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.

Walter George Ivall (1868 - 1953), schoolteacher

Walter George Ivall was a grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812 - 1865), the elder brother of  David Ivall (1816 - 1867), my great, great grandfather. Walter was known as George or Bob Ivall.

Walter was born on 25 December 1868 in Chalvey (a village which is now a district of Slough), the eldest child of Thomas Ivall (1837 - 1908) and Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845 - 1929). Thomas and Lucy went to have a total of 15 children, the last one being born in 1892. Thomas was a baker and ran the Chalvey village bakery.

The 1871 census shows Thomas Ivall (aged 33, a master baker), his wife Lucy (24) and their children Walter George (2) and Robert Thomas (7 months) living at 6 Jordan Place, Upton Cum Chalvey.

The following item appeared in the Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette dated 25 October 1879.

ASSAULT ON A BOY. Elizabeth Hissop was summoned for having assaulted Walter George Ivall, aged 11, son of a baker carrying on business at Chalvey. Defendant pleaded not guilty. The boy said that on the evening of the 15th Oct., while he was trolling his hoop, defendant came up to him and pulled his nose. He had not given her any provocation. Defendant said that she only spoke to the boy about his having assaulted her children, and she altogether denied having wrung his nose. The boy's evidence, however, was corroborated by another boy named David Painting, and the magistrates imposed a fine of 5s., including costs.

By 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.

The Slough, Eton  and Windsor observer printed the following item on 3 Oct 1885 under the heading Chalvey Cricket Club

In the evening the members and their friends, numbering about forty, sat down to a capital repast at Mr Hobden’s. Mr W. S. Shelton presided and Mr T. Ivall (Walter’s father) occupied the vice chair. A very pleasant evening was spent by all. Mr T. Haverly obtained the presentation bat, given by the club for the highest average in batting, and a cap was presented to Mr George (Walter) Ivall for having performed the “Hat trick” in the match with Eton Wick on August 8^th.

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.

Walter achieved another hat trick at cricket, as reported in the local paper dated 5^th August 1893.

The feature of the Eton Wick v Chalvey match, which was played on the ground of the former on Saturday, was the excellent bowling of George (Walter) Ivall. Not only did he perform the “hat trick” but an inspection of his bowling analysis shows that in all he took 12 wickets at a cost of just a run apiece. In this department of the game he was ably supported by Fred Spong, while the batting honours belong to E. Bubb. Chalvey won by an innings and five runs.

Edward Bubb was the husband of George’s sister Annie. Walter was later presented with a silver cup for captaining the Chalvey Cricket Club for 25 years. His son John remembers the cup being on the sideboard at their home.

On 1^st January 1895 Walter married Lily Mary Crabe Bartlett at St Mary’s Church, Slough. He was 26 and a school master. She was 23, the daughter of William Bartlett, a butler. They had four daughters Dorothy Lucy (1895-1970), Lily Victoria (1900-73), Margaret Olive (1902-59) and Katherine Mildred (1907-86). They also had two other children Mary (b1896) and Thomas (b1899) who died soon after birth. Electoral registers show that Walter lived at 6 Rose Cottages, Chalvey from 1897 to 1899.

 Walter (top left) and other teachers at Slough National Boys School

In 1897 Walter was the honorary secretary of the committee that made the arrangements in Chalvey to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne. In 1900, Walter was appointed as the secretary of the Chalvey Club, for which we has paid £4 a year.

The 1901 census shows Walter (aged 32, an assistant schoolmaster) living at 7 Castle View off Grove Road, Upton St Mary, Slough. Also listed at the address are his wife Lily Mary (22) and their daughters Dorothy (5) and Lily Victoria (5 months).

The 1903 and 1907 editions of Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire have entries for Chalvey Village Club and Library (George Ivall, hon sec), High St, Chalvey, Slough (listed under Public Libraries in 1903 and 1907, Working Men’s Clubs in 1907). The Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer of 28 January 1905 contains an item that begins “An entertainment, arranged by Mr W. G. Ivall, took place at the Club House on Wednesday evening.” There was “a large attendance” and the programme contained “phonograph selections”, songs and recitations.

