We are looking forward to the next edition of Buckets and Spades with its emphasis on WW1. Paul has reported that it will be a bumper production with many members contributing articles. If you still have some research Caroline is waiting eagerly for items to display on our Open Day on 12th July. You can contact her through this site using our Contact us button and choosing Memories of World War 1 as the category.
For those of you who are reading this within the next 6 days there is an interesting programme on BBC i-Player about Horses during WW1 and as it concerns Portishead you may well find this interesting. It’s called The Equine Army and can be seen here
We have given some help with information for an exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the First World War which will be on display at the Weston-super-Mare Museum from Saturday 7th June to Sunday 14th December 2014. The exhibition is called Five Lives, Five Stories: North Somerset People and the First World War. It examines the impact of the War on five North Somerset people tracing their stories before, during and after the War, in which each played a very different role.
These people are:
- Robert William Cruse (1878-1917) who fought with A Company, ‘Bristol’s Own’, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
- Edith Graves-Knyfton, nee Alston, (1876-1964) who worked as Vice-President for the British Red Cross for Weston-super-Mare District
- Alfred Leete (1882-1933) who designed the most iconic image of the First World War showing Kitchener. Alfred Leete was educated in Weston and was buried in Weston Cemetery
- Harry Mogg (1860-1929) who led Mogg’s Military Prize Band at recruitment events and fundraising concerts
- Beatrice Page, nee Granger, (1889-1972) who was the first female tram driver in the South West of England/possibly the country
Our Society will be putting in an appearance at the Kewstoke Local History Group exhibition later this week – if you do have any connections with Kewstoke take a look at their site to see the extent of their holdings and what will be on view during the exhibition and do come along even if you have no actual connection with Kewstoke we will not be limiting the area we can help with! - it’s always an interesting exhibition .
I am firmly of the belief that you cannot do family history research without looking at the local history of the area which was home to your family. Bearing this in mind the website Vision of Britain can be very helpful – its maps and links to other information set the scene for a deeper understanding of the area. It also has a link to Oldmaps Online which is an amazing site with detailed maps from all over the country.
There will be representation from Local History Groups at our Open Day on 12th July at St Paul’s Church Hall – Kewstoke will be there and we hope that Banwell, Worle, Wick St Lawrence and Hutton will also be represented apart from the neighbouring Family History Societies of Somerset & Dorset, Bristol & Avon, Gwent (Monmouthshire) and the Anglo-German FHS as well as our WW1 exhibition and Help Desk. Admission is free and refreshments will be available.
We will also be represented at the Open Day for the Gwent Family History Society on 14th June and the Wiltshire FHS Open Day on 21st June - perhaps we'll see some of our members at these events.
Following my comments about FindmyPast in last month’s update I feel it only fair to record that there have been improvements and more improvements are planned.
Our Research Forum has produced some interesting items and thanks to those members who are willing to share their experiences and suggestions. Please enter the surname in CAPITALS as it helps us to help you more quickly. Against myself, I have to a admit to have spent some time recently thinking about whether there was a family with the surname ORPHANS in Winscombe after this query was published under this heading – “Thomas Orphans Winscombe 1919” – Yes, I know I should have read the whole article before jumping to conclusions - of course the surname was THOMAS!
Don't forget we will be looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible at our Open Day on 12th July which will be opened by the Town Mayor of Weston-super-Mare at 10.00am
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