Civilian War Dead - Metropolitan Borough of Hackney

Story #4 cont.

St Scholastica in the War--part 3 1945

St Scholastica's was a changed place after the war, although some things remained the same -- the Regans were still in the Lodge House, Harold Cheesman was still the warden (though without his wife) -- only a handful of the 39 people listed in 1939 remain in 1945 (though there are some new residents).

We know that four of the missing residents were killed in the Air Raid on the night of Sep 8th 1940; two of these are on the War Memorial, for three of them I have been able to tell some kind of story.

Of the remaining missing residents, one had died before the Air Raid -- Charlotte Josephine DAVENPORT died Jun 1940 Edmonton age 89;

For another seven I have been able to find deaths during the war --
Jane Louisa CAZALY Dec 1941 Battersea age 83;
Maud Evelyn CHEESMAN, the wardens wife, Jun 1942 in Surrey age 57;
Minnie Gertrude HUSTLER Sep 1940 Hackney age 77;
Henrietta Angela LAW Sep 1942 Pancras age 83;
Mary Gertrude OGER Sep 1942 Southwark age 86;
Ellen Elizabeth PERKES Mar 1941 Hackney age 84;
Mary Eleanor STRONG Mar 1942 Hackney age 75;

I have found potential deaths during the war years for Mary Alice GARRETT, Margaret McCarthy JOHNSON, Henrietta McCARTHY and Annie Caroline SHAW [but not certain of these]; Rose Mary BALCOMBE, Agnes Mary DODD, Margaret Mary GIBNEY, Ada Ann Mary GOULDING, Hannah Mary MURPHY, and Florence Martha McCARTHY I have not found likely deaths for.

[Any deaths in registration districts other than Hackney may imply a certain scattering of residents following the bombing, or it may indicate that they had been admitted to a hospital in a different district]

The electoral Roll for 1945 contains the following names:

• The Lodge; Joseph P REGAN, Theresa REGAN
• House 1; Amy E READMAN; Charles de RHEIMS; Elizabeth A REID
• House 2; Catherine WADHAM; Mary A R C SHATFORD; Ignacio L GUIBARA
• House 3; Theresa BOOKER; Clara E HALE
• House 4; Honoria M BENNETT; Ellen L GEGAN; Annie M WHITE
• House 5; Rosa CADWALLADER; Emma MURRAY
• House 6; Alexandra RUSSELL; Ethel RUSSELL; Louisa M FINIGAN; Dorothy A E ELLIOTT
• House 7 The Warden's House; Harold E CHEESMAN
• House 8; Mary Helen UNWIN; Ethel B MURRAY; John G ROBSON

There is no menton of Houses 9 & 10 until 1953, at which point they are indicated as having five flats, therefore I believe that they were so badly damaged that they had to be demolished and rebuilt.

In 1972 the St Scholastica's I have described to you was demolished, as I have already shown you on the map there is now a RC Primary School and Church on the site, still bearing the name of St Scholastica. The Retreat is now in Princes Risborough, and composed of typical 1970s red brick houses -- after all who can afford to have a Pugin design their house these days (I hope that you have all followed AnnB's link to see what it used to look like)

 

Identified Civilian Casualty List #41

As mentioned earlier I went through this list to pull out all the Hackney data (not promising that I didn't miss anything, I am reliant on the list to tell me the places it mentions are in Hackney, as it is not an area of London I know well). ** indicates a name we have or will talk about (though I may decide to talk about some of the others); * is the only non-fatality I found on this list.

