Reginald Archibald Cammell (1886 - 1911) - The first airman to be killed while on active service

This information was sent to me by a WW1 researcher who specializes in the North Derbyshire area.

Reginald Cammell , was the grandson of Charles Cammell Sheffield Steel Baron . He was the first airman to be killed while on active service . His father Archibald Allan Cammell was born in Sheffield (1856) and lived at Brookfield Manor Hathersage. The family company later merged to form Cammell Laird

There is a picture of Reginald Cammell   in The Royal Aero Club Aviators  Certificates 1910- 1950  , he is listed as no 45 which means that he was the 45th person to be granted an Aviators Certificate ( the modern day equivalent of a Pilot’s Licence ) in Great Britain . If you scroll back to the start of the Certificates book you will see he some very illustrious contemporaries Hon Charles Rolls & Geoffrey  de Havilland

From the Dundee Courier - Wednesday 20 September 1911

HOW ARMY AIRMAN LOST HIS LIFE.
A Coroner's inquiry into the death of Lieutenant Reginald Archibald Cammell (24), of the Army Air Battalion, who was killed whilst making a flight at Hendon Aerodrome on Sunday evening, was held yesterday, the jury returning a verdict of "Death from misadventure." Mr Barber, of the Aeronautical Syndicate, who witnessed the accident, said deceased was making a practice flight on a Valkyrie aeroplane, but, making too sharp a turn, the machine backed, and coming over on its side slipped to the ground. The funeral of the late Lieutenant Cammell will take place at Aldershot to-day with full military honours.

(Buried Aldershot Military Cemetery)

His memorial has listed status

Reginald Archibald Cammell

Born 10.1.1886 Inverness. Parents Archibald Allan & Katherine Marion(Orr) Cammell. Believe 3 siblings.

1901 Census Believe Reginald at Repton School, Derbyshire

1911 Census. Reginald at Gibraltar Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot. He was an Army Officer, Royal Engineers.

Probate. Of Aldershot, Hampshire. Died at Hendon Middx. Admin to Katherine Marion Cammell, widow(his mother). £3412.4s.8d

The Sheffield Boiler Disaster Messrs Southern and Richardson, Doncaster Street, Sheffield - 1st November 1899

Yesterday I received two contemporary photographs showing the aftermath of the exposion that occurred at Messrs Southern and Richardson, cutlery manufacturers, Doncaster Street, Sheffield on 1st November 1899. Such was the ferocity of the explosion seven people lost their lives and several more were injured.

I placed an article on the site detailing the disaster a few years ago but this is the first time that I have seen photographs of the devastation. In fact I did not know if any existed and so it came as a marvelous surprise.

  

The Startling Assertions of the Reverend W. J. Morrison 28th March 1915 - St Peter's Church Abbeydale Sheffield

I've just posted an article to the site relating to the Rev W J Morrison's observations of women in March 1915. It makes for disturbing reading!

But what is even more alarming is that the Rev Morrison makes no mention of the actions of his former curate who only the year previously had been "over-familiar" with the 17 year old daughter of one of his parishioners. In fact he had "been familiar" on a few occassions with the young girl. But the outcome of his many advances had a ruinous effect on both himself and the girl in question.

St Peter's Church Abbeydale Sheffield was situated in Machon Bank Sheffield - it was demolished in 2003 after a 108 year history. I would have liked to place a photograph of the church in the article but I could not find one that is not copyrighted which is a shame. The land where the church once stood is now a community space whilst the congregation that used to attend St Peter's are now catered for by St Oswald's which is situated at the bottom of Bannerdale Road.





  

St Paul's Church Pinstone Street Sheffield

I've just updated the article on St Paul's Church in Sheffield with information that appeared in the Grapevine magazine (December 2008) It was wriiten by Jason Heath (John Heath Funeral Directors) and includes three excellent photographs that I have never seen before

The church was demolished in 1938 as it was deemed to be redundant by the church authorities. Whilst I have to admit that it was no architectual masterpiece it was still a marvelous building  - the interior photograph of the church looks particularly impressive.

