NEWSLETTER, CHRISTMAS 2007

Obituaries

We fondly remember those who passed away this year, including:

Joan Constance McVicar died suddenly at her home in St Heliers, Auckland, on October 26, 2007, aged 87. She was the daughter of Violet Florence (Barcham) and Charles William Rowberry, of Wellington, NZ, and granddaughter of Constance Eliza (de la Mare) and Robert William Barcham, who emigrated to New Zealand in 1888.

Rosalie Hamilton, the daughter of Evelyn (Connolly) and William Henry Barcham, who were married in Dublin on April 30, 1919 (see below – War Service Records). Rosalie was born on May 24, 1923, in Victoria, BC. She died at Kylemore Clinic, Dublin, on November 6, aged 84, and was buried in Redford Cemetery, Greystones, Dublin, on November 10, 2007. Her mother took Rosalie and her sister, Sheila, to Ireland after William died in 1932. They lived at 31 Templemore Avenue, Rathgar. Rosalie was predeceased by her husband, Arthur Hamilton, and survived by her two married children, five grandchildren and her sister.

William (Bill) Robert Waterhouse died on 5 November, aged 76, in Florence while on a European tour. Bill, born on 18 February 1931 at Croydon, Surrey, was a musician of international repute. Bill's mother was a granddaughter of Fanny Elizabeth Barcham, daughter of William Ayres Barcham. Bill married Elisabeth (Lis) Ritchie and they have three children: Graham, Celia and Lucy, who are all professional musicians. Bill lived in London and the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, where his collection of musical instruments and his music library is kept.

Recently Discovered Limbs and Twigs on the Barcham Tree

Robyn Ramsey has been diligent in researching her branch of the family. She discovered two great-great-aunts, of whom we were previously unaware. They were younger daughters of Ellen (Sandford) and Robert Barcham of Cromer: Isabel, born September 6, 1863; and Helen, born March 26, 1866. They were baptized at All Saints’, Thurgarton, Norfolk.

Robert must have been quite wealthy when he returned from China in about 1862. The 1871 Census of Norfolk shows that he was a farmer of 480 acres in Thurgarton (about half the land area of the parish) and employed 12 men and four boys as well as live-in domestic servants. Ellen was only 40 when Robert died in October 1871, aged 50.

In 1881, Ellen was living with her younger brother, William Sandford, and four unmarried sisters in a large house on Church Street in Cromer. Isabel was a teacher at Trysull, Staffordshire, a village 10 miles SW of Wolverhampton; and Helen was at a boarding school in West Street, Cromer. Later Ellen went to live in Putney, London. At Wandsworth, London, in March 1890, Isabel married a veterinary surgeon, Matthew Clarke, a widower, 19 years older than her. Matthew was born at Thorpe Market, Norfolk, the son of George Clark [sic] who had a large farm. As Thorpe Market is about two miles from Thurgarton, it is likely that the Clark and Barcham families had known each other for about 20 years. Isabel and Matthew were living in Wimbledon, Surrey, in 1901, and it is believed they had children. It is not known if Helen married and had a family.

Christian Missionaries

The involvement of Barchams with service to their churches goes back about three hundred years to William Barcham (1694–1745) who was a churchwarden of All Saints’, Edingthorpe. The relationship of the early Barchams with their churches and their descendants is documented in Chapters 1 and 2 of The Barchams of Edingthorpe. In Chapters 6 and 10 you can read about the life and work of Richard Barcham Shalders (1824–1914), who founded the YMCA in New Zealand. There is much more about this remarkable man in Body Mind and Spirit, by Colin Taylor (ISBN 0 7900 0986 2).

More recently, after his first wife died, Roy Jackson Barcham (1921–2006), had a significant change of life:

The hand that reached down to me was that of the Reverend James Donaldson, the minister of Toorak Uniting Church. Sensing my total despair Jim insisted I become involved in assisting him with some administrative matters at the church. This led to another complete change in my life and through the Grace of God back into the light. ….. I worked in an honorary capacity restructuring the administration of a large complex organization. I made many recommendations which I believed a permanent administrator should implement. … I was invited to accept the position …. which was to last eight years. .... The staff at TUC went beyond the immediate confines of the office and included staff of the Aged Care Centre and the Kindergarten. There was also an association with the Pastoral Care Team. ….