• 150 Langley, Arthur A.G. ( ). 59, Hanover Blds., Binney St., W.1. Dead. Hackney Mort. .. 432/42
• 198 Smith, Charles ( ), 60 Shakespeare Walk, N16. Dead. St. Olave's Mort., Stoke Newington .. .. 426/37
• 200 Smith, F. H. ( ) 60 Shakespeare Walk, N16. Dead. St Olaves Mort., Stoke Newington .. 426/32
• 202 Smith, H.M. ( ) 60 Shakespeare Walk, N16. Dead. St Olaves Mort., Stoke Newington .. .. 426/34
• 213 Thorogood, Richard ( ) 58 Shakespeare Walk, N16. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. .. 427/19
• 240 Abraham, Marjorie ( ) 32 Kenninghall Road. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney ... 171/27 [this whole entry cancelled by hand with note See Case 55/207]
• 245 Appleby, Mrs. ( ) 121 Hindle House, Ausla St., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. 265/26
• 254 Batts, Florrie ( ). 16 Prince Edward Road, E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney, .. 338/12
• 258 Berliner, Golda ( ) 24 Adisham House, Pembury Estate. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. 338/32
• 259 Berman, Heine ( ) 31 Ferncliffe Rd., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 192/4
• 260 Bermer, Millie (33) 56 Mare St., Hackney, E8 [added by hand]. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney, ... 159/56
• 263 Birch, Ethel ( ) 89, Elderfield Rd. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney, ... 283/2
• 265 Blackburn, L.E. (35) ----- Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney, .. 424/22
• 269 Bowers, Dorothy Ethel ( ). 81 Elderfield Rd. E5. Dead. Church Had[sic] Mort., Hackney 270/38
• 272 Brady (baby) ( ). 405 Kingsland R. E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 255/6
• 276 Brown, Annie Daisy (50). 12 Homerton Row. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 180/145
• 278 Burham, Mary Anne ( ). 66 Prout Rd., E5. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 180/159 [a second D-4 case # added by hand 171/32]
• 282 Caplin, Rachel ( ). 31 Ferncliffe Rd., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 180/81
• 284 Cash, Annie (56) 86 Mare St, E8 [added by hand]. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 159/53 [a second D-4 case # added by hand 159/45]
• 285 Cash, Minnie (36) 86 Mare St, E8 [added by hand]. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 159/58
• 287 Cecil, Edith Kate ( ). 9, Adisham House, Pembury Estate. Dead. Hackney Mort. 338/54
• 292 Cohen, Lulu ( ). 23, Queensdown Rd. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 171/31
• 293 Cohen, Sarah (38). 23, Queensdown Rd., Hackney. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney, 180/143
• 307 Deighton, Rose Amelia (23). 19, Mentore Terrace. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 159/60
• 314 Dunn, Alice Prudence ( ). 81, Elderfield Rd., E5. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 270/37
• 317 Edwards, Bessie Louise ( ). --- Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 192/2
• 319 Evans, Matilda ( ). 25, Church Crescent, Hackney. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 443/59
• 321 Feust, Fanny ( ). 126, Bethune Rd, N16. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 338/51
• **339 Hanifin, Gertrude ( ). 9, The Retreat, Kenninghall Rd, E. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 180/153 [and] 207/5
• 341 Harris, Bessie ( ). 32, Kenninghall Rd. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. .. 200/7
• 342 Harris, Doris ( ). 3, Adisham House, Pembury Estate. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 338/45 [and] 322/32
• **344 Henrette, Bertha M ( ). 33, Ferncliffe Rd., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 192/3
• *352 Horncastle, Sarah (56). 198 Whiston Rd, E8. Injury to leg. Bethnal Green Hosp. 401/1
• 358 Jesberg [sic], Gladys ( ). 8, Home [sic] Road, Hackney Wick. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney …. 255/55
• 359 Jessberg, Jean (baby). 8 Homer Rd. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 258/26
• 365 Jones, Winifred ( ). 405, Kingsland Rd., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 255/3
• 375 Lepridge, Alice ( ). 47, Nightingale Rd, E5. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 192/1
• 376 Liebman, Ruth (4). 90 Mare St. E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 159/59
• 383 Marsh, Alice (62). 49, Andrew Rd., Hackney. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 159/65
• **395 [corrected by hand to 385] Metreed, Agnes ( ). _, Kenninghall Rd. E. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 180/163 [this whole entry cancelled by hand with note Identical See Case 71/144]
• 395 Oakenfull, Mary A. ( ). 127, Mapledene Rd., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 424/21
• 404 Payne, Marion Eileen ( ). 163, Chatsworth Rd., E5. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney 270/33
• 408 Pokkus, Sarah ( ). 32, Kenninghall Rd. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. 200/8
• 424 Sabey, Eileen ( ). 91 Elderfield Rd., E5. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney..270/36
• 425 Salter, Vera ( ). 91 Elderfield Rd., E5. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney ... 283/24
• 428 Shute, Mary Cordelia ( ). 113, Clarence Rd. E5. Dead. Hackney Mort. .. 338/56
• 437 Sulzbacher, Grete ( ). 126, Bethune Rd. N16. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney.. 372/13
• 438 Sulzbacher, Rita ( ). 126, Bethune Rd, N16. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney.. 338/49
• 445 Trobe, Annie (55). 23, Queensdown Rd., E5. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney.. 192/21
• 450 Wapshere, Maud Elizabeth (58). 15, Church Crescent, Hackney. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. 431/40
• 456 White, Sarah A. ( ). 237. Glyn Rd., Hackney. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. 372/12
• 457 Wilson, Eleanor M. ( ). 297, Queensbridge Rd., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. 427/18
• 460 Windsor, __ ( ). 129, Maplesdene Rd., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney.. 424/20
• 463 Woods, Mary C. (82). 49, Andrews Rd., Hackney. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney...159/63
• 466 Wrigglesworth, Rose ( ). 135, Hindle House, Arcola St., E8. Dead. Church Hall Mort., Hackney .. 283/25

