29th September 2007
Hi Viv and Eif,
Have just read virtually every word of the web site - fabulous. It's just so interesting and you have done a brilliant job.
For me at this time it is going to be so helpful. A couple of weeks back with Eirian I went to the Somme area and to Ypres to visit graves and take in the history of WW1. My great Uncle was killed in the Somme and Eirian's great Uncle died close to Ypres. We're both going to Kew on 19th October, so will have to have a chat with you about that.
You may know that the Last Post has been played at the huge Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres every night at 8pm since the end of WW1 (apart from some time during WW2). What an experience that was. Both Eirian and I sobbed uncontrollably as did most of the huge crowd there, including the youngsters. It was so touching and emotional. I wish I'd known of the Sychdyn soldiers commemorated there just a couple of weeks back. Eirian's uncle is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial and Johnnie is buried in Sucrerie Military Cemetery in the Somme. I've got loads of photographs of the trip which you might like to see. Maybe some could be used on your site?
Will give you a ring.
Linda x
So glad you like the site Linda. We've loved doing it and have tons more to add yet. Good luck with your trip to the National Archives at Kew and you've given us an idea for adding some of your photos from your trip to visit the war graves. See you soon to discuss. Viv and Eif
30th September 2007
How fantastic! My husband Andy is into WWI and has done lots of family research and trips to France, he started to research the names on the memorial in Sychdyn and was wondering if you too belong to the Western Front Society?
Sian Thanks for your positive message Sian. I have no idea what the Western Front Society is. What is it? What do they do? Has Andy got any more details on our soldiers that we could add to the website? Viv and Eif
30th September 2007 Wow! the site is coming on well now Nain. It looks like rather an enormous task when you see the amount of names on the memorial in Sychdyn. But you're not just doing that one are you? Three different memorials! Won't that take forever? He he! Good luck,
Jordan xx
Hi Jord, Thanks for the message. Never underestimate the power of a Supernain and Supertaid.
2nd October 2007
Wonderful website!
You've obviously done your homework.
The "click on a name" Sychdyn War memorial picture is particularly clever; I can't imagine how it's done! We shall be spreading the word in Northop.
Best wishes
Jim & Jeanette Thanks Jimette. It would be great if you could find some family members in Northop that might let us put photos etc of their War Memorial relatives on the site. We're working on the Northop men now. Viv and Eif
2nd October 2007 Hi Viv and Eifion. Just finished reading the website. Very emotional for all the families involved. Great job so far. I did notice that DOB of Mary was 1853 s/be 1858. Thanks for a very subtle approach to everyone involved. It really is very poignant. Love Eve. Keep up the good work. Great to hear from you Eve. I only hope that other family members are as generous with their treasured photographs as you have been. I will alter Mary Munday's DOB. Please let us know if you spot any other errors. Keep logging in as we will be adding new stuff all the time.
Best wishes, Eif and Viv
2nd October 2007 Hi V&E - have just been looking at your website - good
stuff, well done. It is lovely and clear and easy to
follow. I am sure the families will get a lot out of
it. looking forward to seeing you soon. love J&R Thanks Jill and Robert. See you Thursday. Eif and Viv
2nd October 2007
Hi Viv,
You have obviously spent a lot of time setting up your project on the War Memorials and it is well presented. I am not sure whether I shall be able to add any information but there is the possibility my step-father might have some information as his mother was from Sychtyn. I shall ask him when I go to see him tomorrow.
Val
That would be brilliant Val. Thanks. (Time we all met up I think!) Viv
13th October 2007 I have an autograph book belonging to my Aunt Ada from the time when she was a VAD at Leeswood Hall.
I shall be happy to scan and send pages to you.
Mary (nee Hodgkinson)
I have sent you a personal e mail Mary with my phone number, hoping we can have a chat about your lovely autograph book. Thanks so much for making contact. Viv
16th October 2007 I heard from Julie about your site. My Uncle, Owen Saint, of Northop Hall was killed in WW2. My mother lives in Sychdyn and still has some memorabilia of Owen left by my father, including the sad telegram that informed my grandmother of his death. I'm sure she would be happy for you to have copies of items.
Owen was transferred to the King's regiment who had suffered great losses in the Italy campaign. His name appears in the book of rememberance at Liverpool Cathedral. His body lies in the war cemetry at Rimini on the East coast of Italy. My father wanted to join him in the King's regiment but Owen would not "claim" him. If he had no doubt I would not be writing this e-mail.
I live in Australia now but have with me both my father's and Uncle Owen's medals. Best of luck with your efforts.