 

Sheffield's First Foot Hospital - November 1936 "Hospital for City's Feet"

This cutting is from the Daily Independent dated 2nd November 1936 and refers to the opening of Sheffield's First Foot Hospital at 1 Northumberland Road. The building still stands today and has listed status. And by co-incidence was opened 80 years ago this week

I came across this cutting purely by chance - a previous owner of the property in 1871 was a  landowner and gentleman called Mr John Bingley and he was the great grandfather of Herbert William "Billie" Thomas who I mentioned in earlier blogs.

The cutting also made me smile when the Lord Mayor of Sheffield admitted that he "had seen ladies perform various gymnastic feats to try and ease their feet." mmm

And the article also reminded me of the situation that exsisted in this country prior to the advent of the NHS - not an appealing prospect to say the least. 

William Parker (1783 - 1837) A Merchant in Sheffield's General Cemetery

This photograph is of William Parker's magnificent monument in Sheffield's General Cemetery - William was one of the first burials in the cemetery in 1837,

Photo courtesy of Warofdreams

and this is the actual entry in the burial book - it is the fourth row on the page

The problem I am having at the moment is finding any information about William. This is the content of the record

Grave: T vault 8

William PARKER Merchant, Springfield, Sheffield age: 53, buried: 13 Feb 1837

Lily Parker SMITH Daughter of Joseph Smith,Merchant , Endcliffe Crescent age: 27, buried: 2 Apr 1880

Catherine SMITH Widow, Tapton Mount age: 80, buried: 27 Oct 1892

burial no: 42

grave no: T vault 8

death date: 04 Feb 1837 

burial date: 13 Feb 1837

name: William Parker

sex: male age: 53

cause of death: Apoplexy

description: Merchant

birthplace: Sheffield

residence: Springfield, Sheffield

parents: Thomas & Mary Parker, Table-knife Manufacturer

informant: Catherine Parker

minister: W.T. Kidd 

The death date is a transcription error - it should read 11th February 1837. And that is about it with regard to information and so any additional material would be welcome

The Marriage of Reuben Milner and Sarah Myers - Leeds May 22nd 1875

I came across this marriage certificate the other day in my family history files

At the time (May 2002) I was looking for the marriage of my great grandmothers twin sister Sarah Ann Myers who was born in Alderney Channel Islands on 16th April 1857. I was unsure about whether or not it was the correct marriage but my late mother did give me some encouragement, stating the name "Milner rang a bell".

Well after lashing out a few quid for a copy of the certificate, it was apparent straightaway that it was not my late mothers great aunt Sal - in fact it had nothing at all to my ancestors. Complete strangers.! But it was a lesson learned the hard way - I am a lot more circumspect nowadays when I order any form of certificate.

In the years following I did learn from the UK Census that my ancestor Sarah Ann Myers did marry a James Burnett who was born in Scotland in 1829 and so was 28 years older than Sarah Ann. And I still have not located a marriage certificate!

100 years ago - Herbert William "Billie" Thomas of Spring Hill Sheffield died 7th October 1916

The Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 19th October 1916 carried this small notice in its Births, Marriages and Deaths column.

I posted an article to the site about Billie a few years ago but it struck me that I did not know how John and Gertrude received the news that their only son was killed in action. Did they receive a telegram similar to this

or did they receive the news by post - the Army Form B 104 - 82

Either way the terrible news would have been delivered to them on the doorstep of 37 Spring Hill a hundred years ago this coming week - it certainly makes you think 

William Clegg (1898 - 1989) - World War 1 (Rawmarsh Rotherham)

I received this mail from the son of William Clegg who served in the First World War

" I am writing to see if you can help me with a specific enquiry regarding my fathers service in WW1.

I have my Clegg family history dating back from the mid 1700s. Early all of whom were associated with the the mining industry in and around Sheffield. My grandfather, Charles Clegg b 1869 in Handsworth d 1969, was married to Kate (nee Olivent) b1871 d 1937.

They had six children plus one adopted and lived in Handsworth. census records show they moved from there in 1901 and in 1911 they show up in Rawmarsh. At that time my grandfathers occupation changed from Colliery Banks-man to Insurance Superintendent.

