As I mentioned in my last blog, George Simmonds, my great grandfather, agricultural labourer and carman of Heston, Middlesex, joined the Army Service Corps during the Great War and served variously in England, Ireland and Greece. Before the war he was involved in the transport … Continue reading Horse transport in WW1
George Simmonds World War 1 service
In 1905 (I believe) George and Mabel Simmonds moved with their son, my grandfather, to Heston Middlesex, which is in the Hounslow district. I have written about George and Mabel’s life prior to this in other blogs. Over the next 9 years three more sons … Continue reading George Simmonds World War 1 service
The past in the present
Sam and I watched The Dark Knight Rises last night, the third in the Batman trilogy. Great film, as good as, maybe better than, numbers one and two. I was keen to see the interiors from Osterley House which we saw when we were there in October. What … Continue reading The past in the present
Osterley Estate
We found ourselves at Osterley on the last day of the season, Wednesday 30 October 2013. It was a chilly autumn day, but the sun was shining in a blue sky. We had driven up from Gatwick via the M25 and through the outer suburbs … Continue reading Osterley Estate
Redhill to Hounslow in 1905
Last Monday I returned the car we had rented for the week to an office in Crawley and was being driven back to the B and B where we had stayed overnight in Horley. It was 6.45am and the traffic around Gatwick was already heavy. … Continue reading Redhill to Hounslow in 1905
Forgotten tales 