Chris Hi Chris. How exciting! Our first international 'guest'. I would be thrilled to be able to post some of your mother's memorabilia on the site and will make contact with her, perhaps you could warn her I'll be calling. At the moment, we're concentrating on WW1 but fully intend to include WW2 asap. Thanks so much for your interest.
Eif and Viv
26th October 2007 Thank you for creating the memorial record of Northop in WW1 which includes my grandfather Neville Astbury.
I would like to send you copies of his letters from France, Canadian medals, etc. but I will need your postal address please.
Neville's daughter, Betty Ayrton Astbury, born after his death in January, 1917 is my mother. She died in 2005. My grandmother came to Melbourne, Australia in about 1925 and that is where I am now.
I would like to see a photo of Neville, maybe somewhere in your research one will turn up as a school boy or soldier.
Thank you again for this research. I am happy for you to post this on the comments page and for anyone to contact me.
Rosemary Merralls
I am so happy to hear from you Rosemary and would love to be able to print some of your wonderful memorabilia. It would be excellent if I turn up a photograph. I have sent you a personal e mail with details of how we can communicate further. Thank you very much for your interest and support.
Eif and Viv
27th October 2007 I have some photos of the Northop Hall memorial which you are welcome to see.
Jack Hayes
Sorry it has taken so long to post this message Jack. Many thanks for the photographs of the memorial being rebuilt on the new site. We hope you like the way they look on the web. We'll look out for you in the parade on Remembrance Sunday and give you a wave.
Eif and Viv
9th November 2007 Viv
I’ve just spent 40 mins or so glued to the screen looking at your website. It’s absolutely fascinating. The story behind William Driver is captivating.
See you soon
Jon
Thanks for your kind comments. We're enjoying doing it.
Viv
16th November 2007 Hi Viv & Eif,
What an excellent website for the posterity of the three villages,
Keep up the good work.
Mel
Thank you Mel. It's good to know pople are looking at it. Keep logging on as we're about to post a very sad Sychdyn WW2 story.
Eif and Viv
18th November 2007
Very interested to see information for Frank Hodkinson from
the Northop Hall Memorial. I published articles in the Buckley Magazine
with as much information as I could find for each man listed on the
Buckley Memorial and other local sources. Frank Hodgkinson is listed on
the Buckley and Hawarden Memorials and on the plaque in St. Matthews,
but I found no information on him for the article. According to your
source he was from Ewloe Green so I am confident it is the same person
Peter
Hi Peter,
We have not yet done a lot of research on Frank Hodkinson on the Northop Hall memorial. What we do know has come from three sources (1) The Flintshire Roll of Honour Cards in the County Archive office at Hawarden and (2)the book of service men who served from Northop parish also in Hawarden and (3) The Commonwealth War Grave Commission.
We're hoping that a family member will come forward with some more details. Also the fact he was a police officer in Liverpool before enlistment might be a source to explore.
I have had a quick look on the 1901 census and cannot locate the family in Northop Hall, they must have moved there later, but there is a family that could possibly be them in Manor Cottage Sealand in Hawarden Parish. This could explain his connection with Hawarden.
Suggest you do a double check on the spelling of his name. Our Frank in Northop Hall, is Hodkinson - there is no G in the name.
Would love to know if you manage to make any connections. Please let us know if we can be of any help. Good to talk to a fellow Memorial detective.
Viv and Eif
20th November 2007
I am a reporter with the Evening Leader and have just been looking through your site. It's very sad but it's a really good idea that you have developed and I was wondering if you would be interested in doing a story with us to help raise awareness in the local community of what you are doing?
Katy Forrester
Thanks for asking us Katy and we're delighted with your piece in tonight's Evening Leader (21st Nov)
Viv and Eif
21st November 2007
As Secretary of the Buckley Society can I congratulate you on a really useful piece of work which will benefit many people over many years. I have taken the liberty of forwarding a link to this site to a contact in America and I know he has found it useful in the research he has been carrying out into Buckley Soldiers from the Great War. Well done.
e mail Bucksoc@uwclub.net <mailto:Bucksoc@uwclub.net> web site www.buckleysociety.org.uk <http://www.buckleysociety.org.uk>
Paul
Thank you Paul for your kind and encouraging comments which we value highly. I hope your contact in the US finds the site interesting.
Eif and Viv
21st November 2007
I came across your website and wanted to commend your efforts. Although I live in Brooklyn, NY, I am very interested in those who strive to keep the history and memories of those who fought in World War 1 alive. Thank you for sharing your work.
Sincerely,
Beth Gould
Thank you for taking the trouble to contact us Beth. You are our first American visitor in our Guest Book.
Eifion and Viv
22nd November 2007 Thank you. Daniel James was my mothers Grandfather.
