Great x3 Uncle Thomas William Wright

My Great x3 Uncle Thomas (1849 - 1931) was a tinplate worker, father of three, and the eldest brother of my Great Great Grandfather Francis 'Frank' George Wright (1868 - 1939).

Thomas. c 1900

Thomas was born on 10th January 1849 in St Mary Steps, Exeter, Devon to William Wright (about 28), a man of many occupations but around the time of Thomas' birth a boot and shoe maker, and Sarah Wright (nee Emberry) (about 20), a housewife and later an outdoor servant and laundress.

Thomas was baptised on 28th January 1849, at the Wesleyan Methodist church, in Exeter.

Thomas was the eldest of eight children (six sons and two daughters):

• Thomas William  1849 - 1931  (82)
• Henry John  1851 -
• Frederick Emberry  1854 -
• Ellen  1857 -
• Walter Charles  1861 -
• Alfred Frank  1864 -
• Francis 'Frank' George  1868 - 1939  (70)
• Bessie T  1870 -

1851 Census: 

Aged twelve, Thomas was already working as an errand boy.

1861 Census: 

1871 Census:

On Christmas Day (25th December) 1874, Thomas (25), a tinman, married Mary Ann Gatter (25) in St Mary Major. Exeter. At the time of their marriage, Thomas and Mary both lived on Prospect Place - were then neighbours. Both groom and bride could sign their name. The wedding was witnessed by Thomas' younger sister Ellen.

Thomas and Mary had three children (two daughters and one son):

• Maud Annie  1875
• Bessie  1877
• William Thomas  1884

1881 Census: 

1891 Census: 

In 1896, Thomas and Mary Ann's eldest daughter Maude, her husband Samuel Bartlett and young daughter, Mabel, went to Quebec, Canada. Their next child, a daughter called Agnes, would be born in Lachine, Quebec, Canada, in 1897. However, the young family moved back to Exeter by 1899, where their next two children, Hilda and Violet, were born. Why did they move to Canada for a few years? And then move back to Exeter?

Photograph of Thomas, most of his siblings, and their mother Sarah, c 1900

Standing left to right: Alfred, Walter, Frank and Frederick

Siting left to right: Thomas, Sarah and either Ellen or Thomas' wife Mary

1901 Census: 

As seen on the 1911 Census, Thomas and Mary Ann's son William worked as an asylum attendant at the Western Counties Asylum, also known as the Devon County Lunatic Asylum, in Exminster. The grand building remains and is now housing - I pass it every day on the bus to and from work. He later married and had children, moved to Bideford, and worked as a plumber and gas fitter. 

1911 Census: 

Thomas' wife Mary Ann passed away, aged about 62, in Apr/May/Jun 1911, in Exeter.

Afterwards Thomas would live with his married daughter Bessie and her family.

1921 Census: 

An advertisement for Thomas' place of work from the Western Times of 27th March 1909:

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1931, Thomas passed away, aged eight-two, in Exeter.

Great x3 Aunt Agnes Davey (nee Nott)

My Great x3 Aunt Agnes (1868 - 1924) was a dress maker, milliner, boarding house keeper, housewife, mother of one, and the youngest sister of my Great Great Grandmother Bessie Staddon Edworthy (nee Nott) (1859 - 1919).

Agnes was born in Oct/Nov 1866 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to William Nott, an agricultural labourer, and Grace Nott (nee Cobley) (about 40), a wool weaver.

Agnes was baptised on 10th November 1866, in Morchard Bishop. She was likely named for her maternal grandmother, Agnes Cobley (nee Davey).

Agnes was the youngest of nine children (four sons and five daughters):

• William  1850 - after 1861
• John Henry  1852 - after 1861
• Frederick  1853 - 1927  (74)
• Mary Emma  1855 - after 1871
• Eliza Lydia  1856 - 1869  (12)
• Bessie Staddon  1859 - 1919  (about 60)
• Walter  1860 - 1916  (55)
• Jessie Rose 1864 - 1947  (83)
• Agnes  1866 - 1924  (57)

In 1869, when Agnes was about two, her older sister Eliza passed away, aged twelve.

Agnes grew up with her family at Southcott Cottage in Morchard Bishop.

1871 Census: 

On 15th July 1889, Agnes (22), a dressmaker and milliner, married Richard George Davey (26), a saddler and harness maker, in Winkleigh. 