The list was quite faded in places so I may have misread the odd name or street or number ...

 

One name on this list jumped out at me - sadly she is not connected to my family but here is what I have found on Alice Prudence Dunn.

1911 census RG14 PN531 SN9 at 97 Wimpole Street she is a single woman and servant to John Coppock (a stable manager - drapery) age given as 46
I cannot find her on the 1901 census
1891 census RG12 130 5 4 at 85a Great College St. Pancras
She is living at home with her parents and 4 of her siblings
1881 census RG11 91 69 10 at 66 Davies St. St. George's Hanover Square
She is listed as cousin to the head of the house and a nurse, there is a 2 day old baby in the house
1881 census RG11 213 133 52 in Castle St. Pancras are her parents and 4 siblings
1871 census RG10 199 74 26 Gloucester St. Pancras sees Alice with her parents and 5 siblings
11/11/1863 is the baptism at Holy Trinity Marylebone Rd. of Alice Prudence Dunn born 12/10/1863 daughter of Alfred John Dunn and Sarah Haines Dunn of 20 Langham St. Pancras Alfred is a tailor
Birth reg. Dec qtr 1863 Marylebone 1a 397

To finish Alice's life line
June qtr 1860 see the marriage of Alfred John Dunn Lambeth 1d?
June qtr 1860 sees the marriage of Sarah Haines Spine or Spice Lambeth 1d 385
The 1861 census sees John and Sarah living with her mother Margaret Spice
RG9 347 1122 19 in Lambeth
Alfred John Dunn was baptised 22/12/1833 son of Richard and Mary Dunn of 15 Cirencester Place, St. Marylebone - Richard was a tailor

 

I'll just add that according to cwgc.org Alice died 19th September 1940 at 81 Elderfield Road, she was 76 and "Daughter of the late A. G. Dunn"

If I look at the 750 Hackney Civilian War Dead and filter results with keyword "Elderfield" there are 25 results, spread from 1940 to 1944. I don't immediately recognise any of the names from the Memorial.

 

Perhaps not the right Lady but FMP has this one:

Westminster Rate Books 1634-1900
First Name Alice
Last Name Dunn
Occupiers Title Miss Alice Dunn
Date 1900 Year 1900
37 Gloucester Street
St George Hanover Square
Parish St George Hanover Square
Notes Knightsbridge (Cont.), Out, 1900
Folio Number 23
..................
Also two single females at Epsom Hospital, one, A.P DUNN-age 38 a needlewoman of no known birth place .
EPSOM
RG13/578/182/47
..
A.M.P DUNN, pauper patient- housekeeper b. Holloway
RG13/584/79/19.
...
so perhaps your Alice P. DUNN was also a patient somewhere.

 

Just thought that I would let you know that I have contacted the Metropolitan Police to see if they can tell me what a D-4 case number is, since the Central Casualty Bureau was run by New Scotland Yard this seemed a good idea -- will let you know what they say

 

Have had an answer from the Met.

