West Middlesex Family History Society

08/12/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

8th December 1876 - A lad and his catapult

In Brentford Petty Sessions, young William BAILEY, aged just 12, found himself in trouble for “unlawfully throwing stones to the common danger of the public.”
Mr. Hickson BRIGGS, prosecuting on behalf of the Isleworth Schools, explained that there had been a great deal of stone throwing in the parish, though the culprits had been difficult to catch. That is, until a stone smashed a school window during examination week — and William was found nearby with a catapult in hand.

William, the son of William and Jemima Bailey of Town Wharf in Isleworth, had recently been ill, and when he returned to school he was turned away because it was exam week. The magistrates sympathised, “Had he been allowed into school, this would not have happened.” They turned to his father and asked, "Bailey, will you bring your boy back next week? We do not want him to go to prison". William’s father promised he would, "Yes sir, it would be a pity to send him to prison, for he is such a good boy". The court burst into laughter.

When the case was resumed a week later, it emerged that William’s school attendance record was less than stellar — just 9 days out of 107. The bench decided to remand him, while arrangements were made for his transfer to Feltham Industrial School.

Poor William. Even “good boys” sometimes got caught out with their catapults!

01/12/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

1st December 1966 - First Christmas Stamps go on sale!

Postmaster General Tony BENN wanted to create a special Christmas stamp for the season and invited schoolchildren under 15 to design the new stamps. The nationwide competition drew an incredible 5,000 entries from pupils across the country.

The winning designs, Good King Wenceslas and a Snowman, came from 6 year olds Tasveer SHEMZA and James BERRY, whose charming artwork captured the spirit of Christmas perfectly.

Did you know that since Royal Mail issued their first Christmas stamp in 1966, over 17 billion Christmas stamps have been printed in Britain?



Photo credit: CharingCrossMarket

24/11/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

24th November 1989 – The Staines Informer reported a rather unusual local headline: a hunt was underway for a lost barn owl named Dusk, who had escaped from his home in Stanwell two weeks earlier. 🦉

Dusk had been hand-reared by the CURTIS family of Hendon Way and was just five months old when he disappeared. His owner, Mrs Carol Curtis, feared he wouldn’t survive long on his own with the weather turning colder.

The young owl was spotted twice after his escape — most recently by children at Southfields School, Bedfont, where he spent the day perched in a tree overlooking the playground! Even the local police joined the search to help bring him home.

Mrs Curtis told reporters, “We’re getting desperate — we brought him up from a chick, it’s like losing your own child.”

We don’t know if Dusk ever made it safely back, but we hope he found his way home. 💛

17/11/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

17th November 1915 – Corporal Arthur J. SMITH (1888–1915) died at sea when the hospital ship Anglia struck a mine while transporting 390 wounded soldiers from Calais to Dover.

Arthur had been wounded in action and was on his way home when the tragedy occurred. The Anglia sank quickly in the English Channel, 164 people aboard perished including nursing staff, officers and injured soldiers - many of whom had been bedridden due to the nature of their injuries.

Corporal Smith was the son of Arthur and Elizabeth SMITH of 10 Raasay Street, Chelsea. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton.



Photo Credit: Wayne Bywater (www.ww1-yorkshires.co.uk)

16/11/2025

Our next meeting is this Thursday 20th November at 7:30pm
There will be a talk by Martin McDowell on 'Why do a Y-DNA test? '
Martin will be speaking on Zoom. Please join us either in person at St Johns Community Centre Isleworth or online. Doors open at 7pm the meeting will begin at 7:45pm

See you there!

10/11/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

10th November 1943 - Guardsmen John MERRY of 6th Battalion Grenadier Guards died taking part in the Italian Campaign, age 30.

