Katherine Dora Collins nee Ivall (1877-1963)

Katherine Dora Ivall was a grand-daughter of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812-65), who was a brother of my ancestor David Ivall (1816-67). Her first name was registered at birth (and baptism) as Katherine, although it is spelt variously as Katharine, Catherine and Catharine in other records made during her life. She was known as Dora.

Katherine was born on September 28th 1877 in Chalvey (a village which is now a district of Slough), the sixth of fifteen children (ten boys and five girls) born to Thomas Ivall (1837 - 1908) and his wife Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845 - 1929). Thomas was a baker and ran the Chalvey village bakery. In 1881 the family consisted of Thomas (aged 44, a master baker), Lucy (34), Walter (12), Annie Lucy (7), Harry Alfred (5), Catherine Dora (3), Percy Bertram (1), Reginald Ivall (2 months) and Eliza Hobden (27, Lucy’s sister, a nurse). Their address was Jordan Place Bakers Shop, Chalvey, Buckinghamshire.

In 1891 Thomas Ivall (aged 53, a baker), Lucy (43), Walter (22, an assistant schoolmaster), Annie (17), Harry (15, a baker), Catherine (13), Percy (11), Reginald (10), Charles (8), Margaret (8), Gilbert (6), Jane (4) and Philip (0.75) were living at 6 Jordan Place, Church Street, Chalvey.

Katherine Dora Ivall, date unknown

By 1901, Thomas, aged 63, a retired baker, was living at 39 The Crescent, Chalvey, Slough with his wife Lucy (52) and their children (Katherine) Dora (23, a milliner), Charles (18, a baker), Margaret (18), Gilbert (15), Jane (14), David (10) and Gerald (8). The house is still there. The 1911 census shows Katherine living as a boarder at 94 Tottenham Court Road, London. She was aged 32 and a milliner.

Katherine married Edwin Alexander Collins on August 2^nd 1913 in Chalvey Parish Church. He was aged 32, a joiner, she was aged 35. Edwin came from an old Chalvey family, his father was Robert Gibson Collins, also a joiner. Edwin had been apprenticed to the building trade and quickly became a skilled craftsman.

Soon after their marriage, Edwin and Katherine moved into Tavistock Villa, Ledgers Road, Slough. As far as I know, they had no children. Edwin served in the Army and then the Air Force during World War One. 

The 1921 census shows Edwin (aged 40, a carpenter working for The Slough Trading Company, Salt Hill, Slough) and Katherine (43) at Tavistock Villa. Listed as a visitor was Alice Cumber (36, an unemployed bank clerk), who was a friend of Katherine's and became the second wife of Walter George Ivall (Katherine's eldest brother) 6 days after the census date (19 June 1921).

In about 1925, Edwin decided to set up his own business and received many good contracts. By 1936 he employed 20 men on average.

The following item appeared in the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer dated April 24^th 1936.

Local Builder’s Tragic Death

Mr E A Collins

Found “Gassed” in Car – Inquest

Deep regret is felt at the death of a well-known Slough master builder and contractor, Mr Edwin Alexander Collins, who was found dead from gas poisoning in his 16 hp Austin saloon motor car on Greenham Common, near Newbury, on Friday evening. He resided at Tavistock Villa, Ledgers Road and was 55 years of age. A piece of rubber hose was fixed from the exhaust pipe through the floor boards of the car, and a pair of overalls had been wound round the two pipes to give a gas-tight joint.

The item went on to quote Katherine at the inquest saying that Greenham Common had been a favourite spot where they had gone for picnics. Her husband had been recently “worried and depressed. I have seen him holding his head. He loved his business and took a pride in it.” There was no suicide note. The coroner concluded that Edwin had committed suicide whilst of unsound mind by inhaling carbon monoxide gas from the exhaust of his car.

The article said that Edwin was “universally liked for his cheery disposition and his kind heartedness. He enjoyed the esteem of all his acquaintances, not only as a conscientious tradesman but as a very good friend.”

Edwin’s funeral was held at St Mary’s Church, Slough and he was interred in the churchyard with his father and mother.

Edwin’s wife and family had no doubts that his suicide was entirely due to financial difficulties, resulting from a number of clients not paying their bills. Within a month or two after his death most had paid the money they owed to his widow and she was able to clear any debts of her husband. Probate on his estate (£880) was granted to Katherine.

In the 1939 register, Katherine is shown as living at 4 Hogarth Gardens, Heston, Hounslow with Elizabeth M Loyd, a 78 year old of independent means. Katherine's occupation is described as "domestic duties paid". 

Katherine later lived with her unmarried sisters Margaret Olive Ivall (1883-1976) and Jane Evelyn Ivall (1886-1971, known as Aunt Gin or Ginny) at 2 Hillside, Ledgers Road, Slough, a house that was owned by Margaret.

Katherine died on 14th August 1963 aged 85 in Slough. The probate index gives her address as 2 Hillside, Ledgers Road, Slough. Probate on her estate (£469) was issued in 1965 to her sister, Margaret Olive Ivall, a spinster.

Ivall Ancestor Charts

If you would like me to send you (for free) a scan of a chart showing the names, dates and occupations of your Ivall ancestors, please send an email to me on PhilT42LQS@Yahoo.co.uk.

Phil Taylor

Fred Gregory Bampton (1891-1917), soldier who died in World War One

Fred Gregory Bampton was a great grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812-65), the brother of my ancestor David Ivall (1816-67). Fred’s grandmother was Jane Ivall (1841-71), who married John Bampton (1839-1908).

