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Somerset & Dorset
Family History Society

The SDFHS Blog

RMS TITANIC – Let’s remember the crew! Many had Dorset origins.

On 15th April it will be the 110th Anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic The story of the tragedy is well-known, and doubtless there will be media references to the millionaires and aristocrats who perished Invariably, less attention is paid to the crew Of the estimated 2224 people on board, 885 were crew It is thought that some 1514 people died, of whom 821 were passengers and 693 were crew A very large proportion of the crew lived in Southampton, and amongst these, were many who...
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The Greenwood Tree – March 2022

Surprise Discoveries was the theme of the March issue of The Greenwood Tree and members found quite a few in their family trees, ranging from unsuspected branches opening up as a result of DNA tests to hitherto unknown criminal behaviour and much more Editor Paul Radford previews the edition which will be mailed to members at the end of February and which SDFHS members can already view or download from the Members’ Area of the Society’s website Laura Manning discovered in a random...
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The Greenwood Tree – Dec 2021

Crime and Punishment, the theme of the December issue of The Greenwood Tree, prompted members to delve into the unsavoury side of their ancestors’ lives and they came up with a wealth of stories, from the mildly comic to the deeply tragic Editor Paul Radford previews the edition which will be mailed to members at the end of November and which SDFHS members can already view or download from the Members’ Area of the Society’s website The front cover shows a Banksy artwork on the...
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Rick Fire

Fire! Fire! What a co-incidence!  I was browsing through the British Newspaper Archive when I came across an article in the Western Gazette for 30 July 1927 about a rick fire in Nether Compton As I read through the article I realised that I have four photographs amongst my family collection that were taken on the same day and which now illustrate this long ago event: RICK FIRE YEOVIL BRIGADE'S "GOOD TURN" TO SHERBORNE While Sherborne Fire Brigade were enjoying their annual...
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The A to Z of Yeovil’s History – Yeovil’s Virtual Museum

I wonder how many of us, me included, take this unique, photo packed source of information for granted  Please allow me to tell you about some recent research of mine In September 1933 my father, Ralph Collings was fortunate indeed to be apprenticed as an Ironmonger to Hill, Sawtell in Yeovil He had left school the previous summer, a bad time in which to find a job as it was right in the middle of what would become known as 'the great depression'  Having successfully...
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Member and Guest Blogs Welcome

We welcome guest and member blog posts on any topic with a family history connection and invite you to send your contributions, which should include photo/photos, to the editor Barbara Elsmore

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