In 1911 Walter (42, a schoolmaster at an elementary school), his wife Mary (39) and children Lily (10), Margaret (9) and Catherine (3) were living at 7 Castle View, off Chalvey Grove. Electoral registers show him still at this address in 1915.

During the First World War, Walter was a special constable. His grandson Colin Hewett has his truncheon and helmet badge.

Walter George Ivall and some of his pupils (from a school photo)

Lily Ivall, Walter’s wife, died of cancer in 1915 in Chalvey aged 43. 

The 1921 census shows Walter (aged 52, a schoolteacher) at 11 Ragstone Road, Slough with his mother Lucy (75), siblings Margaret (38), Jane (34) and Gerald (28) plus his daughter Catherine (13). 

Walter married again on 25 June 1921 to Alice Cumber at St Peter’s, Hampstead. The marriage certificate gives his age as 51 and hers as 37. Alice was a spinster, a daughter of William Cumber who was a bookbinder. She was a friend of Walter’s sister Katherine Dora Ivall. They are both listed in the 1911 census as living at 94 Tottenham Court Road, London, which was a boarding house (Katherine aged 32 was a milliner, Alice aged 26 was a dressmaker). Walter and Alice later had 3 children, Robert George (b 1923), John Reginald (b 1924) and Barbara Mary (b 1929).

Walter was a schoolteacher for 45 years, starting as a pupil teacher at the age of 15 and continuing until he retired in 1928 at the age of 60. He was the deputy head master at Slough National School in the 1920s. The following item was printed in the Uxbridge & West  Drayton Gazette dated 28 December 1928 :

The Rev. A. G. P. Baines presided at a meeting on Thursday for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr. W. G. Ivall, who was retiring from his position as teacher at the Slough National School after forty-five years in that position. Mr. Ivall was presented with a cheque for £125 12s. 6d., and an album containing the signatures of subscribers. Altogether £127 13s. 6d. was given by 200 subscribers. A pipe in a case was also presented to him, the gift of Mr. C. Birtchnell, one of his old pupils. 

Walter (top right) at the wedding of his daughter Katherine in 1928

Alice and Walter Ivall are listed at 19 Carrington Rd in the 1929 to 1931 Electoral Registers for the Stoke Ward of Slough.

In the 1939 national register Walter (a retired schoolmaster) and Alice (a fountain pen ink sac extractor) are listed at 11 Whiteford Road, Slough.

Walter died in 1953 in Maidenhead aged 84. His wife Alice died in 1959 in Slough aged 74.

Reginald John Ivall (1881-1966), Bucks Volunteer

Reginald John Ivall was a grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812 - 1865), the elder brother of David Ivall (1816 - 1867), my great great grandfather. According to his nephew John Ivall, Reginald was known as “Darkie” (not very PC !) because of his tanned skin.

Reginald was born on January 9th 1881 in the village of Chalvey near Slough, in Buckinghamshire. He was the eighth child of Thomas Ivall (1837 - 1908) and Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845 - 1929). Thomas and Lucy had a total of 16 children, 13 of which survived into adulthood, the last child being born in 1892. Thomas ran the Chalvey village bakery.

The 1881 census shows Thomas Ivall (aged 44, a master baker), Lucy (34), Walter (12), Annie Lucy (7), Harry Alfred (5), Catherine Dora (3), Percy Bertram (1) and Reginald (2 months) living at 1 Jordan Place Bakers Shop, Chalvey, Buckinghamshire.

In 1891 there was 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 (9 months) living at Church Street, 6 Jordan Place, Chalvey.

The Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer in February and December 1892 lists Reginald as one of the children who took part in school concerts. In March 1896, the newspaper had the following item :

SUNDAY AFTERNOON’S AMUSEMENT – George Werrell, Harry Axsell, Reginald Ivall and Henry Higgins, youths, of Chalvey, were summoned for playing hockey on the highway at Chalvey on March 15^th. Defendants pleaded not guilty. Police constable Young said that on Sunday March 15^th he was on duty on the road leading from Ledger’s Lane to Salt Hill, when he saw the four defendants playing hockey. They were knocking a piece of wood with their sticks. There were six playing altogether, but the other two ran away and he did not know their names. He had had a complaint from Mr Giles of Slough, as to the defendants frightening the pony that he was driving. Defendants were a source of annoyance to passers-by. Defendants, who denied that they were playing, were fined 1s each.

1s in 1896 is equivalent to about £27 in 2023.

Reginald was in the Slough Company, 1^st Bucks Rifle Volunteers. The results of a shooting competition were published in June 1899. Private R Ivall came 8^th out of 9 participants.

The Boer War began in 1899. Reginald’s elder brother Percy, who was in the Scots Guards, was sent there in December 1899. The 1^st Bucks Rifle Volunteers were asked to provide approximately 60 men to join an active service volunteer company to be attached to the 1^st Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry. Reginald volunteered. His attestation form was completed in January 1900. It gives his age as 20 (he was actually 19)and previous occupation as blacksmith. He was 5 foot 10 inches, weight 159 lbs. He was sent to South Africa in March 1900, served there until May 1901, when he returned to the UK and was discharged. 

By the time his unit arrived in South Africa, the main Boer field army had been defeated. However the war continued as a guerrilla conflict waged by Boer commandos until a peace treaty was signed in May 1902. Private R J Ivall’s Regimental number was 7237 and he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with 3 clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal). The National Archives at Kew have the medal roll for the Volunteer Service Company that Reginald was in. It contained a Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Colour Sergeant, 4 Sergeants, 5 Corporals, 2 Buglers and 103 Privates. Of the 117 total, 2 are listed as deceased and 9 as invalided home. Soldiers who fought in the Boer War received a gratuity of £5 (equivalent to about £2,500 in 2023) on their return. Reginald’s name appears on the Boer War Memorial, Market Square, Aylesbury, together with those of the other 1^st Bucks Volunteers who served. There was also a memorial unveiled in Slough (see below)

From Bucks Herald, 21 July 1900

Reginald played football for Slough FC. He was also selected to play for the Berks and Bucks team that played against Middlesex on 27 December 1905.

On 22^nd May 1907, Reginald (then aged 26 and an engineer) married Ellen Sophia Holdway (aged 27, a daughter of a publican) at St Mary’s, Chalvey. The witnesses were Reginald’s sister Margaret Olive Ivall and Edwin Alexander Collins (who married another of his sisters, Katherine Dora Ivall, in 1913). Reginald and Ellen had 8 children namely Lucy Margaret (1908-2006), Robert (1909-87), Harry (1912-83), Nellie (1913-2001), Winnie (b1916), George (1918-96), Ethel (b1920) and Reginald (1923-88).

The 1911 census shows Reginald aged 30, an engineer and fitter in a foundry (iron works), living at 8 Grove View, Chalvey Green, Slough with his wife Ellen (aged 31) and their children Lucy (3) and Robert (1). Electoral registers from 1910 to 1915 show him at this address.

According to his niece Katherine Hewett nee Ivall, Reginald had a  reputation for being the strongest man in Slough.

The census in 1921 records Reginald (aged 40), Ellen (41), Lucy (13), Robert (11), Harry (9), Nellie (7), Winnie (5), George (3) and Ethel (10 months) Ivall living in 5 rooms at 8 Grove View. Reginald worked as a riveter at G D Peters Ltd, Windsor Works, Slough. The company were manufacturers of braking systems for railway locomotives, carriages and trucks.

The marriage certificates of Reginald’s children describe his occupation in various ways. In 1930 he was a riveter, in 1936 an electrical engineer, in 1943 a fire watcher and in 1949, a labourer (retired).

