First World War Book - The London Gunners come to Town

In 2014 many people contacted me trying to get a copy of my popular 1995 book, "The London Gunners come to Town," and I sadly had to say it was out of print. As a result some second hand copies were for sale online at £50 or more. A couple of weeks ago, while clearing some of the junk in my garage, I found an unopened box of new copies.  As a result I have placed a number of signed copies with the brand new bookshop in Tring (Our Bookshop) for sale at the original asking price of £9.99.

Extensive Details of the Book

 Including  sample pages, etc.

Published Reviews

A Merry Christmas from "Genealogy in Hertfordshire"

Hi All

Enjoy your Christmas and keep up your own researches into family and local history.

Yes I am still here even if my web site and blogs have been rather inactive during 2018 Other matters have meant that I have not been as active on line as I would like. My top priority has been to keep fit and over the year I have relaxed by doing more walking in the wonderful countryside around Tring - and have lost over 10 kg. 

To remain mentally active I have been continuing to work on local history. I have been trying to identify the artist who published the "Karaktus" comic cards in St Albans 110 years ago. The story involves a young and highly innovative artist who sometimes signed his cards "F S" and a whole networks of mainly small short-lived companies (such as the Crown Publishing Company of St Albans). 

Recently I came across firm evidence that "F S" also published some comic cards (such as the one above) under the pseudonym "Dauber" and was also responsible for the Infantastic series of cards of round-faced children. Certain details make it virtually certain that "F S" is Fred Spurgin, who was one of the top comic card artists of the 1910s and 20s.

Over the holiday period I will be actively updating (and correcting) the information I have on the "F S" related comic cards in the light of the latest discoveries. Of course you are welcome to enter the world of Edwardian comic post cards by "F S" at any time as long as you don't mind the occasional "work in progress" warnings.

So relax and enjoy the Christmas break.

Chris

Meeting HFHS - The (almost) Empty Index Card

The (almost) Empty Index Card

A lost ancestor who went to Van Dieman's Land voluntarily
Janet Pearson

2.30pm on 8th December

Herts Family History Society

Woolmer Green Village Hall, SG3 6SZ

Hall opens 1.30pm

Lest We Forget

Click here for other pictures of Tring remembering its fallen heroes

Poppies cascading down the church tower at Tring
Tring Yarn Bomb 2018

Meeting HFHS - The Real Gunpowder Plot

The Real Gunpowder Plot

Strange story of the "Gowrie Conspiracy
Gareth Hughes

2.30pm on 17th November

Herts Family History Society Meeting 

Woolmer Green Village Hall, SG3 6SZ

Hall opens 1.30pm

The Good Old Days in Tring

HFHS Meeting - Finding George

Finding George

Tracing a 1st World War Soldier

2.30pm on 27th October

Herts Family History Society Meeting 

Woolmer Green Village Hall, SG3 6SZ

Hall opens 1.30pm

Balderson's Wharf

Roy has kindly supplied an update on Balderson's Wharf, Hemel Hempstead.  It appear that the person after whom the wharf was named was actually born with the surname Osbaldeston!

The Tring Earth Closet - Update

I have been very busy recently but when I have time I sit and think about my genealogy web site, and sometimes I am moved to deposit some new material in it.

Recently Allen pointed out there was a leak in the page on the Tring Earth Closet and I have removed the broken link and added a new link for any environmentally friendly reader who want to make compost.

P.S. If you know where there is a surviving Victorian Tring-designed earth closet it might make a very practical addition to the local history museum.

The War on the Western Front in 1914

Wednesday 17th October 2018 - Dr Jonathan Boff
Subject: 'The War on the Western Front in 1918'

Jonathan Boff is a Senior Lecturer in History and War Studies at the University of Birmingham, where he teaches courses on conflict from Homer to Helmand.

He specialises in the First World War and his previous book, Winning and Losing on the Western Front: The British Third Army and the Defeat of Germany in 1918 (CUP, 2012) was short-listed for the Templer Medal and for the British Army Book of the Year award.

He was educated at Merton College, Oxford and the Department of War Studies, King's College London and spent twenty years working in finance before returning to academia. He serves on the councils of the National Army Museum and Army Records Society, has worked as a historical consultant with the British Army and the BBC, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

The talk takes place in the Weston Auditorium, University of Hertfordshire, De Havilland Campus, Herts, AL10 9EU and starts at at 7.30pm with doors open from 7pm. To book your FREE ticket, car park pass and for further information, please visit the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/war-on-the-western-front-in-1918-dr-jonathan-boff-tickets-50642505096

For directions and site map visit: www.hertsatwar.co.uk/talks-2017-2018 

* Note the car park pass will be email separately, shortly before the talk