Agnes' maternal grandmother was born a Davey. Was Agnes somehow related to her husband?

Agnes was nearly seven months pregnant, when she married Richard, for their only child, Fred, was born on 23rd September 1889. At the time of Fred's birth, the family lived at Vine Street, Winkleigh.

Agnes and Richard's one son:

• Fred  1889  

1891 Census: 

On 8th February 1892, Richard became a police constable, moving the family from Devon to London. In London, Agnes worked as a housekeeper, running a bordering house in their home - first at 7 Lucas Place (1901 Census) and then 24 Bloomsbury Square (1911 Census). Looking at the other houses on Bloomsbury Square, the majority look to be boarding houses or hotels.

Lucas Place seems to have been off Cromer Street (formerly Lucas Street), somewhere. In 1901, of the twelve houses on Lucas Place, there were police constables living at four (no. 1, 2, 7 and 9).

1901 Census:

At the time of the 1911 Census, their two boarders were both architectural students - one from Australia and one from South Africa.

1911 Census: 

24 Bloomsbury Square

There was a (suffragette approved) literary circle held at 'Little Salon' at 24 Bloomsbury Square from 1911 for a few years. 

In 1910, the Little Salon was at Studio, 15, Rectory Chambers, Chelsea, but seemingly moved to 24 Bloomsbury Square in 1911. Often no name is given on advertisements, but some in 1913 give M.L. Breakell. Seems to have been Mary Louisa Brekell (penname Penumbra), artist and writer, from Manchester, who later moved to London, who was indeed living at 15 Rectory Chambers on 1911 Census. Did Mary Louisa move to 24 Bloomsbury Square in 1911, or was Agnes still at that address and involved in the salon?

Agnes' only child, Fred, served as a corporal in the First World War. He served in the 3/5th Battalion of the Essex Regiment. The battalion was deployed in Gallipoli in July 1915, landing at Suvla Bay in August. They were evacuated in December 1915 and moved to Egypt. Fred survived the war. His own son, Agnes's grandson, Fred Ernest, would serve in the Second World War and thankfully survive his service too.

Agnes' son, Fred's career out of the army... He was a laboratory attendant at the time of the 1911 Census, an insurance agent by the time of the 1921 Census, and a sub post master stationer by the time of the 1939 Census. His own son, Agnes' grandson, also called Fred, was a clerk for a chartered accountant by the time of the 1939 Census. Agnes's family had evolved from a working class family in the Devon countryside to a middle class family in the capital city. 

Agnes' son Fred married Elizabeth Maria, in 1915, the daughter of Alfred Barringer, who was the district superintendent in Islington, for 22 years, of the Royal London Mutual Insurance Society. Fred's father-in-law, a 'staunch liberal', was 'held in high esteem by all who knew him and there always existed a spirit of brotherhood between him and his agents'.

Agnes' husband Richard, a constable in the Whitechapel division, after a service of over 27 years, retired from the police force on 28th September 1919, after which date he was in receipt of a police pension. His pension gives a brief description of his physical appearance: he was nearly 5' 11'', with dark hair turning grey, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

1921 Census:

Agnes and Richard moved back to their native Devon around 1923. They settled in Dawlish, living on The Strand.

In Apr/May/Jun 1924, Agnes passed away, aged 57, in the district of Newton Abbot.

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1925, (6 - 12 months after Agnes' death), Agnes' widower Richard (61), a retired police constable, remarried. He married Victoria Slade (48), a housekeeper in Dawlish, in the district of Newton Abbot. The couple moved to 6 Luscombe Terrace, also in Dawlish. Victoria was interestingly born in Gibraltar - her father was English, but her mother was Gibraltarian. Nearly fifty, this was her first and only marriage - it lasted only eight years.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1933, Richard passed away, aged 70, in the district of Newton Abbot.

Victoria was still living at 6 Luscombe Terrace at the time of the 1939 Census. She would outlive Richard by nearly thirty years, passing away, aged 85, in 1962, in Exeter.

Great x3 Aunt Jessie Rose West (nee Nott)

My Great x3 Aunt Jessie (1864 - 1947) was a milliner, housewife, mother of six, and a younger sister of my Great Great Grandmother Bessie Staddon Edworthy (nee Nott) (1859 - 1919).

Jessie was born on 1st April 1864 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to William Nott, an agricultural labourer, and Grace Nott (nee Cobley) (about 36), a wool weaver.

