Every Family has a story to tell……….Welcome to mine
So we have a passion or interest in family history, but why do we do it in the first place? What drives us to discover more about our past and discover who we really are? Are we simply all just detectives in disguise who just like unravelling a good mystery? Simple answer is, it will … Continue reading Why Do We Do It??
I would like to open this up for debate, the fact that we judge history and those that made history, today, with the benefit of hindsight? Is that fair? I don't think there will be a definitive answer to this debate and I'm sure that more learned academics than myself, will have studied this … Continue reading Is it fair how we judge History?
I am now the very proud owner of the Royal British Legion commemorative Poppy pin to remember those that sadly lost their lives 100 years ago at the 3rd battle of Ypres, known as Passchendaele. The details of how this project came about and what went into the making of these commemorative poppy pins … Continue reading Royal British Legion Passchendaele 100 Pin
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Chiddicks Family Tree 