One hundred years on it is hard to imagine the impact of the Armistice. I was too young to discuss it with any of my relatives who survived the war. I imagine amidst the celebrations there would have been a sad reckoning.
(more…)
11 November, 2018
On this day 100 years ago: Armistice
26 April, 2018
On this Day 100 years ago: Harold Faulder; Killed in Action
On this day 100 years ago (26th April 1918) my Grandfather, Harold Faulder, climbed out of a trench near Ypres leading his company across no man’s land towards the German lines. He did not return and his body was never recovered.
A previous post had detailed his career. Today I am looking at what we know about the night of 25th/26th April and the early morning of 26th April 1918. (more…)
24 March, 2016
Research & Other Work Agenda
Taking stock of questions to research, itches to scratch, and development work to do.
Contents
- Family Reconstructions
- Specific People
- Website Development
(more…)
25 May, 2015
The Willetts of Colchester, Essex (and Daylight Saving) 1 of 2
The change to and from British Summer Time can bring about a flurry of interest in William Willett, the original advocate in Britain of Daylight Saving. He was the eldest son of another William Willett. For some reason this spring Google and that ilk have pointed a larger number of people than usual towards this family blog. Some of them have familiar family stories about being related to “Daylight Saving” Willett.
In addition another comment by a relative (about William Willett senior – Daylight Saving Willett’s father – running away from his step-mother) has prompted me to re-examine “the top” of the Willett tree as I have previously understood it.
(more…)4 February, 2011
The Quick and the Dead: Upcoming book
Richard van Emden will be publishing a book later this year about the Great War families left without a father or husband. Although stories of members of our family do not feature, some may recognise the cover.
The picture was taken at Tyne Cot in the 1920s by Marjorie Faulder, widow of Harold Faulder, and shows my father pointing out his father’s name.
A friend of the author saw the picture when I used it to illustrate a post on the Great War Forum and consequently Richard Van Emden approached me asking if he could use the image. My brother and I agreed (almost two and a half years ago).
(more…)18 August, 2010
Marjorie Fell Faulder (née Lendrum)’s WW1 scrapbook
Harold and Marjorie Faulder at Holy Trinity, Huddersfield on their Wedding Day
Marjorie Fell Faulder (née Lendrum)’s scrapbook based on her husband Harold’s service in World War 1
Picasa Photo Album
This contains photographs, postcards and newspaper cuttings meticulously filed until April 1918. Marjorie Faulder was my Grandmother.
17 August, 2010
Wilfred Willett (b 1890): Rescued by his wife during World War One
Wilfred Leslie Willett (1890-1961), a medical student, married Eileen Stenhouse (1892-1961) in 1913 (and again in 1914). He joined the London Rifles (1/5th battalion, The London Regiment) in 1914 and was injured in December of that year, when he climbed out of the trenches at Ploegsteert to attempt to assist an injured man (Private, later acting Captain Ernest G Moore) in No Man’s Land. The injury was a severe head injury. (more…)
Evelyn Faulder’s award of the Military Medal
Portrait of Evelyn Faulder MM, F.A.N.Y. by kind permission FANY (PRVC)
Evelyn Faulder drove an Ambulance with the FANY during World War One.
- Third daughter of Joseph Sewell Faulder & Emily Story
. My Great Aunt. - During the Great War she served (from April 1916) with the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) in France and Flanders. The FANY were originally set up with the rather romantic idea that horsewomen could ride out onto the battlefield and scoop up wounded soldiers and bring them back to safety. In practice they drove heavy motor ambulances.
- Her medal index card indicates that she achieved the rank of sergeant.
- The London Gazette of 5 July 1918
gives the following citation:
His Majesty the KING has been pleased to approve of the award of the Military Medal to the under mentioned Ladies -for distinguished services in the Field, as recorded: —
Miss Sarah Bonnell, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry,
Miss Evelyn Gordon-Brown, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry,
Miss Aileen Maude Faulkner, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry,
Miss Evelyn Faulder, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry,
Miss Nellie Dewhurst, V.A.D., attd. First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.
For gallantry and conspicuous devotion to duty, when an ammunition dump had been set on fire by enemy bombs and the only available ambulance for the removal of wounded had been destroyed. These ladies subsequently arrived with three ambulances, and, despite the danger arising from various explosions, succeeded in removing all the wounded. Their conduct throughout was splendid. War Office, 8th July, 1918. (more…)
The Family of Eileen Fell
- Eileen Mary Fell was a first cousin of my paternal grandmother, Marjorie Fell Faulder (née Lendrum). Her mother Elizabeth Fell was a sister of Eileen’s father Henry Fell.
- Eileen was shown by Marjorie Fell Faulder (in her notes) to have married a Paul Cuthbert Petrie, but I could not find a reference to this marriage.
- I could however find a reference to a marriage to a Steinthal – but not to his death.
- It turns out that Paul Steinthal had changed his name during WW1 to Petrie (his mother’s maiden name).
- Searching through on-line sources such as the London Gazette and the London Times plus being provided with photographs of a family memorial helped identify Eileen’s descendants and their immediate cousins.
The life and death of Harold Faulder (killed in action Ypres 26 April 1918)
Harold Faulder, 3rd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
- Eldest son of Joseph Sewell Faulder & Emily Story. My paternal Grandfather.
- He returned from the United States (where he was working) to enlist via the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps.
- He initially served in England with the 3rd Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment.
- Later he served in France with the 14th Battalion of the same regiment (The 2nd Barnsley Pals), when he was acting commanding officer in the final weeks of its existence before it was disbanded.
- He was killed in action near Ypres four days after joining the 1/4th battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment and has no known grave.
- He was mentioned in despatches twice, but details are currently unknown.
- There is some dispute over his rank at his death.
- His only child, my father, was born 10 weeks after his death.
The Life of Harold Faulder (large file!)
The Final Hours of the life of Harold Faulder
Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