Like a few of her siblings, Jessie's birth doesn't seem to have been registered; however, she was baptised on 29th June 1864, in Morchard Bishop, though seemingly without the middle name of Rose, which is recorded as having as a teenager on the 1881 Census.

Jessie was the eighth of nine children (four sons and five daughters):

• William  1850 - after 1861
• John Henry  1852 - after 1861
• Frederick  1853 - 1927  (74)
• Mary Emma  1855 - after 1871
• Eliza Lydia  1856 - 1869  (12)
• Bessie Staddon  1859 - 1919  (about 60)
• Walter  1860 - 1916  (55)
• Jessie Rose 1864 - 1947  (83)
• Agnes  1866 - 1924  (57)

In the winter of 1869, when Jessie was five, her older sister Eliza passed away, aged twelve.

Jessie grew up in Southcott Cottage, in Morchard Bishop.

1871 Census:

As a young woman, Jessie worked as a milliner.

1881 Census: 

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1888, Jessie (24) married Simon John N West (22), a farrier and horse keeper, in the district of Torrington, Devon

Jessie and Simon had six daughters:

• Ethel Maria  1890
• Ida Mary  1891 - 1891  (5 weeks old)
• Mabel Elizabeth  1893
• Minnie Kathleen  1895
• Clara Hilda M  1898 - 1899  (1 year old)
• Doris Gwendoline  1902 

Sadly, Jessie and Simon's second daughter Ida passed away, aged only five weeks old, in Winkleigh. She was buried on 31st July 1891 in Winkleigh. And their fifth daughter Clara passed away, at one year old, in Cardiff, in Oct/Nov/Dec 1899.

1891 Census: 

Around 1897, family moved from Winkleigh, Devon (where the eldest four children were born) to Cardiff, Wales (where the younger two children were born). The family lived on Vere Street in Cardiff for over twenty years.

1901 Census:

1911 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1918, when Jessie was fifty-four, her husband Simon passed away, aged fifty-two, in Cardiff, Wales.

1921 Census:

At the eve of the Second World War, Jessie was living with her married daughter Minnie, son-in-law William Hitchcock, a sorting clerk at the post office, and their children, and his niece and nephew, at 14 Newminster, Cardiff, Wales. 

1939 Census:

Jessie lived to see the end of the Second World War. She outlived her husband Simon by nearly thirty years. In Jul/Aug/Sep 1947, Jessie passed away, aged eighty-three, in the district of East Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Wales.

Great x3 Uncle Walter Knott

My Great x3 Uncle Walter (1860 - 1916) was a private in the army, railway carman, father of seven, and the younger brother of my Great Great Grandmother Bessie Staddon Edworthy (nee Nott) (1859 - 1919).

Walter was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1860 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to William Nott, an agricultural labourer, and Grace Nott (nee Cobley) (about 32), a wool weaver.

Walter and his older Frederick spelt their surname with a k - as in Knott -; whilst other members of the family spelt with without - as in Nott. 

Walter was the seventh of nine children (four sons and five daughters):

• William  1850 - after 1861
• John Henry  1852 - after 1861
• Frederick  1853 - 1927  (74)
• Mary Emma  1855 - after 1871
• Eliza Lydia  1856 - 1869  (12)
• Bessie Staddon  1859 - 1919  (about 60)
• Walter  1860 - 1916  (55)
• Jessie Rose 1864 - 1947  (83)
• Agnes  1866 - 1924  (57)

1861 Census: 

In 1869, Walter's older sister Eliza passed away, aged only twelve.

1871 Census:

On 15th January 1877, Walter (859) joined the army. He seems to have lied about his age, claiming to be nineteen, when he was in fact only sixteen. He enlisted as a private, in the 34th Brigade (infantry brigade).

Walter's service record gives a physical description of Walter: he was 5'5''/5'6'', had light brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. His character was repeatedly described as 'very good'.

He served in England, from 16th January 1877 to 12th January 1878 (just short of one year); then in East India, from 13th January 1878 to 28th July 1880 (two and half years); then in Afghanistan, from 29th July 1880 to 8th May 1881 (nearly two years); then back in East India, from 9th May 1881 to 10th March 1883 (nearly two years); after six years active service, he was back at home from 11th March 1883 to 15th January 1889, transferring to the reserves on 22nd March 1883. He was discharged on 15th January 1889.