[autobiography, Recollections of Roy Jackson Barcham]

Also working for their church are Roy Barcham’s nephews, Maxwell and Ross Barcham, and his niece, Janice East, children of Cyril Barcham (see below). From Max’s correspondence:

My important career now, with my wife Vanessa, is in ongoing mission work in the Phillipines that our church supports; and in Malaysia serving in creative music and drama ministries ….. Ross and wife Karen spent more than 10 years in southern China, then in Hong Kong, New Guinea, India and Australia. …. much of their work was focused on spreading the Gospel and ministering to new believers, and he continues to minister in China …. Jan and her husband Phil East serve in their various ministries both in Australia and overseas …. They have spent a life spreading the Gospel and ministering in a church …. At present Phil is very active with an evangelical ministry under East to East Ministries in outreached areas of Indonesia.

Robyn Ramsey’s son Carl and his wife Michelle are missionaries in Madagascar at present.

War Service Records

The contributions and sacrifices of members of the Barcham family who joined up and fought in the two World Wars are summarised elsewhere and in Chapter 7 of The Barchams of Edingthorpe.

This year, Chris Farrow visited the Canadian National Library and Archives in Ottawa to research particulars of two members of the family who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I. Chris also discovered more about Cyril Barcham’s training as a fighter pilot in World War II.

Service Records for Canadian soldiers who served in the First World War include attestation papers and service records, which are chronological records showing the units they were attached to while overseas, injuries and sickness, hospital treatment, leave, promotions, service medals and badges, demobilization and pay records. Privates received Cdn $1.00/day or $20/month (20 days/month); corporals received $1.70/day or $34/month. Most received demobilization bonuses. The service records are written in military jargon and many of the records are on filing cards and pages from payroll journals.

William Henry Barcham (b. 1888, in London), the son of Emma Florence (Pattle) and William Barcham, emigrated to Canada in 1909. He enlisted on 15 June 1915, at Esquimalt, BC Regimental No. 521011. At the time he enlisted he was single, aged 26, religious denomination Wesleyan, living at 645 Dunedin Street, Victoria. He was 5ft 6¾ in tall, dark complexion, brown eyes, black hair. Prior to enlisting he had been a salesman and had served in the 88th Fusiliers. As next of kin he named his father, William Barcham, living at 52 Narford Road, Upper Clapton. William Henry was assigned to No. 5 Canadian General Hospital, which was formed in June 1915 at Victoria, BC, under the command of Col E.C. Hart. On 27 August, 31 officers, 72 nursing sisters and 203 other ranks, including William Henry Barcham, sailed from Montreal aboard the Scandinavian, arriving in England on September 4. His service record states that:

William Henry was stationed at Thorncliffe Military Hospital before embarking at Southampton aboard Hospital Ship Asturius on November 16, 1915, for field duty in Salonika [Thessaloniki] in northern Greece, where he arrived on December 20. While in Salonika, he was hospitalized with dysentery for a week, and was granted a Good Conduct badge on 14 June 1917.

On 16 August 1917, he was ‘S.O.S. [struck off the strength] of the B.S.F. on proceeding for duty to the UK’, where he was attached to the 5th Canadian Military Hospital at Kirkdale, Liverpool, on 5 September 1917. This was the clearing hospital for wounded soldiers returning to Canada. On 13 October 1917 he was ‘T.O.S. [taken on strength] of No.5 Canadian General Hospital (C.G.H.)’ and on 19 August 1918, William Henry was promoted to acting Corporal with pay. Payroll accounts show that in 1919 he received $1.70/day.

On 9 February 1918, William Henry ‘proceeded from Liverpool to Dublin on Escort Duty’ and three days later he ‘Returned to Liverpool off Escort Duty’. On 22 February 1919, William Henry was ‘granted permission to marry’ [He married Evelyn Eleanor Connolly on 30 April 1919].

On 27 August 1919, he was S.O.S. [C.G.H] to C.D.D. Buxton, Derbyshire, then on 9 September he was T.O.S. to C.D.D. Buxton for return to Canada. On 19 September he embarked at Liverpool aboard RMS Melita, and disembarked at Quebec on 24 September 1919.

After serving for 4 years 70 days, William Henry Barcham was classified medically unfit for general services because of varicose veins and discharged from service at Quebec on October 1, 1919. He gave Pender Island, Hope, BC as his proposed residence. His Discharge Certificate states that the index finger of his left hand had been amputated in a planing mill accident nine years previously; and that he had varicose veins in his left leg. It also gives his wife’s address as 77 Lower Beechwood Avenue, Ranlagh, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

William Henry Barcham and Evelyn Eleanor Connolly were married in Dublin on April 30, 1919. They must have had a whirlwind romance: he was in Dublin for only three days in February 1918, and she was working in Dublin for the Irish Board of Works. His Service Record does not state when Evelyn travelled to Canada, but another source shows that she travelled in steerage class as a military dependant on the same sailing of the SS Melita as her husband. An Internet site states that the Melita was a Canadian Pacific Railway liner. The Nominal Roll of Other Ranks Proceeding to Canada includes Barchan [sic] W.H. A/Cpl 521, CAMC, destination Pender Island, B.C.

