Lily Violet Dorothy Mayhew (1907–1942) vanished from the records as a baby, only to re-emerge as a young woman whose life was shaped by loss, work, and war
Discovering the Missing Mayhew Child
Category: Paternal Family Stories
The Good Mother
Leah Ellen Mayo (1847–1927) a young widow, navigated poverty, prejudice, and impossible choices - then reinvented herself to keep her family together
What’s in a name
Julia Lane? (c.1840–1925): Illiterate but resilient, she rose from famine-era Ireland to hardship in London, through her inner strength and determination
A soldier’s return – the long road back
Ted Mayhew (1919-1982): His post-war struggles reveal the challenges faced by returning POWs, seeking reintegration while coping with trauma and change
Religious persecution in Suffolk: The 1810 Wickham Market riots
Wickham Market, a historic Suffolk village, faced intense religious conflict in 1810, leading to riots and eventual legal reforms protecting religious freedoms
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
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
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
The Levens family and Croydon’s bells
Levens family members were key figures in Croydon’s bell ringing tradition, elevating the art over several generations
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
