News & Information

List of Exhibitors at SWAG - July 13th 2013

10.00 pm - 4.00 pm at Weston-super-Mare Winter Gardens

Something for everyone!

• Ancestry.co.uk,
• Anglo-German FHS,
• Balmaiden Books,
• Bath Record Office,  
• Bernard Welchman,
• Birmingham & Midland FHS,
• Braund Society,
• Bristol & Avon FHS,
• British Genealogy,
• Bygone Bristol,
• Bryan Ford (postcards),
• CAB Search,
• Census Detectives,
• Cornwall FHS,
• Devon FHS,
• Dorset FHS,
• Family and Community Historical Research Society,
• Family History Partnership,
• Family Silver,
• Glamorgan FHS,
• Gloucestershire FHS,
• Guild of One Name Studies,
• Gwent FHS,
• Hampshire GS,
• Herefordshire FHS,
• Horsington Society,
• Irish Ancestry 4U,
• M&M Publications,
• Maxbal Genealogy,
• My History,
• Newtown Design Services,
• North Somerset Library Service,
• One Moment in Time,
• One Stop Genealogy,
• Parish Chest,
• Powys FHS,
• Quakers FHS,
• S&N Genealogical Supplies,
• Shropshire FHS,
• Somerset Record Office,
• Stevens Books,
• This Way Books/Cassini Maps,
• Weston-Super-Mare & District FHS,
• Who Do You Think You Are Magazine
• Wiltshire FHS

This June we will be celebrating 60 years since the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and some of us remember the excitement – not of lining the streets on that rather rainy day but of watching television for probably the first time.  I understand that TV companies put TVs in Villlage Halls and other community areas so that people could watch the Coronation and then perhaps buy a set. Looking at the local newspapers for that week you can get a very good idea of what celebrations were on offer at that time.  I recall spending the day at the home of a Great Aunt – the only member of our family who owned a TV set - with others of our family all huddled around a tiny 12” black and white TV and marvelling in the pageantry.  A few months later my entire school was taken to a local cinema in Bristol to see the colour film of the Coronation coupled with a film about the ascent of Everest.  Memories like these make me realise how much has changed over the years both in technology and in the way we live.

For a regular update of information about family history research you cannot do better than look at the newsletter published by the LostCousins Web site.  To take a look at this month’s edition click here  This one includes some useful tips on researching Military Ancestors and a section on breaking down brick walls. 

In searching for some information about a WW1 casualty recently I came across the web site entitled War Memorial Archive which is currently building a database of all information taken from War Memorials.  Although this is intended for release to mark the centenary of the First World War 2014-18, there are already details of some of the memorials held in Weston-super-Mare, including those in St Paul’s Church (where we hold our meetings) and in other locations in Weston. If you search for a particular place in another part of the country you may find similar information.  Some of the War Memorials list those who fought and returned - not only the casualties – when this is finished this will be a very valuable site.

Don’t forget that the North Somerset Archivist will be in Weston on Thursday June 6th – see Forthcoming Events - where you can also find details of the Gwent Family History Society Open Day in Newport on June 8th when the Society will have a stand and we hope to see some of our Welsh members there.  I will be taking part in the Devon FHS Summer Special in Bideford on June 15th - for details click here - It would be great to meet up with some of our members there as well.  Looking forward to next month - plans are now well in hand for the SWAG Fair at the Winter Gardens here in Weston  on Saturday July 13th which is always an excellent event both for those beginning their family History and for those who are more experienced.  Finally for those members who would like to share their researching problems with a sympathetic audience or would like to help fellow members with their brick walls – please come to the next Members’ Evening  on June 25th when we can all help each other!  Please can you let Brian Airey have your questions in time for the panel to do some preliminary research before the evening.  I’m not sure how many (if any) we have received yet.  This evening is literally a “Members’ Evening” and we would like to be able to respond to your enquiries.

We all enjoyed the talk at the end of March by Dr Janet Few who recounted her experiences when researching and taking part in the filming of an edition of the BBC’s “Who do you think you are”. As our own member, David Milner had spoken earlier in the year about his experiences in connection with another programme – “Heir Hunters”- it has been really interesting to hear what actually goes on in producing these items which have us shouting at the TVs – “Why don’t you try.........?!” 

