Howard Avenel Bligh St. George

[gallipolianzac]

Sorry Viktoria - yes you are correct, the cemetery is within the village communal cemetery. Yes Evelyn St George was having an affair with another man, the painter William Orphen who later became Sir William Orphenand a famous war Artist. The affair was terminated by her father who obviously threatened to cut her out of his will if it did not stop. all this and plenty more in my book 'Aristocrat's Go To War'.

Jerry

[Viktoria]

I should like to have a copy of your book, can you let me know how I
 can obtain one?
My family are always stuck for ideas for presents and this year one little present was "Trench Talk"a
book about the expressions-- many which have entered into general usage-- which originated in the WW1 trenches. They got me H.A.B.St George`s photo as a present some time back. So you see what kind of interests I have.
 Thanks in advance and kind regards. Viktoria.

[gallipolianzac]

Viktoria, try Amazon UK or Pen and Sword or even WH Smith websites
Happy new year

Jerry.

[Viktoria]

Thanks very much Jerry, I`ll mention it all to my sons who like to get me things like that.My second son is interested in the same things as me, his Christmas present this year was a replica ,to scale, of an American Civil War cannon . He was in the states for work some time recently and saw them in a specialist shop.He was impressed by  these lovely detailed models and so when I asked what he would like he ordered it and it came very quickly.He also bought  bought some shot and bullets from Gettysburgh when he was there.
I also got him---- tongue in cheek ---a blow-up Spitfire. That is hanging in his conservatory now.
Thanks again. I`m remembering Julian Grenfell, who  " adored war " and  thought it  like a picnic with rather more purpose. So many of his relatives were also killed ,that family must have suffered so much and yet  it is as if their boys were bred to fight. Shocking to us in this day and age. I am grateful my sons did not have to go to war.My hubby was only in the Pay Corps too!! Cheerio and thanks again. Viktoria.

[James1957]

Hello,
Avenal was my Great Uncle.  There are a few things that really need to be put right.  In particular there is mention of confusion over brothers.  One of Avenal's brothers became Colonel of the life Guards, and another was in America.  The word "fled" seems to have been added with no evidence of what actually happened.  In point of fact Goga (the one in the states) was ordered by his family to go to the States and was there I am pretty sure at the outbreak.  He was utterly devastated by the loss of his brother Avenal and this I know for sure having spoken to his grandson recently.  I really feel it is wrong to use words like "fled" knowing very little about the pressures etc brought to bear at the time and the surrounding circumstances.

[Viktoria]

 Hello James, I am sorry you felt  you had to justify your relative`s presence in America.                      I have read the  American newspaper account of Avenel`s death which did not seem quite accurate so  I did not pay much attention to the rest of the article.
Are you aware of  and if so do you have the correct title and author of the book I stupidly neglected to buy in Ypres?

 I still find the family confusing, and which branch is which. It is even difficult to sort out which are Christian names and which surnames. Do I take it that the young man killed at Zillebeke in 1914 was named Avenel? It is a nice name
As there were two Baronetcies is it possible that we are mixing up two seperate families?
If you Google Howard Bligh St George you will bring up the two , You will know which one is yours.
Thankyou for your reply,  but I am still confused about the family!        Viktoria.

[James1957]

Hi Viktoria - I think my cousin was upset particularly as he remembers how devastated his grandfather was over Avenal's death throughout his life.  The Baronetcy is a red herring the St Georges here are from Ireland and there is no  title- Mrs St George was daughter of George Baker - a major mover on wall street.  I suspect he was a man it was hard to resist. She had five Children - three boys  George (Goga), Avenal and Ferris (later col of the life guards) and two daughters - Gardenia (later Lady Gunston) and Vivien (later Vivien Stanley Clarke).  I suspect the portrait is one painted by Sir William Orpen of Avenal after his death.  I am not sure about the book you mention - but I am not a great historian beyond my own family!

[James1957]

Actually this has spurred me to look at this more closely - I had forgotten there was a baronetcy floating around - wiki is inaccurate in saying    " St. George married George Baker Bligh St. George, third son of the second Baronet St. George... "  in fact he was son of Mr Howard st George but  I suspect Howard (Married to Mrs St George) was probably the younger son of the Baronet - ie a generation has missed in the wiki description - I had forgotten the Roosevelt connection though so that was interesting.

[Viktoria]

Thankyou for your reply, it is confusing isn`t it.
 I just remember this photograph ( well I thought it was a photo) of this splendid young man in his Life guard uniform, breastplate,  horsehair tasselled helmet and thigh high shiny black boots.
Such a haughty expression.
 He attended Eton --- gosh I`ve forgotten now it may have been Harrow, and was so young . He  fascinated me and I do wish I`d bought the book but I`d already spent a considerable amount on books about WW1 in the bookshop at the Salient museum in Ypres Cloth hall. But it has led me a dance ever since.Thankyou for your help.
I do think though that as it is so easy to get a false result when you try to research this family that there may be some mix -up. The rootschatter who has done considerable research has such a lot of info, I really think there is a cross over of info somewhere along the line between different branches of this--these-- family--families. Different houses and locations, England and Ireland . Land agents or landed gentry.
 Why was he called Avenel when he is listed as Howard Avenel Bligh St. George. It all adds to the mystery. What remains is a young man was killed in the early stages of the war and that is the crux and the tragedy.  Thanks again. Viktoria.