Ernest Titheridge - WW2 Bravery Award

World War 2 saw many individuals performing great acts of bravery, not just those in the military fighting on foreign soil, but also those at home. In 1940 Ernest Titheridge was awarded the Civil Defence Gallantry Award for his actions in the London Blitz. This is his story.

On 3 September 1939 war was declared against Germany. When war started Ernest Titheridge was a builder and plumber living at 46 Ferndale Road, Wandsworth. By the end of September Ernest had volunteered for the Civil Defence. He was appointed to the role of a Stretcher Party Driver in the Wandsworth area of London. Ernest  and his wife Elsie Grace Judge had two children aged 14 and 4. By the end of September 1939 Elsie and their children had moved out of central London to the relative safety of Berkshire, where they were staying with the Denyer family at 21 Clever Hill Road, New Windsor. Ernest continued living in London moving to 26 Louisville Road, London SW17, sometime before 1941.

On 7 September 1940 the blitz began. This was night time bombing raids against London and other British cities by Nazi Germany. On the night of 7 September 300 German bombers raided London and this was the first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing. The bombing raids over London continued until May 1941.

By 13 October 1940 the bombing raids had been going on for 5 weeks. As a result many people had been killed, much of London had been damaged and the emergency services and civil defence were stretched to cope with the raids. On this particular evening Ernest was on duty in his civil defence role. During yet another air raid an explosive flare landed in the Atkins Road Bomb Disposal Yard. The bomb disposal yard adjoined the Clapham Stretcher Party station where Officer Webb was the duty officer in charge. On seeing the flames coming from the bomb disposal yard he called out the Stretcher Parties’ Fire Party consisting of Ernest, Percy Newman, Robert Wedlake and Lewis James.

The Bomb Disposal Yard premises were protected by a 4-foot 6 inches wall with several rolls of barbed wire on top. However, not deterred the four men managed to climb over the wall. Under the direction of Officer Webb, they endeavoured to extinguish the fire by throwing sand on it. They were all well aware it was a bomb disposal yard and that there were explosives in the yard. There was concern that the heat would cause the TNT in the bombs and shells to explode. Eventually Royal Engineers came to assist the four men and the fire was extinguished. However, the explosive flare which caused the fire exploded and hit and injured two of the stretcher party, Percy and Robert, and some of the Royal Engineers.

The four men, Percy Newman, Ernest Titheridge, Robert Wedlake and Lewis James were all awarded the Civil Defence Gallantry Award for their prompt and efficient action, which probably averted a major incident. They all acted with great courage in the face of danger from the unexploded bombs. In the recommendation for awards it was cited that “All concerned showed remarkable coolness and acted with speed and efficiency”. The award was reported in the London Gazette on 21 January 1941.

So, who was Ernest Titheridge? He was one of ten children born between 1883 and 1900 to George Titheridge and Georgina Hannibal. Ernest was the youngest born on 6 May 1900. His family tree can be seen at this link.  Ernest died on 8 November 1976 at Wandsworth aged 76.

Research into Ernest revealed another story of Ernest in World War 1, this story will be told in the next blog.

If you are related to Ernest and can add to this story please get in touch.

Alfred Titheradge – A Painful Death

While searching some newspapers I came across the following article

Philadelphia Inquirer on 29 April 1902

Linesman Plunged from Pole

By the sudden breaking of one of the brackets on an electric light pole yesterday afternoon, Alfred Titheridge, 42 years old, 4246 Linmore Avenue, was thrown to the ground thirty feet below and narrowly escaped being killed. Titheridge is a trimmer employed by the Powelton Electric Light Company and was working upon a pole at Fifty-sixth and Market Streets. One of the steel brackets placed on each side of the pole became loosened and the man was pricipitated to the ground. In his flight through the air he turned and struck on his feet. Both of his legs were broken as was his wrists. He was sent to the Presbyterian Hospital.

Unfortunately, Alfred was not as lucky as the article states and it is clear that his injuries were more severe that was first realised. He died the day after the story was written, on 30th April 1902 and was buried on 5 May 1902.

Alfred’s correct surname was Titheradge not Titheridge and his story has been written in an earlier blog 

Alfred was born in Paddington in 1859 son of Edward Eatrill Titheradge and Eliza Peters. He first appeared in the records in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1887 married to Elizabeth. We have no record of his marriage to Elizabeth nor his arrival in the USA. Alfred and Elizabeth had at least 8 children and as far as we know all but one died in childhood. The surviving child, Maud Titheradge, was born in 1889. Thirteen-year-old Maud was left an orphan on Alfred’s death as her mother, Elizabeth, had died in 1897 when Maud was eight. Maud later married Ralph Gras and they had at least 9 children.

The story illustrates the lack of Health and Safety regulations in this era, as Alfred had no safety harness or anything else to prevent his fatal fall. 

World War 2 – The First Titheridge Casualty

Headstone of Dayrell Titheridge
at Shedfield Churchyard

On 3 September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Nine days after war was declared the first war time death of a family member occurred. His life was lost, not by an act of war but by a road accident on home soil.

The victim was 24-year-old Dayrell Charles John Titheridge a member of the Royal Artillery.

Dayrell was born on 28 January 1915 in the Droxford area of Hampshire, most likely near Shedfield or Waltham Chase. He was the eldest of 8 children born to Noah John Titheridge and Annie Louise Ferris. There were 7 boys and 1 girl in the family, born between 1915 and 1936.

Sometime between 1933 and 1935 Dayrell joined the Royal Artillery. In 1935 he was living in the Louisburg Barracks at the Bordon Army Camp, Hampshire. At the age of 21 Dayrell married Jessie Muriel Webb on 25 September 1935 at St Alban's church, Hindhead, Surrey.

By the outbreak of war in September 1939 Dayrell had gained the rank of Lance Bombardier and he was still stationed at Bordon Camp as part of the 2nd Field Regiment.

On Tuesday 12 September 1939 Dayrell was riding his motorbike at about 5.45 in the morning, just as it was light. He collided with a car in Honey Lane, Selbourne, Hampshire while travelling towards Bordon. At the inquest the driver of the car said, he was driving his car along Honey Lane towards Selbourne when, as he was rounding a left-handed bend, he saw a motorbike five to six feet from its off side of the road. The motorist applied his brakes, but the motorcycle seemed to wobble in front of him and crashed into his radiator. Dayrell was taken to hospital and was suffering from severe head injuries. He never regained consciousness and died a couple of hours later.

The inquest was held by the Winchester County Coroner at Alton Police Court. A verdict of accidental death was given with the driver of the car exonerated from blame.

Dayrell was buried in St John the Baptist church in Shedfield, his local home church which was a mile south of his parent’s home of 11 Beaucroft Road, Waltham Chase. His grave is situated to the rear of the church. The grave is pictured above. His death is recorded on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission site as he was a serving soldier in war time. In the burial ground at Shedfield, across the road from the church, is a War Memorial to the men of Shedfield, pictured below.

As far as I can tell Dayrell’s widow never remarried and she died in Taunton in September 1981.