Herbert John Dudley Barcham (b. 1892, at Knapton), son of Elizabeth and Herbert Samuel Barcham emigrated to Canada shortly before the war and enlisted on March 20, 1916, at Vonda (east of Saskatoon), Saskatchewan. Regimental No. 267457, was assigned to the 214th Overseas Battalion of the C.E.F. At the time he enlisted he was single, aged 23 years 4 months, religious denomination Church of England. He was 5ft 9½ in, clear complexion, hazel eyes, fair hair. Prior to enlisting he had been a farmer. His father, Herbert Barcham, living in Knapton, Norfolk, was named as next of kin.

On 18 April 1917, 20 officers, and 595 other ranks left Halifax aboard the SS Grampian and arrived in England on 26 April. The 214th Battalion was absorbed by the 15th Canadian Reserve Battalion on April 29, 1917. He returned to Canada aboard the SS Tunisian in December 1919. Both ships belonged to the Allen Line. His service record states that:

Herbert John Dudley Barcham was in Canada with the 214th Battalion from 20 March 1916 until 16 April 1917, during which time he was incapacitated with measles from 22 June to 10 July; and in September, he forfeited 13 days’ pay [His infraction is not stated.]. After arriving in England, Herbert was on strength of the 15th Reserve Battalion stationed at Bramshott [near Liphook, Hampshire]. On 4 July 1917 he was S.O.S. to the 28th Battalion (o/seas) and arrived at No. 2 Cdn. Base Depot at Etaples, France on 7 July, from where he was sent to the field with No. 2 Field Ambulance. He left the field on 8 August and reported to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance. On 1 November 1917, he was transferred from the 28th (Saskatchewan) Battalion to the 4th Canadian Field Ambulance.

His medical record notes that he ‘caught influenza at Passchendale’ on 8 November 1917. He was sent to No. 15 Casualty Clearing Station then transferred to the 6th Canadian Field Ambulance Service and sent to Graylingwell War Hospital in Chichester, Sussex; then on 22 November to the Military Convalescence Hospital at Woodcock Park, Epsom, from which he was discharged on 7 January 1918, when he was given ‘Permission to proceed on sick leave furlough until seven p.m. on 17 January, for the purpose of proceeding to Knapton Old Hall, North Walsham. On expiration of furlough he will report to 2nd Command Depot Orderly Room at Bramshott’.

Herbert was attached to 2nd CCD at Bagshot from 7 January to 1 March 1918 [including while he was on sick furlough at Knapton], then attached to the 15th Reserve Battalion until 18 April 1918, when he was again attached to 2nd CCD Depot Company. On 20 March, he was awarded a Good Conduct badge, and on 12 April he was ‘struck off strength’ of the 15th Reserve Battalion and posted to the 3rd Res. Btn. at Bramshott. Then, on 20 April, he was attached to the 2nd CCD until 25 May 1918 when he ‘ceases to be attached to the 2nd CCD on proceeded on Farming Furlough’ until 10 December 1918 when he went to CCD Buxton. [It is not stated where he took farming furlough: perhaps he went to Knapton.] At Buxton, on 23 December, it was decided that he was ‘no longer suitable for military employment in England’ and was ‘posted to Casualty Co. from 9 January 1919’. He was then granted leave until January 23. He returned to Canada aboard the SS Tunisian, and at Regina on 22 March 1919, he was discharged medically unfit. He was granted a ‘war veteran’s allowance’ as well as a war service gratuity. He received a War Service Badge, Class A, and ‘entitled to wear two blue service chevrons’.

Herbert survived the war without major injury, but he may have been gassed at Passchendale, rather than influenza. Like many others, he suffered afterwards with chest complaints. He died in 1982, aged 80.

