Miss Stenhouse

Posts : 3090 Join date : 2021-01-04

This might be a piece of jigsaw puzzle that may help someone in the future.
A Miss Stenhouse was selling the contents of No 129 King Street, Broughty Ferry which included Zulu war Weapons as she was going away.

Dundee Courier - Saturday 22 November 1924

Subject: Re: Miss Stenhouse Mon Jul 18, 2022 9:58 pm

On a nice sunny day recently I went for a drive and came across St Gwynno's church Nr Ferndale, Glamorgan. I decide to stop and see if there was any military graves of interest. Found a few in well overgrown areas. I read a notice on the church board that stated if you wish to see inside the church you had to collect the keys from the pub next door. I decided to do that and on entering the church to my surprise was a picture frame and a list of a military mans record of service and replica medal 1879 defence of Rorke's Drift. Placed there by the museum at Brecon as a dedication as the grave is un-marked.

You are probably aware that the soldier is Thomas Chester who died in 1908 aged 55 at Ferndale No5 Pitt. The soldier is on the original company list for Rorke's Drift.
I came home and watched the museum's curator's video on YouTube about the un-marked grave, which grinds me so much having served 23 years myself.
My reason for this post is that that video was filmed in 2020. Have there been any progress that you know of since.? I intent to ask the museum too.

Subject: Re: Miss Stenhouse Mon Jul 18, 2022 11:01 pm

RE: Thomas Chester:

I have started a little investigating and so far have only found a newspaper produced by the mining company, which mentions the accident, age, where he lived etc.
I was hoping to find a newspaper article around 12/2/1908 covering the funeral, but as of yet no luck.
I know he was originally from England and may have been living in the yeovil or Cheltenham area at some point. His medal was presented to the museum by a Mr Lawrence of Cheltenham in 1967, a descendant of Thomas Chester. If not to old at the time, it is possible that this man may still be alive, may know we're the site is, or he may have even shown his child where it was.
I am attempting to locate any living relatives that may still be living in the area of Ferndale, Llanwonno and Ystradyfodwg. And hopefully if a site is located we can rededicate with an headstone.

Posts : 3090 Join date : 2021-01-04

Welcome to the forum Eddie and thank you for your two posts.

Admin could you move these two post by Eddie to a new thread under the title of 'Thomas Chester' so the information he has provided is searchable under that name.
Thanks Pete

Posts : 3326 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

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Subject: Re: Miss Stenhouse Tue Jul 19, 2022 3:48 pm

Great posts above thank you

Posts : 3090 Join date : 2021-01-04

Thanks Andy.
I'm slightly confused Eddie, is Thomas Chester related to Miss Stenhouse in any way? scratch

Subject: Re: Miss Stenhouse Tue Jul 19, 2022 10:33 pm

I am sorry I don't know who she is. The only descendant I know of is a Mr Lawrence who donated his medal in 1967.

Subject: Re: Miss Stenhouse Tue Jul 19, 2022 10:46 pm

I know now sorry. Worth investigating.

Subject: Re: Miss Stenhouse Wed Jul 20, 2022 12:13 am

Heroes of Rorke's Drift Vol 4 by Kris Wheatley, House of Heroes, 2007 pay tribute to nine Drift defenders, one is Thomas Chester.
Does anyone own a copy of this? If so is there a photograph of him or any information within the tribute that may help.

Subject: Re: Miss Stenhouse Tue Aug 02, 2022 9:46 pm

Gardner1879

I don't think Admin noticed your request above.
This was entered on this forum by mistake when I first joined.

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