Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Walter S. MARGRETT & Sons, Ruardean.

Walter S. MARGRETT & Sons, Ruardean. (reply)

Elizabeth Knapper — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:43:03 +0000

Hello "Liz
We meet again on this wonderful,site. Still researching. Have you come across any info on The Well at the Dancing Green. My Dad often spoke of it.

Kind Regards
Elizabeth (Janet) Knapper

Walter S. MARGRETT & Sons, Ruardean. (reply)

Liz3113 — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:12:06 +0000

Walter Margrett was one of a large family of 10 children, (3 sisters and 7 brothers) born and brought up in Bailey Brook (near Hope Mansell). Walter's brothers Alfred, Thomas and Will also fought in WW1 (his younger brother Raymond,my grandfather, signed up aged 15 but was found out and discharged). The brothers all survived the war but Alfred, who was a Lieutenant in the 1st Royal Dragoons, East Yorkshire Regiment died in 1923, from the effects of mustard gas poisoning and is buried in Hope Mansell Churchyard.

Walter S. MARGRETT, his sad memoirs of two World Wars. (reply)

Jefff — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 01:41:54 +0000

Some more searching has unearthed this fascinating and wellwritten article from the Forest Review paper, "A family scarred by war", published Wednesday 28 September 2011.

This detailed account by Walter's daughter Freda tells the truly awful story in graphic detail of brave Walter's experiences in the trenches of WW1. It shows that despite eventually returning home alive supposedly the "conquering hero", like so many of those who were lucky enough to avoid being killed outright his life was changed forever, he never recovered from his physical scars on top of his mental ones. Altho wounds could be treated using the very effective new antiseptics there were no "miracle" antibiotics, nevermind plastic surgery or NHS in those days. So many thousands had wounds which would never heal over and would require constant cleaning & redressing to prevent infection - in some cases a slow death possibly worse than that on the battlefield....
The article also describes the WW2 service of not only his sons but his daughters too, how awful those days must have been for Walter, Lydia and Freda too, these experiences shaped her life as she became a nurse.

A recommended read for which Freda and the Review should be very proud, and a stark reminder of why we must never forget those who fought and what they fought for.

http://www.forest-and-wye-today.co.uk/featuresdetail.cfm?id=4156

Walter S. MARGRETT & Sons, Ruardean. (reply)

Jefff — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:31:43 +0000

Thanks for the extra info. So it indeed seems that as Alec was fortunately too young for WW2 service, so the "second brother" presumably was William George altho' thankfully it appears he didn't die directly due to his military service. Further searching finds nothing about him online so I assume he wasn't a POW in the European theatre (there being extensive records here, unlike for POWs in the Far East). ??? I therefore think I'll be looking out Freda's book next time I'm in the Dean, altho sadly I cannot find it in the Glos Library catalogue. If anyone cares to search it on the usual internet shopping sites the front cover carries a good photo of Walter Margrett in uniform, judging by his appearance taken towards the end of his Army career.

Hardcover: 38 pages
Publisher: Freda E. Margrett; 1 edition (2012)
ISBN-10: 095642242X
ISBN-13: 978-0956422422
"A Diary written by an old soldier Walter Stephen Margrett during the Great War 1914-1918, telling the hardships the men faced in the trenches, digging trenches whilst shells continually bursting overhead, with some men buried alive in the attempt. He talks of spending four days without food, drink or sleep, surviving by eating fruit from the hedgerows, and many other hardships. He fought throughout the war and survived but never recovered from his injuries. Then the Second World War 1939-1945 his two eldest sons were called up and in 1944 they were both reported missing within three weeks of each other. The shock I am sure caused his early death."

Here's a little more detail from Walter Margrett's WW1 Medal Card:

Reference:WO 372/13/118446
Description:Medal card of Margrett, Walter S
Corps Regiment No Rank
Wiltshire Regiment 7347 Private
Royal Scots Fusiliers 341692 Private
Date: 1914-1920
Held by: The National Archives, Kew

From free-access TNA site
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D3929602

Again this shows soldiers often served in far-from-local Regiments, altho his first was localish. Given his age when war started I wonder if he was on the Reserve List so saw early action.

