Photo's of Northamptonshire Men/Women Both Wars Wanted Please

[seahall]

Hi All.

Went to the signing at Weston Favell yesterday of the new book
dedicated to the village war dead. 

John signed it for me. lots of folk there who were also doing
their own projects.

Sandy

[seahall]

Hubby bless him had a go at restoring Harry's photo.

He managed to bring out the wood panelling and plates on the wall
and the detail on one of the ladies skirt.

So in case any other family members see their rellies in the
picture, here it is.

He used PSP 8 and a very strong lamp to bring out the features.

Fingers crossed.

Sandy

[seahall]

Good news about Harry today.

I have found a home for him      , although sadly still not with a rellie.

Just need to get it sorted and then I can have closure too.

Sandy

[seahall]

Absolutely wonderful news. 

I am taking copies of Harry's items in awhile to the museum and
will post later when I come home.

Sandy.

[seahall]

I have posted in The Common Room also.

A Letter I would have written to Harry.

22nd March 2013

Pte. Harry Freer 54, Cyclists Corps 1894 - 15.03.1918

Dear Harry.

I wonder what led to your family photograph and silk embroidery to your Mother
(hidden behind a photo frame brought in France many years later) from World War One.
I wonder if you placed them there hoping one day that your precious items would
eventually be re-united with your loved ones in “Blighty”.
If that was your wish Harry then it has nearly been accomplished after so very, many years.

Through the Rootschat forum and another Rootschatter who asked about you in
June of 2009 the jigsaw is nearly complete.

I have a topic myself asking for photographs, information, etc on the Northamptonshire Board
and amazingly I still get offers of personal items regularly, therefore I gratefully appreciate
the Rootschatters who have assisted me and now your family.
I  was intrigued by your story and this is what led to me being custodian, until now, of
the 2 treasures hidden away all those years ago. 
 
I have tried endless avenues over the time that I was given the items in September 2009
to re-unite them with any remaining relatives you still had Harry.
These relatives would obviously not be known to you because of your un-timely death in
WW1 losing your own life 15 March 1918 (now over 95 years).

How many Mothers, Fathers, Son, Daughters, Nieces and Nephews, Aunts and Uncles
etc, lost their loved ones over the 4 year period like yourself and later through the War and beyond.
I could never imagine the heart-ache and grief that must have been suffered the World over.

I do know that it has been a huge struggle over the last 2 years to find any links to your family
Harry, then just a month ago I found a link to your loved ones through your Service Record, I
then wrote letters to what I hoped was 3 living relatives.

I wonder if you could image the dis-appointment I felt when I got no replies for awhile.
I watched the letter box every day, hoping just one letter would get me an answer so I
could return your priceless keepsakes. I received one letter in reply, but it did not help.

My husband told me not to give up after trying for so long but I am afraid the time came
when I felt I could do no more and would have to place your mementoes in a Museum.
It was not a decision I took lightly, but at least someone would be able to see your family
photo and also the wonderful embroidery you stitched, (like so many others) to your Mother.

Other Rootchatters on the forum recently assisted me in enhancing your photo Harry,
to whom I am extremely grateful.
My Husband also did a copy for me, and today I took it to a museum with a copy of your
silk embroidery. The Museum said that wanted to laminate them so could not
use the original items.

How very glad I was Harry, because today I received a letter from a family member
 of one of your siblings. They thanked me for writing to the relative who passed
the letter on and would welcome the items etc.
I wonder yet again Harry, whether all those years ago, if that is what you really hoped for,
obviously we will never know.

I also wonder if without the Rootschat Forum which has such dedicated people assisting
others in all manner of ways that this story would have the happy ending that will
now happen because of someone finding your memories and they being returned to England.

It has been a privilege Harry never having known you, yet becoming close to you as a
Mother of 2 sons myself, to have been involved in your story. 
I can feel the pride your Mother would have felt if she had known of the wonderful tribute
you stitched and will be delighted to return it to your own sisters family member.

I personally would like to thank Rootschat for allowing me to be part of what has been a
successful end to a moving story which may never have begun without the internet,
the forum, and then a topic asking for assistance to re-unite your belongings.

You can take heart now Harry and know your treasures have reached across the seas
and will be truly where they belong, back with the Freer family.

Sandy

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,388334.0.html

[seahall]

I was begining to feel low again in case they had changed their minds,
but today I received another letter from Harry's relative who wants to
meet up in the near future. 

I personally can't wait.

Sandy

[seahall]

Harry's story gets more complex by the minute. Well for me. 

I have just received in the post from the National Returns Centre
in BELFAST one of the 1st letters I wrote on 17th Feb 2013.

I personally had all 3 weighed at the Post Office and it says insufficient
postage of 9p.

The person was notified that there was a letter and there would also be
a £1.00 handling fee and as I myself would have done, did not collect it.

So by the 14th March 2013 it was noted that it had not been collected
and between that date and now the letter was opened, presumably
read and returned to me today at 1.20 p.m.

Our post nowadays arrives as late as 4.00.p.m. 

I suppose at least I now know it did not get to the person in question.

I wonder if Rosemarie above got the remembrance card I sent over 2
weeks ago, it makes me think. Not asking for a thank you, just curious.

Sandy

[seahall]

Yes Rosemarie did, as she e-mailed the same day. 

After searching for Harry's relatives for 2½ years and finally speaking
on the phone to his Great Niece I have found that one of Great Grand Aunt's
through her marriage relates to Percy, Harry's brother.

As all my relatives come from Little Harrowden since 1795 once I saw
the village in her line I then checked my own family on Anc**** trees
for my 2nd great grandfather and found the link.

What an unbelievable coincident.  So excited. 

Now I am trying to piece together how his great niece and myself are related.
This means I have had to make a ftm file of her tree which took me most
of the morning, look and alter 4 other gedcom files so the layouts are the same
(still doing) and then do a kinship report.

Sandy

[seahall]

Hi.
I asked for the thread in the Common Room about Harry to be closed.

There were 2 reasons, firstly after the phone call to the great niece
all contact ceased from her side.
I e-mailed her to tell her about our connection, still no reply.
Secondly I was beginning to feel by way of personal messages (PMs) that folks did not
believe she existed.
I have never known myself to lie, (only white ones not to hurt folks feelings)
therefore I felt upset by this.
I therefore on Monday after insisting my Hubby took me to where she
said she lived put copies of Harry's items through her letter box so I
at least fulfilled my part of the bargain I made with James (mackintosh).
I did find a living relative and hopefully she now knows what Harry and his
family looks like and has seen his Mother's silk.
I also told the person about the other family member she knew nothing about.
Hopefully now they may make contact and share photos etc, I sincerely hope so.
I have a tree to Harry now on Anc**** and now consider his story finished here.
I was honoured to be a part of his story and finding a link to Harry with my own tree.

Lest We Forget.

Sandy