Details of my grandfather's travels and anecdotes are contained in a
set of memoirs written after his retirement. In 1988, during a 4-month European sojourn, I
made an attempt to trace the birthplace of my father
in Lesbury. At the time, with the assistance of local folk and archival
information, I was also able to verify and embroider on important detail
contained within the memoirs.
Discovery of the marriage certificate of Edward Groves and Janet Lawson
Wyllie from Scottish records reveals that the marriage was registered in
the County of Ayr, Scotland, dated 11th September, 1901. This document
yields the names of the parents of Edward Groves as Thomas Groves,
artificial florist, deceased and Margaret Groves (maiden surname not
decipherable). The parents of Janet Lawson Wyllie are stated as George
and Joan Wyllie (maiden surname Gebbie). One of the marriage
witnesses is Andrew Groves, brother of Edward Groves. According
to the memoirs, sister Margaret was also present at the wedding. |
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The 1901 marriage
certificate of Edward Groves and Janet Lawson Wyllie (entry 164). |
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Discovery of a
1901
census record for the London civil parish of St. Giles in the Fields reveals
the family resident at 39 Neal Street, St. Giles in the Fields: |
|
Margaret Groves |
Head |
Married |
48 |
Artificial Florist |
|
William
Groves |
Son |
Single |
25 |
Masons
Labourer |
|
Margaret
Groves |
Daughter |
Single |
21 |
Theatrical dresser |
|
Andrew
Groves |
Son |
Single |
18 |
Errand
Boy |
|
Mary
Groves |
Daughter |
Single |
15 |
Errand
Girl |
|
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The 1901
census record for 39 Neal Street, St. Giles -in-the-Field, London (entry 159). |
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This
sets Margaret Groves's year of birth at 1853. All of those listed appear to have been born in St. Giles in the
Fields, London. It is interesting to note that at the time of the
census (conducted in April, 1901), Margaret is recorded as "married"
is widowed by the time of Edward's wedding (in September, 1901). |
|
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An
1891
census record for the London civil parish of St. Giles
in the Fields reveals the family resident at 62 Neal Street, St. Giles
in the Fields: |
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Thomas
Groves abt 1842 St Giles, London, England Head (Flower maker-artificial) 45
Margaret Groves abt 1853 St Giles,
London, England Wife 38
William Groves abt 1875 St Giles,
London, England Son (Flower maker-artificial) 16
Edward Groves abt 1877 St Giles,
London, England Son (Flower maker-artificial) 14
Alfred Groves abt 1878 St Giles,
London, England Son (scholar) 13
Margaret Groves abt 1879 St Giles,
London, England Daughter (scholar) 12
Andrew Groves abt 1884 St Giles,
London, England Son (scholar) 7
Mary Groves abt 1886 St Giles, London,
England Daughter (scholar) 5 |
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The 1891
census record for 62 Neal Street, St. Giles -in-the-Field, London (entry 911). |
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A badly transcribed
1881
census record for the London civil parish of St. Giles
in the Fields reveals the family resident at 9 Wild Court, St. Giles
in the Fields: |
|
Thos.
Graves abt 1849 St Giles Head (Florist) 32
Magt. Graves abt 1853 St Giles Wife
28
Thos. Graves abt 1870 St Giles Son
(scholar) 11
John Graves abt 1871 St Giles Son
(scholar) 10
Hugh Graves abt 1873 St Giles Son
(scholar) 8
Wm. Graves abt 1874 St Giles Son
(scholar) 7
Ed. Graves abt 1876 Kent, England Son
(scholar) 5
Alfred Groves abt 1878 St Giles Son
3
Magt. Groves abt 1879 St Giles
Daughter 2
Anna Groves abt 1880 St Giles
Daughter 6 months |
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The 1881
census record for Wild Court, St. Giles -in-the-Field, London (entry 176). |
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The inclusion of John, Hugh and Anna Groves are somewhat of a mystery, as
they are not referred to in the 1891 census record nor in the memoirs of
Edward Groves. |
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One
generation back, an
1861
census record for the London civil parish of St. Giles
in the Fields reveals a Groves family resident at 6 Little Whitesand Street, St. Giles
in the Fields: |
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Deborah
Groves abt 1850 London, England Daughter St Giles Middlesex
Emma Groves abt 1852 London, England
Daughter St Giles Middlesex
Jno Groves abt 1860 London, England
Son St Giles Middlesex
Mary Groves abt 1855 London, England
Daughter St Giles Middlesex
Susan Groves abt 1829 London, England
Wife St Giles Middlesex
Thos Groves abt 1816 London, England
Head St Giles Middlesex
Thos Groves abt 1846 London, England
Son St Giles Middlesex
William Groves abt 1857 London,
England Son St Giles Middlesex |
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The 1861
census record for 6 Little Whitesand Street, St. Giles -in-the-Field, London (entry
388). |
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- Is Thomas Groves, chimney sweep, born about
1816 and husband of Susan Groves,
- the father of Thomas Groves, artificial
florist,
- grandfather of Edward Groves and
- therefore possibly my great, great
grandfather?