The Battle of Monte Camino was a significant engagement marked by fierce fighting and heavy casualties as British forces attempted to capture a key German stronghold.
The Grenadier Guards, together with 2nd Scots Guards and the Coldstream Guards took part in the first attack in November 1943, troops faced significant challenges; mines, b***y traps and heavy German fire as well as steep slopes, exposed ridgelines, and freezing rain which made the attacks extremely difficult.
Diaries from this time detail the impossible position that soldiers faced with an enemy that was closing in on them from all sides of the mountain. Sadly John Merry was killed during this time. The company were relieved the next day by the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry but they couldn’t hold position and were forced to withdraw, enabling the German forces to reoccupy the mountain. The Battalion went up the hill 483 strong, only 263 men came down on foot.

John was the only son of Frederick MERRY, a baker, and stepson of Ada Alice Merry, of 102 Rochester Avenue, Feltham, Middlesex.

He is buried at Cassion War Cemetery. The inscription on his grave stone reads
‘ONE OF THE DEAREST ONE OF THE BEST SO DEARLY LOVED SADLY MISSED. MUM AND DAD’



Photo 1 credit: ©Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
Photo 2 Credit: © 2017 Italy Star Association 1943-1945

09/11/2025

This Remembrance weekend, both and have FREE access to military and wartime records so you can trace the heroes in your family 🪖

07/11/2025

We will be at Woking Leisure Centre tomorrow, Saturday 8th November from 10-4pm for the West Surrey Family History Fair.

FREE ENTRY

See you there!

03/11/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

3rd November 1918 - Gunner Sydney Beale of Ivy Road, Hounslow, died in France at just 23 years old.

Born in 1895, Sydney was the son of William and Angelina BEALE. Affectionately known as Tom, he had worked as a mechanic at Cowels’ factory before joining the Royal Field Artillery.
Part of the 293 Brigade, 'B' Battery he was stationed at Bouvignies when he was taken ill and evacuated to No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station at Berbières, where he sadly passed away.
The war diaries for this period record 978 admissions in just one week, the majority for influenza, with 25 men dying – Sydney among them. Soldiers lived in overcrowded trenches and camps, where influenza spread rapidly, often leading to fatal secondary infections like pneumonia.
Tragically, Sydney’s death came just days before the Armistice was declared. While his records do not state a cause, it is very likely he was one of the many who fell victim to the devastating Spanish flu pandemic that swept through the final months of the war.

Photo credit: Bruno Lefebvre

27/10/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

27th October 1859 - Runaway Apprentice in Brentford 🍞

An apprentice baker from the Brentford Union ran away from his master’s bakery, fleeing as far as Kingston while out on errands. He later claimed he had been ill-treated by his master, Mr William PHIPPS of Brentford High Street. Mr Phipps brought charges against the boy stating that he had been very negligent, and stayed out with ‘bad connections’

When the case came before Brentford Petty Sessions in January 1860, the boy alleged frequent mistreatment. Mr Phipps denied this, though he admitted he had once kicked the boy “on the bottom” after the lad lost his temper and ruined a batch of bread, costing the bakery a customer. He had not meant to hurt him, and admitted that the description of the act was accurate.

Mr Brown, master of the Union, spoke up for the boy’s good character — but the bench sided with Mr Phipps. They told the boy that if he had been chastised, it was because he bought it on himself in consequence of his bad behaviour. They ordered the apprentice back to his master, and if he did not treat him properly he should make a complaint to the Guardians at the Union. He was warned that if he did this again, he stood a fair chance of being sent to prison.

So far, the identity of the boy is unknown.

William Phipps remained a fixture on Brentford High Street for the next 20 years, until his death in 1886. He had seven children, including three that became bakers. His wife Sarah Ann took over the bakery business with her children until she passed away in 1898.

23/10/2025

We will be exhibiting at The Oxfordshire Family History Fair on Saturday 25th October at Cherwell School, Oxford between 10-4pm.

Do come and say hello!

OFHS Family History Fair 2025

22/10/2025

Did you know if you join our society, right now, you'll get membership until 31st December 2026! It's only £15 for the whole year (plus a bonus couple of months!) it's the best time to join us!