Sandbag - Wincanton RBL Newsletter: July 2011
Download the full edition (PDF)
Summary
Editor Tony Goddard - 01963 824193
Secretary Arthur Pickup - 01963 32952
Branch Meetings for 2011 - Wincanton Memorial Hall - Monday at 7 p.m.
15th August
19th September
17th October
7th November(AGM)
19th December
16th January
Coffee Mornings for 2011 - Wincanton Memorial Hall - Saturday at 10 a.m.
30th July
29th October
Trips and Events for 2011
16th July - We will visit Kew Gardens. We will depart from the Memorial Hall at 8.30 a.m.
20th August - We will visit Lulworth Cove, departing from the Memorial Hall 9 a.m. With a possibility of visiting Swanage too.
14th October - Annual dinner.
19th December - Pre-Christmas lunch and Poinsettia Trail at Ottery St. Mary.
Welcome New Members
During the last month two new members, joined our branch: Bob Ridout and Les Crompton
War Dead of the Great War
I have not mentioned much about the subject lately but I am still actively pursuing the stories of our War Dead of the Great War. Unfortunately I have found that all are beyond not only living memory and even their immediate relatives now living know little of them. Sadly I have told family members things they did not themselves know about their relatives. It is my intention to complete the book "Wincanton - Our War Dead of the Great War" during the 90th anniversary year of the Royal British Legion and all the proceeds of the book will go to Poppy Appeal 2011/12 (anniversary year). What really saddens me is that I do not have photographs some of the men in question and I believe that their stories if it is not accomplished now they never will and I say that very sincerely.
One such person I would dearly like to know about is Ernest Hinks. His father John Clifford Hinks and mother Laura Mary were general drapers, costumier, dress maker, milliner, tailor and outfitters running a store at 9 Market Place, Wincanton where Ernest was born on September 1895. He had two sisters Doris Mary and Hilda Muriel.
Ernest enlisted in Bristol on 12th November 1915 with his friend Harry Hamblin (Harry's service number was BZ/1343 one after Ernest's) and as fate would have it both would not survive the war.
If anyone knows the relatives of the Hinks family or can think of anything that will help solve the mystery, I would be most grateful.
Another mystery is Herbert (Harry) Sims. Harry as he was known in the family was born in Milborne Port in 1891. He was the son of John and Eliza-beth Sims, his father John was a farm worker. Harry had three brothers, William, Samuel and Frederick and two sisters Flossie and Elsie. The family moved around due John Sims work on the farms living several times in Milborne Port but also Stoke under Ham and Bayford, moving to 3 Whitehall Cottages shortly after Elsie was born.
Harry also worked on the farms as did his brother William upon leaving school, Harry working as a carter with Mr. Goddard at Church Farm Charlton Musgrove. Harry's mother died at the age of 43 in March 1911. Harry married Elsie Ann Oborn in Wincanton Parish Church on 13th October 1912. He joined the regular Army enlisting in the 5th Dragoon Guards at Taunton in 1913 the same regiment as his neighbour Charlie Lodge. I would dearly like to make contact with any of Harry's relatives.
Others that are even more of a mystery are:
- Stephen Grey Parsons, none of the Parsons in Wincanton I have contacted know of him.
- Reginald Hill of South Street nothing much is known of him.
- Frank Francis, whose father ran the "beer house" which is now the Millers Inn is also on my list.
Comments
Posts: 1
Reply #1 on : Sat February 06, 2021, 19:31:57
Login to comment!