3]

Panorama of Constantinople (1813, aquatint)

The Morning Post of 1.1.1823 contains the following: “Mr Henry Aston Barker has completed his magnificent panorama of the coronation of the present king. It is one of the most happy as well as undoubtedly the most splendid of his performances and (establishes) him as the first artist of the day in this line, The picture is exhibited  in the Great Circle at Leicester Square occupying 10,000 feet of canvas and between 30 & 40 thousand figures.”

1841 census: at Golden Valley Bitton

Catherine Barker 90 (1751) b.Ireland

Henry Ashton (sic) Barker, 66 (1775) b. Scotland

Harriet Barker, 58 (1783 b. Scotland* (*presumably there was no column for the IOM)

Mary Barker, 25 (1816) b. Glos.

Catherine Barker, Henry’s mother, and the widow of Robert Barker, died at Bitton in 1842.

On July 29 at Bitton, North Prichard esquire, of Norwood Surrey to Mary, youngest daughter of Henry Aston Barker, of Bitton. (Marriage announcement, Worcester Journal. 5.8.1847)

In 1851, Henry, & Harriet were still living at Golden Valley.

Harriet Maria Barker died at Bitton in the spring of 1856 and Henry survived her by only a few months. His obituary appears in “the Standard” of 24.7.1856 ”the 19th inst at Bitton, Henry Aston Barker, in the 83rd year of his age.”

CONNERY, JOHN

At Dieppe, in consequence of wounds received on board the John Bull, in an engagement with a French privateer, Mr John Connery, formerly of the City of Bristol. FFBJ 18.11.1809.

HANCOCK, Isaac

On 29^th inst by falling over the side of the French schooner La Muche of which he was prize master, Mr Isaac Hancock, midshipman of the Statira frigate, and son of Mr I. Hancock of this City, a promising young officer, greatly respected by his Captain and crew. FFBJ 1.7.1809.

MALBON, Micajah.

At Stapleton, after a few days illness, Micajah Malbon, esq., Captain, Royal Navy, leaving behind an amiable widow, 4 children and many friends to deplore his loss. He had devoted 34 years of his life to His Majesty's service and distinguished himself in many engagements. FFBJ 19.6.1813

MANSEL

Mr Mansel, aged 19, at Gilbraltar, eldest son of the Bishop of Bristol. He was taken prisoner aged 13 with the unfortunate Captain Wright of the Vincego and escaped from the French after 5 years captivity. But the sufferings which he endured from his long and retracted concealment in wet ditches, marshes, etc for upwards of three months visibly affected his constitution. His friends were anxious for a change of profession but his attachment to the sea was unalterable. After staying with them only a few weeks he sailed as midshipman aboard the Circe frigate, Captain Woolcombe, who has now announced his dissolution. FFBJ 1.12.1810.

Bristol and other local men at Men at Trafalgar, 1805.

Royal Navy (of Bristol unless otherwise stated)

John Alden, Landsman

William Alden, AB

John Allen, Landsman, Bath

H.J. Anderden, Midshipman

George Anderson, Ord Seaman

John Andrews, Quartermaster

John Armstrong, Quartermaster

Charles Arthur, Ord Seaman

William Atkins, AB

Charles Baber, Landsman, Bedminster

George Baker, Carpenter's Crew, Keynsham, Somerset

John Baker, Ord Seaman

Francis Barnes, AB. (see letter above)

James Barnes, Landsman

Peter Barrett, AB

Samuel Bateman, Boy, 2^nd Class, Bath

Joseph Batson, Ord Seaman, Trent (?) Som, (TR "Bellerophon")

Christopher Beaty, Quarter gunner.

George Beck, clerk

George Bedford, AB

John Bell, Landsman, Bath

Abraham Bennett, Boy 2^nd Class

John Bennett, AB

William Berry AB Bath

'Thomas Blake, Ord Seaman

William Blake, Landsman, Marshfield, Glos

Walter Bond, Quarter gunner

Richard Bowden, AB

Robert Boyde, AB, Downing (sic) Glos

Thomas Braine, Ord Seaman

Joseph Briton (sic) Landsman

Philip Britton, Landsman, Bath

William Broad, Ord Seaman

William Broad, Carpenter's crew

John Brock, AB

William Brook, AB, St Garges, (sic) Glos

Joseph Brooks, Landsman

John Brown, AB (? TR "Neptune" and Guadaloupe clasp)

John Brown, AB

William Brown, Ord Seaman

William Buck, Quartermaster

William Buckley, Yeoman of the Sheets

Samuel Burgess, Landsman

James Burton, master's mate, Ratcliffe (sic)

Peter Bush, Boy 2^nd Class, Kingswood, Glos

Joseph Buxton, AB, Hanham, Glos

George Cannon, Landsman, Bath

John Campbell, Quarter gunner

William Cantell, Landsman, Whitechurch (sic) Somerset

Jacob Cappell, Pte. Queen Charlton, Somerset, (TR "Victory")