The 1929 to 1931 electoral registers list Reginald and Ellen at “Rosemead”, Chalvey Grove. His children’s marriage certificates give the family address in 1936 to 1949 as 161 Chalvey Grove.

The 1939 national register lists Reginald (a watchman) and Ellen (a housewife) living at 161 Chalvey Grove with their children Robert (a bricklayer) and Harry (a labourer).

Ellen died in 1965 and Reginald in 1966, both aged 85, both in the Eton registration district (which includes Chalvey).  Reginald was buried in Slough Cemetery (plot 4930 in area C1). The grave seems to be unmarked. His probate record reads “Reginald John Ivall of 159 Chalvey Grove, Slough d 30 Jun 1966. Administration  to Lucy Margaret Garlick, married woman and Robert Ivall, bricklayer. Estate £6201.” (Lucy was Reginald’s eldest daughter, who married Charles Garlick, Robert was Reginald's eldest son)

Percy Bertram Ivall (1879-1971), soldier in Boer War

Percy Bertram Ivall was a grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812 - 1865), the elder brother of David Ivall (1816 - 1867), my great great grandfather.

Percy was born on 16 July 1879 in the village of Chalvey near Slough, in Buckinghamshire. He was the seventh child of Thomas Ivall (1837 - 1908) and Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845 - 1929). Thomas and Lucy went on to have a total of 15 children, 12 of which survived into adulthood, the last child being born in 1892. Thomas ran the Chalvey village bakery.

The 1881 census shows Thomas Ivall (aged 44, a master baker), Lucy (34), Walter (12), Annie Lucy (7), Harry Alfred (5), Catherine Dora (3), Percy Bertram (1) and Reginald (2 months) living at 1 Jordan Place Bakers Shop, Chalvey, Buckinghamshire.

In 1891 there was 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) living at Church Street, 6 Jordan Place, Chalvey.

The Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer contains reports on various cricket and football teams that Percy played for. In July 1892 he played cricket for Chalvey Choir Boys who beat Slough Parish Choir Boys by 39 runs, Percy making a major contribution as both a batsman and bowler. He played for Chalvey juniors and scored the only goal of their defeat of Cippenham Juniors in April 1893. Percy took 11 wickets for Chalvey in a cricket match in June 1895. He played center forward for Chalvey Reserves against Farnham Royal in December 1896, the report saying “For the visitors Ivall, Bubb and Henry played well.” Percy was also a member of Slough Flying Club, who raced pigeons.

Percy joined the army (Scots Guards) on 6 December 1897 aged 18 years and 6 months. The record of his military service is in The National Archives at Kew. He signed up for short service ie 3 years with the Colours plus 9 years in the Reserves. If overseas after 3 years, the time with the Colours was extended to 4 years, with 8 years in the Reserves. When he enlisted, Percy was unmarried, height 5 foot 9 inches, weight 142 lbs and his previous occupation was gardener. He served from 6 December 1897 to 20 October 1899 in the UK, then was posted to S Africa to fight in the second Boer War.

The Boer Wars was the name given to the South African Wars of 1880-1 and 1899-1902, that were fought between the British and descendants of the Dutch settlers (Boers) in Africa. After the first Boer War the British granted the Boers self-government in the Transvaal.

The Boers, under the leadership of Paul Kruger, resented the policy of Joseph Chamberlain (the British Colonial Secretary) which they feared would deprive the Transvaal of its independence. The Boers declared war on Britain and had a series of successes on the borders of Cape Colony and Natal between October 1899 and January 1900. Although they only had 88,000 soldiers, the Boers were able to successfully besiege the British garrisons at Ladysmith, Mafeking and Kimberley.

Army reinforcements arrived in South Africa in 1900 and relieved the garrisons. The British took control of the Boer capital, Pretoria, on 5th June. For the next two years groups of Boer commandos raided isolated British units in South Africa. Lord Kitchener, the Chief of Staff in South Africa, reacted to this by destroying Boer farms and moving civilians into concentration camps.

