Recently Acquired Certificates:

BIRTHS:

Patricia M Smith December Qtr.1938 Mansfield Vol.7B page 78.

The Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD's)

"Their sufferings will be great and it is to us that they will look for comfort and relief. That comfort must not be denied them.”
Queen Alexandra, president of the British Red Cross Society in 1914

At the outbreak of the First World War, the British Red Cross and the Order of St John of Jerusalem combined to form the Joint War Committee. They pooled their resources under the protection of the red cross emblem. As the Red Cross had secured buildings, equipment and staff, the organisation was able to set up temporary hospitals as soon as wounded men began to arrive from abroad. One such place was the Pontyclun Red Cross Hospital, Wales.

 

When the call came, two daughters of Samuel and Elizabeth Ann Gronow of Coed Bychan, Llanharan, Glamorganshire volunteered for nursing duties. Gwladys Maud Gronow 22, her sister Edith Mary Gronow 30, both usually helped on their fathers dairy farm, but from January 1915 until March 1918 both worked part time doing nursing duties at Pontyclun. Gwladys worked 300 hours & Edith 700 hrs. Both women were awarded a roll of Honour Certificate.

(Family Tree No.30)

Pontyclun Institute/hospital during WW1, where members of the Llantwit Fardre Red Cross attended on servicemen c.1916

  St Fagans Archive ‏@archifSFarchive 18 Mar 2014

Recently acquired certificates:

BIRTHS   

Gladys Turvey Gronow June Qtr.1909 Kensington. Vol 1a page 102.
Winifred A. T. Gronow June Qtr.1909 Kensington. Vol 1a page 102.

Battle of Trafalgar 1805

       It’s Trafalgar Day

On October 21, 1805, just off Cape Trafalgar in South Western Spain, the British fleet under Admiral Lord Horatio NELSON defeated the combined fleets of France and Spain, sinking 22 ships for the loss of none.

 Serving on board HMS Royal Sovereign was John Gronow a Marine Private (Ship's pay book number: (ML 36)1 March 1805 Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15755)

There were 136 Royal Marines on board the Royal Sovereign during the Battle of Trafalgar. Their job during a sea battle was to stand in the rigging firing on the enemy with their muskets or lobbing grenades whenever an enemy ship was in range and to be ready to repel enemy boarders if required. They might also be expected to help with the guns and guard strategically important positions around the ship, such as the weapon store.   

In his General Order, written the day after the battle when he had assumed command of the fleet following Nelson's death, Admiral Collingwood wrote:  "Where can I find language to express my sentiments of the valour and skill which were displayed by the Officers, the Seamen and Marines in the battle with the enemy, where every individual appeared a hero on whom the glory of his country depended?"   

In Rememberance of:

Sarah Myfanwy Gronow
1918 - 2015

Daughter of Mr & Mrs Howells

Passed Peacefully on the 22nd September 2015, Penclawdd, Swansea.
(Tree 20)

Clive Gronow

1954 - 2015
Son of William & Violet Gronow

Passed Peacefully on the 22nd September 2015, Ely Cardiff.
(Tree 4)

William Jeffrey Gronow Davis

1941 - 2015
Son of Jack & Millicent Davis

Passed Peacefully on Sunday 20th September at 'Rushmore' Dorset.
(Tree 14)

2015's bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo

Reminiscences of Captain Rees Howell Gronow, 

Formerly of the Grenadier Guards, and M.P. for Stafford. 

"It has been my lot to have lived through the greater part of one of the
most eventful centuries of England's history, and I have been thrown
amongst most of the remarkable men of my day; whether soldiers,
statesman, men of letters, theatrical people, or those whose birth and
fortune--rather, perhaps, than their virtues or talents--have caused
them to be conspicuous in society at home or abroad.  Nature having
endowed me with a strong memory, I can recall with all their original
vividness scenes that took place fifty years ago, and distinctly
recollect the face, walk, and voice, as well as the dress and general
manner, of everyone whom I have known. I have frequently repeated to my
friends what I have seen and heard since the year that I joined the
Guards (1813), and have been urged to commit to paper my anecdotes and
reminiscences."

Listen to a description of the Battle read by Joseph W. Gronow 

Peter Gronow

 In Memory of:

Peter J. D. Gronow

1929- 24th April 2015

Pilot & Chartered Engineer.

Winner of the Albert Codling Trophy 1987 for his Wolf Boredom Fighter.

Recently acquired certificates:

BIRTHS:
Elizabeth Gronow December Qtr. 1860 Bridgend Vol.11a page 374

MARRIAGES:
Jane Gronow March Qtr. 1903 Newcastle T. Vol.10b page 19
Bertram Gronow June Qtr.1918 Bridgend Vol.11a page 1375.
 

Damaging Telegraph Poles

DAMAGING TELEGRAPH

 POLES

POST OFFICE PROSECUTION

At Llangollen, yesterday, before Lord Trevor and other magistrates, five youths employed at the Brynkinallt Collieries, Chirk, and named M. Gabriel, Harold Gronow, Bert Gronow, Sam Harrison, and Bert Roberts, were charged with damaging telegraph poles and insulators near Chirk Castle park gates on April 19. Mr E.A. Pearson prosecuted for the Postmaster General. Police Constable Matthews said that when concealed near the park gates at 4.30 in the morning, when the youths ere going to work at the collieries, he saw them throwing stones at the insulators, and afterwards collected a quantity of broken porcelain under the poles. For the Postmaster-General, Mr Pearson said that he had the line inspected on April 30, and found that no fewer than fourteen insulators were broken in a length of one mile between Chirk and the park gates. Against all of the defendants but Bert Gronow previous convictions for larceny were quoted, and they were sent to hard labour for one month each: Bert Gronow being fined £1.

{Liverpool Daily Post, 9th June 1915}

Harold & Albert Gronnow were the children of William Frederick Gronnow & Sarah Jane Whittaker.