Hugh Carney, Pte, St Michael, Bristol, (TR "Britannia")

Robert Carr, Midshipman

Comm. John. Carslake. Born Colyton, Devon, 1785. Entered R.N. 1799. Midshipman

on "Victory" 1805. Promoted after the battle to Lieut. Retired Commander,

1852, N.G.S. Medal, two clasps. Died Clifton 1865. (TR)

Charles Cawly, Landsman

John Chambers, Landsman (as Ord. Seaman ?TR "Dreadnought". Martinique clasp)

James Cheek, Landsman

James Cherry, Landsman

Daniel Chilcott, Quarter gunner

Henry Child, AB, Bath

James Chivers, Ord Seaman

William Clements, Landsman, Bath

Thomas Cobley, Ord Seaman

Isaac Cole, Ord Seaman, Hanham, Glos

Samuel Cole, Ord Seaman, Downing, (sic) Glos

John Coleman, Carpenter's Crew, Bath

Michael Collins, Ord Seaman, Bath

Thomas Condon, Ord Seaman

John Cook, Ord Seaman

John Cooper, Landsman, Cyson (sic) (Siston) Glos

John Cope, AB. On "Victory" at Trafalgar, aged 24, seriously wounded. Utrecht

11 May 1803, "Ocean" 15 January 1806.

Samuel Cowles, AB, Downing (sic) Downend

Charles Cox, Landsman, Stapleton, Glos

John Cramer, Landsman

William Crisp. Landsman, Whitchurch, Som

Robert Cuddiford, Carpenter's crew. (TR "Naiad.)

Benjamin Dagger, Carpenter's crew, Bath

William Davis, Ord Seaman

William Dawes, AB

Bartholomew George Smith Day, Midshipman (TR "Revenge". "Superiere" 10 Feb 1809)

Thomas Day, AB

James Dowling, Boy, 2^nd Class

Thomas Downey, Boy 2^nd Class, Bath

John Downs, Quarter Gunner

Jeremiah Dunn, AB

James Earle, Midshipman

Francis Eaves, Yeoman of the Sheets. Aged 29, on "Victory" at Trafalgar.

4 May 1804 "Swift", 15 January 1806, "Ocean".

James Edwards AB

Samuel Edwards, Landsman

William Edwards, Landsman

William Ellis, Ord Seaman

George Emblin, Coxswain

Henry Evans, Ord Seaman

Matthew Evans, Landsman

Thomas Evans, Ord Seaman

Thomas Evans, Yeoman of the Sheets

William Fields, Ord Seaman

Nicholas Fitzgerald, Carpenter's Crew

Charles Fletcher, AB

Thomas Fletcher, Ord Seaman

John Flooke, Boy, 1^st class

George Floyd, Ord Seaman

William Forrest, AB, Keynsham

James Fowler, Ord Seaman

Thomas Francis, Landsman

John French, AB (?TR "Euralyus")

Edward Fry, Landsman (TR "Spartiate")

John Fry, Landsman

Isaac Fudge, Ord Seaman

James Fuller, Ord Seaman

John Gardner, Landsman

John/James Gardner, Landsman

William Gardner, Ord Seaman

Thomas Gascoyne, Ord Seaman

James Gerrard, AB

George Gibbons, AB

Thomas Gibson, AB (?TR "Euralyus")

William Giles, AB

Nicholas Gooding, AB

William Goodman, Ord Seaman

John Gordon, AB, Bath

John Graham, Boy, 3^rd Class

George Grant, AB

William Graves, Ord Seaman

Thomas Griffiths, Ord Seaman

William Griffiths, Landsman

Charles Grimes, Ord Seaman

Joseph Gullick, Landsman

James Hale, Ord Seaman

Thomas Hall, Landsman, Bitton, Glos

Samuel Hammans, Ord Seaman, Somerset

Thomas Handley, AB (TR "Bellerophon"

John Hannam, Carpenter's Crew (TR as Hannan "Ajax")

Joseph Hannam, Boy, 2^nd Class

John Harding, Ord Seaman

Thomas Harding, Ord Seaman

Samuel Harris, AB

John Hartland, Ord Seaman

James Harvey, Ord Seaman

Samuel Hawkins, AB

George Hayes, AB

John Hazle, AB

James Helliar, Ord Seaman

William Hemmings, Landsman

William Henderson, Trumpeter

Edward Henley, Armourer's Mate

Job Henley, Landsman

William Herbert, Ord Seaman

Augustus Thomas Hickes, Volunteer 1^st Class, Berkeley

(TR as Hicks "Defiance", died 1857)

John Hilliar, Ord Seaman

John Hinds, Quartermaster's Mate

'Thomas Christopher Holland, Midshipman, Bath

Charles Hopkins, Ord Seaman

David Howell, Trumpeter, Bath

Henry Howell, Ord Seaman

John Howell, Ord Seaman

William Howell, Landsman, Manilsfield sic - (Mangotsfield), Glos

William Hubber, Ord Seaman (TR "Polythemus")

Aaron Hubert, Boy, 2^nd Class, Cosham sic - (Cotham?), Bristol. aged 16. On "Victory"

at Trafalgar. 17 April 1803 "Resistance", 15 January 1806, "Ocean".

