A Hero’s Plight
Jonathan Scott’s ‘Best Websites’ article in the May issue focused on newspapers. I wanted to let you know how useful one newspaper website has been for me. The British Newspaper Archive ( britishnewspaper
archive.co.uk) has provided me with many interesting snippets of information and further insights into my family history.
One in particular is regarding my maternal grandfather, George (known as ‘Jerry’) Everley of Hayes, Middlesex, whom I never knew. He died when my mother was only nine. He was one of the soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk on 1 June 1940, serving with the British Expeditionary Force.
I found an interesting report on a court case in the British Newspaper Archive dated November 1943, where the judge had to decide on a “greater hardship possession case”. Mr George Everley and his wife and young child were attempting to reclaim possession of their own home following his discharge from the army on medical grounds, their property having been rented out while he was serving in order to meet the cost of the mortgage.
In the newspaper article, Mr Everley is described as a “Dunkirk hero” and the judge sums up with an enlightening piece: “Giving judgement, His Honour said here they had the case of a young man who had served
his country well. He rejoined the colours on the outbreak of war and was in the retirement from Dunkirk; had suffered hardships in France and elsewhere in the service of his country and had now been discharged from the army suffering from a very nasty complaint, hysteria.
“By reason of his financial position, due to war service, it was found impossible for his mortgage repayments to be maintained so the house was let. When he left the service incapacitated, he found himself a wanderer from place to place because he was unable to get possession of his own home and was not successful in getting suitable accommodation for himself, wife and child elsewhere.”
I was unable to find further newspaper reporting of this case, but I know that George did eventually regain possession of his property, because my mother’s birth certificate shows that she was born there in December 1944.
Sadly, I have so far only been able to find unhappy events reported in the archive newspapers, but hopefully with continued searching I might find something happier!
Jo Kelly, Suffolk
EDITOR REPLIES:
Thanks Jo. It sounds like George had a really tough time – glad to hear that it was resolved before your mother was born. Keep checking the newspapers for positive news, and remember that new ones are being digitised all the time.