Herald - Issue 410

Page 12 • The HERALD • 5th August 2021 v EMAIL YOUR STORY: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk v PC PAINTING & DECORATING SERVICES Interior/Exterior Painting Decorating & Small Home Improvements Paul 07783 405977 Free Estimates ~ Fully Insured 30 years experience pcdecor8@gmail.com FREE ESTIMATES • 10 YEAR GUARANTEE HYTHE: office.atlaswindows@gmail.com FAX/PHONE 023 8084 0441 Unit 2, Hardley Ind Est, Southampton ESTABLISHED FOR 30 YEARS THE LOCAL WINDOW COMPANY WITH THE BIG REPUTATION SUPPLY & INSTALL • Windows • Porches • Conservatories in PVCu • Doors • Choice of Colours & Woodgrain • Digital Aerial & Satellite Installations • Repairs & Servicing • TV Distribution Points • TVWall Mounting & Installations • Freesat HD/Freeview HD • Sky, Sky+, Sky HD • SMATV & IRS Systems • DAB/FMAerial Installations CAI Company of the Year 2014 Humphries Digital Aerials Keith Humphries & Son All Areas Covered Tel: 023 8066 7362 Email: humphriesaerials@btconnect.com • Website: www.humphriesdigitalaerials.co.uk A Family Firm Est 1971 Todd Beverley Carpentry Services Quality workmanship with over 20 years experience All Household Carpentry Undertaken including: • Kitchen/Bathroom/Bedroom fitting • Purpose Built Cupboards and Wardrobes • Internal/External Door Hanging • Solid/Laminate Flooring • Window Renovation • Decking For a friendly & reliable service you can trust call: Tel: 023 8086 0969 Mobile: 07941 021558 FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS All Roof Repairs Tel: 023 8184 5632 Mobile: 07880 508415 Email: steve@braithwaiteroo ng.co.uk THE FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH or email editor@herald-publishing.co.uk TALES FROM THE GRAVEYARD OF Written by Patricia Hedley-Goddard, Churchyard Archivist for the ancient parish church of All Saints’, Fawley There has been a church at Fawley since 971 A.D. and the graveyard contains over 3,500 known souls within it. Over the next few months, I will be writing up the stories of some of the people buried within the churchyard, many with living relatives who have so kindly contributed to these short histories. JOSEPH KITCHER In an unmarked grave in the Grave Yard of All Saints Church, Fawley, lies the remains of Private Joseph Kitcher. Joseph was born in 1779, the son of Aaron (Kittier) Kitcher and Elizabeth Sansom, and was baptised in All Saint’s Church on 1st April 1779. He joined the army on 20th November 1799 for an ‘Unlimited Service’ and enlisted on the Isle of Wight for 82nd Regiment Prince of Wales Volunteers of Foot Infantry. His records describe him as being 5 . 7inches tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes, a swarthy complexion, and that his occupation was ‘labourer’. ( Records for that period often do not make ‘date’ sense, as his army records state that he was 25years old in 1799. This would have made his date of birth 1774). Joseph fought in the ‘Peninsular’ (Spain and Portugal) during the Napoleonic War. He fought in the famous BattleofVimerio inPortugal, near thevillageofVimero, on 20th August 1808 under the British General Arthur Wellesley (later to become Duke of Wellington), where they defeated the French. e French were under the command of Major General Jeanne-Andoche Junot. is decisive battle ended the French invasion of Portugal. However, Joseph was badly wounded in the battle, and was eventually shipped back to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. His wounds, coupled with rheumatism, were such that they ended his military service in 1808 and he was pensioned o from the British Army. Joseph returned to Fawley, probably Records show that he was living with a Dinah Knight, possibly as a common law couple, although later records all show her as Dinah Kitcher. We have been unable to trace a marriage certi cate for Joseph and Dinah. Dinah Knight/Kitcher is an interesting character. She was born at sea in 1784 to an army family, and her place of birth is stated as Bayone, Gironde, Bay of Biscay. Her rst husband was John Knight, a Sergeant of the 9th Regiment and he was killed in action a er seven years in the army. Joseph was her second husband, and he served in the army for seventeen years. Dinah accompanied both her husbands to Copenhagen, Portugal, Vimerio, Corunna, America and France. At that time it was known as ‘following the drum’. She must have been a very healthy and resilient lady to have endured such hardships. A er Joseph had been pensioned o from the army, she returned with him to Fawley. A er his death in 1839 she remained in the area, and in 1851 she was living at 139 Frost Lane, St. John’s, Hythe, in the parish of Fawley. She is recorded as lodging in this house owned by a Mrs Hawksworth, and performing the role of laundress. At that time there were no widow’s pensions. His late Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge had set up the Royal Cambridge Asylum in 1852, in order to help soldier’s widows who ‘must otherwise have sought parish relief, or spent the remainder of their days in want and wretchedness’. e Asylum was located in Kingston Upon ames, outside London. Dinah was nominated by Lieutenant-Colonel Paget, R.A and elected on 26th May, 1864 and was one of the successful candidates for admission. Sometime a er 1861, Dinah was living in the London area. We have been unable to nd out where or why, but it is possible that she had a position in the royal household because on 24th October 1872 an Continued on page 13 to work as a labourer as he had done before joining the army. Determind Litter Pickers On the 5th July and without their usual Zoom meeting to attend 4 members of Hythe and Waterside Rotary again took to the streets to litter pick. Manny, Christine, Craig and Ian cleaned the footpaths around Applemore School and Applemore Recreation Centre. In addition a supermarket trolley was found on Challenger Way and returned to it’s rightful home! ey are always encouraged by the passers by thanking them for their e orts and o ers of help with future litter picks. Despite the rain a group carried out their second litter pick inside a week on Saturday 10th July. is time the group split up and one group focused on central Dibden Purlieu, the other group went to Hythe village and car parks as well as Jones Lane recreation ground. If you would like to know more details or would like to join them on further litter picks please telephone: 023 8181 8187 or email: mannyfordham@hythewatersiderotary.org Left to right: Craig, Manny, Christine and Ian at the littler pick Rotarians carrying out the litter pick