Abraham Hughes, Ord Seaman

William Humphries, Qtr. Gunner, Bath (TR "Mars")

William Hutchinson, Ord Seaman

Thomas Hyde, Landsman (TR "Conqueror")

James Jackson, AB

Richard Jackson, Landsman

James James, Landsman

John James, Ord Seaman

Stephen Watts Jeffries, Ord Seaman, Mangotsfield, Glos

James Jenkins, Ord Seaman

John Jenkins, AB

John Jennings, Ord Seaman

John Johnson, Landsman

John Johnston, Ord Seaman

Francis Jones, Landsman, Bath

George Jones, Landsman

Isaac Jones, Ord Seaman

Richard Jones, Ord Seaman

William Jones, AB

Thomas King, Ord Seaman

William King, Ord Seaman

Edward Kingston, Ord Seaman (TR "Dreadnought")

George Lacey, AB

Samuel Lacey, Ord Seaman

Solomon Leonard, Ord Seaman

John Lisle, Ord Seaman

William Lloyd, Ord Seaman

George Long, Landsman

William Long, Ord Seaman

William Loveless, Landsman, Winterbourne, Glos

Robert Luton, Ord Seaman

William Maggs, Landsman, Bath

George Manning, AB, Bath (?TR as Ord. Seaman "Victory", and Basque Roads)

Thomas Mansfield, yeoman of the Powder Room

John Marks, Ord Seaman, Bath

James Marshall, AB

James Marshall, Landsman

William Marshall, Ord Seaman

John Martin, AB

William Matthews, Ship's Corporal, Bath

Thomas Mason, AB

George May, Boy, 2^nd Class, Bath

Mark McMullen, Landsman, Camerton

William Mearn, Ord Seaman

Henry Merchant, Ord Seaman

Thomas Merchant, Ord Seaman, Bath

John Miller, Ord Seaman

Charles Mills, AB

Simeon Moon, AB, aged 25. On "Victory". Wounded at Trafalgar.

14 June 1803, Clyde, 2 January 1806, Sussex, HS

John Mooney, Boy 3^rd Class

Joseph Henry Moore, Boy 2^nd Class, Bath

Thomas Moore, Landsman, Bath

James Morris, Ord Seaman

William Mountain, Landsman

Samuel Moxom, Landsman

Thomas Murphy, Quarter Gunner

Richard Musto, Bosun's mate

George Nash, Quartergunner

Thomas Nash, Quartergunner

Thomas Neal, Ord Seaman

Thomas Neal, AB (TR "Prince")

Richard Newman, Ord Seaman

Thomas Norman, Ord Seaman

John Norton, Ord Seaman, Bath

John Oliver, Landsman

Thomas Ovens, Landsman, Bath

William Owen, AB

John Palmer, Armourer

Charles Parker, Landsman, Bath

Giles Parker, Boy, 3^rd class, Wootton under Edge

Joseph Parker, Ord Seaman

Job Parsons, Landsman

Thomas Partridge, AB, Bath

John Patterson, AB

Coulson Pearce, Ord Seaman

George Pearson, Volunteer 1st Class, Som

*John Peart - see letters, a Portsmouth Man, at Trafalgar

Erasmus Peeps, Midshipman, Pill, Somerset

William Peirce, Ord Seaman

Anthony Perks, Ord Seaman

William Perry, Landsman

Comm. John Phepoe. Born Dublin, 1776, entered RN, 1801. Midshipman "Ajax" at

'Trafalgar. Ret'd Commander, 1848, N.G.S. medal with clasp. Died

Clifton 1862, buried Clifton St Andrews. (TR)

James Phillips: according to his obituary in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal of 14 March 1818, he was Lord Nelson's boatswain on board the "Victory" at the Battle of Trafalgar, "having proved his attachment to his brave Admiral by numerous wounds, viz. four large sabre wounds on his head, many gun shot wounds on his body and three balls in his right thigh and leg, his knee being then shattered. He obtained an honourable discharge and a liberal pension from his King and Country. He was boarded however by the grim tyrant of death in North Street, Bedminster on Monday last, having just attained his 47^th year, the age of his beloved Commander and he will be lowered to his last berth in Redcliff Church tomorrow at o'clock." His name does not appear on the Age of Nelson website. Another report in the Bristol Observer of 25 March 1994, says his name was "Slasher" Brown! HE IS NOW BELIEVED TO BE AN IMPOSTOR!

