100 Years - Lest we Forget

100 Years - Lest We Forget

Extract from For The Fallen by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

We all have someone in our family tree that went to war, and never came home. For some the relationship was very close - fathers, brothers, sons, and more recently mothers, sisters and daughters.

Most of us will have uncles, great uncles and great great uncles who went to war between 1914 and 1918 and never came home. Many did not leave descendants because they were just boys and young men.

My great-grandfather, Charles Henry Yorke, came from a military family. He tried many times to join up, but each time he was rejected due to ill health. When WWI was declared, he joined the Medical Corp and was a stretcher bearer throughout the war.

He survived but his brother, David, didn't.

This year, 2018, is the hundreth anniversary of the end of World War I. Armistice was declared at 11am on 11th November 1918.

This is in remebrance of all that fell, but especially to those mentioned below.

My relatives - my family.

#MySundayPhoto Remembrance Sunday

#MySundayPhoto Remembrance Sunday

These knitted poppies are in Roath Park, Cardiff. I have seen so many wonderful displays around Cardiff. Like many people I have relatives that died in WWI or WWII. Here are the names of a few of mine killed in action.

Lest We Forget

David Yorke aged 38
17th Feb 1915 Ypres

Albert Mackerness aged 24
15th Sept 1916 France & Flanders
Brother to Charles.

Charles Mackerness aged 29
25th Nov 1917 France & Flanders

Thomas Richard Sturley aged 34
16th April 1917 France

Alfred John Mackerness aged 30
21st Mar 1918 France

Swann Ripsher aged 25
15th Jun 1918 Italy

William Henry Ripsher aged 37
21st Aug 1918 France & Flanders

George Henry Sturley aged 34
24th Oct 1918 France & Flanders


Charles David Ripsher aged 26
15th May 1941 Galatos, Crete, Greece
(you can read more about Charles here)


Extract from For The Fallen by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

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Free Relationship Chart For Genealogists

Free Relationship Chart For Genealogists

If you are confused by cousins, second cousins, once, twice or more removed then you need a relationship chart. It is quite simple when you see it in a chart. If you are both grandchildren of the same ancestor then your relationship is first cousins, if the ancestor is a shared great grandfather then you are second cousins and so on.
If there is a generation between you then you are x cousins once removed. If there are two generations then three times removed and so on. 

AncestryDNA Test Kit - Should You Buy One?

AncestryDNA Test Kit - Should You Buy One?

A few weeks ago Ancestry had a Black Friday sale on their DNA kits. I had been considering whether to buy one for ages as they are very expensive. Usually they are £79 plus £20 postage and packaging, yes £99! I paid £49 each plus postage. It's always the way, I see a bargain and so bought two. One for me and one for my husband.

A Postcard From The Past

I received a postcard this week. It was sent from Oxford on 13th October 1909. It wasn't delayed, it wasn't even sent to me. It was sent by a young man to his sweetheart.

#Blogtober16 Day 30 A Letter To Someone

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A Guide To DNA testing for Family Research

Would you like to have your DNA tested but not sure where to start? A guide to DNA testing for family research will describe the different tests, who they are best for and what you will learn from each. 

DNA and family history are a popular way to learn more about your roots. Those of us interested in family history would really love to know exactly where we came from. That's one of the reasons we do the research. We would all love to be related to someone famous or to royalty. A Russian great grandmother sends thoughts of being a descendant of the Tsars or maybe we have a surname that leads us back to the Vikings.

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The Black Sheep Of The Family - Thomas Aldridge Sturley

The Black Sheep Of The Family - Thomas Aldridge Sturley was my 3rd great grandfather and it was his fault that I became involved with researching my family tree.

Image courtesy of Norfolk County Council - Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk's unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk

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Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates In Family History Research

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How To Find And Use Parish Records In Your Family History Research

Civil registration and census records are a wonderful resource but will only take your family tree back to 1837, to go back further you will need to find and use Parish Records.

I will guide you through the process of researching your family tree using Parish Records, but first some background.

Understanding The Census for Family History Beginners

One of the most useful records available for family historians are the census. These can take you from 1911 to 1841, following your family into the past. This guide is designed to help you get the most out of this wonderful resource and guide you through the most common pitfalls

Finding Your Female Ancestors.

Last week I described how variations in names made it difficult to research your family tree and that finding female ancestors was particularly difficult. This is mainly because they change their names on marriage, often had a very common first name and records were all about the male. Females did not own land and had no rights of their own so many records failed to include them. The guide below is to help you get clues to finding your female ancestors. Each on it's own may not give you the information you need but combined could steer you in the right direction.

What's In A Name? Family History Research

What's in a name and why do I ask? It's the first thing you record on your family tree. It's the first entry you put into the search box. A name is not always what it seems and many genealogists have hit brick walls or stumbled down the wrong path due to confusion over names.

Before you start your research be aware of all the variations of the names you are looking for. The variations due to transcription errors, misspelling and illegible writing, the abbreviations, nicknames and other alternatives.

Online Resources for Family History Research

Nowadays most family tree research is done online but if you are new to family research where do you start? There are lots of resources from parish records to phone directories. Many of the very best sites cost money, either pay as you go or a subscription and however you do your family research it will cost money, either in subscriptions, buying certificates or travelling to the location to search the archives. Even if you are lucky enough to live close to the archives relevant to your tree you will need to pay for photocopying. There are also many free websites too.

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I decided to write A Guide For Absolute Beginners On Starting A Family Tree after reading a comment on a photo for #MySundayPhoto. The person commenting said that she couldn't start her tree as she only knew about her maternal grandmother and didn't know anything of her paternal grandparents and there was no-one to ask.

How to Break Through Brick Walls In Your Family Tree

At some point during your research you will come across a brick wall. You will be happily adding events and people to your tree when suddenly you hit a dead end and no matter what you do you can't move on. Here are some tips that will show you how to break through brick walls in your family tree but first, what is a brick wall?

How To Start A Family Tree

Would you love to trace your family tree but are not sure where to start? How To Start a Family Tree along with The Golden Rules Of Family History Research will gently guide you through the wonders and pitfalls of starting your own family tree. A word of warning though, once you start it is addictive, time consuming and expensive! I have been tracing my family tree for over eight years and as more and more information is digitalised and put onto the internet it does make research quicker and easier but it also makes errors easier too. This is the first of a series of posts to get you started, prevent you from falling into the beginners traps, help you break down brick walls and give you tips that I have picked up over the years.

The Golden Rules Of Family History Research

Anyone who has ever done any serious family history research will tell you there are rules that you must follow. In almost every guide about Family History Research these rules will be there in one shape or another. I have pulled together all the advice I have read over the last eight years and all the lessons learnt from my mistakes, and there have been many, and written The Golden Rules Of Family History Research.