Slowhands, thank's for highlighting he's on Army service in South Africa during the 1911 Census. I've since learnt this was the first UK Census to include returns for the British Army at their many overseas bases. I mention this as last year I'd hoped to find one of my soldier ancestors in India during the 1891 Census, but sadly no.
http://www.ukcensusonline.com/census/1911.php

Lydia ABELL 1888 Palmers Hill (reply)

slowhands — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:56:38 +0000

Record_ID: 83413
Entry_Number: 193
Year: 1919
Month: Jun
Day: 2
Grooms_Surname: MARGRETT
Grooms_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Grooms_Age: 32
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Railway Porter
Grooms_Residence: The Bailey
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: MARGRETT
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Walter
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: ABELL
Brides_Forenames: Lydia
Brides_Age: 31
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: The Bailey
Brides_Fathers_Surname: ABELL
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: George
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Deceased
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Ashbel Abell
Witness_2: Mary Barnett
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 97
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1911 Bailey, Nr Ross, Herefordshire
George Abell 58
Margaret Abell 63
Ashbel Abell 22

1901
George Abell abt 1852 Painswick, Gloucestershire, England Head Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire
Margeret Abell abt 1847 Bailey, Herefordshire, England Wife Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire
William Trott Abell abt 1881 Penge London, Surrey, England Son Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire
Lydia Abell abt 1888 Bailey, Herefordshire, England Daughter Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire
Ashbel Abell abt 1889 Bailey, Herefordshire, England Son Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire

1891
George Abell abt 1852 Painswick, Gloucestershire, England Head Weston, Herefordshire
Margaret Abell abt 1848 Bailer, Herefordshire, England Wife Weston, Herefordshire
William H R Trott abt 1881 Penge Stepson Weston, Herefordshire
Lydia Abell abt 1888 Palmershill, Herefordshire, England Daughter Weston, Herefordshire
Ashbel Abell abt 1889 Palmershill, Herefordshire, England Son Weston, Herefordshire
George N Abell abt 1891 Palmershill, Herefordshire, England Son Weston, Herefordshire

Alec Stephen MARGRETT Ruardean 1930 - 2003 (reply)

slowhands — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:09:19 +0000

Alec S Margrett Jul-Aug-Sep 1930 Ross Shropshire

Name: Alec Stephen Margrett
Birth Date: 3 Aug 1930
Date of Registration: Jan 2003
Age at Death: 72
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Register Number: 44
District and Subdistrict: 482/1
Entry number: 79

Ivor Walter MARGRETT Ruardean 1921 - 1944 R I P (reply)

slowhands — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:06:05 +0000

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them

MARGRETT, IVOR WALTER
Rank:Able Seaman
Service No:P/JX 323190
Date of Death:03/08/1944
Age:23
Regiment/Service:Royal Navy
H.M.S. Quorn.
Panel ReferencePanel 82, Column 3.
MemorialPORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Walter Stephen Margrett, and of Lydia Margrett, of Ruardean, Gloucestershire.

Entry_Number: 432
Year: 1921
Month: Jul
Day: 3
Parents_Surname: MARGRETT
Child_Forenames: Ivor Walter
Fathers_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Mothers_Forenames: Lydia
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: New Town East Dean
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: H Evans Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born May 18th 1921
Notes:
Register_Reference: CK25/1
Page_Number: 54
Parish_Chapel: Hope Mansel

Walter Stephen MARGRETT family Ruardean and Cinderford (reply)

slowhands — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:02:16 +0000

Record_ID: 83413
Entry_Number: 193
Year: 1919
Month: Jun
Day: 2
Grooms_Surname: MARGRETT
Grooms_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Grooms_Age: 32
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Railway Porter
Grooms_Residence: The Bailey
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: MARGRETT
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Walter
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: ABELL
Brides_Forenames: Lydia
Brides_Age: 31
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: The Bailey
Brides_Fathers_Surname: ABELL
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: George
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Deceased
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Ashbel Abell
Witness_2: Mary Barnett
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 97
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1901 Palmers Hill
Walter Margreffs abt 1852 Sherrington, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ellen Margreffs abt 1859 Bailey Brook, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Walter S Margreffs abt 1887 Palmers Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas G Margreffs abt 1891 Palmers Hill Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary Ann Margreffs abt 1893 Palmers Hill Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Edith Ellen Margreffs abt 1895 Palmers Hill Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
William Henry Margreffs abt 1897 Palmers Hill Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Raymond David Margreffs abt 1899 Palmers Hill Son East Dean, Gloucestershire

1911 South Africa
Walter Margrett abt 1887 East Deam, Gloucestershire, England
[East Dean, Gloucestershire] Private Military

Walter and Lydia's children include :-

William G Margret Jan-Feb-Mar 1920 Ross Shropshire

Ivor W Margrett Apr-May-Jun 1921 Westbury S Shropshire

Iris L Margrett Oct-Nov-Dec 1923 Ross Herefordshire

Georgina J Margrett Oct-Nov-Dec 1925 Ross Shropshire

Freda E Margrett Oct-Nov-Dec 1926 Ross Shropshire

Alec S Margrett Jul-Aug-Sep 1930 Ross Shropshire

William George MARGRETT 1920 - 1973 (reply)

slowhands — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:59:33 +0000

Today I was searching the net for details of those local men who had fought and tragically died in WW1, when I found this article about the above programme which I hope is of interest.