William Phillips, AB

John Phipps, AB

William Phipps, Landsman

George (or David) Pitt, Ord Seaman, 19, On "Victory". Wounded at Trafalgar. 11 May

1803, "Puissant", 15 January 1806, "Ocean" (TR "Victory")

George Pontin, Ord Seaman,

Robert Pordie, Yeoman, Bosun's Store room

John Powell, Boy, 2^nd class

John Powell, Ord Seaman, Bath (?TR as "AB" "Conqueror")

William Powers, AB

Charles Price, Frampton, Glos, Ord Seaman

James Price, Landsman (TR "Tennant")

Thomas Prior, Ord Seaman

Francis Pritchard, Landsman

Thomas Pullen, gunsmith, Downing

Samuel Randall, AB, Bath

William Read, Yeoman of the Sheets

Thomas Rees, AB

William Reeves, AB

James Reynolds, Boy, 3^rd Class

John Reynolds, Ord Seaman, Bath

Francis Rice, Landsman

John Rice, Landsman

Daniel Rich, Landsman

Joseph Richardson, AB, Bath

Arthur Roberts, Ord Seaman

William Roberts, Landsman

William Roberts, AB

Daniel Rogers, Ord Seaman, Bedminster, Bristol

Richard Rogers, AB,

John Rudge, Landsman (TR "Spartiate")

Thomas Rumney, AB, Pill

James Sanders, AB, Bath

John Saunders, Ord Seaman

Richard Searle, AB, Bath

Samuel Sensbury, Gunner's mate (possibly "Sainsbury")

Comm. Joseph Seymour. Master RN, 1796, Master of "Conqueror" at Trafalgar. Ret'd

Commander 1846. NGS Medal with two clasps. Died Bristol 1862,

buried Arnos Vale. (TR)

Elias Shaddock, Quarter Gunner

Benjamin Shepherd, Ord Seaman

John Shepherd, Ord Seaman

James Sherborne, Landsman

William Simmonds, AB

Benjamin Simmons, Carpenter's Crew (TR "Thunderer")

William Simmons, Ord Seaman, Bath (TR "Thunderer")

William Smart, AB, Bath

Joseph Smith, Landsman

Loinel Smith, Armourer's mate, Bathford, Som

Thomas Smith, Landsman

Thomas Smith, AB, Bath

William Smith, Landsman

William Smith, Ord Seaman

Christopher Spring, Ord Seaman

John Steager, Landsman, Keynsham, Somerset

Joseph Stokes, Ord Seaman

James Stone, Midshipman, Bath

Thomas Stone, Landsman

William Stone, AB

Charles Stowe, Landsman

William Strong, Ord Seaman

William Symonds, Landsman

Francis Taylor, Boy, 3^rd class

Hugh Taylor, AB

William Taylor, Armourer's Mate

John Thomas, Ord Seaman (TR "Tennant")

Joseph Thompson, Landsman

William Thompson, Ord Seaman (TR "Victory")

Joseph Thorn, AB, Ratclift (sic)

Nathaniel Thorn, Landsman

Bowhem Tomkyns, Volunteer, 1^st Class, Bath

Henry Tripp, Ord Seaman

Thomas Tripp, Ord Seaman

James Tucker, Carpenter's Crew, Bath

John Tucker, AB

John Tucker, Ord Seaman

William Turner, Landsman

Jeremiah Vincent, Landsman, Bath

* John Viner, Landsman. See letters.

George Warren, AB, Bath

John Webb, Quartermaster's mate, Alveston, Glos

William Webb, AB

George White AB

John White AB, Bitton, Glos

Thomas White, Master at Arms, Som

Thomas White, AB, Som

James Whiting, Ord Seaman, Bath

James Whittington, AB

Richard Whittington, Landsman, Kingswood, (nr Wootton-under-Edge)

(TR "Leviathan")

Richard Wildgoose, AB

George Wilkins, Ord Seaman, 25. On "Victory" at Trafalgar. 11 May 1803,

Utrecht, 15 January 1806, "Ocean"

Henry Wilkins, Ord Seaman

John Wilkins, Ord Seaman

John Wilkins, AB, Churchill, Somerset

Thomas Wilkins, AB, Keynsham, Somerset

John Williams, Landsman

John Williams, Ord Seaman (?TR "Defiance" or "Britannia")

John Williams, AB

John Williams, Landsman

Stephen Williams AB, (TR Revenge")

Thomas Williams, AB

Francis Willis, AB

George Wilson, Boy, 2^nd Class. Aged 17, on "Victory". Killed at Trafalgar.

Joined 27 April 1803. Buried at Sea, 21 October 1805

Samuel Wilson, Ord Seaman, Bath

Thomas Wiltshire, Armourer's Mate, Cainsan (sic) (Keynsham) (TR "Agamemnon", and St Domingo, Malaga.)

Andrew Winter, Landsman

James Wolfe, Ord Seaman

John Wood, AB

John Woodman, Landsman

Jacob Wookey, Ord Seaman, Somerset

John Wright, Armourer's mate

William Wyatt, AB

Thomas York, Landsman

John Young, Midshipman

Royal Marines:

William Abbot, Pte, Marshfield, Glos. (TR "Leviathan")

John Adams, Pte.