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The marriage record for 1868 hopefully
sheds more light on the 1861 census record: |
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THOMAS
GROVES
Male Family
Marriages:
Spouse: MARGARET CURLEY Family
Marriage: 27 OCT 1868 Saint
Martin In The Fields, Westminster, London,
England
|
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The Marriage
Certificate of Thomas Groves and Margaret Curley at the Parish Church of St.
Martins in the Fields in the County of Middlesex, 1868. |
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I wish to express my gratitude to Gill Joye and Karen Nichols for
their assistance in tracing some of the above records. |
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The memoirs - chronology of
events in the life of Ed Groves and family references |
|
The
memoirs provide anecdotes and references to Edward's brothers and sisters,
those mentioned being Tom, Jack, William (Bill), Andrew,
Margaret (Mag) and Mary and next-generation offspring, including my father, Edward Archibald Groves,
all of this proving a valuable source of information. I thought that I
would list the facts as I know them to be at the present. |
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The Life of Edward Groves - the highlights:
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After
enlisting in the Queen's Army in May, 1893, his mother attempts to reclaim
him. |
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- I
lay a long time wondering what my mother, sisters and brothers were
thinking about my absence from home, as I had never once been away without
their knowledge. As we emerged through the barrack gate, I saw
Mother
and
brother Bill waiting there with many others. My heart sank to my
boots when I saw her step forward and in her best fighting voice say "Come
on, my boy, no damned soldiering for you". Without halting us, the
recruiting sergeant raised his hand and said "You're too late mother, he
now belongs to the Queen". This brought tears my dear old mother's
eyes,
but she very bravely followed us to the railway station, and saw us off,
putting a half sovereign into my hand and kissing me for the first time I
could remember.
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Edward
Groves
serves in India. In December 1898, an incident arises where he is
bitten by a small spaniel that had "gone mad" and is recommended for
vaccination against rabies, at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. After
treatment, he visits the family in England and returns to the address in
Neal Street, St. Giles in the Fields. |
|
- We
reached Newhaven at 4 p.m. and embarked on the London express which was
standing on a platform beside the docks. My instructions were that I
should report to Thos. Cook & Son on reaching London, for further orders,
but as it was too late to call at their offices, I decided to go home and
see my people first. So I left Charing Cross Station, crossed the Strans,
along St. Martin's Lane, and down Neal Street - HOME! What a
feeling! Sister Mag was out sweeping the pavements when she spotted
me walking down the street. She dropped her broom and rushed into the
house calling "Mother, here's Ed!"
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Edward
Groves requests a transfer to the regimental depot in Ayr, Scotland. Upon
arrival, he is immediately granted leave, which he spends in London.
Note: The 1901 census record indicates Margaret Groves as being "married",
though the memoirs refer to her as "widowed" around that time. |
|
- I
did not show my eagerness and told him (Major Frere) that I had a
widowed mother who would be glad to see me. He then gave me six weeks
furlough on condition that I took over the mess (at Ayr) on completion.
-
Having three brothers working in theatres, I was able to get
complimentary tickets to a good many shows, and at quite a few I went back
stage, being introduced to various actors and actresses and generally
having a very good time, until brother Bill had an argument with a
policeman one night when we were all leaving a pub at closing time. The
policeman gave Bill a hard shove and Bill resented this and gave
the policeman a fourpenny one.
