From Painting to Fighting

As always new research uncover new facts and milestones which don't fit with the chronological order of this blog, but are nonetheless very valuable.

Victor Cyril Giles, who was my first cousin twice removed (the son of my Great Grand Aunt) arrived in France with the Army Service Corps on the 10^th April 1915.

Victor was born in 1896 in Wimbledon, Surrey to William and Elizabeth Clara Giles (Nee Bush), he was the 5^th of 9 children. He had 4 sisters; Caroline Elizabeth (born 1886), Lillie Jane (born 1888), Violet Emily (born 1899) and Ivy Elsie (born 1903) and 4 brothers; William (born 1886), Albert James (born 1893), Alfred Maurice (born 1902) and James Frederick (born 1902), all born in Wimbledon.

In 1911 the family were living in 77 Graham Road, Wimbledon. The father, William, was working as a house painter, both Victor (aged 14) and Albert (aged 17) were in domestic service. Elizabeth’s sister Jane Spice (nee Bush) was living at 57 Graham Road and her brother Albert Henry Bush (my Great Grandfather) was living at 120 Graham Road and his father in law, Joseph Lemon was living next door at 118 Graham Road.

Victor's uncle, William Alfred Bush had been out in France with the Army Service Corps since the start of the war. It is interesting to note William's occupation was the same as Victor's father - House Painter as was his 1st Cousin once removed William James Timothy Bush who was the brother of Charles Henry Bush and Alfred Charles Morris Bush who were both serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

One wonders if William Giles, William Alfred Bush and William J T Bush all worked together as house painters?

Life goes on

Whilst the war raged on across the globe, the natural cycle of life carried on in spite of the hardships at home.

Alfred George Cobbold (my Great grandfather in law) was celebrating the birth of another son between October and December 1915. 

James J Cobbold was born in Reigate, Surrey and was the seventh child of Alfred George and May Rosetta Cobbold (nee Graffham). Alfred was born in Burnham, Essex in 1884, he married his wife May Rosetta Graffham in 1902 in Reigate, Surrey. Their six other children were Doris May (Born 1904 Great Bookham), Maud Winifred (born 1905, Dorking), Alfred Peter (Born 1907 Great Bookham), William Fred (Born 1909, Reigate), George Edward (Born 1911, Reigate) and Ethel (Born 1913, Reigate).

In 1911 the family were living at 10 Irrigation Road, Earlswood, Reigate, with Alfred working as a Carter in the sewage works.

May’s brother JohnJoseph Graffham had been killed on the 28^th July 1915, whilst serving with the 2^nd Batallion, The Queens, Royal West Surrey Regiment.

Alfred’s brother, Frederick Cobbold had recently celebrated the birth of another son. On the 12^th October 1915 in Bromley, Herbert Leslie J Cobbold, the fifth child Frederick and Lily Cobbold (nee Penny) was born. 

Frederick was my Great Grand Uncle in law and was born in Braintree , Essex in 1874, he married his wife Lily Penny in 1900 in Epsom, Surrey. They had four other children Lily (born in 1903 in Leatherhead), Frederick (born in 1905 in Dorking), William Albert (born in 1907 in Little Bookham) and Elsie Edith (born in 1909 also in Little Bookham).

In 1911, Frederick Cobbold was working as a cowman on a farm.

As yet I’ve not been able to confirm if either Alfred or Frederick served in the military during the Great War.