The Flashing Lights

It has been well over three weeks since the last posting, but I can assure my reader(s) that I have not been idling about.

As most people know, everyday life has a habit of interfering with things you enjoy doing. I went for a long overdue eye-test last month - I have worn contact lens every day for nearly forty years. The optician noticed some slight inflamation around the pupils, and said that it was due to the lens sticking to the pupil rather than moving with the pupil. A new set of lens were ordered which was not unexpected as the last time I changed them was in 2010.( I inadvertantly washed them down the sink whilst I was cleaning my lens case!)

Anyway ever since the examination I have had what is termed "flashing lights" in my left eye. At first it was rather disconcerting but I am gradually getting used to them.  I "googled" the condition and ascertained that it was nothing to worry about - it should settle down in a month or two. But what was rather more perturbing is that they are yet another sign of old age!!.

Despite the "lights", I have manged to update a few articles on the website: the most noticable one being The Beighton Doodlebug - Xmas Eve December 1944.

A number of people have contacted me over the years regarding the raid on Xmas Eve 1944. The latest person was a researcher from North Wales who kindly sent me a newspaper cutting from the local paper about a V1 that landed at Rofft Wood near Foel y Crio. It was launched at the time as the one that exploded at Beighton, but this one did not explode. The lack of official records has caused some controversy amongst historians, but there is no doubt in my mind regarding the veracity of the incident.  

 

       

Gas Masks and Window Masking - Public Information

In the light of recent events in Syria, and the reponse of the international "community", I thought that this would be an appropiate time to remind readers of the procedures to adopt. The last time the British were threatened by a chemical attack the government published this advice in the form of a public information leaflet

Sadly to date the coalition government have issued no advice about what the public should do in the event of an gas attack. A sign of the times!.

Shocking Xylonite Fire at Netherthorpe Sheffield December 1921

Continuing with a theme of industrial tragedies, I have just posted another article to the site concerning a fire in Netherthorpe Sheffield - 14th December 1921 - which claimed four victims including a father and son. The son who died in the tragedy, Thomas Clark left a widow and seven children, with no means of support - an indication of how precarious life was for a worker's family in the 1920's

Sudbury Street 2000

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Sudbury Street 2012

The fire took place at the Progress Works in Sudbury Street Netherthorpe. The works were demolished many years ago, and I have been unable to date to locate a photo of the place. Two points are worth mentioning - the first is that this tragedy was just around the corner from the site of the Sheffield Boiler Explosion of 1899. (see earlier blog) in which 7 workers lost their lives. And the second point is that I have been able to locate the graves of all 4 victims of the Sudbury Street fire

The Sheffield Boiler Explosion - 1st November 1899

I've eventually posted an article to the site that has been has been in the "digital in-tray" for nigh on two years.

The article on the boiler explosion and subsequent inquest appears in our first book but I have been able to expand it to incorporate additional information.The article also ties in with the tragedy at Daniel Doncasters that occurred 13 years earlier in August 1886.

The site of Messrs Southern and Richardson, Doncaster Street, with Shepherd Street in the background and Ellis Street in the foreground.

The current building, now out of use and boarded up, was most recently occupied by toolmakers Record Ridgeway (photograph 2012)

William Astwood's Contemptible Offence - Ecclesall Churchyard

Whilst I was researching the fate of a certain Arthur Gleave earlier this year, I saw this report of William Astwood's activities in Ecclesall Churchyard dating from 3rd September 1925

Obviously the offences that Astwood committed were that serious that they warranted a "special watch" by the police (two constables apprehended Astwood) . And the fine was heavy  as well - over £250 at current prices. In addition the presiding magistrate let his feelings be known in no uncertain terms
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Nowadays I doubt if anyone would care one jot!

Starved to Death by the Germans - Charles Hurt 1915

I've just posted an article to the site that I came across in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph April 1915. I stated that I know very little about the British POW's in the Great War, but the circumstances surrounding Charles' death are quite harrowing. Their suffering seems forgotten now

Sgt Wilfred Billingham (1922 - 1943)

I came across this article that was published in The Sheffield Star on Friday 9th August 2013

 The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has this entry for Wilfred

BILLINGHAM, WILFRED
Rank Sergeant
Trade Nav./Bomber
Service No: 1233699
Date of Death: 05/02/1943
Age:  21
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Grave Reference     Sec. C. (Gen.). Grave 2829.
Cemetery SHEFFIELD (SHIREGREEN) CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Eliza Billingham, of Shiregreen, Sheffield.

The entry also notes that there are another 68 burials that

"are scattered throughout the cemetery. Two special memorials erected one on either side of the path between Sections G and H, on the right hand side, record the names of two servicemen whose graves could not be marked by headstones."