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After
serving at the Ayr depot for three months, he makes acquaintance with a one
Janet Lawson Wyllie [Birth certificate traced]. |
|
-
After a couple of months I decided, with Jessie's permission, to
ask her father's sanction to marry, but he thought that we had not known
each other long enough, so suggested that we wait for another three
months. But this did not suit me, and after telling him that I loved his
daughter and that she loved me, and that we intended to marry as soon as
possible with or without his consent, I spoke to Mrs. Wyllie, who had a
word or two with the old gentleman, resulting in our arranging to marry in
a month. I applied for permission to marry at the orderly room, and this
was granted, but as no married quarters were available, I would have to
live out. The regimental conditions were that a soldier must have at least
five years service and five pounds in a savings bank. So, on a pay of one
and three pence a day and in September, we were married at the Free
Gardiners' Hall in Ayr.
- I
had written to my mother as soon as we decided on our marriage, and she,
with sister Mag and brother Andrew, came up from London to
look over the bride to be and attend the wedding. She was perfectly
satisfied with her future daughter-in-law, although she told me when I met
her on the train that I ought to have sought a wife from my own town. She
eventually became very fond of my choice.
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After
the wedding and on a regimental pass, they visit London. |
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-
That night with my wife, mother, brother and sister, we boarded the London
train, whilst a good crowd of Scots relations and friends gathered to see
us off. Arrived at Euston Station
the
next morning at 6, we hired a four-wheeler (cab) and drove home to find
them all expecting us and with breakfast waiting. My wife won the hearts
of all who met her, and with her Scots accent and dainty figure she
completely captivated my elder brothers and their wives.
- My
brother Tom had brought us two complimentary tickets for seats in
the old Gaiety Theatre to see "The Shop Girl". Before taking our seats Tom
arranged to meet me at the pub, which we did, but we took longer over it
than we should have. When I returned, I found the curtain up and the
second act in progress and I could not very well get to my seat which was
right in the centre, without disturbing others. I stood at the back
waiting for a chance that never came. As the final curtain fell, I rushed
for the door and was out with the first rush, meeting brother Tom waiting
for us to come out. Whilst chatting, my wife passed us in the crowd
without being seen by Tom or me, and stood on the kerb nearby waiting for
me. Not having yet seen her, Tom and I made our way quickly inside, but
only the cleaners were left, covering the seats with the dust sheets. We
were beginning to feel desperate by then, and commenced to run around the
block, and just as I turned the corner into Southampton Street,
from the Strand, I saw my wife standing on the edge of the pavement
sobbing bitterly with a big fat policeman standing near her. I went
quickly to her side and pacified her as well as I was able, explaining to
the policeman what had happened. He was most apologetic and told me that
he had watched the girl standing at the theatre exit scanning the crowds
as they came out and when asked what she was waiting for, replied that she
was waiting for her husband. When asked where she lived, she could not
tell him, as she had not the foggiest idea, could not even tell him in
what direction it lay, and so he concluded that she was up to no good and
moved her on. Tom joined the party and began to shoot his neck out at the
policeman, so we called a cab and drove home. My wife was so distressed
over this incident, that she would not let me leave her for a moment
whenever we were out together after that, and the remainder of our leave
passed without further trouble.
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Edward
and Janet Lawson Groves live in Ayr for at least a couple of years, sons Tom
and George Hugh being born there in 1902 and 1903 respectively [Birth certificates
traced]. |
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-
My son
Tom began to crawl about the mess and became a worry to his mother
and me, for we could scarcely keep him penned in the small bed room we
used, and most of his time was spent in the kitchen, where he was taught
all sorts of tricks by the mess servants. His favourite spot was in a huge
iron coal box kept below the stairs and most times when he was missing he
could be found half buried in coal and covered completely with coal dust.
It was in this state that I found him one day, sitting in the middle of
the Ante Room, when the bell rang and I went to answer it. What a sight
met my eyes! Tom sitting there, enjoying his surroundings and four or five
officers roaring with laughter, one officer remarking to me as I entered
"Good God, Sergeant Groves, what is that!" I picked Tom up and put him
under my arm and said "This is my big son Sir," and took him down stairs,
handing him over to his mum who gave him a spanking and a good wash, but
we never completely cured him of his love of coal.
|
Shortly
after the birth of their second son, Edward Groves decides to return to the
Regiment in India. |
|
-
It soon
became clear that Tom was going to have a playmate, and I began to
realise that the work in the kitchen was keeping my wife tied down too
much, but she dreaded me telling the officers, that she wanted to leave,
as she had become very much liked. In fact, the combination of a good cook
and a caterer that knew his job was something not easily obtained in depot
messes. After talking it over many times between ourselves and her
parents, I decided to volunteer to go back to India, as soon after her
confinement as possible.