During World War II, Cyril Barcham, Roy’s younger brother, joined the Royal Australian Air Force War. He, along with many Commonwealth airmen, was sent to Canada for training at No. 6 Service Flight Training School at Dunnville, in southern Ontario, a few miles from Niagara Falls and only about 40 miles from Simcoe, where Chris Farrow lives now. Cyril received flight training in Mk. 2 Harvards, two of which are being flown by the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association from the airport at Tillsonberg, 30 miles west of Simcoe. The Association has six Harvards that take part in Remembrance Day fly-pasts. The following has been extracted from two books:

….. The war effort directly came to Haldimand County when Canada became the training ground for Commonwealth airmen. The training plan called for a number of aircrew schools, …. and Haldimand, with an abundance of flat agricultural land situated between the lakes was ideal, and as a result several airfields were located in Haldimand County. At Dunnville, a single engine school for fighter pilots was built. The base was on 415 acres near the Grand River, just north of Port Maitland. Five large hangers, 50 ‘H-huts’ and three runways were built to accommodate Harvard and Yale aircraft. …..

…. In November 1940, No. 6 Service Flying Training School, under the Commonwealth Air Training Plan, was opened in Dunn Township …., and the first class of pilots were graduated in February 1941….. latterly the pilots here were trained to compare with the best. …. At one of the later pilot graduations, G.C. Patriache said that Dunnville had sent over more than enough pilots to conduct one of the famous Allied ‘thousand planes’ raids. Actually, during the time the base was in operation, 2447 pilots graduated from No. 6 SFTS, including 200 RAAF.

[from History of Haldimand County and History of Dunn Township]

Cyril Barcham was on his way to England when the war in Europe ended, so he was sent back to Australia and posted to Fighter command in Papua New Guinea, followed by other postings until he was demobilized in 1946.

Trades, Manufacturers and the Great Exhibition

Our Barcham forebears were worsted weavers. In the 17th century this and other trades, such as blacksmithing, were cottage crafts. With the industrial revolution, people moved from the countryside into the towns where manufacturing displaced the cottage crafts. Clockmakers, foundrymen and drapery have been described in previous newsletters. It is interesting to note that there is a weaving shed at the rear of Norfolk House, Worstead, where Phoebe (Barcham) and Jacob Shalders had their grocery, drapery shop and post office. Other examples of the move to the towns are:

Edward Blakely (b. 1796, at Thrandeston, Suffolk) the brother of John Rix Blakely, was a ‘silk mercer to Her Majesty’. In 1841, in addition to his wife and family, there were five assistants living over his workshop at 15 and 16 London Street, St Andrew’s parish, Norwich, one of whom was Naomi Shalders (b. 1814, at Worstead), the daughter of Phoebe (Barcham) and Jacob Shalders. In 1851, Edward’s son, Edward Theobald Blakely (b. 1827) was an exhibitor at the Great Exhibition held in Hyde Park. The Illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition includes the following entries:

Mr. BLAKELY, of Norwich, contributes some splendid SHAWLS, woven expressly for the Exhibition. …. ; it must suffice to say that they are of the very best order of design and workmanship ….

Among the beautiful shawls and scarves exhibited by Mr. Blakely….. is an elegant SCARF of Cashmere, of which a portion is here engraved : in its simple yet elegant design, and in tasteful arrangement of colour, it is everything to be desired. We understand the scarf has been purchased at the Exhibition by the Queen.

One of the shawls exhibited at the Great Exhibition is now on display in the Shawl Museum at Carrow House, Norwich. This information comes from David Blakely, a descendant of Naomi (Barcham) and John Rix Blakely.

In August 1847, Naomi Shalders, then aged 33, married Thomas Short, a draper. They emigrated to New Zealand in 1853, and settled in Auckland, near her brother Richard Barcham Shalders, see above.

There were other Shalders families living in Norwich who were probably distantly related to the Shalders branch of the Barcham family. In White’s 1845 Directory and Gazetteer of Norfolk, a Thomas Shalders was a blacksmith in Westlegate; and a William Shalders was a furrier, leather merchant and patent pump manufacturer in Bank Plain. An advertisement in Kelly’s 1853 Directory for Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, gives a description of the ‘Patent Fountain Pump’ invented and manufactured in various sizes by William Shalders, Jun. who described himself as an ‘Hydraulic Engineer’. The pumps had leather valve parts and copper-riveted leather hose pipes. The advertisement mentions that William Shalders also exhibited at the Great Exhibition: ‘….. Class 5, No. 402, where W. S. Jun. had 25 varieties and sizes of Patent Fountain Pumps and Engines, and other important Hydraulic &c, Fittings, with honourable mention.’

National Trust Properties

Godolphin Manor near Helston, Cornwall, is now a National Trust Property open to the public. This beautiful Elizabethan house was the ancestral home of Anne Edwards who married William Ayres Barcham. St Michael’s Mount, near Penzance, is another National Trust property in Cornwall that once belonged to the Godolphin family.