Passchendaele 3rd Battle of Ypres Commemorative coin and Royal British Legion Passchendaele Poppy

August 30, 2017December 29, 2019 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ Leave a comment

Today I am now the very proud owner of the London Mint's excellent commemorative coin for the 100 year anniversary of the 3rd Battle of Ypres - Passchendaele. The coin comes in an excellent commeroatvie presentation pack and is a real quality piece of memorabilia. See attached pictures. I have also ordered the Royal British … Continue reading Passchendaele 3rd Battle of Ypres Commemorative coin and Royal British Legion Passchendaele Poppy

My Family and Other Animals

August 26, 2017December 29, 2019 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ 2 Comments

Right hopefully you are reading this because you are either, a family history enthusiast, you are a member of my tree, or maybe you just enjoy a good blog and love animals? So what is this all about you might ask? Well I'm sure if you are researching your own family tree, you have more … Continue reading My Family and Other Animals

Caught on camera

August 26, 2017December 29, 2019 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ Leave a comment

Not the most flattering pictures of me is it?? I look like a grumpy old man. Some might say nothing changes much! The hairline isn't much improved now either! So why not share your funniest or most unflattering picture with me??? If you have an old picture of you or a family member in your … Continue reading Caught on camera

Passchendaele – 3rd Battle of Ypres Digging up the past

August 25, 2017December 29, 2019 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ 1 Comment

My Father-in-law, whilst digging in the garden, had the good fortune to find this commemorative knife, which looks to have been designed as a letter opener. From what I can make out, it appears to be made from a shell casing. If anybody knows any different or has discovered a similar item, I would love … Continue reading Passchendaele – 3rd Battle of Ypres Digging up the past

The Reason We Write

August 23, 2017December 29, 2019 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ 5 Comments

We all need a little bit of inspiration to write don't we? I haven't written anything thats ever been published before this blog (is this blog even technically classed as published??). I probably have to go back to my school days, to when I was aged 10 and I had one of my stories placed … Continue reading The Reason We Write

The Dublin Connection

August 21, 2017December 29, 2019 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ 7 Comments

My dear old Nan, Martha Annie Barnes was born on 21st April 1911 in Stevens Hospital, Dublin, the only child of John Edwin Barnes and Elizabeth Daniels (Lizzie). The family home at the time was 7, Woodfield Place, Dublin. John Edwin Barnes was a soldier in the Essex Regiment of the British Army and was … Continue reading The Dublin Connection

Helles Memorial Gallipoli

August 21, 2017December 29, 2019 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ 1 Comment

The attached pictures are of the Helles Memorial, Turkey and show the name of my 2 x Great-grandfather John Edwin Barnes. John Edwin Barnes served as a Private in the First World War in the Essex Regiment, 1st Battalion, Serial number 8987. He was killed in action in Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April 1915. His … Continue reading Helles Memorial Gallipoli

Newspaper Reports

August 20, 2017December 29, 2019 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ Leave a comment

You just never know what gems you might uncover in the British Newspaper archives, so why not have a look see what mysteries you might discover about your own family. Here are just two of many about the Chiddicks boys and the mischief they got up to! From Newspaper Article dated December 12th 1856: … Continue reading Newspaper Reports

The Life and Times of Matthew Chiddicks

August 19, 2017January 22, 2021 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ 10 Comments

This is the first in a new series of blogs, tackling the life stories of my 16 Great-Great Grandparents. So strap yourself in and lets begin the journey of discovery and uncover the life story of my 2 x Great-Grandfather Matthew Chiddicks. (Matthew Chiddicks seated with the beard, flanked by his sons, Walter and John) … Continue reading The Life and Times of Matthew Chiddicks

Old Palace School WW2 Bombing

August 17, 2017June 16, 2021 ~ Chiddicks Family Tree ~ 19 Comments

This is the account of the Bombing of the Old Palace School in St. Leonard's Street, Bow during WW2 and the sad loss of 32 Firemen and 2 Fire Women who were tragically killed during this raid. This is still today, the largest loss of Fire Brigade personnel, at one incident, in the History of … Continue reading Old Palace School WW2 Bombing