The British action in South Africa was strongly opposed by many leading Liberal politicians and most of the Independent Labour Party as an example of the worst excesses of imperialism. The Boer War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging in May 1902. The peace settlement brought to an end the Transvaal and the Orange Free State as Boer republics. However, the British granted the Boers £3 million for restocking and repairing farm lands and promised eventual self-government (granted in 1907). 22,000 British soldiers died in the second Boer War, many from dysentery and other diseases.

Percy returned to the UK on 21 July 1902 after 2 years 274 days abroad. He was paid a furlough (leave of absence) gratuity of £1 10s and a war gratuity of £5. Percy was awarded the S Africa medal. The medal roll at Kew (WO 100/165) shows that Percy (in the 1^st Battalion Scots Guards) was entitled to clasps for the actions at Belmont, Modder River, Dreifontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast. He was transferred to the Army Reserve on 16 September 1902 (having completed 4 years 284 days with the Colours) and discharged from the army on 5 December 1909.

The 1911 census shows Percy, aged 31 a store keeper in a foundry, iron works. He was living at 124 The Crescent, Slough with his widowed mother (64) and siblings Charles (28), Geoffrey (20) and Jane (24). Electoral registers show him at this address until 1915, when he moved to 11 Ragstone Road, Slough.

Percy was a quiet man with piercing blue eyes. He was a champion runner and a good cricketer. He married Mary Ann Foreman in 1917 in St Pancras. She was born on 4 November 1891 in Windsor and was a small, pleasant woman. At the time of their marriage he was aged 37 and she was 25. They had one child, Thomas Edward Ivall, who was born on 17 March 1926 in Chalvey when Percy was 46.

Electoral registers show that Percy lived at 1 Chalvey Road East, Slough from 1918 to 1963. His grandson Roderick Ivall (b1951) remembers visiting Percy and Mary there. It was the first house in a Victorian terrace beginning next to a railway embankment. Roderick remembers running down the long back garden parallel to the line, waving to the engine drivers ! The house is still there but now looks rather run down.

The 1921 census shows Percy (aged 41) and Mary (30) living at 1 Chalvey Road. His occupation was packer (engineers), working for GD Peters Co Ltd, Windsor Works, Slough, rolling stock manufacturers. Percy's brother Charles Oliver Ivall (39) and his wife Flossie (22) were living at the same address as boarders.

The 1939 national register shows Percy (a storekeeper) and Mary living at Chalvey Road East. 

Percy retired from his job at a local factory in 1950 at the age of 71. In 1963 Percy and Mary moved to a bungalow in Cippenham, which is about 2 miles NW of Chalvey. Mary died in 1970 aged 79 and Percy died the following year aged 91.

Gilbert Edward Ivall (1884-1914), royal servant, died in WW1

Gilbert Edward Ivall was a grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812 - 1865), the elder brother of David Ivall (1816 - 1867), my great great grandfather. This profile contains information from Derek West, the Vicar of St Peter’s Church, Chalvey.

Gilbert was born on 25^th August1884 in Chalvey (a village which is now a district of Slough) to Thomas Ivall (1837 - 1908) and Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845 - 1929). He was baptised on 16 January 1885. Gilbert was the eleventh child of Thomas and Lucy who had a total of 15 children between 1868 and 1892, 12 of whom survived into adulthood. Thomas was a baker and ran the Chalvey village bakery. Confusingly, several of Thomas and Lucy’s children were known to their friends and family by different names from those on their birth certificates. Gilbert was known as Ben !

The 1891 census lists 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) living at Church Street, 6 Jordan Place, Chalvey.

By 1901, Thomas, aged 63, a retired baker was living at 39 The Crescent, Chalvey, Slough with his wife Lucy (52) and their children (Catherine) Dora (23, a milliner), Charles (18, a baker), Margaret (18), Gilbert (15), Jane (14), David (10) and Gerald (8). The house is still there.

