Every Family has a story to tell……….Welcome to mine
It's now Week 11, of the wonderful Genealogy prompts from Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestor's in 52 weeks and this week we are looking at the subject of "Luck". We all need a little bit of "luck" sometimes with our Genealogy and sometimes it can come when we least expect it. I am always going … Continue reading #52Ancestors “Luck”
We are up to Week 10 and this week's theme, for the wonderful Amy Johnson Crow's #52Ancestors Challenge is, “Strong Woman". I think there is an assumption that a lot of our female Ancestors were strong women, probably because a lot of them look pretty fearsome in the old photographs and the stories that are … Continue reading #52Ancestors “Strong Woman”
This is the fourth in my biographies about the lives of my eight great-grandparents, next up is John Edwin Barnes. John Edwin Barnes was one of the first Ancestors that I researched, in real detail and he is someone who will always hold a special place in my heart, due to the fact he was … Continue reading The Life and Times of John Edwin Barnes
Harry Joseph Keyes was born in 1891, in Grays, Essex, the seventh of the eight children born to Joseph Keyes and Elizabeth Keyes (nee Bishop). When Harry Joseph Keyes was born, his father, Joseph, was 39 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 38. He had three brothers and four sisters. Young Harry sadly lost his life, … Continue reading 3rd Battle of Ypres – Passchendaele
Is today's modern warfare any different to the way in which we previously fought wars? Absolutely for me thats a Yes! Today's war, if you want to even call it war, is vastly different to previous wars such as WW1 or WW2. Trying to fight against the threat of global terror, or wars in Afghanistan … Continue reading How the mechanics of war have changed……..
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 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
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
Those of you that have following my blogs, will already know that my 2 x great grand father, John Edwin Barnes sadly died at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. Earlier this year I was able to visit the National Arboretum in Staffordshire which holds over 300 memorials to those that have sadly been lost in … Continue reading National Arboretum Remembering Gallipoli
