Website updated September 2018

The website has now updated again, the usual monthly progress.  Do visit recent updates to see what changes have been made.  Please don't forget though that narratives on living people do not appear.

New contacts

Have been delighted to receive emails from Robert Hamilton Greatheads daughter and to find out more about her Dad, all will be included in the next update.  I was interested to see that both he and his Dad joined the Home Guard helping to protect our country.  She has promised some all important photographs when she returns from a few days away, so hopefully...

Website updated 31 July 2018

Secrets of the Waterloo and City Line

Great utube, do watch to at least 2.26 minutes for a wonderful view of the Greathead Shield in the Waterloo and City Tunnel

Sad news

Today I heard some very sad news.  My second cousin once removed Hugh Reginald Birks sadly died earlier today.  Hugh had developed Shingles (on his face) starting 1 September and had recovered but the toll was simply to too great.

Hugh was born on 26 August 1917 in Hartlepool.  He was part of the crew when the "Strathallan" was sunk.  It was a P & O liner and was converted to a troop ship off coast of Oran, Tunisia.  He was also took part in Operation "Corkscrew" liberation of Pantelleria 7th Armoured Division.

He married Catherine Vansteenwinckel on 20 August 1945 in St Mary the Virgin in Arkengarthdale.  They had two sons with whom they emigrated to Toronto in June 1951.  While in Canada they had two further sons and and a daughter.

When my own parents died and I discovered some photographs which I found strange.  My parents were only children and so why had they kept a photograph of a family and written 'Uncle' Henry on the back.  Uncle Henry Lamb turned out to be Hugh's grandfather and my great great uncle.

I started my search for Hugh and found what I hoped was his email address and wrote to him asking whether he might be or know the gentleman I was after.  His reply came swiftly and read the few magnificent words 'I am he'.

I was so fortunate to meet him when he came to London for a short visit and spent an amazing afternoon with him and his daughter.  We spoke on several occasions by telephone and once by skype and exchanged endless emails.

My heart goes out to Catherine and his immediate family, who have become real friends.  I feel really privileged to have known him.  I have lost someone I held really dear.

Sadly Catherine died just five weeks lateron 1 November 2017.