I have often wondered about the circumstances of my great grandfathers death and place of rest. I have seen his name on the War Memorial in Sychdyn over the years and said to myself I must trace him grave, resting place.
My Mother Pat Hopwood has often mentioned him and expressed a wish to go and visit his grave. My mother did receive some details about his resting place some years ago, I hope to be able to accompany her to India next year and complete her wish.I know that for her to visit Daniels grave and to know someone from his family had at last spent time there with him and to say a prayer for Daniels son Ernie James (my grandad) would mean everything to her.
Thanks again for a fine site.
Hywl Fawr
David Hopwood
Hi Dave- thanks for contacting us. Your mum must have told you that your Great Grandfather, Daniel James was married to Eifion's Great Aunt, Catherine Whitley. So we are related! Does your Mum have any photographs of Daniel - or anything else that we could put on the site? If you go onto the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's website (I just Google CWGC) you will see they have a free search facility. If you put Daniel's details in on their form you will get a lot of information about the memorial in India. If you do go, be sure to take photographs we can post on the site. Many thanks for your interest and for making contact. Glad you like it. Say hello to Pat from us.
Eif and Viv
22nd November 2007 Hello
I was looking through your site and thought you might find the following of interest, in relation to Geoffrey Banks.
www.naval-history.net <http://www.naval-history.net> lists him as being lost on the Steamship Putney Hill. I did a bit more research and found this account of the sinking by one of his shipmates. He is mentioned in this: <http://homepage.ntlworld.com/annemariepurnell/putneyhill.html>. He was the DEMS gunner (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship) - a Royal Navy man on a Merchant Ship.
I hope that helps a bit.
Matthew
Hello Matthew
Thanks so much for getting in touch. This information is very interesting. I shall update Geoffrey Banks's page asap, using what you have sent. In the meantime, I'll leave the links on here so that interested people can have a look themselves. Are you a relative of Geoffrey's?
Viv
22nd November 2007 Hi
My grandfather was Griffith and William Piercy’s brother. I have got a couple of photographs of them if you would like them for your website.
I look forward to hearing from you
Linda Hughes
Hi Linda
We would dearly love to borrow your photographs of the Piercy brothers and have sent you a personal reply so that you can phone to discuss how we can meet. Thanks so much for getting in touch
Eif and Viv
12th December 2007 Annwyl Viv and Eif,
you have done a wonderful job on the site so far and the stuff on Uncle Owen is great - thank you so much.
One more little piece of information - the medals he was awarded were the 1939 - 1945 Star and the 1939 - 1945 defence medal
nos da
Chris
Noswaith dda Chris,
Diolch yn fawr am y geiriau da.
I think the photograph of your grandmother at Owen's grave is so, so sad. I shall add the details about his medals straight away. Keep logging on as we're adding new stuff all the time.
Nadolig Llawen
Eif and Viv
16th December 2007
Hi Vivien and Eifion and all the family, best wishes to all your family,
have a very merry Christmas and a very happy, peaceful and healthy
New Year. And to all the families on the relevant memorials at home and away,
love to you all from the Brookes and Bebbington family.
Eve Taylor And the happiest of Christmases to you too Eve. Thanks for all your help and support this year.
Eifion and Viv
18th December 2007
Hi Vivien
I have just read your very interesting web site.Griffith and William Piercy were my mother (Jane,s)two older brothers.They are both commemorated on a grave stone in Northop Churchyard along with their parents and a baby brother. I have got a bronze plaque which was sent to all bereaved parents if you would be interested I will scan it and send it to you.
Good luck with your research.
Best wishes
Gladys Jones
Hello Gladys,
We're so glad to hear from you. A number of your relatives had told us that you may well have some 'Piercy treasure'. It would be great if you could scan the bronze medallion. We have an image of Willie's bronze but not Griff's. Was your mother Jane known as Jenny? Is that her as a baby on the family group on Willie's page? Thank you for contacting us - all the way from Canada I believe. Enjoy Christmas.
Best wishes
Eifion and Viv
31st December 2007
Hello again.
Thanks for your reply. To answer your question, it is my mother sitting on her mother`s knee. Mum was born in 1903 so that was probably taken in `04. My mother was the eldest daughter and would help her mother wrap parcels to send to Griff. The parcel would be in a tin box which was then wrapped in a cloth which had to be stitched this was my Mum's job. I was born at Offa Bank, possibly the last baby to do so. We lived in the Vownog in one of the middle cottages now no longer there. Jack Tyson who was mentioned on the web site lived just down from Offa Bank, in the house on the right of the picture. My Nain and Taid's home was further to the right and is not shown. Piercy Lane was always known the Tennant Lane after the farm at the top of the lane. It really was a lane, little more than a dirt road. Re the pictures sent to you by my cousin Jane Bradshaw the big group was taken outside the old Post Office opposite the Cross Keys. The P.O.was also the village shop and was kept for many years by Will and Maggie Powell. Mr. Powell rode around on large tricycle. Mr. Macfarlane, after leaving Northop school, became headmaster of the National School in Mold. Sadly that too has gone. It is now a car park on King St.