My father, William, b 1898 d 1989 is recorded in 1911 as a scholar in Rawmarsh. The only information that I have about my fathers army service in WW1 is that he was a Batman and delivered messages from his Officer to the trenches. My sister and I have a recollection of a large framed, glass fronted black and white photo of him in army uniform. This disappeared some years ago together with any knowledge of his regiment or brigade. The recollection of this have a plain background suggests it was probably a studio photograph and it would have been unlikely for it be commissioned.

I have tried almost every search engine and history site including those local regimental sites without any luck so far. I'm waiting for a copy of a marriage certificate, my parents were married in 1920 in the hope that he may have still been serving then and it include service details.

Any information or suggestions you are able to make would be very much appreciated.

Thank you and kind regards

This is the family in the 1911 Census living on Rawmarsh Hill Rotherham

 

If anyone can help in answering the questions raised we would be delighted to hear about it.

A Despairing Sight on a Summers Day - Burngreave Cemetery Sheffield Sunday 11th September 2016

As I walked around the Burngreave Cemetery last Sunday, my eye was drawn to the War Memorial that stands on a mound towards the Scott Road Entrance.

For those that are not familiar with the Memorial, this is what the Commonwealth War Graves Commission state

"During the First World War there were two substantial war hospitals in Sheffield, the Wharncliffe, in the Wadsley Asylum, and the 3rd Northern General, housed in 15 separate buildings. The city, a centre for war industry during the Second World War, suffered heavy enemy air-raids during the Blitz with 600 people killed in a single raid in December 1940.

Sheffield (Burngreave) Cemetery contains scattered war graves of both wars. Behind the Cross of Sacrifice in plot JJ is a Screen Wall commemorating those First World War casualties whose graves could not be marked by headstones, most of them buried in the plot of ground immediately in front of it. In front of the Screen Wall are a number of Special Memorial headstones for Second World War casualties buried elsewhere in the cemetery whose graves could not be marked".

In all, the cemetery contains 235 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 57 from the Second."

And so what has happened - some idiot(s) have put their tags in black aerosol paint on the memorial. It is on the side of the plinth and is nothing short of desecration. They should be ashamed of themselves but somehow I think that is unlikely. You do despair at times.

A Sad Sight on a Summers Day - Burngreave Cemetery Sheffield Sunday 11th September 2016

There was an Exhibition and Walk on Sunday 11th September at Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery. The theme was the Zeppelin attack on Sheffield on 25th/26th September 1916 that led to 29 civilians losing their lives. 25 of those victims are buried in the Cemetery

The raid and its aftermath was one of the first articles that I wrote for the site many years agoand I have kept adding to it since

One of the high explosive bombs landed in Corby Street (now Fred Mulley Road) demolishing No 142 killing Selina (41) and Joseph Tyler (45) and their five children Joseph Henry (14),Ernest (11), Albert (8), Amelia (5) and John (2). The same bomb also killed 11 year old Richard Brewington of 134 Corby Street and fatally injured Martha Shakespeare of 143 Corby Street, who died later in the day in the Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Road.

The seven members of the Tyler family were buried together on Saturday 30th September 1915 in Burngreave Cemetery - the grave reference is E3 093 (Gen) and this is their grave. The names are just initials and the inscription states that they were killed in the air raid on 26th September 1916. The (empty) flower holder to the side states "a token of respect from Bar Mill E.S.C." The inference is that the memorial was funded by the employees of E.S.C. - there was no-one left of the Tyler family to pay for one.

A very sobering sight

 

Crookes Chapel Crookes Cemetery Sheffield

Photos taken Spring 2009 

I have just received this information from Bereavement Services at Sheffield City Council regarding Crookes Chapel. Until a couple of months ago I was unaware that the Chapel was closed for services and as it is one of the few Grade 11 listed buildings in Crookes I decided to find out the reason(s) why.

"We can confirm that, unfortunately, Crookes Cemetery chapel has been closed now for a number of years as the building became unfit for use due to damp and dry rot issues.

The building was surveyed for renovation but funding has not been forthcoming as other priorities such as schools have taken priority for the funding that has been available.

