My Family at War
At the October 2012 meeting one of our member’s, John Wigley, spoke about some of his family and their war records. Those who were not at the meeting missed an illuminating talk and it may have encouraged some to study their own family history. You never know what you may discover.
One of our members John Wigley has spent some years collecting medals and historical documents relating to his family. So many of whom were serving members of the armed forces over a number of years.
He took us through battles dating back to 1854 mentioning first of all the Crimean War and Joseph Giggs who served as a Royal Marine. He survived the war and worked as a prison warder until he died in 1911.
Another relative Sidney Ansell, was in the conflict in West Africa in 1897 when Benin was taken under British protection. He died there and was buried in the jungle.
John then told us about the naval shore base in Bermuda, nicknamed HMS TERROR where his grandfather served for some time.
John's father in law Sydney Neary was in the RAF.
We then saw pictures of medals awarded to Ernest Wigley who was in the 6th Dragoon Guards and who sadly died aged 28 in 1914 during World War I.
Frederick Wigley John's father's cousin was killed on 21st August 1918, near the end of the 1st world war aged 19.
Finally John showed us pictures of HMS Ajax Achilles and Exeter which were three of the ships responsible for the defeat of the German Battleship Graf Spee at the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, this was probably the first success of the British in World War II.
John concluded his talk by stating "Ordinary people sometimes involved in extraordinary events they and yours like them make our history. I have tried to keep the memories of some of them alive" He certainly has.
One of our members John Wigley has spent some years collecting medals and historical documents relating to his family. So many of whom were serving members of the armed forces over a number of years.
He took us through battles dating back to 1854 mentioning first of all the Crimean War and Joseph Giggs who served as a Royal Marine. He survived the war and worked as a prison warder until he died in 1911.
Another relative Sidney Ansell, was in the conflict in West Africa in 1897 when Benin was taken under British protection. He died there and was buried in the jungle.
John then told us about the naval shore base in Bermuda, nicknamed HMS TERROR where his grandfather served for some time.
John's father in law Sydney Neary was in the RAF.
We then saw pictures of medals awarded to Ernest Wigley who was in the 6th Dragoon Guards and who sadly died aged 28 in 1914 during World War I.
Frederick Wigley John's father's cousin was killed on 21st August 1918, near the end of the 1st world war aged 19.
Finally John showed us pictures of HMS Ajax Achilles and Exeter which were three of the ships responsible for the defeat of the German Battleship Graf Spee at the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, this was probably the first success of the British in World War II.
John concluded his talk by stating "Ordinary people sometimes involved in extraordinary events they and yours like them make our history. I have tried to keep the memories of some of them alive" He certainly has.