Carry on with the good work
Wishing you both a Happy New Year
Gladys Jones (nee Blackwell)
Thanks so much Gladys for the lovely scanned photographs and the above information. Mr Powell on his tricycle must have been a sight to behold. Mrs Powell bought us a green check tablecloth as a wedding present many moons ago. We have been told that Jack Tyson's house on the photograph of the Vownog (We've put it on the Sychdyn Home Front page) was used as Sychdyn's first school. Can anyone tell us any more about this? Lovely to hear from you again and Happy New Year. (I thought Mr Mcfarlane taught at Sychdyn school - did he also work in Northop?)
Eifion and Viv
3rd January 2008 Hi Viv and Eif,
Have tried to input on the guest book but not sure if it has worked.
As Secretary of Sychdyn Bowling Club where the memorial is situated I have often wondered who the people on the memorial where. I have lived in the village for 30 odd years and have found it quite emotional reading the stories of these brave men. The story about James Bateman was one of the saddest things I have ever read.
Congratulations on a great site and good luck in your research.
Shaun Williams
PS I was also very interested to read the story of Owen Saint from Northop Hall as his nephew Chris who gave you alot of the info is an old friend of mine.
Hi Shaun
Yes it worked! Thanks so much for getting in touch, it's lovely to have feedback and to know that people are reading and enjoying the website. I'm afraid that by their very nature the stories are sad but we're getting a lot of satisfaction out of telling them. The one part of the site that we still haven't developed is the actual history of the memorial in Sychdyn. This will of course include the Bowling Green which is part of the memorial. People in Sychdyn in the early 1920s raised money for a memorial and a recreation area (the bowling green). We've been so busy posting up stories of soldiers and their families that we haven't really got going on to that yet. I'm sure that Chris in Australia will be glad to read your message. I know he looks at the site. Poor old James Bateman! I agree, it is such a sad tale.
Best wishes
Eifion and Viv
29th January 2008
We can't thank you enough for the wonderful tribute to Neville Astbury. The recent newspaper coverage was just beautiful. This means a lot to me and my family. My 12 year old son carries the name Neville as one of his Christian names and my daughter's second name is Rose, so you can see how significant these grandparents are to me. It is wonderful to have northopwm.com's personal and historical record of their time. We are very grateful to you.
I still have the first letter I received from the Canadian war records office when I started looking for Neville in 1978. I got a little bit of information from that, but nothing much for years, then trickles from the online Census and Canadian records online but then jackpot! Forty years from the beginning of my search I have found what I was looking for and so much better than I could have ever expected.
Best wishes
Rosemary
Thank you for this lovely e mail Rosemary. When we started northopwm.com, we never guessed that it would lead to such interesting and satisfying stories. I'm sure you must have Astbury relatives in the Northop area. Come on, you Astburys. If you contact us we will put you in touch with your Australian 'cousin' Rosemary.
Best wishes
Eif and Viv
28th January 2008
Dear Eifion and Viv Williams,
Thank you very much for the information you have submitted via the northopwm website.
The information on the various memorials has either been filed to update current records, or will be used in the future to create new entries onto the database.
Thank you for your support of this Inventory project.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Gordon
Project Assistant
UK National Inventory of War Memorials
6th April 2008 Dear Eifion & Viv
What a fantastic website! I'm currently researching our family history and was particularly interested in the PIERCY brothers. You see: my Great Grandmother was Annie Piercy, sister of William Piercy (Griffith & William's father). Annie married Edward Foulkes Pierce. I would love to make contact with my distant relatives. Sue Achterberg (nee Pierce), Australia
Hello Sue
Welcome to northopwm.com I think we probably have more on the website about the Piercy family than any other so we hope it will be useful in tracing your family history. I have supplied three of your relatives with your e mail address so hopefully at least one of them will contact you. Come on you Piercys!! Here's a long lost relative waiting to hear from you.
Eifion and Viv
4th May 2008
What a wonderful site. I can see I am joining many in saying thank you for your work in keeping alive the memory of those who have gone. You are now qualified to be detectives! I came across your site after typing Vownog and Sychdyn into Google. It is the fastest loading and using for me website I have ever come across.