Fred was born on 3 March 1891, the third of four children born to John Robert Bampton and his wife Jane Maria nee Gregory who married in 1884. The family appear in the 1891 census living at 1 York Place, Chalvey (which is now a suburb of Slough). Listed were John Bampton (aged 27, hammerman in iron works), his wife Jane (29) and their children Mary (6), Clarence (4) and an unnamed son 1month old (this was Fred). The children were all born in Chalvey.

In 1901 the family consisted of John Bampton (37, a smith), Jane (39), Mary (16), Clarence (14), Fred (10) and Corrie (a son, 8 months old). Their address is given as 5 York Place, Chalvey.

Fred enlisted for the Royal Navy at Chatham on 8 October 1907, giving his age as 18 years old (he was actually only 16 years old). His Naval Service number was 366329. He is listed as having small tattoos on his left arm and a burn mark on his right ankle. He had been employed previously as ‘Houseboy in Brewery’. His naval record showed that :

8 October 1907 – 18 September 1908 he served as ‘Boy Servant’ on HMS Wildfire (this was the name of a shore establishment at Sheerness).

19 September 1908 – 30 September 1909 he served as ‘Officers Boy Servant Third Class’ on HMS Pembroke (the name given to shore barracks at Chatham).

1 October 1909 – 21 September 1910 he served as ‘Officers Cook Third Class’ on HMS Berwick (an armoured cruiser completed in 1903, assigned to the North America and West Indies station in 1909).

The last entry on his record sheet on 21 September 1910 was ‘Shore O.R.’ (on reserve).

The 1911 census shows Jane (49), Clarence (24, a carter in a gravel pit), Fred (20, a naval servant) and Corrie (10) at 5 York Cottages, Church St, Chalvey. The words “husband away” are written on the census return. The family were living in 4 rooms.

When the first world was declared in August 1914, Fred was aged 23. He volunteered to join the army and was sent to France, arriving on 28 April 1915 as part of the 3^rd Reserve Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was wounded twice but returned to active service with the 1^st/4^th Battalion.

Fred was killed in action on 15 February 1917 aged 25. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that he was a Private in the 1^st/4^th Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry at the time of his death. The War Diary of his unit is held in the National Archives at Kew. It says that the Battalion was providing brigade support 1500 yards East of Flaucourt on 15 February 1917. Flaucourt is a village about 4 miles West of the town of Peronne and was on ground gained by the French Army in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The war diary reads

“9.30am : Several hostile aeroplanes over, which were “strafed” by our Lewis Guns

10.15am : Shelling of neighbourhood of Battalion HQ commenced. This continued, without cessation till 1pm being particularly fierce for about the first ¾ of an hour. Several hundred shells were fired, principally 15cm Hows (Howitzers). Several direct hits scored on dugouts occupied by Bt HQ & C Coy (Company), also on a dump of French bombs on the road close by. Casualties killed 2Lt B.VOKES – from a shell which burst just outside entrance to C Coy’s HQ & 1 O.R.(Other Ranks) Wounded 5 O.R.”

In the margin it says

“2Lt B.VOKES C Coy killed

235012 Pte BAMPTON D Coy killed”

The names of the 5 wounded men are also given.

Fred is buried in the Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hem-Monacu, which is about 3 miles North of Flaucourt. The cemetery contains nearly 600 dead from the 1914-18 war. It was enlarged after the armistice by moving dead from small burial grounds nearby. One of these was the Achille British Cemetery, Flaucourt on a trench about 1 kilometres East of Flaucourt. This was in use in February 1917 and was probably where Fred was initially buried. Hem Farm Cemetery is in a peaceful position surrounded by fields, just outside the village of Hem-Monacu and near the River Somme. 

Fred’s gravestone says “235012 Private / F G Bampton / Oxford & Bucks Light Inf / 15^th February 1917 Age 24.”

Hem Farm Military Cemetery

The following item appeared in the Deaths section of the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer dated 10 March 1917 :

“BAMPTON. – On February 15^th, Fred Gregory Bampton, late Private 2^nd Oxford and Bucks L.I., son of Mr and Mrs Bampton of 5 York Place, Chalvey, who was killed in action, aged 25 years.

No mother or father to see him die

No sister or brother to say “Goodbye”,

No friends or relations to grasp his hand,

But we all hope to meet in that better land.”

Fred's mother Jane was sent £5 1s 6d (his effects) by the Army in 1917 and a war gratuity of £9 10s in 1919. 

The medal card of Fred G Bampton records that he was awarded the Victory Medal, British Medal and 1915 Star. The first two of these medals were given to all British soldiers who fought in WW1. The 1915 Star was only awarded to those who fought in 1915 (those who joined when conscription was introduced in 1916 did not receive it).

Fred’s name is recorded on the war memorials at St Peter’s Church in Chalvey, St Mary’s Church in Slough and Kingsway United Reformed Church in Slough.

A further item was printed in Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer on the second anniversary of Fred’s death

“BAMPTON. – In ever loving memory of my dear son, Pte. Fred Gregory Bampton, late 2^nd Oxford and Bucks L.I., who was killed in action Feb 15^th, 1917.

It’s sweet to think we’ll meet again

Where troubles are no more

And that the one we loved so dear

Has just gone on before

Thy purpose, Lord, we cannot see,

But all is well that’s done by Thee.

Two years has passed, we miss his loving smile

Our hearts are aching, yet a little while

And we shall meet within the golden gate

God comfort us – God help us – while we wait

From his loving Mum, Dad, Sister and Brothers”