Comments on: Part 1. A Discovery At Christmas

By: Molasses

Molasses — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 00:43:24 +0000

The social mores of the time brought unnecessary hardship to innocents….we live in a so much better times now (despite the pinning for the past by so many).

In great sadness, these social pressures still exist in other parts of the world….in some cases, so much worse. When will we truly learn to love…….?

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 08:06:21 +0000

How heartbreaking to read G’s last letter to her mother. How cruel life was back then for such young women away from their families and treated almost like animals in such situations like this. I was so very moved to know you’re father treasured her letters and do hope they were reunited in their lives. Thank you for sharing such a personal yet important historical story.

By: LIz

LIz — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 15:05:51 +0000

Such poignant words brought me to tears. I wonder if the fact that these letters still existed means that Peter found Gladys. I do hope so, for her sake.

By: John

John — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:19:54 +0000

How poetic and sad that those letters had to be hidden in a strongbox.

How brave and correct it was of you to break it open.

I know my family is a tragic wreckage of broken lives, as are so many. Somehow in the dark days of Christmas it all seems to come into focus.

Thanks for sharing and thanks for your wonderful blog.

By: Janet M

Janet M — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 15:48:18 +0000

Dear GA, there is a mystery in every family. We know them well and not at all. I felt the sadness of your father and of you discovering this. I’m sending you (and him) hugs and love.

By: Patty/NS

Patty/NS — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 15:03:35 +0000

A box of sad secrets. His poor Mom! And the sides of the story from the last note you posted reveals the heartache and sadness. I so love your posts and the people and their past and present lives. I am trying to trace my grandmother who arrived at age 11 on Canada’s shores with her family name of Tossel, which is an unusual name. I feel they may be linked to the silk weavers of the East end of London. Still digging…..

By: Katie

Katie — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:56:24 +0000

Poor Gwladys, made to “cry bitter.” We’re so soft nowadays!

By: Gary Arber

Gary Arber — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 13:44:25 +0000

This is yet another example of the hidden tragedies of working class girls being taken advantage of by their so called betters and the subsequent births being covered up.
One of my mother’s sisters had been put into service as a maid in a large house of a rich family.
After her death I found out that I had a male cousin, older than me of who I had no knowledge, the hidden son of my aunt. The story concealed by the family was that she had been “raped by a soldier.” The truth was that the pretty young maid had been taken advantage of by a member of the posh family, the child taken handed to someone to bring up and the whole matter hushed up, just a small financial cost the the wealthy family.
The hidden son traced his mother just before her death and I met him at the funeral, a nice chap who could have been a member of my family if things had been straight.
Gary

By: Susie Holt

Susie Holt — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 13:30:15 +0000

Dear Gentle Aurhor, a friend sent me the link to your website as we had talked about my love of the City and the East End. Mt family originate from Bethnal Green but I am now sitting in Pennsylvania, Exeter. My home for the last 17 years.
I loved reading about your Christmas memories. So different from mine. We lived in a council house in Walthamstow when I was growing up and Christmas was always celebrated with my mother’s sisters and their families in a prefab just near the High Street. This involved lots of food all the men dressing up as women and lots of scottish dancing to Jimmy Shand. Now it’s a much more sober affair.
I had an uncle who only discovered my maternal grandmother was not his birth mum when he married after the war. My grandmother used to child mind him and according to family legend his mother never collected him one day and is thought to have died in the Great Flu epidemic.
My uncle suffered all his adult life from mental health problems. Not serious but enough to affect his life.
I feel a great sense of loss of the kind of family life I lead a child. It was full of colorful people and small dramas. Thank you for helping me to reconnect with it through your blog.
Sue

By: marilyn southey

marilyn southey — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 11:29:51 +0000

Such an interesting story tinged with sadness. My great grandmother’s name was Dimond – an unusual name so I wonder if the Mrs Dimond in your story could be a relative!?