Just recently, I was handed a large file of papers which were family records kept by my Uncle Jack, who died in 1989.
As most of you know, he was a builder, and ran projects all over the south, in places like Rochester, Reading, Park Royal and, Leighton Buzzard.
The papers are a gold mine of information about our family, and most of the notes have never been seen by anyone from my generation. I'm putting them in some sort of order so we can all see them, but some bits have no connection to the Scrobs name, so I'll share them with you.
This old piece of paper fell out of a pile of notes, and is a genuine certificate signed by Winston Churchill, conferring a decoration on Sjt. H. Pattinson of the Royal Engineers.
Perhaps someone with a military interest may know who he was or what he did, because I haven't a clue. All I know is I have evidence of a very brave man, signed by another brave man, and that's worth hanging on to.
I too would be interested to know just what occurred, bravery should not be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteWow, fascinating Scrobbers...a maternal relative perhaps?
ReplyDeleteScrobs: How very odd! This morning I received a letter from a relative who works in a care home for the elderly. One of the inmates, an RAF veteran of the war, noticed her (and my) surname (fairly uncommon - I've only come across it twice before in nearly 70 years) was identical to one of his colleagues from his old squadron who was killed in action in 1943. Given the unusual rarity of the name, he asked whether there might be a connection and the question, complete with a photocopy of a very old photo of a group of airmen, him and his mates, in their wartime kit standing in front of their bomber in 1942, was passed on to me to see if I might have any information.
ReplyDeleteRegrettably though, I have nothing to add as my knowledge does not go back quite that far on that branch of the family. Moreover, there is unfortunately now nobody left from that era whom I might be able to ask. Maybe some of the current younger members of the family might like to undertake a spot of detective work.
I really do hope you or another member of your family can discover the significance of that certificate and that if anything does turn up you will keep us informed. Good hunting.
My grandfather was a Royal Engineer (Sgt Major.) Was evacuated from Dunkirk, served on D Day, fought in Burma and Africa.
ReplyDeleteCame under fire many times - may well have been depicted in The Longest Day.
The REME are put in the front line of the action a lot - as they are in Afghanistan today. Mine clearance, building of bases under sniper/mortar fire.
Very brave and cool headed indeed.
Wow! Thanks for showing us that, Scrobs. It'll be worth something I guess but I'm curious about the history, as you are. Please tell us if you find out more?
ReplyDeleteI've tried to Google it all Thudders, and haven't really got very far - it needs delving through the RE Archives at Chatham, and that is quite a task at the moment.
ReplyDeleteSee how Sjt is spelt incorrectly?
Yes we wondered about that Lils, but there's absolutely no record of that name anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteUncle Jack did quite a lot of work in Leighton Buzzard, and I think that one of the buildings had some connection with Pattinson's daughter, Pauline.
How interesting Reevers! How about war memorials?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ukniwm.org.uk/
It does seem a huge task dealing with the archive people too. I'm just daunted by even putting a family tree together, and it's not cheap either!
Same here with Scrobs Senior Elecs, and if you look at look at pics of them all returning, they usually show a photo of Headcorn station in Kent, where the trains usually stopped, and everyone got something to eat!
ReplyDeleteDad remembered it well.
I know that station very well, as I usually wake up there, having overshot Staplehurst...
Hi Pips, of course I will!
ReplyDeleteAs for value, I haven't a clue I'm afraid.
I've just realied Elecs, you'd know that station very well also!!!
ReplyDeletePark Royal! Now we know who to blame!
ReplyDelete;-)
I think that sort of history is of value to all of us, Scrobs. As you are going through old documents look out for the white fiver though!
ReplyDeleteBlues, toadly agree!
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, I worked there for four years, Uncle Jack for ages, Dad also was with Guinness for ages, and business partner developed much of the new stuff on the western end.
Some of the old sheds are the originals, and it really was a state of the art place from the twenties onwards...
Thudders, apparently an old spelling of 'Sergeant', could be with a 'J'!
ReplyDeleteNot a lot of people know that, and I had to check!
The archive sections at the regiment are really going to take far too much time to trawl through; I've spent ages on it already, and sitting here in my jim-jams, unshaven, non-walked dog, irate spouse, is a sure sign that I really should be doing some work...
;0)
Awww Pips, I sure could do with finding one of those!
ReplyDeleteI've got hundreds of coins in old currency from various trips made by family around the globe, and one day, I'll get out my 'Boys Book of Rare Coin's and see what they're worth.
I reckon I'd clear about £2...
Unless I found a 1933 penny that is...
Scrobs, I knew someone who was going through some old family documents and his family sourced a white fiver and slipped it in there for him to find. They wound him up good and tight first though with talk of finding such a thing of value. I thought it was such a good joke.
ReplyDeletePips, of course it would be fun to find one. Have you ever seen one of those ten bob notes folded up so small, it fitted in a silver bracelet fob thing, to go with all the other dangly silver things?
ReplyDeleteThe idea was that if you were in need of a quick fund to get home/but 50 fags/buy eight pints of bitter, you could break the glass and get it out!
Mrs S had one I think... - naaaah, her's were...wait a minute...
(rushes upstairs and turfs out every drawer in the house...)!
Pips, This is what I meant
ReplyDeleteAnd as you are an afficianado of all things silver, (Tenterden remember?), you may well like this little pic!
Oh I like that very much, Scrobs. You know I like my silver dangly bits. I'd like to find one of those!
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