William Adams, Pte, St George's, Bristol

Matthew Amos, Pte, "Rackley" sic. (Redcliffe?) Nr Bristol

James Applegate, Pte, Berkeley, Glos, (TR "Naiad")

William Bailey, Pte, Winford, Som

John Ball, Pte, Marshfield, Glos

William Bartlett, Pte, Walcot, Bath

John Brookes, Pte. On "Victory" at Trafalgar. Aged 30, 14 April 1803, Zealand,

15 January 1806 at Chatham HQ. On TR.

John Buckley, Pte, St James, Bristol

John Cantle, Pte, Bedminster

Jacob Capell, Pte, Queen Charlton, Som (TR "Victory")

Hugh Carney, Pte, St Michael, Bristol (TR "Britannia")

Isaac Chandler, Pte, Melksham, Wilts.

Charles Chappell, Pte, Thornbury

Richard Chinnock, Pte, Lye (sic) on Mendip (TR "Britannia")

F. Charles Clear, Boy, RM

Jeremiah Coke, Clutton, Bath

Thomas Coles, Pte, St Philips, Glos

John Cook, Sergeant, from St Mary Redcliffe

William Cook, Pte, Hawkesbury, Glos

Captain James Cottell, 2^nd Lieut, RM, 1798, 1^st Lieut, 1804. Served in "Tonnant" at

Trafalgar. Retired Half pay, 1835, died Bedminster 1842.

Moses Dagger, Pte, St Philip & St Jacob, Glos

James Davis, Boy, Ratcliffe (sic) Bristol

William Day, Pte

David Drew, Pte, Croomdell (sic) (Cromhall?) Glos

Samuel Eyles, Pte, Stapleton, Glos

James Fisher, Pte, Marshfield, Glos

William Ford, Pte, C58, St Stephen's, Bristol, aged 24. On "Victory" at Trafalgar.

18 April 1803, Winchelsea, 15 January 1806, Chatham HQ

John Grimes, Pte, St Michael's Bristol

John Harding. Ord Seaman

Thomas Harding, Ord Seaman

Samuel Harris, Pte, Winterbourne, Glos

John Hayward, Boy, RM, Milksham (sic) Wilts

Francis Hicks, Pte, St Bitten, (sic: Bitton) Glos

John Hicks, Pte, Bath

George Hodges, Pte, C40, St Georges, (sic) Bristol. Age 26. On "Victory" at Trafalgar".

17 April 1803 and 15 January 1806, at Chatham HQ.

Edward Hore, Pte, Chew Magney (sic)

Robert House, Pte, Camerton, Som

James Hughes, Pte. St Philips, Bristol

Thomas Hurle, Pte. Berkeley, Glos

George Jeffries, Pte, Siston, Glos

James Jones, Pte, Milksham (sic) Wilts, (TR "Tonnant")

Thomas Lansdown, Pte, Olveston, Glos

Moses Llewellyn, Pte, Mangotsfield, Glos

Isaac May, Pte, Avening, Glos

George Moseley, Pte, Frampton Cotterell

Cornelius Organ, Pte. North Nibley

John Parfitt, Pte, Strait, Somerset

Charles Parsons, Pte, Yeaton (sic) Somerset

John Phillips, Pte, Temple, Bristol

Charles Pinker, Pte, Temple, Som (Temple Cloud rather than Temple Bristol?)

Amos Poulson, Pte, Melksham

Benjamin Powell, Pte, Timsbury

David Powell, Pte

Henry Powell, Pte, P18, aged 22, On "Victory" at Trafalgar. 21 May 1803,

Zealand, 15 January 1806, Chatham HQ

John Skinner, Pte

John Skinner, Pte, Bath

George Skidmore, Pte, Iron Acton, Glos

*? Isaac Smith, Pte, Trowbridge. (see letters)

*John Summers, Pte (see letters)

John Thorn, Pte, Barclay, Som, (sic)

Daniel Webb, Boy, RM, Melksham, Wilts

*? Joseph Webb, Pte, Melksham, Wilts (see letters)

Joseph White, Pte, Mangotsfield, Glos

John Whiting, Pte, Shepton Mallet (TR)

Mark Williams, Pte, Westbury, Glos

Bibliography

Trafalgar Roll

"Men who served with Nelson" BAFHS Journal, No. 71, March 1993

Age of Nelson website

&

"A British Tar. Examination before a Court Martial of Serving officers of His Majesty's late Ship Java, Jones Humble, boatswain, deposed 'About an hour after the action commenced, I was wounded; I went down and stopped near an hour; and when I got my arm put a little to rights by a tourniquet put on it, nothing else, (my hand was carried away, my arm wounded about the elbow) I put my arm into the bosom of my shirt and went up again and when I saw the enemy ahead of us repairing his damages, I had my orders from Lieutenant Chads before the action began to cheer up the boarders with my pipe that they might make a clean spring of the boarding.' This is a fine and truly characteristic specimen of the British seaman." (FFBJ 5.6.1813)

A sailor at Trafalgar aboard "Britannia" had his leg shot off a little below the knee and said to the officer ordering him to be conveyed to the cockpit "That's but a shilling touch, Your Honour, an inch higher and I should have had my eighteenpence." (ie. pension according to severity.)