For Dayrell’s parents, Noah and Annie, they not only had to cope with the loss of a son but also the worry of their other sons serving in the war. By the end of World War 2 five of their six remaining sons were serving their country in the forces. Fortunately, all five sons returned home safely.

While researching this article I viewed the British Army Casualty List for the period 3 September to 19 September 1939 a period of 16 days. I was shocked to see that in UK, during this period, a total of 22 soldiers lost their lives on home soil and not due to warfare. (8 were accidentally killed, 5 died as a result of an accident, 7 died, 1 drowned, 1 was missing presumed drown plus 4 were reported as dangerously ill).

If you are related to Dayrell and can add  any more to this story please get in touch.

Shedfielld Memorial
to those who lost their lives in World War 2

St John the Baptist Church
in Shedfield, Hampshire

World War 2 Remembered – 80 years on

War Is Announced

Eighty years ago, on 3 September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Hitler's aggressive foreign policy had led to the invasion of the Czech lands in March 1939. Britain and France subsequently agreed to support Poland in the event of a German invasion. However, this had no affect and Hitler attacked Poland on 1 September 1939. On 3 September the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, announced that the Germans had failed to respond to the British deadline for the withdrawal of German troops from Poland. The Germans were told that unless Germany announced plans to with draw from Poland a state of war would exist between the two countries. Chamberlain announced to the country, "I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and consequently this country is at war with Germany."

The Effects of War

World War 2 had a devastating effect on all our families.

• Men already in the armed forces they were sent to war.
• Many men volunteered to go and fight in the Army, Navy and Air Force.
• The National Service Act imposed conscription and many men were forced to enlist in the armed forces.
• In the six years of war many lives were lost. Others became prisoners of war and many were wounded. All bearing the mental scars of warfare.
• There were many courageous acts, many recognised with bravery awards.
• For those who lived in London, and other British cities, there were air raids by the German Luftwaffe. The population got used to air raids, air raid sirens, nights spent in air raid shelters and the resulting devastation, loss of houses and loss of life. Many of our family members lived in London and Portsmouth, both areas targeted by the air raids.
• People were displaced from their homes as large-scale evacuation took place of women and children, from the cities to the safer country environment.
• Emergency measures were announced, which included identity cards, blackouts, rationing of food and clothing and other commodities.
• Women took on roles that they had not done before, from working in the land army to the munitions work.
• A few soldiers found themselves a long way from home where they met local girls and fell in love - romances and subsequently families, that would not have happened without the war.

Some World War 2 Stories Relating to The Family

If you search the Internet there are several individuals who have written about their experiences in World War 2. For copyright reasons I cannot rewrite their story but below are links to what information is available on the internet on family name and World War 2. Please click the links to read their story.

Catherine Titheridge 

Catherine was a stewardess Wren on HMS Hornet. Read her story.

Dusty Titheridge

Dusty was in the RAF and married his Canadian sweetheart. Read his story.

Roy Leslie Walter Titheradge 

Roy was mentioned in despatches for his bravery. Read his story.

Muriel Tytheridge

Muriel was a young girl when she was evacuated to countryside from Woolwich. Read her story

Alan Tytheridge

Alan was held in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp. Read his story. 

More World War Stories

Over the next few blogs I hope to recount a few of the family stories I know relating to World War 2. Many of us have heard our parents or grandparents talk about life in the war, but despite this it is much harder to research individuals in the second world war compared to first. This is due to the confidentiality of the records and the fact they are not readily available. However, did you know, if your father or grandfather or other family member fought in World War 2 that their next of kin can access their records if they are deceased? The fee is £30. If they or their spouse are still alive, the records can be accessed for free. Information about this service is available at this link.  

If you can tell us about the life of someone who fought in World War 2, and would like it recorded here, please email me and I will publish your story.

Dame Ellen Terry and the Titheradge Connection

Smallhythe Place Home of Ellen Terry

 Smallhythe Place

Last month we visited the National Trust gardens of Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, former home of Vita Sackville-West. The gardens were beautiful and in full bloom. We finished our trip by early-afternoon so decided to fill the time with a visit to the nearby National Trust Property of Smallhythe Place. Smallhythe Place near Tenterden, in Kent, is a half-timbered house built in the late 15th or early 16th century.  It is a picturesque cottage surrounded by gardens. Its claim to fame is that it was the home of the famous Victorian actress Dame Ellen Terry. She lived there from 1899 until her death in 1928. On her death her daughter, Edith Craig, converted the house into a museum to commemorate her mother’s remarkable acting career. Today the house is owned by the National Trust, it is full of items connected to Ellen Terry and the theatre world of the late nineteenth / early twentieth century.

Ellen Terry

Ellen Terry was born in 1847 into a family of actors and she appeared on stage from an early age. She was an acclaimed actress who was one of the most popular performers on the stage. She made her name in both England and America. She became famous for her roles in Shakespearean plays, particularly in 1875 when she played Portia in The Merchant of Venice, a role she recreated many times throughout her career. Between 1878 and 1902 she was the leading lady for Sir Henry Irving. She continued to act on stage, and in some early films, until ill health led her to retire in 1925. In 1925 she was honoured for her work and given the rank of Dame.  Dame Ellen Terry died in 1928. She married three times, with none of the marriages lasting very long; she also had various other relationships.

One of the most stunning exhibits at her home in Smallhythe was her dress for the role of Lady Macbeth, it is a green silk dress decorated with iridescent beetle wings. The 1889 oil painting of Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth by John Singer Sargent wearing this dress is a well-known painting, which can be viewed here.

There are several connections with Ellen Terry and the Titheradge family.

Madge Titheradge and Ellen Terry

On show in the Smallhythe Place, opposite the ticket desk, is a ring that was given by Ellen Terry to actress Madge Titheradge. It is a gold ring studded with a number of diamonds. After Madge’s death the ring passed to Madge’s niece, Primrose Joanna Harris nee Cochrane, then was donated to the National Trust by her great niece. The ring can be viewed here.

Also, in the Smallhythe Collection is a Chinese blue silk satin robe embroidered with flowers and butterflies. It was given to Madge Titheradge by Ellen Terry when she married Charles Quartermaine in 1910. Ellen was particularly fond of the Asian style of dress and loved to wear silk kimonos. This was also presented to the National Trust by Madge’s great niece. The robe can be viewed here.

At Madge Titheradge’s wedding to Charles Quartermaine one of the Bridesmaids was Beatrice Terry, Ellen Terry’s niece. Beatrice was the daughter of Charles Terry, Ellen’s brother. Among the guests at the wedding was Mrs Charles Terry, Ellen’s sister-in- law. In the accounts of the wedding in the Australian papers Ellen Terry and her brother Fred and sister Marion are also listed amongst the guests.

Ellen Terry and George Sutton Titheradge 

George Sutton Titheradge was Madge’s father and a famous actor. In 1877 he was near the start of his career and moved from the provincial theatres to London. His first role in London was in a play at Her Majesty’s Theatre called “The House of Darnley”.  He played the part of the Ellen Terry’s Lover. The play ran from October 1877 until January 1878. In February 1878 Ellen and George starred in another play, called "Victims", but this only ran for a short time.