Apparently D4 was a Department at New Scotland Yard (my contact believes it was the Women's Police Department) that was responsible for preparation of the Casualty Lists. It is likely the first number in the D4 case number refers to an incident and the second part to a particular casualty in that incident --- however this cannot be confirmed as the files have not survived

The original purpose of the lists was to aid the Police when receiving enquiries about missing family members, but as the number of casualties increased the time taken to prepare each list took longer and longer and became more distant in time from the actual incident -- making it less useful for its intended purpose as it was not unusual for names to appear on lists several weeks after the incident --

 

Story #5

Kathleen TISCH and Kenninghall Road; Part A Kathleen and her parents

I have told you what I can about the lives of names 1 & 3 on the War Memorial -- much of it focused on the place they lived and died ... St Scholastica's Retreat on Kenninghall Road. For the moment I am skipping name #2, and moving to name #4 Kathleen TISCH -- since she also died that same day on Kenninghall Road

There is a thread chronicling the trials of researching Kathleen, including wrong turns among immigrant Jewish Russian families who all used the same few given names -- even though we spent a lot of time following the wrong lead and the wrong family, it was fun and interesting; still, hopefully what we have now is correct, for both Kathleen and her husband. Look here for references and credits (thanks everyone)


Kathleen was born as Kathleen Mary THOMAS, in time to make it onto the 1911 census [Dec 1910 Runcorn 8a 210]. She was born in Frodsham, Cheshire and was the daughter of Walter THOMAS and Alice Emma (Lallie) ASHWORTH who married Apr-Jun 1910 [Runcorn 8a 412].

1911 census RG14/21642/191 Sunny Bank, Frodsham, Cheshire
Walter THOMAS Head 32 married Coal Merchant Weston, Cheshire
Lallie THOMAS Wife 26 married [1yr, 1 ch] Frodsham, Cheshire
Kathleen THOMAS Daughter 4 months Frodsham, Cheshire
Mary MILLINGTON Servant 15 General Servant (Domestic) Runcorn, Cheshire​

It is possible that Kathleen was an only child; subsequent Cheshire Thomas/Ashworth births are in Birkenhead and belong with the marriage of Joseph Thomas and Alice Ashworth [Sep 1915 Birkenhead] (although, of course Walter and Lallie could have moved elsewhere in the country, and possibly did as I have not firmly identified deaths for them). After the 1911 census the next sighting of Kathleen is at her wedding, she could have been anywhere in the meantime but in December 1935 she is in Westbourne Grove, Paddington.

Kathleen's father Walter was the son of Welsh parents, John (c1839, either Bangor or what I have interpreted as Anglesey) and Ann (c1846, place of birth given as Corwen/Corven, or Carnarvon). John and Ann presumably married (perhaps in Wales) sometime before 1866 when their first child Maria was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire; they then moved to Weston where it looks like John was a stone mason, before moving to Clifton or Rocksavage where John was the attendant of the swing- or turn-bridge over the River Weaver; John is absent in the 1891 census and by 1901 Ann is widowed. The 1911 census has Ann and her thee youngest children in Frodsham [RG14/21643/262]. In all John and Ann had 10 children:

[census refs for the family (where a family member is away from home census refs are given in their summary): 1871 Weston RG10/3692/79/32, thereafter in Clifton/Rocksavage 1881 RG11/3514/27/8, 1891 RG12/2831/52/56, 1901 RG13/3333/57a/7]

1. Maria, born Birkenhead Mar 1866 - died Mar 1874 Weston Point (Runcorn RD)
2. Louisa Ellen, born Birkenhead (registered as Ellen Louisa Jun 1867); a servant in Toxteth Park in 1891 [RG12/2924/58/4] ; married in Dec 1891 to Alfred Eccleston [1911 census where she is visited by sister Margaret, now married, RG14/23167/117]
3. John junior, born Birkenhead Dec 1868; takes over the operation of the turn-bridge in his father's absence; haven't found after 1901, but according to information on his mother's 1911 census he should still be alive
4. Margaret Jane, born Weston Point Sep 1874; a servant in Liverpool in 1891 [RG12/2917/20/33], marriage in 1910 to Alfred Seymour Allford
5. Walter, born Weston Point Sep 1876; by age 13/14 he was working as a general labourer, in 1901 he was the driver of a stationary engine at the nearby chemical works; the 1911 census has him as a coal merchant, on Kathleen's marriage certificate his occupation is Commercial Traveller (retired)
6. Lily, born Weston Point Jun 1878; married Fred Abel in Sep 1898 [1911 census RG14/21645/104]
7. Henrietta, born Clifton/Rocksavage Sep 1880; died Mar 1899, aged 18.
8. Clara, born Clifton Jun 1882; worked as a shop assistant; she is possibly the Clara Thomas who dies in the Runcorn RD in 1946 (age is slightly out)
9. Blanche, born Clifton Jun 1884; became a school teacher; untraced after 1911.
10. Fred, born Clifton Sep 1886; a shipping clerk, it appears that he filled in the 1911 census form for his mother; possible marriage in 1931, died Dec 1950.