The same fellow said to one of his friends, "I say Bob, take a look for my leg, and give me the silver buckle out of my shoe. I'll do as much for you another time." (anecdotes reported FFBJ 16.11.1822)

I have to say I had never heard of Messrs John Hare & Co of Temple Gate until I saw a news item in the Bristol Evening Post of 30 August which refers to a Penny Black stamp on an envelope addressed to the Bristol firm of linoleum and floor cloth makers. The envelope was posted in Sherborne. Dorset on June 11, 1841 and 170 years later was due to go under the hammer at the Spink Stamps and Postal History sale in London on September 9.

Prior to the reform  of the postal service letters had to be paid for by the recipient and were left at poste restantes awaiting collection and payment. The Penny Black, Britain’s 1st adhesive postage stamp was introduced on May 6 1840. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Black

The firm seems to have been an early fan of the new country wide system for on June 15, 1844 when the Bristol Mercury published a subscription list under the heading “Penny Postage – National Testament to Sir Rowland Hill”, the second name in the list of subscribers, after the Dean of Bristol is John Hare & Co. Like the Dean, the firm contributed 2 guineas to the fund.

John Hare & Co had been in the news before on October 30, 1841 when they were publicly thanked by Mr Jasper Westcott, a brass founder,  for the speedy deployment of their engine when fire broke out at his premises in Redcliffe Street. Like the Penny Post, the Fire Service was a Victorian invention http://www.fireservice.co.uk/history/ and along with Hare & Co’s contraption, fire engines were sent out by various insurance companies and the police. Thanks to their combined efforts the fire at Mr Westcott’s was contained and his stock and patterns were undamaged so that he was able to continue work with little interruption.

At the time of the letter John Hare and his brother Sholto Vere Hare along with other members of the Hare family were running the company which had been started by their grandfather, John Hare. The younger John Hare became Mayor of Bristol in 1861 and was in the van at the mourning procession which took place following the death of the Prince Consort that year. His brother Sholto followed him as Mayor in 1862. Sholto took a great interest in the church of St Mary Redcliffe and endowed a stained glass window as well as erecting at his own expense, the statue of the boy poet Chatterton in the churchyard.

A full administrative history of the company together with genealogical and family information 1799-1994 may be found at Bristol Record Office under reference 40785.

In November 1842 at the British Embassy in Naples, John Hare married Jane, the daughter of the late Edward Strachey, esquire, of the Bengal Civil Service. Jane was the niece of Sir Henry Strachey, baronet, of Sutton Court in Somerset. In 1841, Sir Henry lived in London at a rather grand address, St George, Hanover Square. Sadly, John and Jane’s first child, a daughter, was stillborn in October 1843, but by the time of the 1851 census the couple were living at “Rosemont” in Clifton Park with two more children, sons John and Charles aged five and one. There were four servants, a nurse, a cook, a housemaid, and a seventeen year old “page”. John Strachey, aged 27, of the East India Company’s Civil Service was a visitor. Perhaps he was a brother or cousin of Mrs Hare.  Another son, Sholto, named after his uncle, was born in 1852.

Towards the end of their civic year in October 1862, John and Jane Hare attended the wedding of Jane’s niece Miss Olivia Strachey at Clifton Parish Church. Olivia was the daughter of the late Richard Strachey of Ashwick Grove, Shepton Mallet, cousin of Sir Edward Strachey, baronet. The groom, Captain George Law of the Madras service, arrived in the full dress uniform of his regiment. The bride wore a white moiré antique dress, carried orange blossom, clematis and white roses and from her “elegant coiffeur” fell a lace train. The bridesmaids were her four sisters, the Misses Minnie, Charlotte, Kate and Isabel Strachey, friends Miss Kate Doveton, Miss Symonds, Miss Williams, and Misses Charlotte, Ada and Sydney Law, relatives of the groom. All wore dresses of white tarlatan with sashes of scarlet silk, and on their heads wreaths of mountain ash berries and leaves. The outfit of Jane Hare, the Mayoress, was also described:  a gown of moiré antique silk in a shade of lavender with black lace flounces, a white muslin shawl edged with black and the piece de resistance, a bonnet of Terry Velvet trimmed with pink roses. (a little OTT perhaps?)  No fewer than 14 carriages, including the Mayor’s state coach carried the assorted guests to the reception at the residence of the bride in the Mall, Clifton.

