Markfield

[Bangladore]

Might be of interest to some one!
Extract from letters written by WILLIAM HALL of Markfield during the First World War to his sister, my mother.  From France.
August 15th, 1916  -  Have seen several of my Markfield chums this week. One of them is the one who used to camp out with me and Dick Preston up in the spring against the Cliffe. I expect they will be going up the line very shortly. One of them went last night.
November 2nd, 1916 - Best mate from Markfield had been killed during September. He was in the Grenadier Guards - the only Guardsman in the village. A few more from Markfield had been wounded.
February 16th,1917 - Had heard from George in the railway section of the R.E.. Had tried for the same lot - not very far away from me now and there are a lot of Markfield fellows down there, including the boss's son. I had a letter from the Cliffe telling me that he had met a good many of the former work men where  he was now.
July 24th,1917 - Heard from Markfield - eldest son had just lost his wife - they had been married for just over a year.
June 23rd,1918 - A lot have gone from Markfield I think that Henson (Barlow) has gone - I'm not sure where.
September 20th, 1918 - Mrs Joyles youngest came out here three weeks ago. He used to be in the Metroplitan Police.
October 22nd,1918 - News about the possible end of the war.
November 21st, 1918 - Quite a large number have died of the 'flu in Markfield. Mrs Joyles and George had had it very bad. Nearly 12months since he had had leave.
Other names mentioned -
Nellie, Ida and George.   Rene and Harry.   Walter (killed in battle 1916) and Nellie.    Ivor and Percy.    Harry in the R,.A.F.     Nellie had married a Canadian.
But these names could have referred to people in  Great Gidding, Leicester, Sileby, Barrow on Soar or Chesterfield!
Uncle Will suvived the War and married Gertrude Hall of the Nook, Markfield.

[Hells65]

Hi Bangladore

I read your post with a fair bit of interest.  One thing that struck me is that, for a small village, there were alot of men from Markfield fighting in the war.

My great-grandfather, Ernest Dowell lived in Main Street Markfield and was killed in action in France, August 1915.  He's buried in a war cemetery in Levantie, France.  He was the village postman before he joined up and left a wife Violet and 4 children - Beatrice (Violet), Doris, Audrey and Bill.

My dad remembers his mum taking him (Doris Dowell) to visit some friends in the Nook, Markfield.

Regards

Helen

[Bangladore]

My uncle obviously obeyed census instructions to the T!  What names are mentioned mean nothing to me.
My mother was living in Chesterfield, but her brother had moved back, before the war, to his maternal relatives in Markfield, so they kept each other informed about what was happening in Markfield and Chesterfield.
Pleased some one found the extracts interesting.

[Bangladore]

Sorry, I tend to forget my manners on this new fangled thing!
Please insert 'Hello, Helen' and 'Best wishes, Pam!

[Danone]

  :)Hi Bangladore
I live in markfeild lane my mothers family where cooper amy main street Markfield  and evelyn ,my aunt amy married lewis anderson ,,he was in the cliffehill watch which i have the photos of and one of them whent to war as well , i have found the names of who whent  to war in a book in coalville libary,they are a set of books which have the  arch on the front cover in france ,also the factory in the village i used to work with a young tom hall who now works at bennits windows in ratby i remeber the house as you whent round by the bulls head very well  where the hall family lived ,my aunt used to take me to joiners on the corner of main street ,my granadad ernest cooper was born in last house on ashby rd No 12 joseph cooper the blacksmith was his father ,ernest was born 1907 markfield then came down here newtown linford my mum was born 1941 linda cooper
Danone
I hope this is some thing of interest to you ,I am doing the cooper  family history of Markfield my grandad and his brother worked at the quarry,  james blowed the whistle for the workers in the morning

[Danone]

  :)Hi
if any one is seeing this i found some markfield history tuesday at coalville libary 1914
flower show at the instut and there is a lot of names on the list of people that put there flowers inand who won ,i will try and put this work in with in the next day or so just in case any one has the family history i know there are somein my  mothers familythe miners instute is due to be knocked down .
Danone

[Bangladore]

Hello, Danone,
My great aunt was Catherine Sarah Ann Barlow who married Samuel Cooper in 1900.  Any interest to you?
Pam

[Lestisherlvr]

Helen:

I saw that you had Dowells in your line and I remember looking at Markfield parish registers and  seeing the Dowell name it also appears a load in Thonton and Bagworth parish registers.  This website Leicestershire Parish Registers has loads of indexed Leicestershire parishes.  I was impressed with the service and the 200 plus parishes it had indexed.

L

[Hells65]

Hi L

Many thanks for the link.  I'll take a look.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all   


Helen