A QUERY: Today I have looked at Census images of Sychdyn and surrounding area which I obtained last week. I have a 1901 entry for a dwelling Vron y Vownog. I can see several place names Vownog on the c1878 Sychdyn 6" Ordnance Survey map but no Vron y Vownog which today I presume would be Fron y Fownog. I looked for a modern address but cannot find it. Listed there in 1901 are my great grandparents Martha (nee Shone) Roberts aged 70 widow (of Edward), two of her youngest sons John and Isaac (who could be the same Isaac Roberts who sang in the concert newspaper item on your website. My cousin Will Williams has told me that Isaac's policeman brother, William Roberts, my grandfather, had a wonderful voice, so maybe Isaac had one too!). With them is visitor Elizabeth Williams, aged 21, born Northop. I wonder if you know where Vron y Vownog was and whether Eifion has a family connection with Elizabeth Williams as I am curious as to who she was. (Will, William and Williams ....all within three sentences interesting coincidence!).
All the best.
Nigel Buscombe.
Hello Nigel,
First of all sincere apologies for taking so long to post your e mail on the website. We've been unable to do any work on the site for a few weeks. Thank you for your kind words and we are pleased that the technology seems to have worked well. We know Fron Fownog well and we live quite close to it. We don't think Eifion is related to your family but his relatives always lived close by. We believe there was a terrible family tragedy concerning Isaac's wife. Do you know anything about it? We have also been told that Isaac drove a horse and cart in the area delivering the entitlement of free coal to the local miners.
Best wishes
Eif and Viv
28th September 2008
Call in to your site to see what is happening every few
weeks and once again I have been blessed. Your photographs of the
Vimy Memorial on the anniversary of the death of my grandfather Neville Astbury were particularly interesting to all my family in
Australia Thank you again.
Rosemary Merralls
Hi Rosemary,
Good to hear from you! Do you know, we hadn't realised that we'd visited Vimy on the anniversary of Neville's death. It was 92 years to the very day -that is really quite incredible isn't it? There's no doubting that it was a memorable and a moving day for us.
Best wishes
Eif and Viv
7th November 2008
Dear Eifion & Viv,
I just wanted to tell you how impressed I am with your website and the dedication that you have shown to keeping the memories of these local men alive. Joseph Leigh Howell, one of the soldiers whose name is listed on the Northop memorial, was my great-uncle.
I was particularly pleased to see the photograph of his grave marker at Delville Wood Cemetary. A number of years ago I had come across the information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website. I plan to pay a visit the next time I am in France, but in the meantime your photo takes me there!
I don't have much information about Joseph beyond what is recorded in the Census. However, I was able to obtain a copy of his military records from the South African Ministry of Defense where he had enlisted in the South African Infantry. A relative in the U.K. has also graciously passed on Joseph's service medals and a clipping of his obituary for my safekeeping. I would be happy to provide you with photographs of these items for your website.
Leigh Howell
Ottawa, Canada
Hello Leigh!
How lovely to hear from a relative of Joe Howells - and a namesake too. Our visit to Delville Wood was a moving experience and we were surprised to find the South African flag planted in front of his gravestone. He obviously meant something to someone who had recently visited I wonder who? I hope you manage to get there one of these days because you will find it rewarding, interesting and of course very moving. I am going to send you a personal e mail with details for you to send copies of your memorabilia, we will be thrilled to include them on the site. Could you let Joe's relatives in the UK know about our website.
Thank you so much for getting in touch.
Eifion and Viv
November 08. Mystery Soldier Wille Williams. We contacted peter Metcalf who is researching the
Flint Memorial to ask him if Wille was one of 'his' soldiers
Hi Peter
We have a website based on the war memorials in Northop Parish. We have a couple of cuttings from the County Herald - 'In memorium notices' for Willie Williams of Waen Isa, Northop. He isn't named on any of the memorials in the parish and we were wondering if he is on the Flint memorial as his home was more or less in Flint Mountain.
We would be grateful for any help with this one. If he is one of your soldiers, would you like the cuttings? You can see them on our website if you click on the 'What's new on the website (Nov 08) which you will see listed on our 'contents ' page.
Best wishes
Eifion and Viv Williams
Peter replied straight away.
Hello Eifion and Viv
Yes he is indeed one of mine and is remembered on the Flint Town War Memorial and on a headstone in the old cemetery, Flint.
He was born in 1891 in Flint (probably Waen Isa, Flint Mountain) and served with the 1/5th RWF and died on the 20th June 1918 of wounds received in action in Palestine. He is buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery.
His parents were Edwin & Mary Williams of Waen Isa who were buried in Northop Churchyard.