Of course we do have to be grateful to these shows for inspiring others to decide to research their family history.  The Saturday afternoon “Help Sessions” at Weston-super-Mare Library often attract people who are just starting the search for their ancestors as a result of watching one of these programmes but perhaps do not realise the unseen (and often frustrating) research which goes on behind the scenes.

With June and holidays fast approaching – it looks as if we will be short of volunteers in the Library during June and July.  If anyone is able to come along to help out just during those months we would love to hear from you - if you can guide someone through the beginnings of family history research then please get in touch with me  Click here and I can let you have details. You do not need to be an expert in every aspect - there will be others there who can give advice as well. We would also like to send our very best wishes for a speedy recovery from his fall to David Tyler who has been a constant member of the team in the Library for many years.

It is interesting and encouraging to see the use being made of the Research Forum – Please note that it is easier for everyone to pick out the relevant details if the surname is entered in UPPERCASE.  You never know who may be looking at this site and it is through something I wrote about my family that I have been contacted by someone with whom I share great great grandparents, Charles & Lavinia STOKES from Wraxall.  So even if you do not get an immediate answer it's worth posing the question.

The Speaker on Tuesday May 28^th will be David Hawkins who will be talking about “My Criminal Ancestors” – this is always a fascinating topic and even if you do not have criminal ancestors the methods of researching them is of interest to all.

If you do have criminal ancestors you will know that the detail which is available in the early newspapers can be quite amazing – probably because without photography and TV to spread the word everything had to be described.  Local Newspapers can be seen on film at the Weston Library but other 19^th century newspapers can be searched at home in many parts of the country if you use a library card – check with your local library if they subscribe to this service.

The North Somerset Archivist will be in Weston Library on Thursday June 6^th so do let her know in good time if you would like to see any documents – full details see  here

Can I draw your attention to our Project 2014 – the News Item see here from Caroline explains our intentions as a Society for next year and we do hope to have a special edition of Buckets & Spades concentrating on the results of our research and it will also be the theme for our own Open Day in July 2014.  As Caroline has explained please contact her if you have any information at all of the activities of your relations during WW1 - we all have relatives who lived through that time so this is something that we can all contribute to wherever we live.   By the way, did you know that it was a criminal offence to sell fresh bread at that time?

MyGrandfather served in the 1st World War and I posted a description of his service on the BBC  90 yrs of Rememberance site,

link   http://www.bbc.co.uk/remembrance/wall/record/10200

Have more photos of him which can be used.

Michael Oram

Ernest Henry George Phillips, born 8 April 1898 was the cousin of my grandfather, Arthur Charles Phillips, known as "Charlie". Ernest's parents were Ernest Henry and Hannah Eliza Phillips.

Ernest was called up on 30 March 1917 and was at the Royal Marine Depot at Deal on 7 April and by 11 July was in France serving in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, which as part of the Royal Naval Division was present at the struggle for Paschendaele from 31 July 1917. On 28 October 1917 Ernest sustained serious injuries and was taken to the 3rd Canadian Hospital at Boulogne and his parents were notified by telegram that he had been seriously wounded.

On Saturday 3 November they received a letter from the chaplain at the hospital saying that Ernest had received his "Home Call" on 1 November. Sadly on Monday 5 November they received a letter sent by Ernest, expecting to be in Blighty by the time they received his letter.

On the Worle War Memorial is remembered,  "Phillips E   RMLT" (sic), which I passed on many occasions on my way home from Worle Junior School without recognition.

2014 will be the centenary year of the outbreak of World War One.  To commemorate the anniversary we wish to gather together as much information as to how the 1914 – 18 war affected our ancestors.

However, small the story of your ancestor we would like to know.

Was your grandfather a soldier?  Was great aunty working in a munitions factory?

Your story does not have to be about a soldier – we want to build up a picture of what life was like in 1914 for our relatives of by-gone years.  Links with Weston-super-Mare and District would be great but others can be considered.

To help the project run smoothly I am keeping a list of those who are working on their relative’s history.  So please do let me know at one of the society meetings or via the contact form on this website, so I can add you to the list.

Good luck and happy ancestor hunting.  And don't forget - if you need help - do ask.

Caroline can be contacted using the Contact Us facility towards the top right-hand corner of the screen, and select in the Category box Memories of WW1.

(Please do not attach comments to this posting but create a new News & Information item using the Category Memories of WW1.)