West Middlesex Family History Society

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!

20/10/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

20th October 1993 - A new nature reserve in Feltham

Dr David BELLAMY was the guest of honour at the opening of the new Causeway Nature Reserve in Feltham.
The project, which included Crane School, Harlington School and Colne Valley Park Groundwork Trust was funded by Heathrow Airport Ltd. Photography and Art students from the sixth form of Harlington School in Hayes were tasked with designing the signs and boards around the reserve.
The Causeway provides an opportunity for children to experience a different environment to the urban area in which they grew up - a place to see plants and animals in their natural habitat.

The Causeway continues to be a rich and diverse site offering the chance to spot rare flowers, plants and wildlife. The River Crane, which flows alongside the nature reserve, boasts some of the borough’s oldest woodland along its banks, dating back to the 16th century!

14/10/2025

Our meeting this coming Thursday 16th October features a talk by Phil Isherwood entitled 'Whatever happened to Aunt Gonda?'

When Phil discovered his wife had an aunt with the extraordinary name of “Gonda”, and that neither she nor her family had ever heard of her, he was surprised. When he tried researching her life, he was baffled. She simply seemed to disappear from the genealogical record after the 1930s. What had happened?

Phil is joining us on Zoom, members may join us at St John's or via Zoom too, from 7:30pm 😁 See our website to register.

13/10/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

13th October 1913 - Two suffragettes charged with arson

On this day in 1913, Suffragettes Mary RICHARDSON and Rachel Peace aka Florence Jane SHORT appeared before magistrates at Feltham charged with arson. They had set fire to 'The Elms' at Hampton, a 23 bedroom mansion which belonged to Rosalind, the Countess of Carlisle.

Both prisoners had previously been on hunger strike and the Home Secretary had given permission for them to be forcibly fed. To show his severity, he stated the women would not be eligible for release under the Cat and Mouse Act; a cruel response to hunger strikes where very ill prisoners were released (the mouse) and upon recovery recalled to prison to serve their remaining sentence (the cat). There was public outcry at the nature of keeping these women in a cycle of release, recovery, and reimprisonment.

They were denied bail and remanded in custody, there were defiant shouts of 'Shame!' from the women in the gallery. Miss Richardson responded with "No Surrender! Never say die!"

Rachel Peace was sentenced to 18 months hard labour, whilst Mary Richardson was sentenced to 4 months for breaking windows.

Shortly afterwards, Mary Richardson was released from Holloway prison under the Cat and Mouse act, 'in a state of collapse consequent upon the torture she had endured'. The following year, 1914, she was re-arrested after attacking 'The Rokeby Venus' at the National Gallery.



Photo Credits:
Photo 1 -The Elms , Hampton ©The Twickenham Museum
Photo 2 - Mary Raleigh Richardson ©National Portrait Gallery,
Photo 3 - Florence Jane Short ©National Portrait Gallery

06/10/2025

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

6th October 1978 - Hannah Dadds is the first female Tube driver

Trailblazer Hannah DADDS made history when she became the first female Tube driver. After the passing of the S*x Discrimination Act of 1975, new opportunities opened for women across many industries. Hannah, who had worked as a rail woman at Upton Park, applied for the training for new drivers on the District Line and, after qualifying, was placed at the Acton depot.

She drove her first train from Acton to Ealing Broadway, breaking new ground for women in transport. 🚂

Later, she was joined by her sister Edna Fields, and together they became the first all-women crew on the Tube.

Find out more here: https://metro.co.uk/2024/12/25/first-female-tube-driver-hannah-dadds-paved-way-others-22202176/


Photo Credit: © TfL from the London Transport Museum collection

04/10/2025

A reminder if you are looking for something to do today our team are here til 4pm 😊