-
My
second son came along in a hurry, 10 days before we expected him, and a
lusty brute he was, with a shock of dark hair and a pair of lungs that
shook the wall pictures. We were glad to get him out of the mess, into his
grandparent's place, where we stayed a couple of weeks before leaving.
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Prior to
leaving Ayr for India in 1902, Ed's brothers pay them a visit from London. |
|
-
Before leaving Ayr, four of my brothers wrote saying that they would like
to spend a few days with me before I left, and I sent a telegram and
received a reply saying that they would leave the following morning,
reaching Ayr station at 9 p.m. I engaged rooms with friends I had near the
barracks, and arranged for them to feed in the sergeant's mess. I met them
at the station, brothers Tom, Jack, Bill and
Andrew, AND Uncle George Wells. After supper a sing-song was held at
which brother Jack excelled and we all in turn had to do something.
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Several
years are spent in India and Burma with the Regiment, until 1909. |
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-
Margaret Joan Groves was christened at St. Paul's convent by a Roman
Catholic priest, a married corporal and his wife standing as god-parents
and very soon after, the companies were ordered to return to Allahabad.
With many regrets we bade farewell to this delightful life and after the
various changes, reached our station to find that we were under orders for
a change from Allahabad to Bareilly, circa 1906.
- On
March 12th (1906), my wife went across to the hospital and gave birth to
another fine little girl baby. She was christened at the Presbyterian
church in town by the Rev. Mr. Drysdale, and named Jessie Lawson,
the latter half being taken from an aunt of her mother's.
- At
Christmas time, 1909, our daughter Mag was taken to hospital
on the 23rd with a mild attack of malaria, and this caused a general
feeling of depression, as we had made great preparations to give them such
a party they would always remember. On the morning of Christmas, I went to
see the matron in the hospital, who told me that Mag was much
better and that we could steal her out of the ward, while she was at a
party in her own quarters, but we must promise to have her well wrapped in
blankets and be sure to bring her back by 10 o'clock. That is what we did,
and did they enjoy themselves. The next morning the doctor said she could
leave, and we carried her home across the road with trumpets and drums
making a din. A few days after Christmas I had news that my name was
included in a batch of long service sergeants for home leave, and did I
want to take it.
|
Edward
and Janet Lawson Groves return to London. By this time, his mother
Margaret Groves has relocated to a new address. |
|
- We
reached Waterloo station and the military police swooped on us for not
wearing our waistbelts. These being public property, had to be left behind
with our other equipment - rifles, packs, etc., and I told them they could
go to Rangoon
to find
mine. He took my name and number, but I heard no more about it. We got a
four-wheeler cab and I packed my wife and Jessie in with the luggage, told
the cabby where to go and with the two boys and Mag, walked the
short distance to Cornwall Road where my mother
lived.
The five minutes walk took us nearly 20 minutes and my people were
beginning to wonder what had happened, and when we turned into our street,
there was a combined shout of "Here they come", and a rush of sisters and
brothers to escort us home. My dear old mother
was in
tears, and would not let the children out of her sight. More brothers and
sisters-in-law arrived and the house, which was on the small side, was
jammed.
|
They
also visit the Wyllie family in Glasgow. It is during this period, circa
1911, that Ed's mother Margaret relocates to Goudhurst, Kent. |
|
- I
received a letter from my mother saying that she had an opportunity of
buying a pub and could I possibly come down to advise her about it. I left
the family staying with her people and caught the night train down. I
found them all very excited and heard all about it in a very short time.