If you need any further information, please let us know".


It is very much as I feared - the building will now be allowed to deteriorate and I suppose eventually it will be deemed a "dangerous structure" and be demolished. It has happened elsewhere and I fear it will happen here. Grade 11 listed buildings are not very high on Sheffield City Council's list of priorities!

The son of James Firth V.C. - Sheffield

This relates to the family of James Firth who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1901 for his actions in the Boer War. He was the first person to be "born and bred" in Sheffield to receive the award.

Alleyne Firth who is mentioned in the mail was James's surviving son.

This came from a reader of the linked article  

"Just a side story somewhat irrelevant, but here it is...I was researching some puzzling postcards in my collection sent from German Silesia to Luton and Tetney which I found years ago in Gloucester on a stall.

It seems they were sent to a Miss Mary Eunice Haith [1902 - 2002]  who married Alan Haith Blow  [guess there was minor some degree of intermarriage there...] in 1935 who himself  had previously been married to Sylvia Dolby [d.1942] whose second marriage  was to Alleyne Firth [who remarried in 1946] 
Alan Haith Blow [1905 - 1989]  became the Borough Engineer in Maldon, Essex.
Best wishes

I replied

"Yes it is a bit irrelevant but fascinating nonetheless. Could I use the information you so kindly sent me on my site/blog?. I feel it may lead to something in time and if it does I will of course let you know.
Thanks again for taking the time and trouble to contact me." 

"No problem, Chris It's amazing what one finds on the web, and there are some amazing stories out there of ordinary people, like the Firth V.C. I never did find out the link  with Silesia  now in Poland - in those days, there were many aristocratic connections between rich Austro-Hungarian and German families and those of equivilent status in the UK and often their youngsters would exchange.  Perhaps the Haiths worked for one such family.  No other clues. Best wishes,"

As before any further information would be most welcome

George Hartley - St Pauls Church Sheffield 1766

Many years ago I posted an article to the site on the long demolished St Paul's Church Sheffield which used to stand where the Peace Gardens now are

Last week I received this e-mail from a reader of the site

"I hope you don't mind me contacting you. I've come across a reference to a George Hartley who was Organist at St Paul's until his dismissal in 1766. I'm interesting in finding a little more about him, particularly the reason for his dismissal, and hoped that you might have come across this information. If you could please get in touch I'd be most appreciative"

This is the "earliest" query I have ever had - it is 250 years old

I replied " I've looked through my notes and I'm afraid I have nothing on George Hartley and his life. The newspapers in Sheffield at that time (1776) were in effect non-existent, and the national press was in its infancy. I have accessed the British Newspapers Archive C18th Burley Collection through the University and despite using a number of search terms I cannot find a reference to George Hartley.

The next thing I can suggest is contacting the Local Archives in Sheffield. I believe that they hold the Parish registers for St Pauls - they may also have additional information".

And so if anyone can supply me with any information on George Hartley and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal I (and a reader of the site) would be grateful. 




"

A Soldier from Sheffield Arthur Malia 1897-1916 - Died on The First Day of the Somme

Last week I received this mail from a reader of the site

"Hope that you remember me. We corresponded some time ago about an article you published about my wife's mother - Blanche Deffley We hope that you are still OK these days and still "exploring " the history of Sheffield. I look at your website regularly and get engrossed with the fascinating stories.
As you are now considered the font of all knowledge I wondered if you had any idea how I could find another photo. I think that I told you last time that my grandfather was killed on the 1st July at the Somme. I have often wondered what he looked like and the anniversary of the battle last week made me decide to make another attempt. Is it just my faulty memory but I seem to remember that I once saw a Sheffield Star with all the photos of Sheffield men who died that day but I wasn't that interested in those days. I wondered if you could advise me of the best way to find any information. His name was Arthur Malia and he was in the K.O.Y.L.I's. Please don't let this interfere with your work but if you could point me in the right direction I would be most grateful. But maybe I'm just clutching at straws and there is no chance after 100 years"

I replied

"The reference to the 10thBtn KOYI rang a bell straightaway. Have a look at this article I posted last year.