It was 37 years later, in 1914, when Ellen Terry and George Titheradge acted together again. Ellen Terry was on a tour of Australia and George was President of The Actors Association. George was part of the group that welcomed her to Sydney, Australia in May 1914. In July there was benefit performance for Ellen Terry, with numerous performers. The show included the trial scene from "The Merchant of Venice". Ellen Terry played the role of Portia and George Titheradge played the role of Shylock.  This was one of George's last performances on stage and he died 18 months later in January 1916.

Alfred James Titheridge – Memorial Scroll

World War 1 Memorial Scroll

Searching the Internet

I often use Google to see if there are any new occurrences on the Internet of the Titheridge / Titheradge family name. A recent search enabled me to find, and buy, a World War 1 Memorial Scroll for Lance Corporal Alfred James Titheridge of the Royal Sussex Regiment.

It seemed such a shame that it had been separated from the family of Alfred, but somewhere along the line there was either no one to pass it on to or the person who inherited it did not find it interesting and worthy of keeping. I couldn’t bear to see it leave the family completely, so I bought it an added it to my collection of Titheridge / Titheradge family heirlooms and documents.

The Memorial Scroll is shown in the picture. After World War 1 the family would have received a Memorial Plaque as well as the scroll.

 Memorial Plaque

During World War 1 the government decided to issue plaques and scrolls to commemorate those who had died in the World War in order to acknowledge their extreme sacrifice. The small plaque was made of bronze and was about 11cms in diameter. It was issued to the next of kin of the casualty as a memorial to their loved one. The design contains the symbolic figure of Britannia, holding a laurel wreath in her left hand over a box inscribed with the name of the deceased soldier. In Britannia’s right hand is a trident and at her feet is a lion.  Two dolphins facing Britannia represent Britain’s sea power. The inscription reads “He died for Freedom and Honour”. The round shape and coin-like appearance earned the plaques the nicknames Dead Man's Penny, Death Penny, Death Plaque and Widow's Penny.

Memorial Scroll

As well as receiving the plaque the family also received a Memorial Scroll. This is what I now own for Alfred. The scroll is printed on high quality paper, size 11 x 7 inches. The text is printed in calligraphic script beneath the Royal Crest followed by the name of the commemorated serviceman giving his rank, name and regiment individually written in calligraphic script. When it was being designed the committee found the choice of words very difficult. These are the poignant words that were eventual chosen:  

He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom.

Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten.

Production and Distribution of Plaque and Scroll

The production of the plaques did not start until the late autumn of 1918 because of problems with setting up the manufacture of the bronze plaques, with the supply of the metal difficult to obtain in wartime. The production of the high quality Memorial Scrolls was begun in January 1919. They were printed from a wood block by artists at the London County Council Central School of Arts and Crafts.

From 1919 and for several years following there were over 1,000,000 plaques and scrolls sent to next of kin in commemoration of their soldiers, sailors, airmen and a few hundred women who died as a direct consequence attributable to service in the Great War. The “next of kin” in a serviceman's Service Record was sent a form to complete, to confirm all the living next of kin of that serviceman and the person to whom the plaque and scroll should be sent. 

The scrolls and plaques were sent separately each with a cover letter with a message from the King. It read:  

Buckingham Palace

I join my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War.

George R.I.

With over a million produced the plaques are still common today, although the scrolls are less likely to have survived. The one I have just acquired is a little tatty around the edges and is showing its hundred year age. I now own two scrolls but am yet to see a family related death plaque.

 About Lance Corporal Alfred James Titheridge

My Memorial Scroll commemorates Lance Corporal Alfred James Titheridge. Alfred came from Southwick, near Brighton in Sussex. He was the son of Albert James and Catherine Titheridge.  He was in the Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion. He lost his life on 25 September 1915 at the Battle of Loos and is remembered on the Loos Memorial. His story has already been told on a previous blog please click here to read his story.

Alfred was descended from the Titheridges of Cheriton and you can find his family tree at this link

Are you related to Alfred? If so please get in touch.

If you have a Titheridge /Titheradge Memorial Scroll or Plaque, please get in touch.

Alan Courtney Tytheridge - Part 4 Alan Remembered 1945 – 1959

By Ann Titheradge and Jenny Stroud

Alan Tytheridge's Grave in
Foreign Cemetery Yokohama, Japan
Published by kind permission of Jenny Stroud

Life after WW2 1945 - 1959

For me the surprise is that both Alan and Eric wanted to stay in Japan after the treatment they received at the hands of the Japanese. Alan obviously loved the country, the civilian Japanese, his Japanese friends and the way of life. He later told a New Zealand friend he regarded Japan as his permanent home and would never leave unless forced to do so by the Japanese authorities.

During his internment Alan's property had been sold by the Japanese government to various owners, but somehow, he was able to return to his house once he was released. Eric was not so lucky as his house was in possession of other people and in October 1945 he wrote to authorities to say he was living in a room at Alan’s home but wanted to return to his own place as soon as possible. He eventually moved to a new house further out of Tokyo, on a beach looking across at Mount Fuji.

It took Alan until August 1948 to reclaim his rights to his home and property which had been claimed by the Japanese government during his internment. The restoration of Alan’s property was dealt with by the Americans from the General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces. Ironically while the Americans were helping him get his property back in Japan, in the USA the  government were beginning proceedings to confiscate his bank account with the City Bank of New York. It was in 1950 that the American Attorney General announced in “The Register” that “people viewed as the enemy were to have their assets seized". The “Trading with the Enemy Act” meant Alan was considered as a resident of Japan and a national of a designated enemy country. His American assets were seized by the government and “used for the benefit of the United States.” The amount of money lost is unknown.

At some point after the war both Alan and Eric returned to teaching, the job they both loved.

In 1949 Alan revised the English / Japanese book he wrote in the 1920s with  T. Sagara, “Colloquial English Conversations in Practical and Applied Forms”.  In the newly published version he wrote a hand written preface which says
"About twenty-five years have passed since the first addition of this book appeared. A whole quarter of a century! How historical those words make one feel! Many events have occurred during that time, transforming the world and the lives of us all. One of the changes has been that the acquirement of a knowledge of the English Language, from being an interesting but not specially important accomplishment, has grown to be an absolute necessity for hundreds of thousands of people in this country. 
Proficiency in colloquial American speech is particularly essential at the present time, and it is therefore thought that a re-issue of this book in a completely revised and, it is believed, a greatly improve form, should meet with a favourable reception from the English-learning public of Japan. 
Alan Tytheridge March 1949"

Some time around 1952 or 1953 Alan made a return trip to New Zealand. His last known return trip to New Zealand had been in December 1919 soon after the death of his father

Death of Alan 1959

On 30 October 1959 Alan was at Tokyo station on his way home when he suffered a heart attack. He was transported to hospital but did not survive the heart attack. He was 70 years old. Five Japanese newspapers reported his obituary (Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nihonkeizai and the Japan Times), so obviously he was a well-respected foreigner.  He was not a religious man and his New Zealand will stated “that my body be cremated and the ashes scattered and this shall be done without religious ceremony of any kind”. His funeral was conducted at Yokohama Christ Church on 4 November and he was buried at the Foreign Cemetery in Yokohama. This is a beautiful, wooded, hilly area. The grave is shown in the pictures and the Japanese researchers who took the photograph left flowers at Alan's grave.