The following month Mrs Hare attended the wedding of George Strachey to Miss Kate Doveton, both of whom had attended the previous nuptials, Kate as a bridesmaid. George was a secretary of Her Majesty’s legation at The Hague. “Light tripped the party, gay as gay could be” warbled Bristol Mercury’s scribe, despite the intense November cold. In December 1862, Mr & Mrs Hare were guests when Miss Kate Strachey married Lieut J.F.M Winterscale of the 3rd Battalion Prince of Wales’ Own Rifle Brigade. He and his best man, Willoughby Wallace of the 60th Rifles came in full regalia as did a host of other military gents. The Hares also went to the wedding in August 1863 of Miss Mary Strachey to Charles Elton. And in January 1864, at Farleigh Hungerford, they attended the wedding of Miss Annie Stancomb, daughter of the Lord of the Manor of Trowbridge to Mr George Lawrence Keir, an officer in the Indian Army. Although all these  fashionable events are described in lavish terms which equal the first, Mrs Hare’s ensemble, regrettably, is not.

Strangely enough, when John and Jane’s eldest son John married Annie Bell Ford, the second daughter of H.B. Ford, I could only find a simple announcement. (on August 21, 1869.)

In February 1874, a Mr & Mrs John Hare attended the wedding of Miss Catherine Dorinda Ludlow and Mr Francis Rhode Carbonell of Usk, but it is not clear whether this is the senior or junior couple of this name. In a turn which would put the wind up most people, a long list of the wedding presents given is printed with the names of their donors. Aspiring TV producers of Victorian plays could do worse than consult Bristol Mercury of 14.2.1874 and then furnish their set. It is like stepping into “Cranford”.  Mr & Mrs John Hare, somewhat dull,  gave a drawing room clock. 

Jane Hare died aged 72 in 1886 and John aged 84 in 1897. An obituary of Sholto Vere Hare appeared in Bristol Mercury on 24.3.1900.

When conducting this experiment to see how far a little information on an envelope would take me, I came across the names of the following long serving employees of the company whose obituaries appeared on the dates mentioned. 

Charles Cook, 55, Feb. 1, at East Redcliff Crescent, upwards of 40 years in the employ of John Hare & Co (4.2.1860)

Daniel Thatcher, 67, Apr. 19, at his son’s house, White Hart in Lower Maudlin Street, nearly 40 years in the employ of J.H & Co as engineer (14.4.1860)

Charles Colville Watkins, 71st year, Mar. 1, at Langton Street, for 57 years the confidential servant of J.H & Co of Temple Gate. (4.3.1865)

James Franklin, Dec. 4, at Frogmore Street, after a long illness, upwards of 50 years in the employ of J.H & Co. (9.12.1865)

Joseph Richards, 84th year, Nov. 29 at Hebron Terrace, Bedminster, formerly Bath Parade, upwards of 60 years in the employ of J.H. & Co. (6.12.1873)

John Prowse, 74, Jan. 21, at 5 Guinea Street, 54 years in the employ of J.H. & Co. (23.1.1875)

My mother shows me an advertisement in the Evening Post [around 1954] which reads: “Recruits Wanted for the Girls’ Nautical Training Corps. Apply Thursday evenings, 7 pm, TS “Lotus”, at the Charles Hill Dockyard.” I tingle with anticipation. This is for me; I can already feel the salt spray in my face, and the wind in my hair.

 

Alas for my romantic notions. TS “Lotus” was “a stone ship” firmly aground and there was no boat in which to put to sea, but the cadets seemed friendly, as were the officers, Mrs. Champion who was tall, dark and elegant, and pretty blonde Mrs. Kingsley.

We lined up in two watches, port and starboard, “tallest on the flanks, shortest amidships”, with the officers in front of the big ship’s brass bell and a flag pole, where the flag, a red ensign, would be “bent on” for colours and taken down at sunset. I was placed in the starboard watch.

I learned a few knots, and was kitted out in a smart uniform: navy blue skirt and jacket, white shirt, black tie, black stockings, a white lanyard and a round sailor hat, with the letters G.N.T.C. picked out on the black band. The officers had to be saluted “shortest up, shortest down” and never without your cap on. It was thrilling to be sometimes mistaken for a Wren, but needless to say silly boys called us “The Girls Naughty Training Corps.” I was so keen to receive my Ordinary Cadet armband that I tramped to the Dock Yard on a dark January evening - through the snow.

On Empire Youth Sunday in May 1955 we marched through Bristol with our sister unit from Avonmouth, behind the band of TS “Adventure”, the Sea Cadets’ unit. Unlike nowadays, the twain never trained together. Off duty, it was OK to fraternise, and Brian, the “Adventure” band’s Drum Major went out with Margaret Crew, one of our girls, which seemed impossibly glamourous.

It was our dream to get a boat. Eventually, Mrs. Champion found a small rowing boat, which we called “Lotus Bud”. She was tiny, taking three people at most, and badly needed repair. We held jumble sales and begged donations to raise funds and by the summer she was seaworthy. Before we could take her out we had to undergo a wet bob test to show we could swim. My swimming was never very good but I managed to pass. We had large “Mae West” type water wings, but I don’t recall any talk of insurance. Can you imagine nowadays a crowd of teenage girls with no previous experience rowing up and down the Dock, all the way to where the “Flying Fox” was once moored? Nowadays “Elf and Safety” would have a seizure. Nobody drowned or even fell in, but once we had a race with some Teddy Boys in another boat, and on another occasion we almost rammed a new vessel of Charles Hill’s. It was called “The Queen Mother” but no harm was done.

