Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Burial of Emily Adeline HARRIS 1914

Burial of Emily Adeline HARRIS 1914 (reply)

Celia61 — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:11:01 +0000

Many thanks Slowhands. I really appreciate your thoughts on this. :-)
Will now try to pursue this with a Railway enthusiast in the family - perhaps he can find out something about the timetables.

Cheers, Celia

Burial of Emily Adeline HARRIS 1914 (reply)

slowhands — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:51:11 +0000

I get the feeling that this was not exceptional

The Midland railway was connecting to Bristol and South Wales , just as the Great Western had pushed to Snow Hill / Birmingham. The railways were making the investors rich so I guess there were plenty of goods and passengers to move around.

I doubt it was a common everyday experience, but those with money were mobile.

The local newspapers of the time carried timetables and excursion offers, so I guess it was not just an elite who used them.

Burial of Emily Adeline HARRIS 1914 (reply)

Celia61 — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:07:36 +0000

She died on 4th and was registered on the same day in Erdington, North Birmingham by her sister Minnie Marie Marfell Hudson nee Harris. I know Min and her family, and Emily frequently travelled back to the Forest, so presumably this was why she was taken back "home" to be buried with her father and infant brothers. Do you know whether this sort of distance was customary or unusual (other than soldiers) at this time?
Cheers, Celia

Burial of Emily Adeline HARRIS 1914 (reply)

slowhands — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:31:54 +0000

Its 75/80 miles

Today I can probably drive it in 2 hours - average speed 40 mph
by road at the time of WWI I suspect you could make that 6 to 8 hours by petrol power.

Rail seems the most likely to cover that distance and time , perhaps Birmingham to Gloucester or Lydney/Monmouth and then the last stage by petrol lorry ( possibly steam) / horse drawn trailer.

I remember Winston Churchills funeral in 1965 (?) and the final journey by train from London to Oxfordshire.

PS
4th May 1914 in Birmingham

Is that the date the death was registered or the actual date she died ?

Burial of Emily Adeline HARRIS 1914

Celia61 — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:10:29 +0000

The maiden sister of my grandmother died on 4th May 1914 in Birmingham and was buried three days later on 7th May at Holy Trinity, Drybrook. How would she have been transported back to her home in the Forest at that time;I know there was a good rail network, and to Drybrook Stop,but surely this was remarkably quick for that time.

Not been able to find any Google answers. Most grateful if anone knows of conventions at that time.

Cheers, Celia