Alan and Eric’s lives had followed a very similar path and therefore it is fitting to add that Eric Bell died 5 years after Alan and he too is buried in Japan.

Memories of Alan following his death

Alan had made many friends in Japan and he appears to have been a popular man. This tribute was found in an Alumni magazine of the University of Commerce, Tokyo where Alan had lectured for the latter years of his life. It was an article with the reminisces of an ex-student at the University. This is the English translation of what he wrote about Alan “I would like to add, before finishing my article, my memory of Mr Alan Tytheridge. He was a poet and teacher of English Literature. Sadly, he passed away at Tokyo station without warning and rests in peace at the foreign cemetery in Yokohama. I never fail to visit and pay respect to his grave there, and wish his happiness in the heavens always”

While teaching in Numazu, Eric taught a musical prodigy Takaoki Sugitani who began his violin studies aged 10 in 1949. He went on graduate in Music. He later moved to America where he became Assistant Concert Master of the St. Louis Symphony and taught at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music. When interviewed by one of Eric’s relatives he recalled his early days of playing his violin in Alan’s home in Chigasaki, with Alan accompanying him. He added that Alan was a gifted sight reader of music and could play anything on the piano. “a remarkable pianist”. “I recall Alan as a very dignified tall and slim built man.”.

The Tytheridge Travelling Scholarship

In New Zealand Alan had left a will relating to his New Zealand assets, which showed he had property in the Christchurch area, shares in the New Zealand Farmers’ Cooperative Association Canterbury and money in a Trust Account. He left everything in Trust to Canterbury University College to establish a travelling scholarship. The Tytheridge Travelling Scholarship in Arts is offered every four years. It is a 2-year scholarship for $20,000 per annum (approximately £10,000) plus grants for fees and travel. It is for honours students of the University of Canterbury in the arts or music to give the scholar an opportunity for further study or  to carry out research work at some approved institution. The scholarship is still in existence today 60 years after his death. It is a fitting legacy.to Alan and his love of travel, music and the arts.

Add Alan Tytheridge's Grave inForeign Cemetery Yokohama, Japan
Published by kind permission of Jenny Stroud

Alan Tytheridge's Grave in
Foreign Cemetery Yokohama, Japan
Published by kind permission of Jenny Stroud

Alan Courtney Tytheridge - Part 3 Japan at War 1941 - 1945

By Ann Titheradge and Jenny Stroud

Continued from the previous posts

Alan Courtney Tytheridge
Reproduced by permission of Jenny Stroud

Japan enters the war

Alan obviously realised trouble was brewing and on 15 April 1941 he wrote a will detailing what was to happen to his assets in New Zealand.

In September 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, in which they agreed to assist one another should any of them be attacked by a country not already involved in the war. Many British and Americans were evacuated from Japan in 1940, but Alan had chosen not to leave.

On 7 December 1941 the Japanese attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbour, a surprise attack to prevent the U.S Pacific Fleet from entering the War in the Pacific. Over 350 Japanese fighter planes destroyed 188 U.S aircraft, sunk or damaged 18 ships and killed over 2,400 Americans. The following day America declared war on Japan.

The declaration of war by the Empire of Japan on the United States and the British Empire was published on December 8, 1941 Japan time and was printed on the front page of all Japanese newspapers. On 8 December 1941 Eric Bell, Alan's friend, was arrested as a spy and imprisoned in Yokohama Prison. After several months he was released but in September was interned at Kanagawa No1 Camp at the Negishi Racecourse.

Kanagawa No 2 Camp

Alan was luckier and was not identified as a spy. On 9 December 1941 Alan was arrested, as a general foreign national, not as a spy, and interned at the Kanagawa No 2 Camp, Yokohama, which was the Yokohama Yacht Club. Both Alan and Eric had their properties taken into the custody of the Japanese government. This would have included their two houses and all their private belongings.

Eight months later in May 1942 Alan wrote to his English cousin Dorothy and she passed the letter on to the local newspaper. The article below appeared in the Chichester Observer (note the misspelling of Dorothy’s surname!).

21 November 1942.

A Britain in Japan

"Miss Dorothy Titheridge, of 8 Orchard Avenue, Chichester, has heard from her cousin, Alan Tytheridge, who is in Y.A.R.C. Internment Camp, Yokohama, Japan, telling her not to worry about him, as he is being treated very well, and everyone is kind and friendly there. He writes in May:
Since 9 December I have been in this internment camp with about 30 other Britons and Americans. You must not imagine that I have been suffering any hardship during this time; on the contrary, I have had quite a pleasant time of it. The camp is in the former premises of a rowing club, is situated on the seashore and commands a fine view, with plenty of sun and fresh air. The rooms are large and airy, with a wide balcony like the deck of a ship, and there is a large recreation ground. The food is quite good, European style, three meals a day, with bread and butter and tea for all three meals, fish or meat and vegetables for lunch and dinner, and soup at dinner. Further we can get additional supplies from our homes at any time. We are allowed interviews of one hour with our people three times a month, and those who have families are now allowed to visit their home once a week for a few hours.
In the camp we are allowed a great amount of liberty, though at first the regulations were strict. There are various amusements, fishing off the seawall and ball games out of doors, and ping-pong, chess and card games indoors. There is a library of about 400 books, of which I have read about 50 already. The daily routine is as follows: 7am put away bedding and clean up the room; 7.30am roll call; 8am breakfast; 12noon lunch; 5.30pm dinner; 8pm roll call, then bed and lights out at 9pm. If the weather is fine, most of us spend the day entirely out of doors, and now that the warm days are here sunbathing is very popular, and we lie around reading smoking or chatting, wearing a pair of shorts or bathing trunks and acquiring a coat of tan. Luckily the weather has been remarkably fine ever since December, and the whole winter was unusually mild. Wet and cold days are not so pleasant, and time hangs rather heavily - that is the time for cards and reading. You can understand that this sort of open-air life is very good for the health, and I am just as fit and strong as when I was at home if not more so."

The letter tells of conditions much better than expected. Britons and American who were resident in Japan when war broke out, were treated very much better than those captured in war itself. However, whether it reflects a true account of life is debatable. Letters would have been read, so Alan would have been careful only to write a positive account for fear of backlash.

As time passed and the war dragged on Japan began to suffer more defeats and living condition for Japanese civilians themselves became harsher as food and provisions became scarce.  Life for Alan became tougher too.

Yamakita Camp

In June 1943 the two camps that both Alan and Eric were in closed and the internees were relocated in the same camp, the Yamakita Camp, also known as the Odawara City Camp. It was in the hills to the south west of Yokohama, with the nearest village 15 minutes away and Yamakita an hours’ walk away.

Alan's capture was reported to the Red Cross on 24 August 1943 and details appeared in New Zealand newspapers on 17 November 1943.