From The Forester newspaper website dated Friday, 26 October 2012.

"Matt Baker....interviewed author Freda Margrett, from Cinderford, whose father fought in the First World War, and whose two brothers were both killed in the Second World War.
Her father, when told that both men were missing and presumed killed, collapsed and died through the shock of receiving the news."

Freda recently published a book having transcribed her father’s war time diary called "Dad’s Diary – A Family at War".

http://www.theforester.co.uk/news.cfm?id=37693

So sad...

---------------------------

I haven't read the book, but the following records apply.

From the CWGC site I find this Record which fortunately includes a helpfull additional note:

MARGRETT, IVOR WALTER

Rank:Able Seaman
Service No:P/JX 323190
Date of Death:03/08/1944
Age:23
Regiment/Service:Royal Navy
H.M.S. Quorn.
Panel ReferencePanel 82, Column 3.
MemorialPORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Walter Stephen Margrett, and of Lydia Margrett, of Ruardean, Gloucestershire.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2371311/MARGRETT,%20IVOR%20WALTER

From this site's PRs, Freda's family (as far as I can find, may be more);

Record_ID: 130048
Entry_Number: 797
Year: 1887
Month: Mar
Day: 13
Parents_Surname: MARGRETTS
Child_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Fathers_Forenames: Walter
Mothers_Forenames: Ellen
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: The Bailey East Dean
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: Walter Eaton M.A. Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: AG68/6
Page_Number: 100
Parish_Chapel: Hope Mansell
Soundex: M626

Record_ID: 1008652
Entry_Number: 689
Year: 1945
Month: Feb
Day: 10
Surname: MARGRETT
Forenames: Walter Stephen
Residence: Fern Villa Ruardean Woodside
Age_at_death: 57
Officiating_Minister: T R Deakin
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/38
Page_No: 87
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: M626

Record_ID: 1005362
Entry_Number: 371
Year: 1972
Month: Nov
Day: 17
Surname: MARGRETT
Forenames: Lydia
Residence: 13 Denehurst Ruardean Woodside Ruardean
Age_at_death: 85
Officiating_Minister: H G E Hiscox
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/31
Page_No: 47
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: M626

Record_ID: 83413
Entry_Number: 193
Year: 1919
Month: Jun
Day: 2
Grooms_Surname: MARGRETT
Grooms_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Grooms_Age: 32
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Railway Porter
Grooms_Residence: The Bailey
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: MARGRETT
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Walter
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: ABELL
Brides_Forenames: Lydia
Brides_Age: 31
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: The Bailey
Brides_Fathers_Surname: ABELL
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: George
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Deceased
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Ashbel Abell
Witness_2: Mary Barnett
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 97
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex_Groom: M626
Soundex_Bride: A140

Record_ID: 1054860
Entry_Number: 405
Year: 1920
Month: Apr
Day: 19
Parents_Surname: MARGRETT
Child_Forenames: William George
Fathers_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Mothers_Forenames: Lydia
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Flock cottage Hope Mansel
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: H Evans Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born Jan 2nd 1920
Notes:
Register_Reference: CK25/1
Page_Number: 51
Parish_Chapel: Hope Mansel
Soundex: M626

Record_ID: 1054887
Entry_Number: 432
Year: 1921
Month: Jul
Day: 3
Parents_Surname: MARGRETT
Child_Forenames: Ivor Walter
Fathers_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Mothers_Forenames: Lydia
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: New Town East Dean
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: H Evans Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born May 18th 1921
Notes:
Register_Reference: CK25/1
Page_Number: 54
Parish_Chapel: Hope Mansel
Soundex: M626

And from FreeBMD:

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/Age District Vol Page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Dec 1926 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Margrett Freda E Abell Ross 6a 665

I cannot find the second brother's death record from WW2 on any free-access website despite trying several surname spelling variations. Ancestry's free search gives a Death Record for a "Willam George Margrett of Glostershire, d1973" who may well be the above brother.
I wonder if he was falsely Reported Missing but then perhaps became a POW ?.

