My 2xgreat grandparents John Hill and his second wife, Elizabeth Sarah Windebank brought up their family in some of the poorer parts of south and east London. My great grandmother was their second child, but the first, third and fourth each died in their early years, a result perhaps of poor sanitary and housing conditions. … Continue reading The short lives of John David (1870-1872), Emily Elizabeth (1877-1879) and Mary Ann Hill (1879-1882)
London
Susan Caroline Stocking (1896-1971): A move to Tingewick and family tragedies [Updated]
Susan was 15th of 19 children. She was left with three youngsters of her own when her ex-serviceman husband Fred Smith died after ten years of marriage. In the early 1940s, she moved with her second husband Harry Catlow to Tingewick, Bucks, where they ran The White Hart. Tragedy struck when both her daughter and … Continue reading Susan Caroline Stocking (1896-1971): A move to Tingewick and family tragedies [Updated]
Stocking homes: Beechfield Road, Catford
My Stocking ancestors (amongst others) tended to stay in one place, often with several branches and generations of the family living very close to, or with, each other. Beechfield Road in Catford, South London, was the centre of the family's life from the early-mid 1900s until after WW2. I wonder what stories those properties could … Continue reading Stocking homes: Beechfield Road, Catford
Stocking family holidays (1930s +)
Much of our family life for at least three generations has been recorded on film, in black and white and occasionally a blast of technicolor. Family holidays feature strongly: at 'Lucknow' (my Stocking grandparents' bungalow at Camber Sands), at nearby Rye or elsewhere on the South coast of England and Europe. These are just a … Continue reading Stocking family holidays (1930s +)
Alexander Edward Stocking (1902-1971): A career in the Tank Corps and WW2 PoW
Alexander was the youngest of 19 children, born in the Coronation year of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, after whom he was perhaps named. He joined the regular army aged 16 (lying about his age), married while based in Dorset, later being a Prisoner of War in Germany during WW2. Records of his life … Continue reading Alexander Edward Stocking (1902-1971): A career in the Tank Corps and WW2 PoW
Violet Rose May Ivy Stocking (1900-1963): A life of loss
The youngest daughter of my 2xgreat grandparents, Violet suffered the loss of two brothers and both her parents by the time she was 20, and her only child died in infancy. She worked for a stationer before marrying a Stockbroker. He may have been a WW2 prisoner of war, and worked in the same street … Continue reading Violet Rose May Ivy Stocking (1900-1963): A life of loss
Alfred Edmund Ilott Stocking (1898-1978): Military Medal Holder
Named for his older sister's husband, Alfred was the 17th of my 2xgreat grandparents' children. He followed his brothers into the Army in WW1, and was the second in the family to be awarded the Military Medal. Despite a shotgun wound to the face, and a work accident that damaged his shoulder, he lived a … Continue reading Alfred Edmund Ilott Stocking (1898-1978): Military Medal Holder
Archibald David Stocking (1894-1961): Driver in the Howitzer Brigade [Updated]
It was a letter from Archie’s son Ron that sparked my search for my 2xgreat-grandparents' children. Archie turned out to be the fourteenth of 19. He was a driver in the Howitzer Brigade in WW1 before returning to work on London's trams. Amongst his six grandchildren are a well-known journalist and author, and a mountain … Continue reading Archibald David Stocking (1894-1961): Driver in the Howitzer Brigade [Updated]
Annie Louise Stocking (1892-1975): A love of colourful clothing
Annie was the 13th child born to my 2xgreat grandparents, and suffered several losses, including the death of her mother, while still young. She married towards the end of WW1 and lived the rest of her life in Lewisham. Newspaper coverage of her two daughters' weddings suggest she had a keen and colourful fashion sense. … Continue reading Annie Louise Stocking (1892-1975): A love of colourful clothing
Richard Henry Stocking (1890-1904): A life cut short
My 2xgreat grandparents had a total of 19 children. Richard Henry was their 12th child and one of three to die young. His life was cut short when he was just 14; the family was very close and his death would have had a big impact. Here is what little I know of him, and … Continue reading Richard Henry Stocking (1890-1904): A life cut short
My Stocking Roots 