I have recorded the inscriptions which you will find attached.
Thanks for the offer of the newspaper cuttings but I have copied all the newspaper reports relating to my soldiers from the Flintshire Observer and County Herald including the "In Memoriums" throughout most of the 1920s.
I was aware of your project and website and I congratulate you on your work. I started my research four years ago and my first idea was to create a website but decided to produce a book instead which I expect to be complted by next summer.
It is so sad that over the decades these men have been largely forgotten as most of the people who knew them have themselves passed on so what we are doing is giving them back their identity, because they deserve it.
Kind regards
Peter
WAR MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH OF NORTHOP
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
Peter,
Many thanks for your prompt reply and for clearing up our mystery. We shall post your information on the Northop Home Front page where we had raised the issue of Willie Williams. We're full of admiration for the work you are doing on what must be a mammoth task. Northop Parish occupies us totally but there are many, many more servicemen on the Flint Memorial. Keeping track of all of the information you have uncovered must be a logistical nightmare!
We agree that these men deserve to be remembered as living, breathing human beings who walked the lanes and streets of Flintshire. They need to be more than a list of names on a stone.
Good luck with the book. We look forward to reading it. If you come across anything else that you think might be appropriate for our project, we'd be grateful to hear about it.
Our very best wishes
Eifion and Viv
22nd December 2008
Hi my name is Dave Jones and I live in Northop. I am the nephew of George Edwin Jones who was killed in a Catalina flying boat. George was the son of George snr.and Mary Jones.The family moved to Northop in 1929 when George snr. became the new headmaster at Northop school.I don't have a lot of information on my uncle George but if I can be of any further help you can contact me on ***** .Thanks for the very interesting site.
Hi Dave
Thanks so much for getting in touch. We've found out a bit more about the crash in which George was killed - so thanks for the important detail about the Catalina Flying Boat which pointed us in the right direction. We look forward to hearing from you again with hopefully some more details about George. A photograph would be lovely if you have one we could scan.
Best wishes for the New Year
Eifion and Viv
6th January 2009
I find this website very interesting and wonder if you would like to include a Home guard Platoon roll book which belonged to my grandfather James Samuel Stretch in Northop Hall dated March 1942. I could arrange to bring it for you to copy. I also have some sheets showing troop movements in 1916 but I don't really understand what these are or where they came from. Look forward to hearing from you Edna Hughes
Hello Edna
We're really pleased that you have made contact. The documents that you have sound fascinating. I have sent you a personal e mail telling you how to contact us by telephone so that we can arrange a mutually convenient meeting time and place. We're looking forward to seeing both documents and having a chat with you about them.
Best wishes and thank you.
Eifion and Viv
21st January 2009
Message: I have some information regarding Thomas Wilcock whose name is on the Northop Hall Memorial. He was my uncle.Private in the RWF No3549.He was invalided home from Egypt with T.B.after having served only 10 months and died on 6th Feb 1917.He was the son of James & Sidney Wilcock & lived at Fern Bank Northop Hall,I do not know where he is buried.
James Catherall
Hi James
Thank you very much for getting in touch. We'd had no luck finding out anything at all about Thomas Wilcock but once we had your e mail we started researching again and have now got his army record which we will be happy to give to you if you want it. We have sent you a personal e mail giving you our telephone number so that you can speak to us directly and hopefully let us know if you have anything else that you would be willing to share about poor Thomas. Are there any family photographs that we could post? Thanks once again for your interest.
Best wishes
Eifion and Viv Williams
13th May 2009
Llongyfarchiadau! Thank you for sharing these wonderful sources with a wider audience. I\\\'m sure that the young historians of the area appreciate your generous efforts
Bethan James
It was kind of you to make contact Bethan- sorry we've taken so long to publish your message but we've been away from home for a while. Do you have connections with Northop Parish?
Best wishes,
Eif and Viv
18th June 2009
My father, John Arthur Fellows (Arthur), served in the Royal Navy throughout the war and, for a short time immediately post war, he served in the RWF. His family lived in Northop Hall and kept the shop at the top of Brookside. In 1945, he married my mother and lived in The Green, Northop for the rest of his life (1922-1984) He was well known in both Northop and Northop Hall as, for over 20 years after the war, he was a mobile greengrocer and fishmonger, delivering to homes in both villages in a succession of green vans. In latter years he was an insurance agent for Pearl Assurance. He was a loyal member of the Northop branch of the Royal British Legion and marched in all the Remembrance Sunday parades in Northop.
This is a most interesting website. Thank you.
