White Horse Ancestors

18/06/2024

My latest article on the website for the British Modern Military History Society:

https://bmmhs.org/private-ron-read-a-casualty-of-friendly-fire/

18/04/2024

This is a photo of members of the Auxillary Fire Service and ARP taken outside the VC Gallery Wantage circa 1940. If you recognise anyone please let me know so that I can pass on the details to the Vale and Downland Museum as they hold a copy of it. Thank you

18/10/2023

I am trying to identify this photo of a church interior which is held by the Vale and Downland Museum in Wantage. It may or may not be a local church but if anyone recognises it please let me know. Thank you.

23/08/2023

My latest article in the Wantage Herald about the Belgian Refugees in Wantage between 1914-1918

22/08/2023

06/03/2023

Hello All,

I am looking for some Wantage memories of this lady please for my next article in the Wantage Herald. She is Miss Beatrice Lithiby (1889-1966) who lived and had a studio at the Guildry beside the Convent in Denchworth Road. Beatrice or (Bel to her friends) was a painter and designer of stained glass. Nationally she is remembered as a War Artist in both World Wars and served in the army on both occasions receiving the OBE and MBE. In Wantage Miss Lithiby was a member of the PCC, served as a Governor of Segsbury School from 1962-65 and was the local organiser of Oxfam. I have two questions 1, Miss Lithiby designed and painted an illustrated pictorial map of Wantage before presenting it to the town. It was placed on the wall of a market place shop according to her obituary does anyone remember it? 2, In 1965, Miss Lithiby presented Segsbury School with a French Cavalry Sword which her father brought back from Sedan, when an 18 year old schoolmaster, 10 days after the famous battle of 1870. The idea for it to be for the winner of an annual essay competition - "the pen is mightier than the sword" being the idea of linking the two implements. The sword used to be kept on display on a stand near the entrance. Any ideas as to what happened to it? Thank you.

01/03/2023

My latest article in the Wantage Herald about the mysterious life and death of Matron Gaudion of Wantage Hospital in 1943.
UPDATE 14th March 2023. I have been given the names of the two men who found the body, one was Stanley Carter and the other Mousey Collins thanks to the former's daughter in law. Can anyone give me more info on Mousey if possible please. Thank you.

20/09/2022

Floods in Wantage in November 1894, from the Reading Mercury 17/11/1894:
THE FLOODS AT WANTAGE. or the first time for many years Wantage on Wednesday was flooded in various parts, owing- to the heavy rains of the last fortnight and particularly those of Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The brook, which rises at Letcombe and passes through the town, was early on Wednesday quite full, and as the rain continued to fall soon began to overflow its banks on its way through the town. By ten o'clock the water had risen to a depth several feet by the side of the stream, and soon began to find its way into Mill-street, which in a very short time became flooded a depth of three or four feet for distance of 200 yards. The houses on either side were flooded with water, and most of the inhabitants sought shelter in the upper rooms In Messrs. Clark and Sons' mill there was a depth of three feet of water, and the lower floor being packed with corn the damage done was very great pavement just outside the mill, where the water came rushing down a narrow passage with great force, was entirely washed away, and deep holes were made in the ground. In Mr. Collins' bakehouse the water was several feet deep. Stables became filled with water, and good number of cattle had to be removed. Locks-lane some of the houses had a depth of nearly four feet of water, and the inhabitants had to take shelter with their more 'for- neighbours. In WalJingford Street, also, and near the Ham and likewise at the bottom of Grove Street, floods were also to be seen. Towards evening on Wednesday the water began to decrease and the road, which had all day been like river, became passable. A subscription was at once set on foot and good sum was collected to purchase coals for the sufferers. Large sheets of water lay on the tramway line, and near Oxford-lane so strong was the current rushing across the horse road and over the metals that it was deemed advisable not to cross with the engine and cars, horses and traps being therefore used to convey passengers over. The villages around Wantage, particularly those in the low-lying districts, appear to have suffered considerably. A large quantity of land is now under water.

27/08/2022

A few Tom Reveley dog photos for International Dog Day.

21/08/2022

Thomas Kavanagh's Victoria Cross is up for sale. The painting shown is by Louis Desanges and was one of the VC paintings displayed in the VC Gallery Wantage between 1900-40.
https://historyfirst.com/vc-awarded-to-civilian-for-indian-rebellion-rescue-mission-goes-on-sale/?fbclid=IwAR3KMv2EzycNKmEJp1FsOAqaU75HomcExPkdi4mAnhlWof3ne0DoW_fXXV0

The Victoria Cross awarded to an Irish civilian who slipped from the besieged Residency in Lucknow in disguise during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 to guide a British relief force is going up for sale.

18/08/2022

Would you like to know more about the history of Wantage?

Join local historian Trevor Hancock for a guided tour of some of the towns historic places and buildings.

Saturday 24th September at 10am.
£20 per adult (no children allowed)

Tickets must be booked in advance online and are on sale now www.ticketsource.co.uk/vale-downland-museum