The pub was called the Vine Hotel,
in Goudhurst, Kent, and we all knew it very well, as a busy
little place, especially during the hop picking season. Having decided on
a life in the country, my sister Mag, brother Andrew and I,
went down the next day and after a talk we arranged to take over the place
for 400 pds, after a valuation had been made. We went to the police court
and made sure there would be no obstacle about the transfer, saw the
brewers who were perfectly satisfied with us, and put up for the night at
the Three Bells. We sat yarning in the bar until closing time and fixed up
with the boss for the beds as we intended catching an early train to
London. We were up very early and before leaving, made up two dummies in
our beds and left without wakening anyone. We heard plenty about those
dummies later. We had a rough check of the stock in the small grocery
shop that my mother
had,
and we got a satisfactory offer from a nearby grocer, who cleared us out
the next day. We next engaged a furniture removal firm and they packed
everything we had into a large pantechnicon and railed it to Goudhurst
from where it was drawn to the village and unpacked into the Vine Hotel,
which we had taken over the previous day. The two valuers had been round
the stock and furnishings with brother Andrew and I, and we were
both well satisfied with everything and became publicans. This all took
place about six weeks before the hop picking commenced, and we had these
few days in which to get acclimatised to the trade.
|
[Note: According to Goudhurst history
material, T. James Thurgood was landlord in 1881 and 1891 and probably
from about 1867 until his death in 1895. In 1901, the landlord was John
Barrow and his wife Bessie. Although Barrow did not die until 1932 he
appears to have given up the Vine by 1915. It is not certain when Barrow
took over the Vine, various anecdotes in the Goudhurst Coronation (1937)
and Jubilee (1935) books say he was there 10 or 20 years, so it is
possible he took over from Thurgood. Apart from a note which says
Groves ran the Vine there is no definite information regarding them in
the above mentioned books, the only thing which is indicated is that they
seem to have come after Barrow and before Popplewell (whoever he was ) and
Dench - E A Dench was landlord by 1927 according to the Goudhurst entry in
the Kent Kelly's Directory. Street directories in Tunbridge Wells
reference library has a 1911 entry for an A. Groves at the Vine
Hotel. This is the only time Groves is listed, but they
must have taken over from Barrow as he is included in the 1908 directory,
there isn't one for 1909, and 1910 has no entry for the Vine. Someone
called M. Ticehurst followed Groves, 1912 -1914. - Courtesy Gill Joye,
Goudhurst Parish Historical Society.] The entry for A.Groves possibly
refers to Andrew Groves.
|
Edward
Groves returns to the Regiment in India whilst the family remain in Glasgow,
as the Regiment is gazette for a move to South Africa. He reaches Durban,
Natal, in the early morning of January, 1910(?). During this period
that he is away from the family, Joan Gebbie is born, in Glasgow, in 1911. |
|
- I
began to hear rumours of the return of my wife and children, and spent
some time cleaning up in the house and putting things in shape. I had
almost forgotten to mention the increase that had occurred in our family.
This happened three months after I had left Glasgow, when Joan Gebbie
Groves was introduced to the world.
|
Edward
Groves is based with the Regiment at Roberts Heights in Pretoria, South
Africa. Sheila is born there in 1912. |
|
- It
was shortly after this (Torch Light Tattoo) that my wife had to go to
hospital in the usual hurry, and the following day another daughter was
born. Her name was bestowed on her by the Irish nurse attending my wife,
who suggested "Why not call her Sheila", and so this bonnie wee thing
became Sheila Groves.
|
Edward
Groves is awarded his long service medal after 18 years service, probably
around 1911. He returns to the United Kingdom in 1914, a journey by
sea lasting 18 days. As the last entry in the memoirs concerning his mother,
Margaret Groves, is at the time of the move to the Vine Hotel in Goudhurst,
it is assumed that she had passed on sometime during or after 1911/1912. |
|
-
I now
became entitled to my Long Service and Good Conduct medal, after having
dodged all obstacles for eighteen years and this cost me a drink round the
sergeants' mess. Later when it was confirmed from Whitehall, and published
in Battalion Orders, another drink! And finally on the day of the
presentation before a whole brigade of troops, the medal was pinned on by
the G.O.C. and FINAL DRINKS!
-
The
news had leaked out that the regiment would be leaving South Africa during
the trooping season of 1914; this was confirmed by a notice in Battalion
Orders, but so far, no idea of where we were going.