http://www.chrishobbs.com/sheffield5/albertwright1916.htm

Albert Wright served in the same battalion as Arthur Mali and sadly met the same fate on the same day. I met one of his descendents earlier this year.which was an enlightening experience.I then attached the following three census forms for Arthur and his family

1891 Census

 

1901 Census

 

1911 Census

 

I also contacted a friend who has a large collection of WW1 photos/images. This is his reply

"I have looked through all my 'stuff' and I can't see an image for Arthur. This includes my database of all images that appeared in the Independent and the Telegraph. That's not to say there isn't one somewhere! "

I also closely checked Ancestry with the same results - there is no service record just the attached.medal cards and panel reference.

The only other avenue I can suggest is the KOYLI Museum in Doncaster - there is the outside chance they may have a photo.

I did find something that may interest you re the family history. The surname changed sometime between 1908 and 1911 from Melia to Malia.There is info on the Melia's on Ancestry that I can access for you if you want me to. And there may be an explanation as to why there are no photos of Arthur and his family

The only cutting I could find is from 01.07.1936 Sheffield Independent (20th Anniversary - In Memorium). I have attached the full sheet. It looks as though it was placed by his daughter Ethel who was just a baby when he died. Very sad notice

I passed on this information and received the following reply

"Once again thanks for all your efforts looking into my past.
It's a pity that we can't find any photo but it's what I feared after all these years.
But thanks for all the other information that you sent which I have never seen before.  I didn't even know that there used to be a Sheffield Independent newspaper. Judy, my wife, vaguely remembered it because she worked in the Teleads at the Star in the late 1950's.
Arthur's wife, Ethel, my grandmother, remarried to a Glossop and went on to  have 5 more children. The crazy thing is that the youngest of these children, Gary, is younger than me so is my uncle.
The Ethel who put the  notice in the paper was, obviously, my mother,and I was born a few months after the date of the notice in Feb 1937.I do remember that when I was young we had a framed photo of a man in our back bedroom in , I think, uniform. I guess this was Arthur. My mother and father divorced and my dad remarried. As is usual, apparently,my step mother moved house and threw everything away that was anyway connected to my mother .
I do remember that he was a very good looking man and I obviously take after him !!!! If only!
I also guess that my step grandad threw all Arthurs letters to Ethel away as we have asked around all my step aunts and uncles with no result.
If I had only been interested in Arthur when I was young I might have been able to meet someone who was with him at the Somme as , after all, when I was 10, say, there must have been survivors of that battle who were only in their 40s or 50s. Even later if I'd thought about it but by then I was too busy playing football, watching Wednesday, drinking beer and chasing girls.
Chris, once again thank you for all your efforts for me.
What fascinating work you do. How do you manage to not get sidetracked down all the blind alleys ?"

And I then received this ver interesting follow-up

" Thanks for your efforts again. My brother and I got our thinking hats on to see if there was any other way to find any information about Arthur and saw, maybe, another way.

Arthur's parents were from County Mayo in Ireland and were staunch Catholics. We wondered if the church had any records going back that far so I contacted St Marie's  Church in Sheffield where we think the Malia family attended. We a1so believed that his name was on a memorial somewhere in Sheffield.

(Note:Arthur appears on the Atlas War Memorial - before joining the army, he was employed by John Browns)

The receptionist told that they had a Deacon who was now researching into the archives and might just have something. So I phoned 

He is in the process of compiling histories of St Marie's and has just finished the time period including the WW 1. Last week he also preached at a service for the catholic soldiers of Sheffield who died at the Somme. He took the names from the memorial for his book and the sermon and mentioned each one in turn. Some he could find no information about. Amongst the few that he could not expand upon was an Arthur Melia and has never been able to find any records about him. 

Deacon Bill Burleigh was amazed and delighted that I had contacted him as he can now tie up  (we think) a loose end. I thought that you wouldn't mind him  having the information that you gave me so I have just emailed him your e-mail. Did I do right and was that OK ?

 He is now going to search his archives to see what he has about Arthur Malia so I'll let you know if he finds anything."