 

 

This the launch of “Lotus Bud” - I don’t remember who the man is, but I am next to him in the foreground with my head down. Mrs. Champion is standing on the left behind the two Petty Officers. I think the one nearest her is Margaret Crew. Is the officer in the “Bud” Miss Price?

Do you recognise anybody?

Later that summer, with another officer, Miss Price, we joined the Avonmouth girls for a “Crossing the Line” ceremony at Shirehampton fete. As Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, in a green shroud and seaweed in my hair, I instructed my “Doctors” to give a dose of jalap to three cowering Sea Cadets in girls’ clothes. When they were pronounced free of tropical diseases, they were ducked in a canvas tank filled with water. For obvious reasons, the boys gave false names: ‘Arry Ticker, Lofty, Jack Tar. Everybody concerned got very wet.

The next year I went to London to work and joined the Kilburn unit and made more good friends with whom I spent a never to be forgotten week aboard TS “Foudroyant” in Portsmouth Harbour (For more information see  http://www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk/) where we wore bell-bottomed trousers, and slept in hammocks, having to “lash up and stow” in the morning. After a cold water wash in “the heads”, we had seamanship classes or took up oars in the harbour in the whaler. Everyone who wished was allowed to climb so far up the mast into the rigging.

Aboard “Foudroyant” - I am in the middle – The others are Helen Rusk, left and Audrey Felton. The cap ribbon.

 

We even went dancing on the Royal Navy boys’ training ship.  One day, in Portsmouth town, on “shore leave” I absent mindedly put my cap on back to front. A passing sailor, a real one, yelled out, “You’re going astern!” I was mortified.

 

“Foudroyant” in Portsmouth Harbour with a passing Royal Navy MTB.

 

Signals were my thing. In London for an “Anchors Aweigh” display, a bossy officer spotted the crossed flags on my arm, and thanked me for “volunteering” to raise the colours. I had done it loads of times before, but there was a large crowd and Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten was the guest of honour. I was all fingers and thumbs. I had begun to raise the flag, when to my horror, I saw I had attached it upside down. Trying not to panic, I pulled it down, detached it, and started again. In his speech, Lord Mountbatten, looking straight at me, with the hint of a chuckle, congratulated the ship’s company on their excellent signalling. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was a sad day when he was murdered by the IRA.

For a short time I became an officer, but wanderlust got me and I went travelling. I returned my uniform and in a thoughtless moment even gave away my silver bosun’s call, with which I would pipe dignitaries “over the side”. Looking back, for sheer fun, my time with the G.N.T.C. was one of the best times of my life. Some names I remember were Foale, Miller, Shappland, Sheppard: we seldom used first names, but there were also Elaine Evans and two girls called Harris, Margaret and Lyn, who had a brother Dick, a sea cadet; Phyllis Gibson, Petty Officer Anne Edwards of Avonmouth. Where are they now? My name was Doreen Pillinger then.

The recent funeral of Harry Patch, "the last fighting Tommy" of the First World War, prompted me to look again my uncle's war records which I obtained a few years ago from the National Archives at Kew.
He was Private Thomas Unsworth of the Middlesex Regiment and unlike Harry, who was a very young man when he joined the Army, Uncle Tom was already thirty three years old when he was called up.
He was a Londoner, and served with the Middlesex Regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force 11th October 1916 to 17th November 1917. These dates include the time his Regiment spent at Ypres, and thus, like Harry, my uncle was at Passchendale. He rarely spoke of the war, though I do recall the expression "ock-eyed in mud", (e.g. hock high!).
He was eventually invalided home with bronchitis - presumably from being weighed down with the heavy khaki uniform and wet through for days on end. This probably saved his life for he lived well into his eighties. He finished his war service with the Suffolks, for men were often transferred to other regiments to fill the gaps left by the dead. One of the few things I know is that at some time he had been an officer's batman.
Unfortunately he died more than 40 years ago when family history was only in my head as an idea because my time was taken up with my first baby. I guess I thought he'd be around forever. If only I had asked - even the name of his officer - I would have had a starting point. Take this as a lesson. Most people will demand "How far have you traced back?" And it's always good to boast. But it's far more important to ask those alive now about their lives. The official records will still be there long after individuals are gone.
Even so, the records often give up previously overlooked secrets. Today, as I was glancing through his papers again, I noticed something I had not spotted before. At his attestation Uncle Tom was asked "Have you ever served in any branch of his Majesty's forces, naval or military?" He had replied "Yes". Well, well. I never knew that. Surely he had not joined up for the Boer War? It just shows there is always another trail to follow.