Six Children Left Alone At Night - 58 Longley Avenue West Sheffield February 1941

The following cutting is from 1941 and concerns the case of 27 year old Elsie May Clark of 58 Longley Avenue West Sheffield.

The puzzling part for me about this case is the entry in the 1939 National Register for the property. The only occupant is Elsie May Clark date of birth 4th March 1914 who is listed as married and performing unpaid domestic duties. In the next property is a Harriet Clark date of birth 1st May 1878 who is a widow also performing household duties. It is quite possible that Harriet was Elsie's mother-in-law.

There is no record of any children or husband for that matter

Where ere the children in 1939? 

The other point that I discovered was that leaving children alone at night was widespread and been a feature of British life for decades. This certainly was not an isolated case  - the newspapers were full of cases of unattended children that had been left alone. Probably this came more to the fore in wartime when there was far greater vigilance on the population by the public authorities. 

But what made it even worse was the condition of the children who were in the house. They were all six years of age and under and were suffering from sores and were in bad condition.

It reflects a side of the war that is overlooked. The article states that the husband was in the forces and so was in no position to find out the situation at home. I wonder if he was informed that his children were in care and his wife in prison for neglect 
     

 

Private John Reynolds RAMC and the sinking of the HMHS Britannic - 21st November 1916

There is an excellent article on Wikipedia about the HMHS Britannic and its sinking on 21st November 1916 of Kea in the Aegean Sea 

Despite carrying over 1000 passengers and crew at the time of the sinking, only 30 people lost their lives. One of the survivors was Private John Reynolds who wrote letters home to his parents and friens in Sheffield describing his experiences

  

The propeller's John mentions were possibly some of the largest ever manufactured - HMRS was a sister ship of the RMS Titanic after all! 

Gunner Gordon's Victoria Cross - Ashford Kent 11th June 1942

 The wearing of decorations and medals has been in the news this last month. The Chief Constable of Northamptonshire  Nicholas Adderley served as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police from 2018 to 2024, when he was dismissed for gross misconduct. He had embellished his military service in the Royal Navy and fabricated receiving both Northern Ireland and Falklands medals.

There is a fuller account on Wikipedia on what only be called a very unsavoury episode. Funnily enough this only came out into the open when his ex-wife took the steps to expose his lies and deceit.

But back to June 1942 when Sheffield's Gunner Gordon was court-martialled in Kent for wearing a VC ribbon that he was not entitled to wear. It was awarded ostensibly for his actions on the retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940 but this was a complete fabrication. He had bought the ribbon from a shop in Hythe Kent for the sum of 1s 9d (9p) as he wanted his wife to read about his heroism in the newspapers.

From the report Gunner Graham seems more like a fantasist than one who sets out deliberately to  misrepresent his achievements to others so that they can further their own careers    

As a footnote only 181 Victoria Crosses were awarded in the Second World War and none of the recipients had a Sheffield connection.

Walter Holbem (1884 - 1930) - An Update

I posted this article on Walter many years ago. A former Sheffield footballer, Walter was killed by lightening whilst standing as a bookmaker at Royal Ascot on 18th June 1930.

The inquest was reported in the Times two days later

DEATH BY LIGHTNING AT ASCOT

At the inquest at Ascot last night on the body of WALTER HOLBEM, of Ribble Avenue, Southport, a bookmaker who was killed by lightning on Wednesday while standing in the Tattersalls, Ring, it was stated that there were no witnesses to the actual occurrence. Dr W.H. Brown of St Mary’s Hospital, London who was on duty behind the grandstand said that Holbem, was gasping for breath when he was brought in, and died almost immediately. His condition was consistent with his having been struck by lightning. The only mark on his body was an abrasion of the skin on his Adam’s apple. Samuel McClarence, who was employed by Holbem, said that he ran for shelter from the rain leaving Holbem standng under his umbrella. Two minutes afterwards he saw him being carried away. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

The Times, June 20th 1930

But I have just found this cutting that states that a fund was set up to provide financial support for Walter's widow and four children  

 

"Healthy Sheffield" - 1924

 This report appeared in the local press on 29th August 1925 and refers to the previous year 1924, It starts on what I can only say is an optimistic note noting that Sheffield compares favourably with other industrial cities.

But a full reading of the report reveals a catalogue of misery and squalor that continued to affect swathes of Sheffield's inhabitants. Progress was been made in certain areas and not before time, But when phrases like "overcrowding in the city is deplorable" and conditions in the cutlery trade are "profoundly unsatisfactory" for the workers, a lot more needed doing and quickly. Sadly as we know this did not happen.