Gilbert’s elder brother Percy had joined the Scots Guards in 1897, fought in the Boer War 1899-1902 and been discharged from the Army in 1909. Gilbert decided to follow his brother into the regiment and was given service number 5099. He enlisted at Slough - I don’t know the date but it may have been 1902 when Gilbert became 18. Albert Turton, also from Chalvey, also joined the Scot`s Guards. He had service number 5100 and so probably enlisted the same day as Gilbert. It seems likely that they were friends.

The Royal Household Establishment Books (on Ancestry.com) show that Gilbert entered Royal Service on 28^th May 1909. He was an assistant porter in the Servants Hall at Buckingham Palace. His annual salary was £45 13s (equivalent to about £15,500 now). Gilbert was in the Lord Steward’s Department. The Royal Household consisted of three Departments, each headed by one of the Great Officers of the Household: the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Steward and the Master of the Horse. Broadly speaking, the Lord Chamberlain's Department dealt with the ceremonial and social life of the Court; the Lord Steward's Department with domestic and culinary matters; and the Master of the Horse's Department was responsible for the royal stables and for arranging transport for the Sovereign and the Royal Household. The 1911 census shows Gilbert as a servant in Buckingham Palace. He was at one time captain of the Royal Household Cricket Club.

Gilbert married Alice Jupp on August 2nd 1913 in St Peter's Church, Pimlico, London. He was 28 and she 27. The marriage register shows Buckingham Palace as their residence. Alice was a coffee room maid in the Lord Steward’s Department. She was born in 1886 in Forest Green, Surrey, a daughter of Charles Jupp (a bricklayer) and his wife Jane (nee Foice).  Jane died in 1889 aged 40 and Charles in 1892 aged 39. The 1901 census shows Alice at The Lavant Home for the Training of Orphan Girls near Chichester. Gilbert's brothers Walter and Reginald witnessed the marriage register record. Gilbert and Alice had a daughter, Nannie, who was born during the third quarter of 1914 but died within 3 months.

Britain declared war on Germany on 4th August 1914. Gilbert, who was still working for the King’s Household, was in the army reserve because of his previous military service. He was called up on 5^th August and sent to France on 13^th August 1914 as a private in the 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards, part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). 

Gilbert's Battalion fought at the Battle of Mons (23-24 August 1914), the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of the Frontiers, in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders. At Mons, the British Army attempted to hold the line of the Mons–Condé Canal against the advancing German 1st Army. Although the British fought well and inflicted disproportionate casualties on the numerically superior Germans, they were eventually forced to retreat due both to the greater strength of the Germans and the sudden retreat of the French Fifth Army, which exposed the British right flank. Though initially planned as a simple tactical withdrawal and executed in good order, the British retreat from Mons lasted for two weeks and took the BEF to the outskirts of Paris before it counter-attacked in concert with the French, at the Battle of the Marne.

Ypres, a medieval town in Belgium, was taken by the German Army at the beginning of the war. However the BEF managed to recapture the town. The first major German attempt to regain Ypres took place on 15th October. Experienced BEF riflemen held their positions but suffered heavy losses. German attacks took place for the next four weeks but with the arrival of the French Army the line was held. On the 22nd November 1914, with the weather deteriorating, the Germans decided to abandon the Ypres offensive. It is estimated that about 135,000 Germans were killed or badly wounded during the First Battle of Ypres. The BEF lost around 75,000 men and was effectively destroyed as a professional army.

Gilbert’s battalion took part in the fighting around Ypres. This included a battle at Nonne Boschen on 11 November 1914 where both Gilbert Ivall (aged 30) and Albert Turton died. The 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards were occupying trenches between Veldhoek and Gheluvelt, southeast of Ypres. The War Diary of 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards (which is kept at the National Archives at Kew) has the following description of the fighting that day :

“Terrific shelling commenced at 6.30am and lasted for three hours. All trenches and dugouts were knocked in. The Prussian Guard attacked through Veldhoek and took the four trenches along the whole of the 1^st Brigade. Our men in orchard held on till trenches on either side were occupied by the enemy and did good execution. The point d’appui (base for military operations) was shelled to pieces early in the morning and attacked by infantry from the wood. Only 5 men from the fire trench, 30 from the orchard, 4 from the point d’appui and battalion HQs escaped and managed to join the rest of the brigade at dusk. The enemy got within 200 yards of our guns, but were driven back losing very heavily.”

