Every Family has a story to tell……….Welcome to mine
In the summer of 2025, I travelled to the battlefields of the Western Front to pay tribute to three members of my extended family who gave their lives in the First World War. The experience was both moving and deeply humbling, walking among the countless white headstones, each one marking a life ended too soon … Continue reading In the Shadow of the Great War: Remembering William George Curtin
From the Fields of Herefordshire to the Trenches of France When I think of the First World War, I don’t just picture the vast battlefields or the rows of white crosses that stretch endlessly into the horizon. For me, it is much more personal. Many of my ancestors fought and died on the battlefields of … Continue reading The Forgotten Faces of the Somme
The Oak Tree Remembers: A Chiddicks Family Story Through the Eyes of the Village Oak Tree I have been standing here longer. than you can remember. My roots run deeper than the graves in the churchyard, and my limbs have reached higher with every passing century. I am the old oak on the village green, … Continue reading The Tree On The Green
About Forgotten AncestorsEvery family tree holds stories lost to time — distant relatives whose lives passed quietly, leaving barely a mark, but whose experiences shaped the generations that followed. In this series, I explore the lives of those forgotten ancestors, bringing their names, stories, and voices back into the light. “History remembers only the celebrated, genealogy … Continue reading Forgotten Ancestors: Remembering Henry William Chiddicks
Family history research is often a journey of twists, turns, and unexpected breakthroughs. But when you're dealing with a family member who was adopted and separated from the family at a young age, the search can feel even more daunting. In this post, I’ll share with you the unique circumstances that led my friend Rob, … Continue reading Separated by War – Orphaned Siblings Reunited After Decades Apart
Sometimes, we discover a story, and sometimes, the story discovers us. This is one of the most remarkable examples of serendipity I’ve encountered in over thirty years of family history research. So sit back, relax, and let me tell you a story..... Being recognised amongst friends and family as the keeper of all things “old,” … Continue reading Unearthing the Past: How an Old Ledger Revealed Hidden Family Secrets
Inspired by all the wonderful Genealogists on Substack, I have finally taken up the ‘Sixteen’ challenge and collated the stories of all my 'Sixteen' 2x Great-Grandparents into one convenient location. I don’t expect you to read them all, that is a big ask, but if you read just one of them, then I will be … Continue reading ‘Meet The 2x Great-Grandparents’
Killed in the Line of Duty Sapper George Lucas Service Number 7895135………. The final part in the story of the six brave men that died near Nantwich in Cheshire, trying to defuse a bomb that was dropped during WW2. This brings to a conclusion, eight months of research and many visits to the surrounding areas … Continue reading Sapper George Lucas
William Chiddicks is my 1st Cousin 4 x removed and for whatever reason, he was not one of those ancestors that I was immediately drawn to. I had his Baptism record, he was baptised on 8th March 1835 in South Fambridge, Essex, I had his marriage record, he married Mary Ann Waite Watson on 18th … Continue reading The Great Fire of Baddow
Sometimes we discover a story that's so remarkable that even though it's not a member of your own family, we feel compelled to make sure that the story is told. The photograph of the young boy standing outside the White Star Line offices in London, holding an Evening News poster announcing ‘Titanic Disaster Great Loss … Continue reading The Boy Behind The Picture
The Chiddicks Family Tree 