During his service: from 29th July 1880 to 8th May 1881, he fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. For which he was awarded the Afghanistan Medal.

Whilst in the army, Walter suffered from a series of illnesses...

Whilst still in England, for seven days, from 6th November 1877 to 12th November 1877, he had diarrhoea. 

Seventeen-year-old, Walter contracted gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection, three months after arriving in India. Sadly, this may well have likely been from an India woman, prostituted to/by the British army. 

Whilst out in India... For thirty-seven days, from 2nd April 1878 to 8th May 1878, he had gonorrhoea. For six days, from 19th March 1879 to 24th March 1879, he had ague (malaria or another illness involving fever and shivering). And again had ague for five days, from 8th September 1879 to 12th September 1879, and once more for seven days, from 24th November 1879 to 1st December 1879. 

Whilst out in Afghanistan... For thirteen days, from 24th October 1880 to 6th November 1880, had dysentery (for which he was treated with opium). For twenty-fives days, from 1st January 1881 to 25th January 1881, suffered from a general debility.

He became a carrier/carman from the railway in Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, in March 1883, but was also still a private in the army reserve, serving until 1889 (serving for twelve years).

On 28th December 1884, Walter (24), a army private and railway carman, married Esther Lovell (24), a native of Woolwich, London, in St Mary, Portsea, Hampshire. At the time of his marriage, Walter lived at 57 Surrey Street; whilst Esther lived at 67 Bishop Street. The marriage was witnessed by members of Esther's family.

Walter and Esther had seven children (three daughters and four sons):

• Esther  1885 
• Jessie  1887
• Mabel Grace  1890  
• Frederick  1892 - 1896  (4 years old)
• Walter  1892 - 1902  (10 years old)
• Henry 'Percy' Percy  1894 - 1917  (23 years old)
• William 'Willie' Edward  1897  

All seven children were born in Portsea Island/Portsmouth.

1891 Census:

Sadly, Walter and Esther's twin sons, Frederick and Walter (named for his father) passed away in childhood. In Jul/Aug/Sep 1896, Frederick passed away, at four years old, in Portsea Island. In Jul/Aug/Sep 1902, Walter passed away, at ten years old, in Portsea Island.

Come 1901, the family had lodgers.

1901 Census:

1911 Census:

In February 1916, Walter, suffering from ill health, which had led to depression, attempted to take his own life. He put his head in the gas oven and was rendered unconscious; however, his wife Esther alerted the local constable, who performed artificial respiration, which was successful. Walter was taken to hospital and then to the infirmary.

From the Portsmouth Evening News of 15th February 1916:

Three months later, on 3rd May 1916, Walter did pass away, aged fifty-five, after what is described as 'great' and 'much suffering' . At the time his abode was 6 Salem Street, Southsea.

From the Portsmouth Evening News of 6th May 1916:

Sadly, a year and half after Walter's death, his son Percy was killed in action, during the First World War. Percy (20953) was a private in the Coldstream Guards. He was killed on 27th November 1917 in France, aged twenty-three.

At the time of Percy's death, his widowed mother Esther lived at 37 Wingfield Street, Landport, Portsmouth.

Esther passed away, aged about 75, in Oct/Nov 1935, in the district of Portsmouth

Great x3 Aunt Eliza Lydia Nott

My Great x3 Aunt Eliza (1856 - 1869) was an elder sister of my Great Great Grandmother Bessie Staddon Edworthy (nee Nott) (1859 - 1919).

Eliza was born around 1856 in Bampton, Devon, to William Nott, an agricultural labourer, and Grace Nott (nee Cobley) (about 28), a wool weaver.

Eliza's birth doesn't appear to have been registered; however, she was baptised on 28th December 1856, in Bampton, Devon. At the time of her birth, the family lived on the High Street.

Eliza was the fifth of nine children (four sons and five daughters):

• William  1850 - after 1861
• John Henry  1852 - after 1861
• Frederick  1853 - 1927  (74)
• Mary Emma  1855 - after 1871
• Eliza Lydia  1856 - 1869  (12)
• Bessie Staddon  1859 - 1919  (about 60)
• Walter  1860 - 1916  (55)
• Jessie Rose 1864 - 1947  (83)
• Agnes  1866 - 1924  (57)

When Eliza was very young, the family moved from Bampton to Morchard Bishop. There, the family can be found on the 1861 Census.