 

Reuben Thompson and Sir John Bingham - Barkers Pool Sheffield 1905

Another photo-card that I came across recently does have a family connection. The card shows the taxi driver a Mr. Reuben Thompson and the noted Sheffield industrialist Sir John Bingham in Barkers Pool Sheffield 1905.

 

Reuben Thompson was to become the owner of a major transport company in Sheffield and was the employer of my grandfather Sid Hemsworth. Sid worked for the company up until the end of the Second World War. Here is a photograph of Sid admiring his handiwork!

 

 

The company had offices on Queens Road Sheffield which are now demolished. They were opposite the Earl of Arundel public-house 

 

A Sheffield Postman - 1909

I came across this postcard a couple of days ago. It depicts a Sheffield Postman. On the reverse of the card dated 20th July 1909 it states that he is their "village postman" but unfortunately does not state which village in Sheffield. The inference is that he may have been a local celebrity given the row of medals on his uniform

 

It is a shame that there is no further information available but that often is the case with photo-cards of this nature  

  

Henry Swan's Grave - Walkley Cemetery Sheffield

Henry Swan was a notable figure in late nineteenth century Shefffield - he was the sole curator of the Ruskin Museum in Walkley from 1875 - 1890

Th following report is from "One Who Knew Him" and was wriiten on the day that Henry was interred in Walkley Cemetery.  

The grave and its memorial had deteriorated over the years - this photo was taken on 24th June 2012 and the grave is barely visible in the lush foliage. 

However interest in John Ruskin and his legacy in Sheffield has increased in recent years and on Saturday 27th June 2015 the Master of the Guild of St George used a ceremony to mark the creation of a new commemorative stone for Henry Swan, the extraordinary curator of St George’s Museum in Walkley

These photos were taken on Sunday 24th April 2016

There is an excellent website that covers Ruskins Legacy in Walkley  

Cossey Road Burngreave Sheffield - 25th September 1916

Whilst I was researching the 29th victim (see previous blog) I came across this photograph that was published on 25th Sepember 1920, the fourth anniversary of the Zeppelin Raid on Sheffield.

No's 26, 28 and 30.Cossey Road Sheffield

"Two high explosives bombs fell in Cossey Road causing dreadful loss of life. The first landed on a block of three terrace houses comprising No's 26, 28 and 30. In No 28 Alice and Albert Newton were killed as they lay in bed. Luckily, their infant son was spending the night with his grandmother in a nearby street and was unharmed. George and Eliza Harrison lived at No 26 with their two daughters and two grandchildren. After the warning had sounded they were joined by their neighbours from No 24, William and Sarah Southerington. George and William stayed in the living room while everyone else took shelter in the cellar. All eight were killed in the explosion. The Southeringtons' house suffered only minor damage and had they stayed at home would probably have survived. The second Cossey Road bomb landed on No 10 killing Levi and Beatrice Hames and their one year old son".

George Ineson - The 29th Victim - Sheffield September 1916

I've just posted an update to the article I wrote many years ago about the Zeppelin Raid on Sheffield in September 1916. Due to wartime restrictions and censorship the newspapers at the time only printed an outline of the attack and its aftermath. But after the cessation of hostilities in November 1918, a far fuller account emerged.

The account was published in the Sheffield Independent dated Tuesday 3rd December 1918. And at the end of the report it made a brief mention of a casuality of the raid. It gave me a lead on a matter that had puzzled me for quite a while. The raid claimed the lives of 28 civillians - 8 men 10 women and 10 children and these were named at the subsequent inquest. But on the memorial plaque at the Baltic Works it states that 29 civillians were killed 9 men 10 women and 10 children. Who was the missing man?

Two days later the paer carried this report which included the reason why the person concerned was missing from the initial total.

George is also unusual in that he is buried in Sheffield's City Road Cemetery. All the other victims with the exception of the Hames family are buried in Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery

INESON, George (Machine Driller, age 28).

Died at Royal Hospital; Buried on October 5, 1916 in General Portion ground; Grave Number 10172, Section Z of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. 

George was the last victim of an air-raid on Sheffield until the summer of 1940 when three persons lost their lives when the Luftwaffe dropped their first bombs on Sheffield.