Allan Fellows
Hello Allan,
Glad you enjoyed looking at our website. Your father was obviously quite a character! We do have a part of the website for telling the stories of servicemen from the Parish who survived the wars. We would be very happy to devote a 'page' on it for your father. Do you have any relevant photographs or any other memorabilia that we could scan? We would love to include him. In the meantime, please tell anyone else you think might be interested about our website.
Our best wishes to you,
Eif and Viv
Eifion
Re Arthur Rogers' Page. Pretty sure unidentified footballer in team photo is Bob Millington,Bella Millington's husband who lived next door but one to me. He's also on the picture with the supporters.
One of the unidentified supporters in the suit next to Harold Williams could possibly be Rt.hon Nigel Birch M.P. who presented the Halkyn league trophy to Soughton Villa in season 1947/48 (Just a guess but I think he was thinning on top). Do you remember him?
Regards Roger Bellis
ps just got round to looking at the site and it very interesting so far.
Thanks for getting in touch Roger- it's great to hear from you and glad that you're enjoying our website. We've added your extra details to Arthur Rogers's page. Sorry we've taken so long to respond but we've been away and life has been a bit hectic lately. Please let us know if you can add anything else. We're keen to develop the stories of the men who served in WW2 and survived. Would you like to include your Dad's war on the website?
Best wishes
Eifion and Viv
17th September 2009 Subject: The mystery Major Samuel
Message: Mr.Samuel farmed Green Bank Farm Sychdyn in partnership with his brother-in-law Mr Brown. Mr Samuel joined the army leaving Mr Brown to run the 160 acre farm. When The Major returned from the War, Brown's farm management wasn't to The Major's liking. The Major disolved the partnership & seems to have left the district. I see Mrs. Brown was Chairman of The Memorial Sports Commitee in 1919. The Brown Family emigrated to Canada circa. 1928, after leaving Green Bank in 1926 , when my G randfather took the tenancy. That is really all I know about The Major. Thanks for a very interesting website. DAVID GREENBANK FARM .
Hello David.
We were so glad to hear from you and to have some light shed on our 'mystery major'. (See Sychdyn Home Front WW1). We can now hopefully begin to dig a bit deeper and learn more about him. Anything else you can help us with we'd be grateful for. Christian names of any of those you mention in your e mail? More dates? In fact anything at all even if it seems insignificant. Glad that you found the website interesting. Thanks very much for your interest and help
Eifion and Viv
17th September 2009
Subject: J. Watkinson MC
Message: Hello,
I just came across your website whilst doing some research into my great grandfather QM & Lt. J. Watkinson MC - I read the page you wrote about him and the visit which you made to the war graves including the photo of his actual grave! I have got his four medals, including the MC which my grandad (his son) gave me a few years ago. My grandad was a farmer in Northop Hall a few years ago, and moved back there for a few years in the 80's/early 90's - not sure if you know him? Anyway, Ill mention to him that you are looking for any information about his dad, sure he will be happy to help. If you want any photos of his medals for your website I can email them to you. I'm going to do a bit more diggng into it too, although there doesn't seem to be a great deal of information available!
All the best
Paul McCormick
Hi Paul,
We have wanted to know more about your Great grandfather, QM Lt J Watkinson, ever since we first came across his story. He was quite a remarkable man and we would be thrilled and honoured to be able to post a photograph of his medals on our website. No we don't know your grandad but would really like to meet him. Do you think your grandad could tell us more about the circumstances that led to the award of the MC? Does he know more about how his father died? Are there any photographs of him? We would love to publish a photograph - even if it is one of him as a child. We're going to send you our telephone number so that you can contact us. It really is great to hear from you.
Best wishes
Eifion and Viv
21st September 2009 Message: I came across you when I was looking for information about the Battle of Cambrai as a family member may also have died there.
I was both interested and very moved to read what I found. I really congratulate you for the presentation of the information but most of all, for remembering these poor lads.
Dioch yn fawr.
Moira
Hello Moira,
What a lovely message! Thank you for the feedback. It gives us a lot of pleasure to know that people read and appreciate our website. Good luck with your own research, I hope you manage to track down your relative's details.
Our best wishes to you,
From Eifion and Viv Williams
18th January 2010
You have a wonderful memorial to Neville!
I have been doing some family research on Charles Hughes - the \"brother-in-law\" who was living with Neville\'s adopted parents in Northop during the 1891 census. Charles was Jane Emma\'s brother, one of the other sisters being Abigail Sarah, who married Per Gustaf Nark. Neville is visiting them in a later census.
Neville was registered as a Hughes - Births Jun 1889 Hughes Neville Ayrton W. Derby 8b 438 - but that is all \"by the way\".
