Joseph was my great-uncle and he provided a vital clue in validating a story I hadn't believed. I had been told by my father, just before he died at 95, that my g.grandfather, a Coalminer from County Durham, had taken his family to Alabama to work in the mines there, but returned after a few years. Since nobody had mentioned this before I found it [Click to continue…]

Bertie Pinnuck was the fourth of nine children born to William Frederick and Clara Pinnuck. William, a labourer, died in 1909 aged 36. When war was declared in 1914, many men rushed to volunteer. However, as the casualty toll rose, the British Armed Services began to run out of men and so conscription was introduced in 1916. Bertie became eligible [Click to continue…]

John Thomas Drake, the elder son of George Drake and Emily (formerly Jarvis) was born in 1895 at Great Warley, Essex, and he was the first of their two sons to die in this war. His parents were married 10 Oct 1891 at Little Burstead, Essex. His grandparents were John Drake and Sarah Ann Poulter, who were married 17 Oct 1858 at Bethnal Green St Philip, [Click to continue…]

Eleanor Davies, Royal Red Cross and Bar My great aunt Eleanor Davies was born 24 Dec 1875 in Glasgow (the daughter of Warren Davies and Eleanor (formerly Sewell).  Warren Davies, an iron puddler from Newport, Monmouthshire, and Eleanor Sewell, from Newcastle upon Tyne, were married by Primitive Methodist Minister John Davison on 14 Jun 1872 at [Click to continue…]

John E. Yates US Civil War Letters and Experiences Elizabeth Roberson Yates' apprehension about the War and her husband would be drawn out but not typical. Her husband John Yates enlisted at Alton, Crawford County, Indiana, USA on November 20, 1861, for a period of time extending for, "During the War" and reported for duty seven days later on November [Click to continue…]