1861 Census:

Sadly, in Oct/Nov/Dec 1869, Eliza passed away, aged twelve (nearly thirteen), in the district of Crediton.

Great x3 Aunt Mary Emma Nott

My Great x3 Aunt Mary (1855 - ????) was a domestic servant, and an elder sister of my Great Great Grandmother Bessie Staddon Edworthy (nee Nott) (1859 - 1919).

Mary was born around 1855 in Bampton, Devon, to William Nott, an agricultural labourer, and Grace Nott (nee Cobley) (about 27), a wool weaver.

Mary's birth doesn't seem to have been registered; however, she was baptised on 15th July 1855 in Bampton, Devon. At the time of Mary's baptism, the family lived at somewhere called Higher Ladwell, in or near Bampton.

Mary was the fourth of nine children (four sons and five daughters) and the eldest daughter:

• William  1850 - after 1861
• John Henry  1852 - after 1861
• Frederick  1853 - 1927  (74)
• Mary Emma  1855 - after 1871
• Eliza Lydia  1856 - 1869  (12)
• Bessie Staddon  1859 - 1919  (about 60)
• Walter  1860 - 1916  (55)
• Jessie Rose 1864 - 1947  (83)
• Agnes  1866 - 1924  (57)

By the time of younger sister Eliza's baptism in December 1856, the family have moved from Higher Ladwell to the High Street, seemingly also in Bampton, for Eliza was too baptised in that village.

By 1859, the family had moved to Morchard Bishop.

1861 Census: 

As a teen, Mary was working as a domestic servant, living at St David's Hill, St David's, Exeter. For Trobridge family, headed by elderly John Trobridge, a master grocer.

I am presently struggling to find Mary on records after 1871. Did she move away, get married, pass away young?

Her employer, John Trobridge passed away in around July 1872 and his wife Mary Ann passed away in around October 1872. There was an auction of their household furniture in the September. Their daughter living at home, Jane, also married around this time. Teenage Mary would have had her employers' passing away, marrying and moving out, and the furniture of her place of work being sold off. What did she do after?

From the Express and Echo of 18th September 1872:

Great x3 Uncle Frederick Knott

My Great x3 Uncle Frederick (1854 - 1927), was a farm servant in Devon, a flax mill manager in New Zealand, a market garden in Newport Pagnell, father of two, and an elder brother of my Great Great Grandmother Bessie Staddon Edworthy (nee Nott) (1859 - 1919).

Whilst Bessie spelt her surname as Nott, Frederick spelt it as Knott. Spellings vary amongst the family.

Frederick was born in October 1853, in the district of Crediton, Devon, to William Nott (??), an agricultural labourer, and Grace Nott (nee Cobley) (about 25), a wool weaver.

Frederick was baptised on 30th October 1853, in Morchard Bishop, Devon. At the time of Frederick's baptism, the family resided at Lower Town.

Frederick was the third of nine children (four sons and five daughters):

• William  1850 - after 1861
• John Henry  1852 - after 1861
• Frederick  1853 - 1927  (74)
• Mary Emma  1855 - after 1871
• Eliza Lydia  1856 - 1869  (12)
• Bessie Staddon  1859 - 1919  (about 60)
• Walter  1860 - 1916  (55)
• Jessie Rose 1864 - 1947  (83)
• Agnes  1866 - 1924  (57)

1861 Census:

 

As a young man, Frederick lived with and worked as an indoor farm servant for the Horrell Family, headed by Henry Horrell, farmer of 250 acres, employing 2 men and 3 boys, at Moore Farm, Morchard Bishop.

1871 Census:

Frederick moved to New Zealand in 1874!

On 25th September 1874, twenty-year-old Frederick boarded a ship called the Crusader in Plymouth, Devon for New Zealand. Three months later, on New Year's Eve (31st December) 1874, Frederick stepped foot in Lyttelton, New Zealand. 

On 30th June 1888, Frederick (34) married fellow Devonian Fanny Dart (29) out in Amberley, Chirstchurch, New Zealand. 

The year before, Fanny had moved out to New Zealand with her sister Jane. The sisters must have been close for they emigrated together and lived together long into their adult lives.

Frederick and Fanny had two children:

• Minnie May  1889  Masterton, New Zealand
• Harry Percival  1898  Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire

Their daughter Minnie was born around 1889, out in Masterton, New Zealand.

