The kindness of strangers
I thought readers might be interested to hear how I was reunited with a piece of my family’s history through the kindness of a complete stranger.
Before she married, my grandmother Christina Beatrice Matcham née Knight (1883–1968) was in service. When she set up home with my grandfather William Thomas Matcham she continued with many of the routines she had learned as a housemaid. Every Thursday morning her brass and silver were polished, and unless you wanted to help a visit at that time was to be avoided.
One of the items that was shined with particular care was the First World War plaque that came to the family to commemorate the death of my grandfather’s youngest brother Maurice Martin Matcham. Maurice had been killed in action in France on 25 March 1918. I liked to polish the plaque, because being flat it was one of the easiest pieces to clean. My grandmother would remind me of its significance, and tell me about her brother-in-law.
It was this experience that prompted me a few years ago to find out more about Maurice’s wartime experience, and in particular where he had died. Using the War Diaries for his battalion I was able to trace roughly where they were on that day. In 2012 I visited the farmland around the village of Courcelette near Albert in northern France, to which the battalion had retreated on 25 March, and also the monument at Arras where Maurice is commemorated, because he has no known grave.
After my grandparents died the plaque went to my grandfather’s youngest sister and last remaining sibling, Alice. When she died in 1985 it did not occur to me to ask about it. Shortly before Christmas I was using the Ancestry website when I got a message from a stranger called Barry: “MM Matcham this boy’s ww1 plaque is at the following auction.”
I checked the website, and sure enough there was Uncle Maurice’s plaque. It was described as “well-worn” – it would be, as it had been polished every Thursday morning over decades! I registered to bid, and the following week opened the package containing so many memories. The plaque now has pride of place on my mantelpiece.
I am hugely grateful to be part of the family history community where strangers happily share their knowledge and expertise. Jan Simmonds Editor replies: What a heart-warming story Jan. Have any other readers made family discoveries from auctions?