Page 18 • The HERALD • 6th October 2022 v PROUD TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1994 v FREE ESTIMATES Call Richard on 07554 421544 or 023 8178 8299 PEST CONTROL Domestic, Commercial & Agricultural • WASPS • MOLES • RABBITS • RATS • BEES • MICE • SQUIRRELS • PIGEONS • INSECTS Local Friendly Family Run Business Fully Trained & Insured Wet clean or Dry clean • Carpets • Rugs • Upholstery • Cushions • Mattresses • Caravans & Motor Homes Contact Chris for a free estimate and advice. We have full liability insurance 023 8104 0185 07770 792361 clean-u-up@hotmail.com We provide one of the best professional Carpet & Fabric cleaning Systems The Square, Fawley, Southampton SO45 1DD T: 023 8112 3112 E: office@zebra-ltd.co.uk All Plumbing Works Undertaken Full Bathroom Installation Toilet Fix from £75 Fully Insured Free Quotes No Job Too Big or Too Small PLUMBING & BATHROOMS • Re-Skimming • Rendering • Coving • Dry Lining • Tacking • Artex Covered • Floor Screeding www.tbrownplastering.co.uk Call: 07919 183989 Friendly • Reliable • Professional • Free Estimates WILLIAM CECIL GEORGE SMALL In my role as Graveyard Archivist to All Saint’s Church, Fawley, I am o en asked to trace the last resting place of family members long departed. One such request came to me, asking me to identify the burial place for William Cecil George Small, date of death 30th September 1928. On searching through all the various records, databases etc. and contacting the Winchester Archives I was unable to nd any trace of him, and told the family I was very sorry but I could nd no trace of the gentleman in this graveyard. e family were surprised because they had fragments of documentation clearly indicating that William was here, and that the burial service had taken place with some signi cant ceremony. SO we have a mystery!!! My husband and I went to the graveyard 3 times to strim round the overgrown areas where the Family thought he was placed, plus other nearby areas, but not a trace of a marker. en, a breakthrough, when one of the researchers in Hampshire found a record showing that William is buried in this graveyard. His story is interesting because of the varied career he pursued. He was a London boy born in Kentish Town, in the district of St. Pancras on 14th August 1890 to William omas Small and Ellen Louisa omas (Nee Folland). William was one of 5 brothers and he had one sister. He was educated at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham in Sussex, Horsham being where his parents moved to a er leaving London. e next record of any signi cance is 1901 when young William is recorded as being a Footman, probably to Sub-Dean of Chapel’s Royal, Canon Edgar Sheppard, at both of his residences, St James’ Palace and Windsor Castle. William’s father and mother were employed by Canon Sheppard and his uncle was Sergeant of the vestry, H.M. Chapels Royal, St. James’ Palace. We must remember that in the rst decade of 1900’s, there were no televisions, just the cinema, or books where people could learn about other countries. Travel was very restricted so when William joined the Royal Navy on 13th August 1910 on a 12-year commission it must have seemed like a wonderful adventure. His records show that he was 5 6ins tall, had grey eyes and dark brown hair and a fresh complexion. His service number was K7959, Leading Stoker. His Royal Navy records state he had tattoos on both forearms, ags on the le arm and a star and anchor on his right forearm. He was also a very handsome young man as can be seen from his photographs. His rst ship was HMS Victory II based in Portsmouth, then he was transferred to HMS Flying Fish in 1911, and then to HMS Renown in December 1911. ese were all old ships of the Battle Class Destroyer type. He served on many ships including HMS Hood in 1911 when he was paid a war gratuity. By November 1912 he was serving on HMS King George V, the lead ship of the 4 Dreadnought Class Battleships built in Portsmouth at the cost of just under 2 million pounds. His rst ‘new ship’ (it was sold for scrap in 1926), and this took part in the Battle of Jutland. On 31st May, Captain Frederick Field commanding the ship to lead the battleline, and they red 2 salvos at the German battlecruiser Der nger, but they had to turn away to is in the London Hospital for Sick Children. e cause is not stated, but in later military records there is mention of an ‘appendicitis scar being satisfactory’. In those times, especially for a young child, the operation must have been a terrifying experience with chloroform for sedation, and rudimentary surgical instruments, and not particularly sterile conditions. e NHS did not come into being until 46 years later. His original employment TALES FROM THE GRAVEYARD OF by Patricia Hedley-Goddard, Churchyard Archivist for the ancient parish of All Saint’s Fawley Continued on page 19 Interested in Genealogy and Family History? A small group of enthusiastic people meet at Soul Café, North Road, Dibden Purlieu at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of each month (excluding the month of August) If you’ve never done it, it’s an opportunity to meet together with others and discover what wonderful resources are now available to enable you to trace your family. is workshop/self help group is open to novices and experienced family historians alike. Contact Colin: 07754 668611 – colinjanhayter@gmail.com or just go along. ey would welcome new members.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=