I have looked up Neville\'s emigration record and have found him on board the Royal Edward in Sep 1911, bound for Quebec City. I will be happy to send you a copy of the record if you would like it - I generally like to ask in advance because sometimes the files have to be quite large if you want them to be legible.
His name can also be found in the Canadian \"Books of Remembrance\" - just feed that into your search engine and follow the instructions and you will be able to take a download of the page containing his name and read how the books are kept open on Parliament Hill.
Evelyn
New Westminster, BC
Canada
Hello Evelyn,
Thank you for your e mail - our first on the site this decade. It's lovely to hear from another relative of Neville Astbury. When we first began this project he was no more than a name on a stone and now we know so much about him - he feels like an old friend. Your 'new' pieces of the jigsaw are most welcome and we would love to have copies of anything pertaining to Neville.
Best wishes and good luck with your continued research.
Eifion and Viv
31st January 2010
Subject: Lovelock family
Message: Hi,I have been looking at your website again, in particularly Thomas and Albert Lovelock. When I first looked at the site I couldn\'t see where they \'fit\' in my family tree. It was the Dorset connection which threw me. I then went back through all the info. I had and it seems that Albert & Thomas\' father, also called Thomas, is not from Dorset but from Berkshire which makes him a brother of my Great Grandmother Beatrice and therefore Albert & Thomas are cousins of my Grandmother, Winifred, Beatrice\'s daughter.
Thank you for a very informative site and the great deal of work you have done.
From Lorraine Hopkins
Hello Lorraine
Thank you for taking the trouble to contact us. It's good to know that you have looked at our site more than once! I think we got the Dorset connection from a census but I do believe that Ainsley confirmed it when we went to see him. Good luck with your family history research - it gets a bit compulsive doesn't it?
Eifion and Viv
4th February 2010
Subject: family name Piercy
Message: Dear Eifion and Viv,
I have been Googling a few things and I came across your site. My mother\'s maiden name is Piercy but she was born in Bolton. Her father\'s name was William Piercy (born around 1898)also from Bolton (I believe). The family talked about Offa Bank (farm?) occasionally and I vaguely recollect seeing a photograph of a house with Offa Bank written above the door. They also had a relative they called \"Auntie Annie Flint Mountain\". My mother last visited north Wales around 1970 and visited some cousins? who had an antiques business. I am interested in knowing about any local Piercys that may be familiar with their Bolton connection.
I live in Canada but still visit my cousins in the UK every few years.
Regards.
Peter Shirkie
Hello Peter
Welcome to www.northopwm.com
We have been given such a lot of fabulous idetails about Will and Griff by members of your extended family. I'm sure that at least one of them will provide you with the information you are looking for. We are going to pass your contact e mail address to them. Good luck with your search.
Eifion and Viv
12th February 2010 Your Name: Jan Clark (Nee Smith)
Subject: Tegid Smith
Message: Read your excellent article about my uncle -more info than I had. It may interest you to know I still have the original letter my grandfather,James Smith wrote to my father, James Henry,who was also serving in Palestine, to tell him of his brother's death. Their sister,Florence(AKA Bell) married Joseph Thelwell's younger brother James and lived in Yacht Terrace till her death. 1901 census shows Thelwells at 51Red Houses Flint Mountain.
Hi Jan
Many thanks for taking the trouble to contact us. We would love to see the letter that you have. Since you e mailed us we have had another look at Tegid's page and done a bit more digging around and are pleased to say that we're going to be able to add more to it. His army service records have unusually survived (most WW1 records were lost in a bomb attack in WW2).
Eifion and Viv
19th February 2010 Your Name: Robert Wicks
Subject: Wakley family
Message: My sister is Margaret Wiltshire who wrote the article mentioned.
My mother was the daughter of Robert Turner Wakley. She was sent to Leicester at a young age when her mother died.
Hello Robert
Thank you for your message. We enjoyed your sister's article very much and were pleased to post it on William Driver's page. Some of the children in your family tree certainly had a tough time as they were passed around the family whenever tragedy struck. Do you know where the article was originally published? We would love to hear of any other relevant family stories to add to William's page.
Our best wishes
Eifion and Viv
21st February 2010 Your Name: Margaret Wiltshire
Subject: Wakley family
Message: I wrote the article you mention for my mother's 90th birthday which was April 1992.It was published in a magazine called "County Matters" but that was not until the next year. We were able to go to Mold with my mother then and met up with other Wakleys and a Driver (Edith Hughes) I can see from your report where the Drivers fitted in to my family tree - thank you
--
Thank you so much for contacting us Margaret and thank you too, for writing such a lovely article about Sychdyn. We were delighted to add it to poor William Driver's page and now we're doubly pleased that we have heard from the author herself!