-
The
voyage was a very rough one and we suffered a lot of seasickness which
resulted in Tom, George and myself having to carry the girls
up on deck from their cabin every day. It was particularly bad on the last
few days and everyone kept below deck, and the hatches were all battened
down. The ship rolled so much that cabin trunks would slide from one side
to the other and the rattle of enameled plates and mugs could be heard all
day and night, and we were a most thankful crowd to reach the end of a
most exciting voyage.
|
Tom and
George are sent to The Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, Scotland. |
|
- At
this time, too, we had a reminder from the Queen Victoria school at
Dunblane, that a number of vacancies had been kept open for boys of our
regiment. This was entirely a military school, for training sons of
soldiers to become N.C.O.’s and while in South Africa,
notification was published in Battalion orders that a number of vacancies
were available and calling for nominations. These were soon taken up, and
the names were sent from South Africa to the school, Tom and George being
among those chosen. Now it was time for the boys to join the school, and I
was selected to conduct the party. I did not enjoy it one little bit, as I
was taking a number of boys, with whom I had been closely associated since
their babyhood, and had played games with them, taken them on trek and
spent a good deal of my spare time amusing them, and I did not like very
much the idea of suddenly being parted from them.
|
Edward
Groves serves in Belgium, during the First World War. |
|
- War
was declared between Great Britain and Germany on August 4th, 1914, and
every day after that, training became harder and each day found me at the
Q.M. Stores taking delivery of war stores and equipment.
- We
found the men a bit difficult at first, many of them going to hospital
with minor complaints after spending too many hours in the regimental
canteen, but on the 13th August, when we marched to war, the whole
battalion, nearly a thousand strong, passed a group of M.O.'s and not a
single man was pronounced unfit.
- I
had already spent two hours with my wife and family trying without much
success to ease the load from her heart. We all realised what we were up
against, for this war had been brewing for some years, and we knew that we
were going out to fight against the finest European army that had ever
existed, and my wife told me later that when I left that day, she thought
she had said good-bye to me forever!
|
Sometime
after 6th September, 1914, Edward Groves is wounded in battle, around Mons,
a coal-mining town. |
|
- The
enemy attacked furiously and their gunners found our range, and were
sending hundreds of high explosive shell over, and causing heavy
casualties, and whilst lying in the open trying to stem their infantry
attack, I felt a dull thud on the left leg, and looking back to see what
it was, found my puttee ripped off my leg, and a ghastly wound there.
|
-
A
letter from home at last! My family had been hurriedly evacuated from
Gosport barracks, and had taken refuge at my sister Mag's house.
This happened to all the married families as the quarters were required to
accommodate the new Kitchener army, which was being organised by the
thousands of men, who were volunteering for service. My wife told me in
her letter how concerned they all were when they read in the casualty list
that I was DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED, but my letter eased their minds
considerably.
|
- We
were told off in parties to the various V.A.D. hospitals, our names, etc.,
taken, and rushed off in taxis, and it was all over in a few minutes. I
was taken to a girls' college in Pimlico, which was in grounds enclosed by
large iron railings, and as soon as I found out the proper address, I sent
a wire to my wife, who came to see me the next day, and brought (the
children) Mag, Jessie, Joan and Sheila.
|
After
treatment lasting several days, he is discharged. The memoirs refer to
"Alf". It is uncertain as to whether this is in fact another brother. |
|
- I
met my brothers, Tom and Andrew; Alf was away with
the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and was killed before I could meet him. I made
the most of my leave, and managed to get the two boys, Tom and George,
down from the Dunblane
School
for a few days, which we spent doing the sights of London.
I felt at this time that it would not be hard to get them away from the
Queen Victoria School, as there would be many soldiers' widows who would
welcome such a chance for their sons, and I could feel, in my talks with
the boys, that they were not in love with the place. I told them I would
try this, as soon as I was settled, and they went back more happily.
|
Edward
Groves is recommended for the appointment of Regimental Sgt. Major to a
large Convalescent camp in Alnwick, Northumberland, where the youngest of
the eight children, is born in Lesbury, 4 miles away [Birth certificate
traced]. |
|
- I
had almost forgotten to mention that before leaving (Lesbury), our
youngest son elected to be born there! He does not remember anything about
this beautiful old-world village, but I can assure him that if ever he has
the good fortune to visit it, I am certain he will fall in love with it.
He was christened inside the cottage from a large cut glass bowl by the
local Padre and named Edward Archibald Groves. And what a load he
was!
|
An
armistice is signed on 11th November, 1918. Soon after Edward Groves is
amongst those dramatically pensioned off!