RIP

Year: 1920
Month: Apr
Day: 19
Parents_Surname: MARGRETT
Child_Forenames: William George
Fathers_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Mothers_Forenames: Lydia
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Flock cottage Hope Mansel
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: H Evans Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born Jan 2nd 1920
Notes:
Register_Reference: CK25/1
Page_Number: 51
Parish_Chapel: Hope Mansel

Name: William George Margrett
Birth Date: 2 Jan 1920
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1973
Age at Death: 53
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 7b
Page: 1118

MARGRETT family Ruardean and Cinderford

Jefff — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:20:10 +0000

Today I was searching the net for details of those local men who had fought and tragically died in WW1, when I found this article about the previous thread/ programme http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=39111 which I hope is of interest.

From The Forester newspaper website dated Friday, 26 October 2012.

"Matt Baker....interviewed author Freda Margrett, from Cinderford, whose father fought in the First World War, and whose two brothers were both killed in the Second World War.
Her father, when told that both men were missing and presumed killed, collapsed and died through the shock of receiving the news."

Freda recently published a book having transcribed her father’s war time diary called "Dad’s Diary – A Family at War".

http://www.theforester.co.uk/news.cfm?id=37693

So sad...

---------------------------

I haven't read the book, but the following records apply.

From the CWGC site I find this Record which fortunately includes a helpfull additional note:

MARGRETT, IVOR WALTER

Rank:Able Seaman
Service No:P/JX 323190
Date of Death:03/08/1944
Age:23
Regiment/Service:Royal Navy
H.M.S. Quorn.
Panel ReferencePanel 82, Column 3.
MemorialPORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Walter Stephen Margrett, and of Lydia Margrett, of Ruardean, Gloucestershire.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2371311/MARGRETT,%20IVOR%20WALTER

From this site's PRs, Freda's family (as far as I can find, may be more);

Record_ID: 130048
Entry_Number: 797
Year: 1887
Month: Mar
Day: 13
Parents_Surname: MARGRETTS
Child_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Fathers_Forenames: Walter
Mothers_Forenames: Ellen
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: The Bailey East Dean
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: Walter Eaton M.A. Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: AG68/6
Page_Number: 100
Parish_Chapel: Hope Mansell
Soundex: M626

Record_ID: 1008652
Entry_Number: 689
Year: 1945
Month: Feb
Day: 10
Surname: MARGRETT
Forenames: Walter Stephen
Residence: Fern Villa Ruardean Woodside
Age_at_death: 57
Officiating_Minister: T R Deakin
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/38
Page_No: 87
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: M626

Record_ID: 1005362
Entry_Number: 371
Year: 1972
Month: Nov
Day: 17
Surname: MARGRETT
Forenames: Lydia
Residence: 13 Denehurst Ruardean Woodside Ruardean
Age_at_death: 85
Officiating_Minister: H G E Hiscox
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/31
Page_No: 47
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: M626

Record_ID: 83413
Entry_Number: 193
Year: 1919
Month: Jun
Day: 2
Grooms_Surname: MARGRETT
Grooms_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Grooms_Age: 32
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Railway Porter
Grooms_Residence: The Bailey
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: MARGRETT
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Walter
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: ABELL
Brides_Forenames: Lydia
Brides_Age: 31
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: The Bailey
Brides_Fathers_Surname: ABELL
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: George
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Deceased
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Ashbel Abell
Witness_2: Mary Barnett
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 97
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex_Groom: M626
Soundex_Bride: A140

Record_ID: 1054860
Entry_Number: 405
Year: 1920
Month: Apr
Day: 19
Parents_Surname: MARGRETT
Child_Forenames: William George
Fathers_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Mothers_Forenames: Lydia
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Flock cottage Hope Mansel
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: H Evans Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born Jan 2nd 1920
Notes:
Register_Reference: CK25/1
Page_Number: 51
Parish_Chapel: Hope Mansel
Soundex: M626

Record_ID: 1054887
Entry_Number: 432
Year: 1921
Month: Jul
Day: 3
Parents_Surname: MARGRETT
Child_Forenames: Ivor Walter
Fathers_Forenames: Walter Stephen
Mothers_Forenames: Lydia
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: New Town East Dean
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: H Evans Rector
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born May 18th 1921
Notes:
Register_Reference: CK25/1
Page_Number: 54
Parish_Chapel: Hope Mansel
Soundex: M626

And from FreeBMD:

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/Age District Vol Page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Dec 1926 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Margrett Freda E Abell Ross 6a 665

I cannot find the second brother's death record from WW2 on any free-access website despite trying several surname spelling variations. Ancestry's free search gives a Death Record for a "Willam George Margrett of Glostershire, d1973" who may well be the above brother.
I wonder if he was falsely Reported Missing but then perhaps became a POW ?.

RIP