I wonder why not?? Yet another mystery

And on the excellent Findagrave website there are further details of the tragic accident that cost Wilfred his life, as well as a photo of Wilfred's last resting place

View From Another Hill - Friday 26th July 2013

These photos were taken from near the top of Townend Street Crookes on Friday 26th July 2013.
A clear blue evening sky and a warm breeze and tremendous views across the city

Incidentally the large stone-built house on the left used to be the house of Professor James William Edington, a Professor of Bacteriology at Sheffield University who was tragically killed in a car accident whilst driving home from a rugby match in April 1939

View From A Hill - 29th July 2013

We are in the process of having the wall at the back of our house re-rendered. I believe that it was last done in the 1950's and over the last few years the covering had deteriorated quite badly.

 
Whilst the scaffolding was up I took the opportunity to check the roof, clear the gutter out and revarnish the upper window frames. I also took the following photographs looking out over the city of  Sheffield

As you can see the the skyline is dominated by the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. You can also see the gathering storm clouds. Ten minutes after these photos were taken, a thunderstorm broke and it bucketed it down. Time to get down from the scaffolding!

I am hoping that the varnish does what it says on the tin - dry's in 30 minutes otherwise it is another trip up the ladder.

Hill 60 Zillebeke 1918

I'm still sorting through the photos that were mentioned in an earlier blog. One which is again not inscribed shows the British trenches at Hill 60 at Ypres.

I am unsure why the photo is in the box but it is only one of  two in the box. The other is of the Menin Gate in Ypres which is where those soldiers who fought on Hill 60 and have no known grave are comemorated. I wonder if there is a link between these two photos and the family?

THE WATCH TOWER - BRADFIELD St Nicholas Churchyard - Bradfield

Whilst I was scanning the aforementioned photographs I came across an old monochrome  postcard of the Watch House at High Bradfield

 
THE WATCH HOUSE - BRADFIELD
St Nicholas Churchyard - Bradfield

The Watch House at High Bradfield was built in 1745 as a place from which to guard newly buried bodies (from bodysnatchers) in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, Church. There are apparently only two or three of this type of building still in existence in the country and this is the only one left in Yorkshire.

The house is now a privately owned dwelling.

Old Photographs of Spring Hill Sheffield

Old photographs of Spring Hill Sheffield are not commonplace. And so I was surprised when my next door neighbour handed me a box of old photographs and other miscellanous items that the previous owner had left behind in his house well over thrirty years ago!!.

Over the last week I have been scanning the material found in the box into digital formats, and have found some fascinating content. Unfortunately many of the photos have no information on them whatsoever, but after some research I think I can identify some of the people in them. If I can get enough information I plan to put the information into a coherent form.

Anyway here are the two photographs of Spring Hill that were taken possibly in the late 1950's

 

The two girls in the photo that was taken in the garden of 35 Spring Hill may have been called Marilyn and Linda Hobson, and were the daughters of the owner at that time James Hobson. The second photo was taken from the front bedroom window of number 35 and shows the "View From the Hill" prior to the construction of the University Arts Tower   

 

George Herbert Lawrence - Hathersage 5th July 2013

For the first time in my life, I was invited to a presentation, or to be more precise, the unveiling of a plaque that was to remember and honour a person that gave so much to the community.

His name was Geoge Lawrence and details of his life and work can be found on my web-site. The Ceremony occurred last Friday and for once the weather was glorious.

The unvieling of the plaque was a fitting tribute to George's works, and as Brian Ward who wrote an excellent biography of George remarked, the title of  "forgotten philanthropist" may now have to be revised.

I was also given the opportunity to meet descendents of George and Elsie, and that was a most enjoyable and enlightening experience for me. It helped me to appreciate just how important George was to both his family and the community.

Grave Affairs in the Cathedral "Gardens"

I've just posted the following newspaper cutting from the Sheffield Star dated 6th August 1958 to the Sheffield History Forum. Apparently one contributor wanted to know where the bones that were exhumed from the Cathedral were taken to. Some ended up in Stradbroke at the proposed site of aa garden for old people.

June Talks 2013

I've just completed a further two talks that were arranged to primarily promote our second book.

This involved putting together a new presentation for the talks that featured more of the twentieth century material.

The first of the talks was last Wednesday and formed part of the Broomhill Festival 2013

Sheffield’s Shocking Past: Part 2 – The 20th Century

Date/Time - Date(s) - 12/06/13 (Wednesday)
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm

Location - Broomhill Library

Local historian, Chris Hobbs and local author Matthew Bell bring you some more gruesome, grizzly and long forgotten tragic episodes of 20th Century Sheffield.

Uncovering such tales as the killer cat of Millhouses, death by chimney stack and the horrific aftermath of an American Air Force jet crashing into Lodge Moor Hospital in 1955, plus many more.

The second talk was two days later at the AGM of the Friends of Walkley Cemetery which was held in St Mary's Church South Road Sheffield. 