By the time of the 1893 New Zealand Electoral Roll, Frederick was working at a flax mill, and living at Colombo Road, Masterton, New Zealand. 

In November 1892, Frederick's employers Mannings & Co took over Fittons Mill at Riverside, and appointed Frederick as manager at that mill. In March and again in July 1893, Riverside Mill was flooded by the Wairapa River and a large quanity of flax was lost.

I wonder if this loss was a key factor in Frederick and his family deciding to return to England later in 1893. On 30th November 1893, Frederick, Fanny, young Minnie, and Fanny's unmarried sister Jane boarded a ship called the SS Coptic for London.

In 1894, Frederick's then five-year-old daughter Minnie began attending infants school in Olney, near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. At the time, the family lived on Station Road, Olney.

Soon settled in Newport Pagnell, Frederick worked as a market gardener for several years. 

The family lived with Fanny's unmarried sister Jane, a woman of private means, from the mid 1890's to the 1911 Census and beyond, at Lake's Lane, Newport Pagnell. There was also a boarder, assistant school mistress, Nellie Osborn, living with them on the 1901 Census, who may have inspired daughter Minnie to become a needlework and music teacher, by the time of the 1911 Census.

1901 Census:

1911 Census:

Daughter Minnie was a prodigal pianist. In 1907, aged only seventeen, she gained a Diploma of Association of the London College of Music. As reported in the Croydon Weekly Standard of 13th April 1907: 'We understand it is very expectational for one so young to gain the cap and gown of the A.L.C.M. Such a unique success is decidedly satisfactory, and reflects the greatest credit upon both pupil and teacher.'

From the Bucks Standard of 13th April 1907:

Frederick's son Harry (DM2/190874) served as a private, in the WO 329 company, of the Royal Army Service Corps, during the First World War. Thankfully he survived the war. After the war, he followed in his father Frederick's footsteps and worked as a market gardener, in Newport Pagnell.

The family had another border on the 1911 Census, Mark Gibbons, a coach (and then later motor) body maker, whom daughter Minnie later married in 1919.

Frederick's Daughter Minnie, aged 30, on her Wedding Day, 1919

Also living with the family on the 1921 Census were Jane and Fanny's half niece Nellie and her son Valentine (also born in New Zealand).

1921 Census:

In Apr/May/Jun 1924, when Frederick was seventy, his wife Fanny passed away, aged sixty-three, in Newport Pagnell.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1927, Frederick passed away, aged seventy-four, in Newport Pagnell.

By the time of the 1939 Census, Frederick's adult children, Minnie and Harry, along with Minnie's husband Mark and their teenage son Maurice still lived at 64 The Lakes, Lakes Lane, Newport Pagnell.

Frederick's grandson and my 2nd Cousin 2x Removed, Maurice Gibbons, seems to have been an interesting gentleman...

As a boy, Maurice was a weekly border at Elmers School, Bletchley. Just prior to the outbreak of the Second War World, the grammar school building and grounds were requisitioned by the government, and became part of Station X at Bletchley Park - the then top-secret home of wartime codebreakers.

As a teenager, Maurice played tennis at County level - even playing at Wimbledon. He was also a keen follower of cricket, football and the grand prix.

On his eighteenth birthday, he joined the ATC (Air Traffic Control). He was also an member of the Home Guard, from 1940 until 1942, when he joined the RAF - travelling to Canada for training to be a pilot. He flew a number of missions as a Lancaster pilot for 170 Squadron over Germany. At the end of the war, he flew Lord Mountbatten and his staff; and also returned fellow countrymen, who had been prisoners of war, back to Britain.

As a boy he made many meccano models, and as a man model railways; he was also artistic and talented at drawing. He would have liked to have been an architect, or to have carried on flying after the war; however, under strong parental pressure, he joined Barclay's Bank - a steady job. 

Whilst working for a bank and later at different newsagents, he played an active role in amateur dramatics, as actor, director and props designer, which he continued into his old age. A group he was involved with, the West Niners, were to become one of the top amateur societies in London. When he moved to Lymington, later in life, he joined the Lymington players. He also took ballroom dancing lessons, whilst in London, and won two trophies in amateur competitions, meeting Vera Lynn at one of these events.

Frederick's grandson Maurice Gibbons, aged 87, 2010

(I must honour a key source in researching Frederick's and his descends lives was, my cousins, the Gibbons family's meticulously recorded family records: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/105764700/person/260050034406/facts. Xxx)