​

Kathleen's mother Alice Emma was born Sep 1884 in Frodsham, the second child of Arthur James ASHWORTH and Mary Elizabeth DUTTON who had married in Sep 1882. Both of her parents were from Lancashire, her father was born near Blackburn Mar 1858 and her mother in Widnes Jun 1863. Alice Emma's father was a manufacturer of artificial manure and oilcake/cattle feed, and earning a good living at this, the 1901 and 1911 censuses put the family in Allon House which had 15 rooms (this house seems to no longer exist but appears to have been near/or in Sandfields, a street which can still be seen in Frodsham, and where the family were living in 1891) [census refs: 1891 RG12/2834/69/18, 1901 RG13/3337/54/28, 1911 RG14/21643/198]

Arthur James and Mary Elizabeth had seven children before Mary Elizabeth died in 1903:

1. Albert, b. Mar 1883, worked for his father firstly as a clerk, by 1911 as Assistant Manager (by this time he was living in Wavertree, Liverpool RG14/22675/249, and was married [to Ann Sant Thompson] with a 5 year old child)
2. Alice Emma; presumably Walter Thomas had moved to Frodsham with his mother and this is how he and Alice Emma met. As we have seen he was a coal merchant at the time of the 1911 census, but later became a commercial traveller (was this for his father-in-law?)
3. Ernest b. Dec 1886, also worked for his father as a clerk, and later as a traveller.
   
4. Blanche b. Sep 1889, married in 1912
   
5. Maud b. Sep 1893, married in 1912 (spelling her name Maude)
   
6. Amy Valentine b. Jun 1896, in 1911 she is at school in Widnes/Ditton with younger sister Nora [RG14/22712]; married in 1917
   
7. Nora b. Jun 1898, away at school in 1911, marriage in 1919

Arthur James had a son with his married housekeeper, as can be seen on the 1911 census; on the census return 4 year old Arthur James is clearly given the surname Ashworth, although he is registered as Bloore (Sep 1906).

​

The family later moved (presumably after the marriages of Blanche and Maud which were in Runcorn RD) to the Conway/Conwy region where Amy Valentine and Nora married. It is also where Arthur James married his housekeeper Amy Bloore in 1920 … and their son is the Arthur James Ashworth who married in Liverpool St Margaret on 16 August 1927.

​

Arthur James senior died in Deganwy, Carnarvonshire on 22 March 1924; his probate was handled by his son Ernest (merchant) and Peter Earlham (company secretary), his estate was valued at £36,139 8s 3d

 

Love the new avatar photo so easy to see. Is it Mugwort?

 

Yes that is Mugwort from her latest portrait sitting (you have to be quick she only agrees to stay still for two minutes) but she was in a good mood. The sun was shining which brings out the reddish highlights in her fur, otherwise she is normally so black it is very hard to photograph her.

 

Story #5 cont

Kathleen TISCH and Kenninghall Road: Part B After her marriage


Kathleen was married on the 2nd December 1935 aged 25 at Paddington Register Office; she gave an address on Westbourne Grove which seems to have been a hostel or boarding house for young women (though this is surmised from electoral rolls, so it could be completely wrong). Her husband was the 27-year old Morris TISH, a fruiterer, son of Philip, a boot manufacturer; the address given by Morris was not his home in 53 Burslem Street, Stepney but the address of his married sister Esther Dobinsky, 60 Malmesbury Road, Bow.

