Genealogy Chat

how sad for this poor girl takes me back to when my mam told me of a family that moved from london and came to our town to avoid the bombs of london . but up here their house got a direct hit from a bomb and wiped the whole family out tragic rosexx

How sad for this little girl to be taken from all she knew and loved, for her own safety i know, but then to get killed anyhow. Not far from where i live there was a couple of evacuee children killed. Fearing that they would be late for school they took a short cut across the train tracks and got hit by a train. Having said how sad this all is, i also am really touched at all the love and consideration show to little Patricia. Restores your faith in mankind. Eagerly awaiting to find out more. Thank you for sharing this with us Paul. Lorraine

Hello Margaret, There are some answers to your questions but if you don't mind I'll hold back until Win Evans gives me the full details. What he did say that I cannot verify yet is that it was thought Patricia's father was killed during the war and that he was in the RAF. Unfortunately the Commonwealth War Graves Commission does not appear to list him. Perhaps someone could verify that this is correct and when it happened. Many thanks Paul

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you Paul for bringing this story to light and for all of the research that you have done. I think little Patricia would be pleased to know that so many people cared about her, even 60 years later. One thing that amazes me is that the newspaper report didn't give the names of her parents. Surely the family that took her in would know the parents' names and report it to the press. I wonder if there was a later newspaper report that gave more details? i.e. Did the parents come to attend the funeral? Or was such a thing impossible during wartime? Margaret

Breakthrough, I have just come off the phone after speaking with the sub warden of St. John the Baptist Church. He has had an amazing response to his article including a first hand account of the accident by an eye witness. We have agreed to exchange information at which time I can post the events which led to Patricia's untimely death. He like some of you was also puzzled as to who paid for the burial & grave so there are still some unanswered questions. It is thought that the Parish Burial Records are held by Cardiff City Council but he will search the church's archive to see if the originals are still there. Please be patient and I'll post what information is supplied as soon as I can. Bye Paul

Would there be a local stone mason who made the gravestone in the village? perhaps they have some old records?

Hi Paul in regards as to who payed for the grave wouldn't the local council know ? I got all the information on my grandfathers and gt.grandparents from a lady at the council. I was told who was buried in the grave and that for my grandfathers grave his mum got a grant for the burial. Tina

Hi Bo, Many thanks for your kind offer of help which I would gladly accept. The only problem is I don't know what to do next. What's happening to a certain extent is that you the readers are now guiding me and giving me the information for the next move. One example is the reply from Janet who provided me with some very good information relating to WW2 evacuees. Another example I've just received an email from Ivy so that I can contact the Woolwich Family History Society (they do not have a web presence yet). That is an extremely useful piece of information. I think I need to call and speak to the vicar of St John's. As said in an earlier reply, to bury someone, almost a stranger in a grave with a headstone does show that someone cared enough. Who was this someone? Was it the foster parents, the parents or the community. Perhaps this is one question the vicar could answer. If you can think of a possible angle I have missed, and I'm no expert, then please go for it. Many thanks Paul

nudge I don't want to lose this one.

Hi, A nudge hoping to keep this story in the lime light! xx

Replying so I too can see the final outcome. Paul I work in Cardiff so if you need any help just ask and I'll do what I can. Bo

Keeping it nudged for those that hav'nt found this thread yet. A wonderful story ! Nicky

What a sad story and isn't it strange how we find ourselves getting attached to these strangers?

How sad - just hope someone claims her. Am replying so I can follow the progress . Alice

Hi Gwyneth, Yes, that's her two sons, Arthur Llewelyn & Robert John so on the right track. Have emailed Roy Harris on Ancestry so looking forward to a reply. Paul

A look on the freebmd site suggests that Lucy's maiden name was SALTER. There are corresponding birth entries for the 2 sons Robert in Dec. Q. 1914 Arthur in March Q. 1917 both registered in the Pontypridd district. I wonder if they are on a tree on GR. Gwyn

How interesting, just to say though, that since this all started from a headstone, these are rarely erected unless someone cared and could afford to. So, it's possible that the parents were informed and they paid for it, or the family she was staying with did. Perhaps even the community clubbed together for it. Either way, someone paid for the stone to be erected as a public/pauper grave would surely be unlikely to have a stone. As I said, interesting tale and I look forward to the outcome. Very sad for the poor little girl who should have gone to her safety.

Hi Moggie, That's a truely inspiring bit of news. Will email him this evening. Still no reply from the church sub-warden which is a pity. Many thanks. Paul

Very interesting story I have some Skippers in my family tree, ill see what i can find out but my Skippers were from Lancashire and Essex but you never know Shall be watching this story unfold Sharmala..

this is facinating you are real super sleuths please keep us informed well done linda x