The Yamakita internment camp received visits from the International Red Cross who reported to back to Head Quarters in Geneva and their reports can be read on line. The reports show the conditions for Alan and the other internees deteriorated as the war progressed. The camp was built to house 55 people and the internees were a mix of British, Canadian and American citizens, ranging in age from 21 to 74.

The initial report in 1943 suggested that things were not too bad with food, lodging and treatment of the internees satisfactory.

By the second and third reports in 1944 things were not so good.  The reports show the buildings needed repair, sleeping was in overcrowded dormitories and there were open cesspools, no septic tank and water supply was from a spring. There was no heating in the building and the walls were very thin since it had been built for summer use by Catholic priests. Outside was freezing in winter and Internees told the Red Cross that apart from performing various duties outside they spent most of their time in bed during the winter. A few internees worked for the Farmers' Association in the nearby village of Uchiyama and as remuneration they received two rice balls per day. A few men worked in the vegetable garden inside the camp grounds growing potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, tomatoes and corn in small quantities. All the internees, except for a few weak and old men, had to haul provisions from the nearby village and collect firewood from the hills. Food was scare for the Japanese civilians and hence food for the internees became less. The internees were always hungry and losing weight and many of them had weakened constitutions and suffered severe malnutrition. They reported to the Red Cross they needed underwear, socks and boots. Friends and relatives were permitted to see the internees twice monthly, but they were no longer allowed to bring in food. The internees received very few letters, although they had been sent by relatives abroad the post did not make it to the camp.

All conditions deteriorated with the arrival of the new Acting Camp Commander Sergeant Watanabe. After the war he was charged with war crimes which included mistreating prisoners.

World War 2 Ends

America dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and on 9 August on Nagasaki. On 8 August the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria and on August 14 Japan agreed in principle to unconditional surrender. It was 2 September 1945 when Japan formally surrendered, ending World War II. At Yamakita Camp relief was dropped on 27 August and the military, American soldiers, arrived on 4 September.

On 10 September the internees in Yamakita Camp were released and Alan and Eric were transported to Chigasaki to Alan’s home. Eric was unable to return to his home as it had been sold by the Japanese authorities and was occupied.

In New Zealand on 2 October 1945 a Wellington paper reported than that Eric Bell and Alan Tytheridge and some other New Zealanders were safe following the end of the War in Japan.

To be continued  in next blog ……..

Alan Courtney Tytheridge - Part 2 Life in Japan 1916 – 1939

By Ann Titheradge and Jenny Stroud

Front Page of Alan Tytheridge's book
for Japanese travellers
Published by kind permission of Jenny Stroud

 Move to Japan

As stated in the newspaper article in the previous blog, it was Alan’s love of music and ability as a pianist that gave him the opportunity to go to Japan. He arrived in Japan in late 1916 or early 1917 and fell in love with Japan. It became his home for the next 47 years. No record has been found of this concert tour of Japan with the noted cellist but for some reason the tour was cut short or did not occur.

Alan had settled in Yokohama and his address in 1918 was Higashi Kaigan, Chigaski-machi, Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama. Alan established himself as a journalist in Tokyo and by May 1918 was on the editorial staff of "The New East", an English publication run by Mr J. W. Robertson Scott. The paper ceased production in 1918.

On 17 September 1918 Alan’s father died in New Zealand leaving all his money “in Trust” to Alan. In July 1920 Alan invested £2000 in a business venture, becoming the joint owner of a newly formed company in New Zealand called “Oriental Arts Ltd”. The co-owner was Harold Lightband. The company was selling works of art, antique furniture, leather goods etc. from eastern craftsmen to the New Zealand public. The publicity for the company says “We have our own resident representative in the east, (presumably Alan), a man of profound artistic judgment, who lives and moves with the people of the Orient, thus enabling him to secure rare specimens of damascene, enamel, lacquer work, ivory and other products”. The business was managed by Eric Bell, Alan’s old friend from his days in Christchurch. The business did not run for long and closed in 1922 with all the stock being sold by auction in July 1922. In 1922 Eric Bell left New Zealand and joined Alan in Japan. Eric found work as an English Language teacher.

Alan decided to go into teaching and in June 1921 New Zealand newspapers reported that Alan had recently been appointed as professor of English at the Tokyo College of Commerce, which was a Japanese University. This later became part of Hitosubashi one of the most prestigious universities in Japan.

At some point both Alan and Eric taught at Seijo School, Tokyo, but the dates of this employment are unclear.

Reports in an American Newspaper “Madera Tribune” published in September 1921 show that Alan was invited to Germany to a conference held in Berlin called “International Sex Congress”. This was to discuss a variety of topics around the subject including divorce, birth control and homosexuality.  Among the speakers was Dr Magnus Hirschfeld. Hirschfeld had opened the Institute of Sexual Science in Berlin in 1919, the library and archives of which were later destroyed by Nazi demonstrators in 1933. Alan visited the Institute and later when Hirschfield visited Japan he stayed with Alan in a Japanese fishing village. In 1922 Alan published an article, or maybe a book, in German “Beobachtungen uber Homosexualitat in Japan 1922”. (translation is Observations on Homosexuality in Japan 1922).

Alan and Eric were in Japan when an earthquake struck. On 1 September 1923 at noon the Great Kanto Earthquake struck the Kanto Plain on the Japanese main island of Honshuat. It had a magnitude of 7.9 and at the time was considered to be the worst natural disaster ever to strike Japan. Varied accounts indicate the duration of the earthquake was between four and ten minutes. The initial quake was followed a few minutes later by a 40-foot-high tsunami which swept away thousands of people. This was followed by fires, roaring through the wooden houses of Yokohama and Tokyo. The death toll was about 140,000. This earthquake devastated Tokyo, the port city of Yokohama, and the surrounding areas. This must have been a terrifying experience for Alan and Eric and they were lucky to survive.

Alan the Author 1924 – 1928

Cover from Sagara and Tytheridge's book
Published by kind permission of Jenny Stroud

Alan established himself as a Professor of English and became an author of books and articles. In 1924 Alan wrote an article “An Uncrowned Lord of Language” about a British born author of West Indian descent, called M.P Shiel. Shiel is remembered mostly for supernatural horror stories and scientific romances. In the essay Alan discusses Shiel's early novels, heroes, and views of God. He also admired Shiel's mastery of the English language and how Shiel played with sound in his writing. Alan loved Sheil's writing although it would appear their interests were very different, perhaps the common ground was that Sheil did write about Japanese culture.


Alan’s linguistic ability meant he learnt to speak Japanese. In 1928 Alan co-authored a book with T. Sagara, “Colloquial English Conversations in Practical and Applied Forms”. The book is an English language guide for Japanese tourists / students who would be travelling to the USA or Britain in the 1920s. It is extraordinary in its detail, it's humour and invention. Alan's job was to translate the Japanese to English and add his knowledge of the English-speaking world at that time. I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to see this book and it is quite remarkable in its detail of every situation the traveller might encounter. The preface of the copy has been added by Alan in his own handwriting. It is transcribed below.

