A tantalising find in an online archive reveals a family conversation hidden in plain sight for nearly 200 years
Cracking a 19th Century Cross-Written Letter
Category: Continental Europe
The Brevoort Family Commonplace Book
A beautifully illustrated 1837 commonplace book kept by the Brevoort children reveals their distinct personalities, youthful ambitions, and family tragedies
A Life Shaped by War – and Peace
Henry Baynes (1785-1844): A Waterloo artillery officer who survived war, wounds, and service abroad - yet a small act of kindness in 1834 reveals the man behind the medals
Ted’s Wartime Journey Begins
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): His WWII journey began in France, and he survived the breakout from Cassel before being captured
Missing: a Journey From Capture to Captivity
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): A young soldier's journey from capture to captivity, as his family faces the uncertainty of his fate during the Blitz
Not just a pretty face
Ellen Kirby (1851-1924) whose humble origins in rural Berkshire contrasted sharply with her later success as a respected housekeeper, wife, and businesswoman
Shadows of Injustice: Survival and Suffering at E72
Ted Mayhew (1919–1982) a British soldier captured near Dunkirk, who, along with fellow POWs, endured unrelenting hardship at the notorious E72 work camp
Making the Best of a Bad Job: Adapting to Life as a POW
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): During WW2, POWs faced harsh conditions, but formed communities, found purpose, and maintained hope amidst adversity
Two Million Steps: Surviving the Long March of 1945
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): In January 1945, Ted Mayhew and fellow POWs embarked on a gruelling evacuation march westward amid Europe's harsh winter conditions
A woman before her time
Meta Brevoort (1825-1876) an intrepid Victorian mountaineer and the first female climber to wear trousers
