SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

This coming Friday will mark the anniversary not only of the end of the First World War but of the funeral of my grandfather Herbert Bayliss - a grandfather I share with many of the people who read this blog. Herbert was given a military funeral, his coffin being carried to Finchley Cemetery on a gun carraige provided by his regiment, The Royal Field Artillery.  The family, his wife and children, went in carraiges provided by the coach firm of Beavis. Bert had worked for Beavis both as a groom and as a driver before the war. A volley of shots were fired over his grave by six soldiers from his regiment. His eldest daughters Florence and Ethel both picked up empty shells as souvenirs. I know that Florence (Cis) still had her shell when she was living in Cornwall as I remember her showing it to me. According to the cemetery records Bert's burial took place not on the 11th November but on the 12th. As both Florence and Ethel were adament that the funeral was on Armistice day itself I made further enquires at the cemetery and was told that the date recorded in the records would be the date the grave was actually filled in and this was probably the day after the actual funeral. Earlier this year I made an attempt to find Bert's actual grave but failed as the area in which it is situated is now thickly overgrown. It is also possible that there is no headstone although as it was for a war casualty this is unlikely. If possible I will make another attempt to find the grave early next year when, perhaps the winter foliage will not be quite as dense.

This coming Sunday will be Remberance Sunday and Bert, along with other members of our extended family and those who are somehow related to us, who died in two world wars will be remembered in a special service of Remembrance at my church, St.Alban the Martyr, Westcliff on Sea, Essex. Our family are now spread out across not only England but the world but I know that many are regular readers of this blog. So please be sure to visit the blog on Sunday when I will be doing a special Rememberance Day post.  Writing about the Great War and how it impacted on our family has been a moving experience for me as I hope it has been for you. If you have knowledge of any of your relatives who died in any war (however distantly related) please send me their names of any details you have.  Remember, they do not have to be named Bayliss - only related by either blood or marriage.