Both talks went well, and I must admit I did enjoy the experience of speaking about events that many people have not heard of. And of course when you are enjoying something times flies!

Kenneth Steel and and the Sheffield Castle Painting

I've just updated the article on the Sheffield artist the late Kenneth Steel.

A painting that he was commissioned to do for Brightside and Carbrook Co-operative Society in 1964 was in storage in Manchester, after it was removed from the Society's Angel Street store

The full story appears in this report from the Sheffield Star

I am an admirer of Kenneth's work but for some reason this painting fails to impress me as much as some of his other work. It just seems rather contrived and the perspective seems strange. I think I will have to go and see it "in the flesh" so to speak to see if my impressions are justified 

Joseph Jonas

I've just updated the article on Joseph Jonas, a former Lord Mayor of Sheffield who was stripped of his knigthood in 1918.

An article appeared in the Sheffield Star on May 15th 2013 announcing that his former home Endcliffe Hall was to be turned into a boutique hotel by its current owners The University of Sheffield.

Two weeks later The Star's feature writer Colin Drury produced an article that used material from my web-site

 

James Dixon - Reloading Tools

In May 2013 a researcher into the family of William Barnsley Allen forwarded me the following e-mail relating to the company of James Dixon.

William Barnsley Allen incidentally was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1916 for his actions on the Western Front, and remains the only student from Sheffield University to have received the award

"I came across your email address on a James Dixon forum site.
By the looks of it you must have studied up on the Dixon empire, my interest is in their production of reloading tools.
I notice there are large amounts of material in regards to tea pots ,and knives and forks, but not much on tools. Did you ever come across any material on tools or patents?
I have their Sporting Catalogue of 1883 and I also own a couple of hundred reloading tools by James Dixon, but I am always on the look out to know more about this company.
My website of Dixon tools can be viewed at www.paulcollis.dphoto.com

I don't know much about the James Dixon forum but if it helps other collectors then please add my site to your forum page, when you go to my website then just open the James Dixon folder and enjoy."

Henry Hurst - Thiepval Memorial

Henry's medals from the Great War were auctioned on EBAY last year. I wrote an article on the sale and found a few details about Henry and his family prior to his death on the "First Day of The Somme"

In April 2013 a friend of mine went to France as part of a tour. He went to the Thiepval Memorial and in the late afternoon of Saturday 27th Aprl 2013 and took a photo of Henry's inscription on the memorial

NOTE:

The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme is a major war memorial to 72,191 missing British and South African men who died in the Battles of the Somme of the First World War between 1915 and 1918 with no known grave

Ralph Skelton Woolass 1917 - 1942

I received this e-mail the other day about an article I first posted to my site nearly ten years ago

"Dear Chris,

I was looking at the website you have so kindly created in memory of my brother, Ralph Skelton Woolass, when I noticed that it had been extended and updated with some family details since I printed it out some years ago (and I was intrigued to note that someone else was researching my family history in 2008!).  I therefore list below some details which you were asking for:

Stanley Woolass               b 28/09/1892    d 10/12/1957

                                            Married 07/03/1916

Jessie Gertrude Wolass    b 11/10/1894    d 07/11/1983

Ralph Skelton Woolass      b 23/09/1917    d 16/04/1942

Peter Woolass                   b 10/08/1920

Stanley David Woolass      b 04/07/1930

I have also attached brief details of Ralph's RAF service history, gleaned from various sources as listed, in case some of it may be of interest.

Finally, may I thank you on behalf of my family for the trouble you have taken to set up this wonderful memorial to Ralph, which is very much appreciated. 

Should you require any further information, please let me know. With best wishes,"

I replied to Ralph's brother and thanked him for his time and trouble in supplying me with this information on Ralph's all too brief career in the RAF. Another message followed with further information on Ralph with included a photograph of Ralph in his RAF uniform.

" It occurred to me afterwards that you might be able to use a photograph of Ralph. I have therefore attached a JPEG, which I have left as originally scanned so that you can resize it as required. The photograph was taken professionally in Salisbury, presumably when he was posted to Ibsley in late 1941. By some strange coincidence, I also spent most of my time at Ibsley when I was doing my National Service with the RAF some 8 years later, much to my Mother's distress.

My brother Peter joined the Territorial Army and was mobilised just before the war. He spent some time in the desert with the 8th Army, then in Italy, before finishing up as an Officer with the BAOR in Germany.

I'm sorry that I omitted to thank you also for the excellent memorial to Percy Charles Pickard, who was Ralph's cousin as noted. These two websites alone must have involved a lot of work and time - thank you so much for all your trouble. Please also thank your friend who took the photograph of Ralph's memorial in South Anston."

Ralph Skelton Woolass

There is also some additional information on Ralph at the excellent Rotherham War Memorial's site