Pre-face to “Colloquial English Conversations in Practical and Applied Forms”

Alan's Hand Written Preface
to Sagara and Tytheridge's book
Published by kind permission of Jenny Stroud

This new book by Mr Saghara should prove a god-send to all students of English who seek acquaintance, not only with the literary language taught in schools, but also with (the often very different!) colloquial idiom in common use today throughout the English-speaking world.

How many thousands of Japanese there are who can read literature with ease and yet who find themselves utterly “at sea” when on their travels abroad they find themselves confronted with the thousand and one perplexities of an unfamiliar social life! How few students of Japanese universities, after years of study have any notion of how to give and acknowledge greetings, perform introductions, accept or declined invitations, or do any of the other of the countless little things which formed the ABC of social intercourse in Western lands. Their vocabulary of long literary words and stilted archaic phrases may be immense, but “English as she is spoke” is for the most part a terra incognita to them. My own experience of students has convinced me that in general they do not care to trouble themselves about Practical English, regarding it as an unnecessary, or very minor part of their equipment.

All those, however, whose business is to be with Real Life and not merely with Books, who intend to travel or otherwise come into close contact with English or American people, need to become thoroughly conversant with the actual living language in daily usage in England or America and for them Mr Saghara’s book will be an invaluable vade mecum.

Alan Tytheridge
Tokyo March 1928

Visits to America 1934 – 1939

In 1934, 45-year-old Alan took a holiday to America. He left Yokohama, Japan on 25 July 1934 and returned to Honolulu, Hawaii. He travelled on the “Taiyo Maru” arriving nine days later. The Honolulu Advertiser dated the 5 August, reported the arrival of the ship and passengers including "A C Tytheridge Professor of University of Commerce Tokyo on route and on vacation". He returned to Japan on 22nd August sailing from Honolulu on the same vessel.

Two years later Alan returned to America for another holiday sailing from Yokohama to Los Angeles aboard the ship “Asama Maru”. He left Yokohama on 10 July 1936 and arrived in Los Angeles 16 days later. He planned to visit San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. He stayed in America for a month, departing on 28th August.

His third visit to America came in 1939 departing Yokohama on 6 July 1939 on “Tatu ta Maru” arriving after 14 days. This time he planned to visit San Francisco, Seattle and New York. His visa lasted 60 days so he left some time before September. The ship’s manifest shows he was going to visit N R Hunter of 7 Patchin Place, New York. This should read M R Hunter who was a New Zealand poet, playwright and fiction writer but best known as a journalist in America. Rex had worked on the The Press in New Zealand and had also worked in Fiji and San Francisco, but it is not clear how Rex and Alan knew each other. Rex was part of the Greenwich Village literary circle and was a lead writer for one of the New York papers..

There was conflict developing in Europe and on 3 September 1939 Britain declared war on Germany and World War 2 began. This would have been about the time Alan arrived back in Japan and returned to his teaching post. He could not envisage the effect this declaration would have on his life.

To be continued in next blog ……

Alan Courtney Tytheridge - Part 1 Musician and Linguist 1889 - 1916

By Ann Titheradge and Jenny Stroud

Alan Courtney Tytheridge
Reproduced by kind permission of Jenny Stroud

Introduction

This is the fascinating life story of Alan Courtney Tytheridge. He was a remarkable man who was a scholar, an author, a musician and a linguist. He lived in four different continents during his life time and lived through an earthquake and internment by the Japanese in World War 2.

Although I have researched Alan’s life for many years much of the research presented here must be credited to Jenny Stroud whose research into the life of Alan and the background information is amazing. Thank you to Jenny for giving me permission to use her research and images. Jenny is Alan’s second cousin twice removed, related to him via his mother, Lucy Winterbottom. I would also like to thank Graeme Bell and Jenny’s Japanese researchers (Miyo and Mizuyo) for the assistance they have given Jenny.

Family Life in England 1889 -1895

Alan’s grandfather was William Henry Walter Tytheridge. William moved from Portsmouth to London. He had inherited money and property from his maternal uncle and the family were well-off and well-educated. Alan’s father Walter Robert Tytheridge was sent to St Paul’s public school and then went to medical school and qualified as a doctor and surgeon.

Walter was 35 when he married Lucy Anne Winterbottom on 21 January 1885 at St Johns Church, Nottinghill. Lucy also came from a wealthy family; her mother owned several properties and her when her father died he had left quite a bit of money. Lucy’s father, Henry,  had been a bandmaster in the Royal Marines and was a talented musician, a talent that was to be handed down to Alan.

Walter and Lucy’s first child, Nora, was born in Epsom Surrey in 1887, but she died just 10 months old.

On 15 June 1889 Alan Courtney Tytheridge was born and baptised on 22 July at Christ Church, Epsom. On the 1891 census the family and their servant were living at The Chestnuts, Church Street, Epsom, a very grand sounding address.

Alan's family tree can be found at this link .

Life in New Zealand

On 3 October 1895 Walter, Lucy and 6-year-old Alan emigrated to New Zealand sailing for Wellington on the ship “Ionic”. They settled at Marton, near Wellington, where Walter set up a doctor’s practice in Grey Street. During this period Alan learnt to play the piano. From 1901 newspaper articles show he passed piano exams, including when 14 years old being the only person to secure a distinction in the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music exams. It is obvious he had inherited the musical talents of his mother’s family.

In June 1904 the family moved to Opawa, a suburb of Chistchurch. Here Alan attended Christs College, Christchurch an independent school. Six months later he won his first school prize for Divinity. Alan quickly showed that he was a very gifted student in the arts, literature and languages. In 1905 he won school prizes for History, Latin, French and English. In 1906 he won prizes for Greek, English Literature, Latin, French and History. He was Head Boy at Christ's College.

In 1906 Alan’s s cousin, Dorothy May Tytheridge, visited the family in New Zealand. On her return to England she remained in written contact with Alan, and it is one of Alan’s letters to Dorothy that will tell us something of his life in Japan.

Alan was lucky enough to grow up in a family where the arts and music played an important role. His father, Walter, was involved in the cultural side of Christchurch life and is listed as a member of the Canterbury Society of Arts in 1914. From 1906 onwards, there are reports in the newspapers of Alan doing well in music competitions and reports of his performance at concerts and recitals. In 1912 there is reference to a YMCA concert where Alan performed with Eric Bell. Eric was to become his life time friend and their lives followed a very similar path. For many years Eric managed and conducted the Christchurch Salon Orchestra and Alan played in this orchestra. Alan was a superb pianist and a press story later referred to him “as a shining light in Christchurch musical circles”.

In 1907 Alan started at Canterbury College, in Christchurch which was one of the colleges of the University of New Zealand. Again, Alan excelled passing his first year German with credit and receiving an award for German in 1909. In 1910 he was awarded a B. A. first section and won awards for French, German, Latin and Greek. He was awarded the final section of the B. A. in April 1911, again, with an award for German. In April 1912 he was awarded an M. A. First Class honours in French and German. He was a true scholar.

In April 1912 Alan began his training as a journalist and went to work on the literary staff of the Christchurch newspaper “The Press”. He was paid £2 10s a week. His role was to assist the sub editorial staff, write on current topics and do some reporting.

