My paternal grandfather, Harold
George Talbot, was born on 16th December 1894 in Poplar on the
Isle of Dogs, London, the son of George & Harriett Maryann
(nee THOMAS). His father had escaped a life of rural poverty
in Barrow, Suffolk, and was working as a signalman for the Great
Eastern Railway when Harold was born.
Sadly, I have no record of the time Harold served with the
1/25th London Regiment as his medals were stolen in the late
1970's.
Harold returned to civilian life as a shipping clerk for a tea
and rubber importers and married my grandmother, Florence Hoad, in
1922. They moved to West Wickham in Kent and led a quietly
suburban life until his death in 1960.
I only have vague memories of Harold but my mother recalls
a kind and generous man who loved India and would have taken up
the offer of work there had it not been for my grandmother's
refusal to leave England.
By Nicci Talbot-Morris |
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