Tom
and George leave home to join the service. |
|
-
During this period an army order was published stating that all men in
receipt of a pension should be discharged immediately, and their places
filled by serving men of equal rank, and as I had become pensionable
during the war, this order affected me very much. I was now faced with the
task of competing with thousands of younger men who would soon be flooding
the streets, looking for work which would all be so strange to me after 25
years of my life spent in the army. We had absolutely nothing in the way
of furniture, and except for the little bit my wife had wisely put into
the Post Office savings bank, we were due for a bad crash.
- A
short time before this happened, Tom and George had decided to leave home
to join the service. Tom chose the R.A.F. and George the Royal Navy, and
both had passed their entrance examinations some time previously.
|
Edward
Groves decides that there is no future in England and resorts to moving to
South Africa. Sons Tom and George support the move. |
|
- I
left the camp for the last time, and became, for the first time in my
life, one of the millions of unemployed! I had my pension and wound
gratuity, which proved most useful, and had a whole week's holiday with
the family before looking for another job.
- I
received a letter from Col. E.I.D. Gordon, who was farming in South
Africa. I had been associated with this officer for many years in my old
regiment, and we had known each other very well. He wrote from Elgin in
the Cape Province, pointing out that there were prospects in this growing
community for a man of my ability to run a general dealer's business
together with a licensed inn. He said he had an option on such a place and
considered I should do very well there.
-
Meanwhile the thoughts of the probability of our being back in the
sunshine again and away from the ever present cold, fog and slush of
England, buoyed us up and made work seem lighter. We talked it over with
Tom and George, who, I thought, would grieve at our leaving,
but I was gratified to learn that they were both in favour of us taking up
the offer, and there and then we made the decision, and I got in touch
with the overseas Settlement Association.
- My
brothers, Tom and Andrew, did everything to try and persuade
me to alter my mind, about leaving, but
by now I was thoroughly set on carrying out what I had undertaken, that
nothing they said made the slightest impression.
|
Janet Lawson
Groves tragically passes away in South Africa in 1930 at the tender age of
49. |
|
- And
now I come to the greatest tragedy that happened during the whole of my
life - this was the very sudden passing of my dearly beloved wife. . I
carried Mum out to the car and held her on my lap until we reached
the old Somerset Hospital, where she was put to bed, and I was allowed to
sit beside her during the whole of that day, and right through the night,
and all that I could do during this time was to feed her with sips of
orange juice. It was an eerie vigil, but I was most thankful for being
allowed to be there until the last, which happened at daybreak. I then
returned to home at Everest and shut myself in my room for a couple of
days, and I was so utterly and completely broken up, and nothing or nobody
could give me the comfort I had lost.
|
In the 1950's
Edward Groves undertakes a visit to England and Scotland. He visits
and stays with sons George and Tom, both of whom have subsequently married.
He attempts to retrace the remnants of his family. Brother Andrew and
sister Mary had since passed on. |
|
-
I made
my way by the underground railway towards Walworth Road, to the last
address I knew where my sister Mag lived, but found that they had left,
and nothing could be found of where they now lived. I called at the
Council Chambers, where a search was made through their books, but without
success, and I then commenced to walk the streets adjacent to their last
address, questioning people who were out shopping and moving from street
to street until I "struck oil". I found an old dame toddling home with her
arms full of vegetables, and whilst I was putting the everlasting
questions to her, a woman in a house opposite popped her head out of a
first floor window and called out "Who are you looking for guvnor?" and
when I mentioned the name Mr. Groves, she pointed her finger over to the
house at which we were standing, and said "in there". And so ended the
search, I knocked on the door which was immediately opened, and the girl,
who as a tiny tot I had seen doing fairy dances to amuse my own daughters,
stood before me. After a moment's hesitation, she turned towards a
stairway and called excitedly "Mum, here's uncle Ted", and down the stairs
came my sister-in-law, Louie.
-
I was
taken in to their small front parlour, where, during a cup of tea, I was
given all the news. My youngest brother, Andrew, had only recently died,
after a severe illness, my eldest brother, Tom, was in an
institution owned by the Theatrical Guild, and was said to be very happy and
comfortable. My sister, Mag, was living at Hendon, North
London, and
my only other sister, Mary, had died at her house in Kent, where
she is laid to rest. I visited her grave later, and met her daughter,
Phyllis, and the two sons.