With a great deal of fruitless searching on my part, and a great deal of help from others (notably Huncamunca ) Morris was found in the 1911 census [RG14/1513/317] at 19 Crellin Street, St George in the East:

Israel CHAYTOW Head 50 married Rag & Woollen dealer employer/at home Russia (Resident) Russian
Annie CHAYTOW Wife 50 Married [20 yrs, 7 ch] Russia (Resident) Russian
Isaac CHAYTOW Son 28 single Cloth Cap Cutter worker Russia (Resident) Russian
Jack CHAYTOW Son 26 single Cloth Cap Cutter worker Russia (Resident) Russian
Solomon CHAYTOW Son 20 single Cloth Cap Machiner worker Russia (Resident) Russian
Myer CHAYTOW Son 18 single Cloth Cap Machiner worker Russia (Resident) Russian
Abraham CHAYTOW Son 14 Cloth Cap Apprentice worker Russia (Resident) Russian
Louie CHAYTOW Son 16 single Cloth Cap Machiner Russia (Resident) Russian
Mark CHAYTOW Son 11 School Russia (Resident) Russian
Abraham TISH Boarder 35 married Boot Repairer worker Russia (Resident) Russian
Polly TISH Boarder 30 married [7 yrs, 2 ch] Russia (Resident) Russian
Morris TISH Boarder 3 London St George
Esther TISH Boarder 6 School London St George
Solomon SMODKIN Boarder 40 married [7 yrs, 3 ch] Fur Blocker worker Russia (Resident) Russian​

Despite Morris's father being called Abraham we are sure this is the correct family; he probably used both names (or possibly there was a mistake made by Israel Chaytow who filled out the census return) – however, his death was registered as Phillip TISH or TISCH (Hackney Mar 1944). It seems that Abraham/Philip and Polly married in Russia as I haven't found a likely marriage in the UK; Esther's birth was registered in Mile End Jun 1905 and Morris's in St George in the East Mar 1909; additionally, I believe that there are three other children for this couple, giving the mother a maiden name of MILLER (I know this doesn't sound very Russian, but she may have chosen to Anglicise it) – these children are Samuel (Dec 1911), Louis (Jun 1915), and Simon (Sep 1917-Mar 1919).

Following their marriage Kathleen and Morris lived in South London, the 1937 electoral roll places them in Wiltshire Road, Brixton and their first daughter's birth was registered in Camberwell. The next two electoral rolls however place them in Rutland Road, Hackney; initially they were living with Morris's two surviving brothers Samuel and Louis, but Louis married in Jan-Mar 1939 and he and his wife Bertha moved to Ickburgh Road, Hackney. By September 1940 Kathleen had a 4-week old baby girl and had moved to 30 Kenninghall Road; around this time Morris's brother Samuel had married (later electoral rolls place Samuel and his wife Matilda in Brixton); so if Morris had enlisted, and both his brothers newly married and living elsewhere, Kathleen would have been alone, and perhaps this explains why she moved.

In 1939 there was no-one eligible to vote at no. 30 Kennighall Road, next door at no. 32 was Bessie Harris; perhaps Bessie was running a boarding house, which maybe included no.30 as well; maybe she ran a creche or nursery school there. All I know for sure is that Kathleen died at no. 32, along with Bessie Harris, and other women and children.

Kathleen death was registered at the same time as Mary Ann Hallett, Agnes Ann Howe, and Agnes Helen Hetreed [Hackney Sep 1940 1b 468], aged 29.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has the following information about her:

Kathleen Tisch, civilian, died 08/09/1940
of 30 Kenninghall Road. Wife of M. Tisch. Died at 32 Kenninghall Road.​

She appears on Civilian Casualty List No. 54, with minimal information and a wrong age:

54/1374 Tish, __ (38). Kenninghall Rd., E.5 .. .. Dead. Mare St. Mort., E.8 .. .. .. 180/149​

Also injured at the same time and found on list No. 19 was her baby daughter, she was taken to Hackney Hospital and treated for 'abrasions and haemorage of abdominal wall'. The others who were killed at 32 Kenninghall Road:

• HARRIS, Bessie age 30 died 08/09/1940; of 32 Kenninghall Road. Daughter of Rose Harris. Died at 32 Kenninghall Road.
• ABRAHAMS, Marjorie age 8 died 08/09/1940; of 32 Kenninghall Road. Daughter of Mr. H. Abrahams. Died at 32 Kenninghall Road.
• ABRAHAMS, Myrna died 08/09/1940; Aged 6 months; of 32 Kenninghall Road. Daughter of Mr. H. Abrahams. Died at 32 Kenninghall Road.
• POKKUS, Jenny age 18 died 08/09/1940; Polish National; of 32 Kenninghall Road. Daughter of Sarah Pokkus. Died at 32 Kenninghall Road.
• POKKUS, Sarah age 49 died 08/09/1940; Polish National; of 32 Kenninghall Road. Died at 32 Kenninghall Road.