Life in Fiji and USA 1914 - 1916

In July 1914 Alan was awarded an editorship on the Fiji Times based in Suva, the capital of Fiji. He sailed on the Marama on 1 August 1914 travelling First Class. It was while he was in Fiji that his mother Lucy died on 23 January 1915. In her will she left money in a trust to pay Alan an annual income.

Alan stayed in Fiji for a just over a year before heading to Honolulu. He sailed on the Makura which left Sydney on the 30th September 1915 and picked him up in Fiji on the way through. He arrived in Honolulu in Hawaii on 15 October 1915. His arrival on American soil was recorded by the immigration authorities and from the records we learn that he was 26 years old, 5ft 10 inches, with grey eyes, brown hair and weighed 148 lbs. He spent some time in Hawaii securing articles for his paper before going to San Francisco to attend The Panama–Pacific International Exposition. This was a world fair held in San Francisco to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was also to show San Francisco’s recovery from the 1906 earthquake

Alan liked San Francisco and ended up staying there for a year and twenty years later made several return visits. San Francisco has always had a large gay community and the city has been described as "the original 'gay-friendly city".

His departure from San Francisco is recorded in an article in the New Zealand newspapers which reads
Evening Star, 25 September 1916
“Mr Alan C. Tytheridge, who was for some time on the literary staff of "The Press," and afterwards editor of the "Fiji Times," but who has been in America for about eighteen months, was recently appointed pianist and accompanist to a noted Portuguese cellist and violinist, and they are to tour Japan. Mr Tytheridge's headquarters will be Yokohama till the conclusion of his contract, which is for three years. Among the pianists who applied for the post was Mr Walter Handel Thorley, who is well known in Christchurch musical circles.”

This period was during World War 1 in Europe. At home in New Zealand they had failed to find enough volunteers to fill the army. Conscription was publicly debated in New Zealand during 1915. Laws were passed restricting the movements and activities of military-aged men, who from November 1915 were banned from leaving the country without the government’s permission. In August 1916, the Military Service Act empowered the government to call up any man aged between 20 and 45 for military service. Perhaps these facts could have influenced Alan’s decision not to return to New Zealand?

To be continued in the next blog …..

Private G. H. Tidridge Remembered 100 Years On

Commonwealth War Graves

 A search of the Commonwealth War Grave website shows that 100 years ago today, on 9 July 1919, Private G H Tidridge died. He was in the 3rd Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Although he died after World War 1 had ended he is remembered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which commemorate all those who died during the war, plus those who died after the end of the war up to 26 September 1919.

Family of Private G. H. Tidridge

Private G H Tidridge’s full name was George Henry Joseph Robert Tidridge. He was the son of Edwin Alfred Tidridge (also referred to as Edward) and Hannah Mary Smith. Edwin and Hannah married at Fulham, St James in London on 10 July 1897. Edwin was a housepainter or decorator, originally from Romsey, Hampshire but then living in London and Hannah was from Bampton in Oxfordshire.

Edwin and Hannah’s first child, Gladys Tidridge, was born in March 1898 and died the same year. The next children were William Edward Tidridge born in 1899 (who lived until he was 56) and George Henry Joseph Robert Tidridge born on 1 July 1901 in Fulham. On 25 August 1901 William and Herbert were baptised in Bampton, Oxfordshire, Hannah’s home village. The fourth child, Herbert Tidridge, was born in 1904 and died aged 2. Tragedy struck the family when on 25 March 1908 44-year-old Edwin died leaving a pregnant Hannah with two young boys, William and George, to look after. Three months after Edwin’s death Alfred Dowdswell Tidridge was born and he died the following year. The births of the children were registered in either Fulham or Oxfordshire.

In July 1910 Hannah remarried Frederick Youngman in Islington. The 1911 census shows Hannah and Fred living together but without the two boys, William now aged 12 and George now aged 9. A search of the 1911 census shows George living in York Road, Hunstanton, Norfolk in a Boys' Home run by a widow Mrs Clara Adeline Beaumont aged 50. She was employed as Matron by the Church of England Waifs and Strays Society. The home was called St Christopher’s Home for Waifs and Strays. It had 11 rooms and 24 boys lived there. A picture of the home can be found at this link. On the same census brother William can be found in another boys’ home in Clyde House, Kingham Hill, Kingham, Chipping Norton.

World War 1

In 1914 when World War 1 broke out George was just 13 and elder brother William was 15. At some point, probably about 1917, William was either called up or voluntarily enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps. On 26 April 1918 William was listed as missing or wounded and his name appeared on the War Office Weekly Casualty list as missing on 25 June 1918. William spent the rest of the war in a prisoner of war camp. When his Victory Medal and British Medal were sent to him after the war he returned them.

It was 1 July 1919 when George was 18 and old enough to join the army, but it is believed that he lied about his age to join up, before this date. He joined the 3rd Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry, service number 46003. This was a training battalion during World War 1 with no overseas war service and they ended the war at Fermoy, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.

 George’s Death

 George was with the battalion in July 1919 at Fermoy, eight months after the war was over. He was taken ill and admitted to the Military Hospital in Fermoy on about 5 July 1919 and was found to be suffering from diphtheria. Diphtheria is a highly contagious and potentially fatal infection that can affect the nose and throat, and sometimes the skin. He was ill for 5 days and died on 9 July 1919 at The Military Hospital; he was just 18 years old. He is buried in Fermoy Military Cemetery and is remembered on the war memorial. This war memorial can be viewed at this link .

Army records show that his arrears of pay and a gratuity were sent to his mother Mrs Hannah M. Youngman, a total of £5 2s 3d.


So, 100 years on let us remember George, a young man who volunteered to serve his country and was then struck down by a deadly illness, a disease which today we are lucky enough to be immunised against.

Beware of False News

I have always known that you should not believe everything you read in the newspapers. Here below is a story that illustrates this and it is a warning to family historians that you should always try to double check your facts.

While looking through some American Newspapers this week I was rather surprised to come across the following item of news reporting the death of Dion Titheradge, the famous actor and playwright. I was surprised because the year of the article was 1918 and I knew Dion died on 16 November 1934.

Boston Globe 20 January 1918

“Dion Titheridge, brother of Madge Titheridge and well known to the speaking stage and the screen, was killed in action while serving in the British Army somewhere on the French front. Titheridge had a long stage experience, and appeared with Triangle in many productions. His last release was “The Whip” in which he acts the role of the jockey, a part he played on the speaking stage.”

And the same story appeared a few days later in another American paper.

Middletown Times Press on 2 February 1918

“Dion Titheridge who was a brother of Madge Titheridge, noted actress, died in the service of the British army. He acted with Sir Beerbohm Tree at His Majesty’s Theatre in London, and with Laurette Taylor in one of her noted productions. He also played with Triangle forces. A letter from him was received at the Triangle Culver City studios a few days before his death.”

As I knew Dion died in 1934 I knew these two articles had to be “false news”. In World War 1 Dion was in the British Army, in The Royal Field Artillery. However, he did not leave England until June 1918 when he was posted to Salonika. In February 1918 his army records show he was in Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain in England.