-
Finding that sister
Mag was on the phone, we
went to the nearest booth and called her, and when she answered, young
Maggie said "Auntie Margaret, Uncle Ted's here" and handed me the
receiver. As soon she heard my voice, I could hear nothing but choking
sobs and when she calmed down, I arranged to meet her at the bus stop near
her house the following day, it then being too late to do the trip that
day. So I was given a shake down in Louie's house and that night when
Maggie's husband Jack, arrived home from Lime Grove Studios, where he
worked, we all adjourned to the local, where I was shown off to their many
pals, and had a real good night.
|
He
visits his sister Mag in Hendon, North London and brother Tom in an
institution. |
|
-
The
next day I was about early and phoned to Mag to let her know what time I
was leaving, and after breakfast I said good-bye to the family, jumped on
a bus on the Walworth Road
to the
Elephant and Castle, where I booked on the underground to Hendon
Central. Arriving there, I next took a bus, as I was told to do, to
Aerodrome Road, and
there I found sister Mag, looking very little different from when I had
last seen her. She made to grab my suitcase but I would have none of it,
and as the house was mere hop, step and jump away, we walked towards it,
talking excitedly until we reached home. I was intrigued with the type of
house, and the valuable furnishings that were everywhere, until I heard
that it had originally been built and owned by a Miss Margaret Yarde, a
well-know actress of the day, and on her death it was left to Mag to live
in for the rest of her life. Mag had been dresser to Miss Yarde for many
years, and always accompanied her to the theatre at nights, all through
the blitzes and bombings that were taking place, and besides the house she
was drawing a small monthly amount from Miss Yarde's estate. How we
talked that day, going over the bad old times we had suffered together,
and roaring with laughter over some of the incidents. That evening I met
the three granddaughters, Joan, Marjorie and Sheila, when they arrived
home from work, and also Arthur, the husband of Susie. The last named has
been missing for five years and nothing was ever heard of her again, and
it assumed that she met her death in one of the many raids which had been
prevalent in that quarter.
-
The
following day, we all went to see my brother Tom. This was a three-bus
ride, and a good long walk at the end. Arrived at the institution just
after lunch time, and we were shown into a fairly large common room, where
several men were taking an "easy". Some quietly dozing, others smoking,
and Mag approached one elderly white-haired man and said "Hullo,
Tom, I've
brought a visitor from Africa to see you". Tom very seriously put forth
his hand saying "How do you do, Sir". It took us some time to convince him
who I was and after spending an hour with him, we approached the matron,
and told her who I was, asking if it were not possible to have him home
for a few days. She made certain conditions which we promised to abide by,
and the next day, Mag and I chartered a taxi and we had Tom with us for a
week. Whilst he was home with us, we took him over to see Louie, and we
put in another night at the local, with Louie in good form. The next day I
took Tom and Mag along to his old house at Hampstead. This house had been
severely damaged by bombs, the whole front being blown in. Fortunately it
was empty at the time, and when we arrived the repairs were completed. We
met Tom's daughter Maggie and her husband, and after a few hours with
them, we arranged to meet Tom's wife Alice, and the two sons and daughters
at Alice's home in Clapton Common. We had
little difficulty in finding the house, and when we entered we found Alice
looking very fragile, but still full of beans, the two daughters with
their several children and one son, Young Tom. We had a most convivial
night, and left for Hendon and
home after midnight. The next day we had to return Tom to the institution and
I remember how the long walk across country to Whitchurch Mansion tired
poor Tom and he was put to bed at once.
|
Edward
Groves's brother Tom passes away at the institution. |
|
-
I
wired, telling daughter-in-law Violet (George's wife) that I would arrive
by bus the next day, but we received a phone call from the Matron telling
of my brother, Tom's death. He had been out walking in the snow,
when he must have slipped and stunned himself. He was found dead by a
local farmer, who had been a great friend of Tom's. He was buried
in front of the institution, the family meeting in a funeral parlour, near
to the cemetery. Shall I ever forget that day? The snow lay six inches
thick on the ground, and it was pelting down the whole time. It was a
Catholic Priest who conducted the service.
|
Edward Groves
returns to South Africa, where he sees out his days until he passes away on
16th July, 1961. |