Kathleen's baby was registered in Sep 1940 in Stepney rather than Hackney; this may mean that she (and her sister) was taken in by her paternal grandparents, and registered after Kathleen's death.

There's so much more I want to find out, and theories I want to confirm (like the possible emigration of Kathleen and Morris's eldest daughter; possible remarriage for Morris; more details about his Russian roots), but I am only on name 3 of 101 and have to stop here so I can move on ...

 

I just wanted to round off my "Kathleen Tisch and Kenninghall Road" story with a list of those who died on Kenninghall road in the Blitz; as well as the six people from my last post, and the four ladies from St Scholastica's, there were the following:

• Arthur Langley age 40 died 10/10/1940; Driver, London Auxiliary Ambulance Service. Husband of Florence Langley, of 59 Hanover Buildings, Binney Street, Westminster. Died at Kenninghall Road.
• Bertha FELS age 46 died 8/11/1940; Polish National; of 39 Kenninghall Road. Wife of Solomon Fels, of 14-16 Kohlemarkt, Danzig. Died at 39 Kenninghall Road.
• Richard Brocklesby 37 died 19/12/1940; Air Raid Warden; of 68 Kenninghall Road. Son of David Brocklesby, of 7 Stotfold Road, The Maypole, Birmingham, and of the late Fanny Brocklesby; husband of M. Brocklesby. Injured 8 September 1940, at 68 Kenninghall Road; died at Eastern Hospital, Homerton.
  
• Annie Fox age 60 died 8/12/1940; Polish National; of 68 Kenninghall Road. Wife of Samuel Fox. Died at 68 Kenninghall Road.
  
• David Stoppi age 4 died 8/12/1940; of 68 Kenninghall Road. Son of Nathan and Fanny Stoppi. Died at 68 Kenninghall Road.
  
• Fanny Stoppi age 39 died 8/12/1940; of 68 Kenninghall Road. Daughter of Samuel Fox, and of Annie Fox; wife of Nathan Stoppi. Died at 68 Kenninghall Road.
  
• Nathan Stoppi age 38 died 8/12/1940; Air Raid Warden; of 68 Kenninghall Road. Son of Golda Stoppi, of 71 Sholebrooke Avenue, Leeds. Husband of Fanny Stoppi. Died at 68 Kenninghall Road.

 

I am seriously impressed by the work you are putting into this project

 

I've just noticed an anomaly here; it seems unlikely that Richard Brocklesby was injured on 8 September when everyone else at his address was killed on 8 December -- however this is what cwcg.org has (that's the second mistake I need to tell them about , actually the 3rd as they also have the initials of the father of Alice Prudence Dunn incorrectly, as researched by MollyMay)

 

Interim Post:

I'm not ready to write up the next story yet. But there was a little bit of work I did when I thought Kathleen's case was hopeless. I have mentioned that Kathleen's death was registered with three of the ladies from St Scholastica's; well, there was also a lady called Annie TROBE (she is also on the Civilian Casualty List #41 that I posted in post 42).

The Civilian Casualty List has her age as 55, her death reg. as 60; cwgc.org has her as Anne aged 67, it also tells us that she lived and died at 23 Queensdown Road on 8 Sep 1940, and was the wife of Myer Trobe. I also found from his death reg. and cwgc. org that Myer Trobe had died at the same time as his wife.

Myer Trobe married in Apr-Jun 1899 Mile End, either Annie SIBOL or Annie COHEN. They were, like the Tisch family, Jewish Russian immigrants. I found the family in 1901 at RG13/300/7/1, and given the ages of the children realised that this was a 2nd marriage for Myer --

Liberty of Old Artillery Ground, St Mary Spital, Whitechapel:
Myer TROBE 30 Furrier Russia
Annie TROBE 26 _ Russia
children all with surname Trobe, all born Spitalfields: Rebecca 9, Esther 7, Samuel 6, Israel 4, Isaac 3
​

However, when I found the family in 1911 at RG14/1088/317 I realised that it was a 2nd marriage for them both --

No. 2 Fort Street, Stoke Newington:
Myer TROBE 40 Manufacturing Furrier Vilna, Russia
Hannah TROBE 39 _ Vilna, Russia
Rebecca STALETSKY 18
Esther TROBE 17
Jack STALETSKY 17
Sam TROBE 15
Isreal STALETSKY 15
Isaac TROBE 13
Sarah TROBE 10
Milie TROBE 5
(children all born Spitalfields, except Jack born Whitechapel)​