The same battle is described in “Great Battles of World War I” by Anthony Livesey.

“The following day, 11 November, a renewed German attack by the 4^th Guards Division was launched in the southern sector against the British 1^st Guards Brigade: the two crack units of the opposing armies. The Germans broke through the British Line, but seemed unable, once again, to follow up their success, and were driven back by the last Allied reserves.”

The name of Gilbert Ivall is recorded on the Menin Gate memorial at Ypres but he has no gravestone. It may be that the army were not able to locate the site of his grave or that his body was not recovered for burial (this was common in World War 1 as bodies were blown to pieces, lost in the mud or could not be retrieved due to the risk of enemy fire). He was reported as missing in the Slough Observer dated 27 February 1915.

Gilbert’s name is recorded on the war memorials at St Peter’s Church, Chalvey and St Mary’s Church, Slough. It is also in the book of remembrance kept in the chapel built to commemorate soldiers of Scottish Regiments at Edinburgh Castle.

Alice, Gilbert's widow, received £7 12s 8d (his effects) from the Army in 1916 and £5 as a war gratuity in 1919. In 1921 she was living at 5 Rutland Street, South Lambeth and was a supervisor in the duplicating section of the Board of Trade (Food Deparment). She did not remarry and died in 1958 aged 71.

Harry Alfred Ivall (1875 - 1901) , policeman

Harry Alfred Ivall was a grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812 - 1865), the elder brother of David Ivall (1816 - 1867), my great great grandfather.

Harry was born on 12 December 1875 in Chalvey (a village which is now a district of Slough) the fifth of fifteen children of Thomas Ivall (1837 - 1908) and Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845 - 1929). Thomas was a baker and ran the Chalvey village bakery.

The 1881 census shows that 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.

Harry was assistant secretary of the Slough Flying Club. Its members owned homing pigeons that were raced by sending them by train to the starting point, where they were all released at the same time. The winner was the owner of the bird that arrived back home at Slough first. The Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer dated 13.2.1897 reported on a club dinner at the Reindeer Inn. The item read

“The Chairman then called on Mr Rawlings to present his cup to Mr H Ivall, who had won all four races for it (applause). The average velocity of his birds in the four races was 980 yards per minute, and as 880 yards was considered the standard velocity it would be seen that he was considerably over the standard (applause). Mr Rawlings then presented a very handsome cup to Mr Ivall, and congratulated him on his success. Mr Ivall, in reply, said he hoped someone else would win it next year (laughter and applause). The cup was then filled by Mr Ivall and handed round.”

Harry was a notable footballer and played for Slough in goal. There are many football reports in the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer that refer to him.

In May 1899, Harry joined the Metropolitan Police, when aged 23. His service record is in the National Archives (MEPO 4/415). When he joined the force Harry was 5 foot 11 inches tall and weighed 11st 10lbs. He was single, his residence Church St, Chalvey. His occupation is given as baker and last employer T Ivall (his father). He served in Division M (Southwark).

According to John Ivall (a son of Harry’s brother Walter), Harry kept goal for Woolwich Arsenal before they became famous and moved to Highbury in North London.

Sadly, Harry died on 27 January 1901 aged 25 of blood poisoning in St Thomas’s Hospital, London. He was buried in St Mary’s churchyard, Slough (row 18, sections A/D). His father (in 1908) and mother (in 1929) were later buried in the same grave. St Mary’s churchyard was tidied up in 1980 when many gravestones were removed. I have not been able to find the Ivall gravestone. Slough Local Studies Collection has a list of the monumental inscriptions for the graves (including the Ivall plot) that were in the churchyard.