My blog tells some of the stories about my family history. All my posts, including A to Z posts in 2015, have this focus. In 2015 however, a hundred years since World War 1 and seventy years since the end of World War 2, many of the posts recall men of my family who fought in those wars.
My family, like so many others, felt the effects of those wars. Both my grandfathers and my father-in-law fought in World War 2. All four of my great grandfathers and both my husband’s grandfathers and my step grandfather fought in World War 1. All ten men survived, though both my husband’s grandfathers and one of my great grandfathers were injured.
Our forebears lost brothers and cousins in the wars. Most of these uncles and cousins did not have children and so it is up to us, the descendants of their siblings and cousins, to remember them.
- A is for aviator: Ernest Osmond Cudmore
Ernest Osmond Cudmore (1894 – 1924) was my 1st cousin 3 times removed
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continuing the story of Ernest Osmond Cudmore
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Claude Norman Champion de Crespigny (1888-1914) my 5th cousin; twice removed, although relatively distant in fact the English and Australian cousins stayed in close contact
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George Champion de Crespigny (1783-1813) my 4th great uncle who was killed in the war against Napoleon. My great grandfather had an engraving of his portrait hanging in his hallway. My brother now has the picture.
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George Napier Sprod (1919-2003) my 2nd cousin twice removed
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my great grandmother Kathleen Mary Cudmore née Cavenagh-Mainwaring (1874-1951)
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G is for GallipoliWalter Fish (1878-1915) brother-in-law of two of my husband’s great aunts
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H is for Hindenburg LineGeorge Murray Cross (1890 – 1962) was one of my husband’s paternal great uncles
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I is for insulinmy great grandfather Constantine Trent Champion de Crespigny was one of the first physicians to use insulin in treating diabetes
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J is for James: James Curtis (1826–1901)my husband is researching James Curtis, a note businessman of Ballarat and a Spiritualist
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K is for Kanatte General Cemetery in ColomboVyvyan Westbury Hughes (1888-1916) was my great grand uncle
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L is for LagnicourtWilliam Stanley Plowright (1893-1917) was the cousin of my husband’s grandmother
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M is for muddlemy great grandfather Constantine Trent Champion de Crespigny was not aide-de campe to General Birdwood though he did meet the General and probably met his 4th cousin once removed, Henry de Crespigny who was Birdwood’s aide-de-camp
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N is for New Guineamy father-in-law Peter Young (1920-1988)
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O is for ordersWilliam James Harris (1898-1917) is the great uncle of my sister-in-law
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P is for Poperinghe New Military CemeterySelwyn Goldstein (1873 – 1917) was the first cousin of my great grandmother
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Q is for QuerrieuJohn Percival Young (1886-1918)was my husband’s great uncle
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R is for No. 1 Australian General Hospital at RouenConstantine Trent Champion de Crespigny (1882-1952) was my great grandfather
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S is for St EloiMilo Massey Cudmore (1888 – 1916) was the cousin of my great grandfather
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T is for TobrukRichard Geoffrey Champion de Crespigny (1907-1966) was my grandfather
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U is for unwilling or hesitating to obey an orderHenry Sullivan (1894-1969) was my husband’s great uncle
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V is for VizefeldwebelFritz Hermann Boltz (1879-1949) was my great grandfather
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W is for West AfricaJames Morphett (Jim) Henderson (1915-1942) was my grandmother’s cousin
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X is for the Military CrossGeorge William Symes (1896-1980) was my step grandfather
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Y is for YpresWilliam Alfred Fish (1890-1917) was my husband’s first cousin twice removed
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Z is for ZillebekeStanley Gilbert Edwards (1889-1917) was my husband’s great grand uncle