One of the first problems I had was finding the birth registrations of the children, and I still haven't managed it ~ possibly the older children were actually born in Russia; but I do have Isaac TROBE Dec 1897 Whitechapel, and the two children Myer and Annie had together, Sarah Sep 1901 Whitechapel and Millie Sep 1905 Whitechapel. Eventually I found Israel STALITSKI born Jun 1896 Whitechapel, and this lead me to the death of an Israel STALITSKY in Dec 1895 in Pancras, aged 27. This led to the theory that Israel senior was the father of Israel junior, and this seems to be confirmed by Israel's school admissions, one dated 28 Apr 1900 states his father to be Israel, the second dated 24 Aug 1903 names his father as Myer, both give the address as 2 Fort Street. [You may be wondering why Annie didn't marry Myer as a Stalitsky/i, presumably she used her maiden name].

[I also found a marriage of an Annie Stalitsky in Mar 1907 Whitechapel, we talked about her briefly in the thread on Katheen Tisch, she seems too old to be a daughter of Israel and Annie (and she isn't mentioned on Annie's Probate when her other daughters are), and she seems too young to be a sister to Israel; though a 14 year age gap is possible; and this is assuming death ages are accurate]

I found the Probates of Annie (Effects £198 10s) and Myer (Effects £4147 2s 9d); Annie's being most useful in naming her two married daughters, Milly LEWIS and Rebecca Fanny HYAMS; Myer's was handled by his solicitor and accountant. Millie TROBE married Abraham o/w Alfred LEWIS Jun 1928 Stepney; Rebecca's marriage took a bit more hunting, Becky STERLETSKI married Harry HYAMS Mar 1923 London City.

I realised that Esther was not Annie's daughter so was not surprised that she hadn't helped Millie and Rebecca handle the Administration, but where was Sarah?

Then I found an entry on findagrave, WITH A PHOTOGRAPH! http://www. findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=24627571&PIpi=28305491 -- buried in East Ham Jewish Cemetery:

Dedicated to the memory of
the TROBE family
Husband Wife Daughter
Granddaughter Grandson
who were all victims of an Air Raid
on Sunday 8th September 1940
Lovely and pleasant in their lives
and in death they were not divided

Myer TROBE 72
Annie TROBE 60
Sarah COWAN wife of Alexander Cowan 38
Lulu COWAN 15
Cyril COWAN 9
​

Sarah TROBE married Alec COHEN Sep 1921 Hackney.

​

 

I can shed some light on 2 names on that Hackney Memorial. Maud Marion Small my aunt died aged 17 and Ethel Small aged 41 my nan. Died on 7/7/44 at 186 Richmond Road Hackney. My Dad remembers it well, he was at cub scouts, his dad was at work and the 2 girls were at home cooking dinner. As it was so late in the war the siren didnt bother them much. The house was hit by a V1 flying bomb. My Dad heard the engine cut out and the following explosion. He was in a shelter at London Fields. The scout leader sent all the boys home on all clear apart from my dad. He managed to get free at some point and head back home, only to be stopped by ARP wardens. Eventually he found a route round the back to find a pile of rubble. I researched Hackney archives a few years back and got photos of the bomb site and a police incident report. My dad doesnt remember a funeral, they were very poor. My gut feeling was always that they ended up in a mass grave, this is the first time ive seen their names on a memorial. Thanks for posting this, it has filled a hole i wanted to close for a long long time. Regards David Small

 

Hello David

It is very good to hear from you, thank you so much for sharing your story.

 

I have just found your post about the Trobe/Cowan family, parents, daughter and 2 grandchildren, all who lost their lives on the 8th September 1940. Alec Cowan, husband of Sarah and father to Lulu and Cyril was also in the house at 23 Queensdown Road at the time of the direct hit and was very badly injured, but lived! He later, after some time in hospital, left the East End and moved to Hendon to live with his 2 sister and brother-in-law. In 1945 he was introduced to a lady he later married and I am the product of that union.
I never knew of his tragic circumstances until many years after his death and never knew about his previous marriage and children. I have since been given photos of my half brother and sister and have made a visit to their grave where they are all buried under one large stone. It has been very interesting to hear about the Trobe family as I have no record of their background. Thanks