George Charles Bawden (1891-1963)

This is something of an experiment. I have been writing little biographical pieces about my children's ancestors and I wondered how easily I might pop them into this blog. The answer is that with a little bit of effort it is possible; so here are a few words about my paternal grandfather George Charles Bawden.

George Charles Bawden

An Upright Man

George Charles Bawden (usually known by his second name or, within the family, by his nickname – Huckleberry) was born at St Mawes, Cornwall on 3 December 1891[1], the only child of Thomas Henry James Bawden and his second wife Sarah Roskelly. In the 1891 census taken in the April before Huckleberry was born Thomas and Sarah are shown to be living at Marine Parade, St Mawes with the three children from Thomas’s first marriage; Henry, Christina and Mabel[2].

By the time of the 1901 census[3] the family had moved to the Coast Guard Station at Axmouth, Devon and young Henry had died.

My father believes that at some time the family moved to Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, evidenced by the fact that in 1996 he still possessed books signed by Huckleberry and dated there in 1908[4][5]. This is confirmed by a letter of reference from the headmaster of Parkstone School[6] indicating that Huckleberry was a pupil there from January 1906 to July 1909 and that he subsequently attended on one day a week as a student teacher until July 1910 at which time he presumably moved to teacher training college. He appears to have undertaken a student teacher role at Swanage School at the same time[7]. My father also told me[8] that Huckleberry had been patronised by the Reverend Gresley[9], vicar at West Pennard and possibly also by a Miss Drake.

So, by 1910 Huckleberry was at Culham College (a teacher training college)[10] from where he gained recognition as a certified teacher in 1912[11]. From there it would appear that he had a short stint at St George’s School, Portland as an assistant master[12] before moving to Melcome Regis Boys’ School, Weymouth[13]. Huckleberry specialised in teaching “backward” children[14] and I have in my possession a certificate from the Educational Handwork Association attesting that he had attended an advanced stage basketry course.  It is probably reasonable to assume that this was connected with his specialised teaching. For some time he also taught at night-school[15]. I think he worked hard at advancing his career – two other certificates I possess show that he became an Associate of the College of Preceptors in 1931 and a Licentiate in 1932[16].  Apart from war service (see below) it would appear that George remained at this school until he was appointed headmaster of Sturminster Marshall School in 1943[17]. Some time later he became headmaster at West Moors School from where he retired in 1956[18].

Huckleberry was for many years a member of the Masons. He appears to have joined the Culham College lodge in 1919[19], remaining a member of that lodge until he transferred to the Portland lodge in 1922, subsequently leaving that lodge (and I assume the Masons altogether) in 1937[20][21].

Huckleberry enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery Howitzer Brigade as a private on 25 November 1915, becoming a gunner 2^nd class in April 1916 and a gunner in June of that year[22]. The brigade was deployed in France but I have not yet followed up the brigade diaries to ascertain exactly where. I don’t know when Huckleberry was demobbed although he was still with the brigade in October 1918 as there is a record of his passing a revision of gunnery drill[23]. It is also noted that in June of that year he had been posted to RMA headquarters for training for a commission[24]. As was standard practice Huckleberry was awarded the Victory and British War medals which are currently in my possession.

It was during his military service that he married Eleanor Alice Adelaide Russell on 12 June 1918 at Northwood on the Isle of Wight[25].

During the early part of WWII Huckleberry was a civil defence warden and I have a letter from the local head warden (W Cumming) commending his action during a raid in 1942 which destroyed the house in Old Castle Road, Weymouth in which the family were living. This was the second time that the house had been bombed, the first being in 1940 when the weapon did not explode[26][27]. They had two children – Walter Harry and Charles Roskelly.

After he retired Huckleberry moved with his wife to a new development at West Parley, Dorset[28]. There, among other activities, he became the first warden at the newly built St Mark’s church[29]. He died on 9 January 1963[30].



I was 12 when Huckleberry died and my memories of him are rather thin. Perhaps the best description I can afford him is that he came across as a very “straight” person. Life appeared to be very ordered and structured with no room for deviation. However, he also came across as being very fair within the confines of his particular regime. I suspect that, without really showing it, he enjoyed his extended family. I particularly recall that he spent some time with me when I was quite young ensuring that I was competent with multiplication tables.

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[1] Birth registration GRO reference 1891 Dec Truro 5C 127.

[2] 1891 England and Wales census RG12/1827/40/19.

[3] 1901 England and Wales census RG13/2019/76/1.

[4] Letter 22 from Charles Roskelly Bawden to Frank G Bawden 20 January 1996.

[5] It is possible that these books are among those stored in the “Archive”.

[6] Letter from E Stanley Moss, headmaster of Parkstone School, dated 8 March 1912, currently in my possession.

[7] Letter from H P Padmore, head master of Swanage School, dated 5 March 1912, currently in my possession.

[8] Undocumented conversation with Charles Roskelly Bawden.

[9] Photograph 394, which shows two elderly clergymen, was annotated by George’s wife “Friends of Huckleberry in his youth who had much to do in making him the man he was”. My father suggested that one of these gentlemen is the Rev. Gresley.

[10] 1911 England and Wales census RG14/6478/117/3/10/9999.

[11] Certificate of recognition supplied by the Board of Education, currently in my possession.

[12] Letter from John William Warren, headmaster of St George’s School Portland, dated 2 July 1913, currently in my possession.

[13] Letter from the managers of Melcome Regis Boys’ School, signed by Bert Biles and dated 4 August 1933, currently in my possession.

[14] Charles Roskelly Bawden autobiographical notes.

[15] Ibid.

[16] The College was an examining body and learned society of teachers whose aim was to promote good, certifiable standards of teaching - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_Preceptors accessed 23 September 2017.

[17] Letter from Percy Smallman on behalf of Weymouth and Melcome Regis Education Committee, dated 30 November 1943, currently in my possession.

[18] Culham Club Magazine no 196, September 1963, page 29.

[19] Certificate of initiation dated 19 November 1919.

[20] Certificate of clearance from Culham College Lodge dated 12 September 1922, currently in my possession.

[21] Certificate of clearance from Portland Lodge dated June 1937, currently in my possession.

[22] Royal Marines Register of Service, National Archives reference ADM 159/97/1396.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25] Marriage registration GRO reference 1918 Jun Isle of Wight 2B 1308.

[26] Letter 22 from Charles Roskelly Bawden to Frank G Bawden 20 January 1996.

[27] DGF Acutt in his book “Brigade in Action” wrote: ’One incident occurred in this district which I can well remember, as it happened to a scholastic colleague of mine, who was residing it what was then No 21 Old Castle Road. It was not until some hours after the raid that my colleague, Mr C Bawden (a warden) on tidying up the front garden and clearing it of rubble, discovered a hole about a foot in diameter close to the front wall of the house. Investigation showed that the hole sloped down and inward under the floor of the front room and appeared to be of some depth. There was nothing to account for the hole except – could it be an unexploded bomb? Hurriedly he moved his family to a place of safety, and then informed the appropriate authorities of his suspicions. They proved to be correct. The family had been having its meals, literally sitting over a bomb! The floor boards were removed and at a depth of some six to seven feet the bomb was discovered – a 100 kilo, which was rendered ineffective and removed. It was certainly a case of Providence.’ Sherren & Son, p100-101.

[28] Correspondence with FJM Gale & Co., solicitors; and TH Squire, builder, dated 1956 and 1957. These documents have been passed to the current owners of the property, Janet and Mark Cooke.

[29] Parish magazine of All Saints with St Marks, West Parley, February 1963.

[30] Death registration GRO reference 1963 Mar Christchurch 68 364.