It is hard to know how the story started since Dion was not in France so the story could not have arisen due the confusion of battle. It is unlikely that he was confused with another individual with a similar name since there were no other Titheridge or Titheradge whose first name begins with D; no one with the surname who was killed in the early months of 1918, and no one else with the family name with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

It would appear that similar articles did not appear in English or Australian newspapers.  The American newspapers also spelt his surname incorrectly using "idge" instead of "adge".

The reports in the American newspapers were eventually corrected on 26 January 1918 by the New York Times under the headline

Dion Titheradge Not Killed in War

“Reports published several weeks ago that Dion Titheradge, the actor, had been killed in France are now declared to have been unfounded. Friends of Titheradge last night received a cablegram from the Eccentric Club, London in which it was declared that the actor was well and uninjured. Titheradge last acted with Laurette Taylor in “The Harp of Life”


So, a happy ending to the story but a warning to family historians – Don’t believe everything you read

Census and Titheridge / Titheradge Family History

Census Data on Website

This week on our Family History Website I have published transcriptions of all Titheridge / Titheradge / Tidridge / Tytheridge etc. family members found in UK censuses 1841 – 1911. The transcriptions can be found at this LINK .

Introduction to UK Census

If you look up the word census in the dictionary the definition is “an official count of a population or class of things, often with various statistics noted”. In England the census began in 1801 as a count of individuals. Further head counts took place in 1811, 1821 and 1831. The purpose of the census was for the government to get information about the population size and growth.

The Government decided that the census would be held every 10 years. The 1841 census took place on 6 June 1841 and was the first census to record names and information about people. Future censuses took place on a Sunday evening in March or April. Sunday was chosen as the most likely day to find people at home and the spring months chosen as it was before the agricultural labourers were moving around for work.

The census has continued until present day but the 1941 census did not take place because of the war (although a mini census had taken place in 1939 to enable production of identity cards). There is a hundred-year rule, meaning that the census records are closed for 100 years. The next release of records will be the 1921 census to be released in 2022. The 1931 census records were destroyed during the war.

How did the Census happen? 

A date was chosen for the census, the questions decided, the paperwork printed and enumerators found. Enumerators were paid for their work; they had to be educated, able to read and write and do arithmetic and be trustworthy. Before 1891 only men were employed as enumerators. An enumerator was given an area of approximately 200 properties to visit. In the towns the houses could be close together with a multistory house being divided into many family units; while in the countryside properties could be spread across many miles.

The enumerator left a form and written instructions at each dwelling. On census night the head of the house had to fill in all those people present and sleeping in the house. The next day the forms were collected with the enumerator checking the forms, correcting mistakes or filling in the forms if necessary (remember many people could not read and write at this time). The forms were transcribed into a “Census Enumerators Book”, these are the images of the census you can see today. The original forms and book were sent to the Census Office and rechecked then the originals destroyed. It is only the 1911 census that you see the original forms as filled in by the head of house. Institutions such as poor houses, asylums, prisons, hospitals, residential schools, army and navy had special forms to fill in.

Finding People on the Census 

Before the arrival of the Internet to view a census record you would go to a record office and view micro film or microfiche images of the area and year you were interested in. There was no index and you would search page by page. It was a long and tedious task often with very little reward for a day’s work.

Today “Find My Past” and “Ancestry” both have the censuses available on line and they have all been indexed and transcribed. You enter the surname and instantly get a list of names. You must then view the image of the census because the transcriptions can have errors. In the original examining the neighbours and other members of the house is useful as often these are relatives e.g. a married daughter who is living next to her parents.

These searches of the census are not without their difficulties. The censuses have been transcribed by a variety of people and a surname like Titheridge will be alien to them. This often produces some wonderful transcriptions that are nothing like the surname. Careful use of a wildcard (*) will enable one search to find most variations of Titheridge etc.  Often there is very poor writing on the census, so the T at the start of the surname can look like an F, L, S or even P! Sometimes the “Ti” does not have a clear dot and gets transcribed “Te”.

For some individuals you will not find a record even though you are confident they were still alive. This could be due to the lost records, omitted individuals, transcription errors, people away from home or records with a strange variation to the surname recorded. A few individuals have been listed at work and at home. Individuals in Asylums provide a problem as inmates are listed by their initials. On the 1911 census suffragettes boycotted the census, hence they could be missing.

Lies and Errors

The census was made for the government and not family historians. Never could our ancestors have known that these census returns would be examined by family historians and lies would be discovered.

The census is a wonderful source of information often linking two or three generations together as families but be aware some information that might be an error or a lie.
Some misinformation that I have come across includes:-
• The terms son-in-law and step son used incorrectly, similarly daughter / daughter in law
• The wrong surname used, especially when a child was born illegitimately, or the mother has remarried
• Individuals claiming to be married or widowed when this was not the case
• Confusion about their age, when they just didn’t know how old they were! or lying about their age, especially individuals who married younger partners
• Lying about their relationships e.g. grandparents bringing up illegitimate grandchildren and calling them son / daughter

Information in the Census

The UK census returns will give family historians the following information
• Name
• Relationship to head of house
• Marital status
• Age
• Place of birth
• Address
• Occupation
• In 1911 two new questions were added, number of children and years of marriage.

What The Censuses Tell Us About the Titheridge / Titheradge etc Family

• People couldn’t spell the surname and there are many spelling variations on the census forms.

• The commonest Christian names for males were James and William and in every census these two names occupy the top two most popular names. In the 1901 census there are 31 individuals called William. Female names are more diverse and the commonest female names vary across the decades. 1841 – 1871 the most popular name is Sarah. Then across the years it is Elizabeth, Mary, Annie, Annie.

• There are only 16% of individuals over the age of 50 and this is quite constant across the decades. The number of people over 70 increases across the decades but the percentage stays reasonably constant. The oldest person in the census 90.

• The population of family members increases from the 1841 census to 1911 as shown below. It increases from 158 individuals in 1841 to 493 in 1911. This is in line with national trends.

 Table Showing the Number of Individuals found on the Census Over Time

Census Year	Number of Family Members on the Census	Number of Males	Number of Females	Number of Properties occupied by individuals
1841	158	89	69	61
1851	209	114	95	61
1861	241	125	116	84
1871	315	153	162	112
1881	353	163	190	126
1891	397	194	203	143
1901	445	215	229	161
1911	493	251	242	193

• The individuals gradually move from  rural Hampshire to London, with 4% of the individuals in London in 1841 but by 1911 26 % of individuals were in London.  The percentage in other counties stays relatively constant.

Table Showing the Number of Individuals in Hampshire and Other Areas on Census Over Time

Census Year	Per cent of Population Living in Hampshire	Per cent of Population Living in London / Middlesex	Per cent of Population Living in Essex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex	Per cent of Population Living in the rest of the country
1841	81%	4%	14%	1%
1851	78%	10%	10%	2%
1861	74%	12%	12%	2%
1871	70%	17%	7%	6%
1881	66%	13%	13%	8%
1891	61%	19%	16%	4%
1901	58%	26%	12%	4%
1911	51%	26%	16%	6%

If you want to view the census data that has been found for all family members from 1841 to 1911 it has been transcribed and can be viewed on our website at this link Census Data.