Category: Illnesses

Ella Saunders

I am grateful for a lot of things, and like most of us I sometimes need to be reminded to stop moaning and reflect upon them.

Two of my children suffered an appendicitis in their early teens. It was a painful experience for them and an anxious time for me, but thanks to modern medicine and our marvellous NHS they both recovered.

Little Ella Saunders was not so fortunate.

Ella’s father was a Pork Butcher. The family business was a shop next to the Rolleston Arms pictured in this postcard view of Commercial Road. The 1911 census tells us that William and Maria had been married for 12 years and had four children, Ethel 10, Edna 8, Ella 5 and two year old Erica. The four girls were baptised together on May 1, 1911 at St. Mark’s Church.

Obituary – Much sympathy will be felt with Mr and Mrs W.T. Saunders, of 72 Commercial Road, Swindon, in the loss which they have sustained by the death of their six years old daughter, Ella. The child was operated upon for appendicitis at the Victoria Hospital, but died after a only six days’ illness. The interment took place at Swindon Cemetery on Good Friday amid many manifestations of sorrow, a very touching feature being the presence of a number of the deceased child’s fellow scholars.

The service was conducted by the Rev. E.F. Winnington-Ingram. There were a large number of beautiful floral tributes including one “With deepest sympathy from the staff, College Street Infant School” and “In loving memory to Ella from teachers and scholars, St. Mark’s Sunday School ‘Jesus called little children to Him’”.

North Wilts Herald April 12, 1912.

Image published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library

Ella was buried on April 9, 1912 in grave plot B2938. William died in 1928 and Maria in 1953 and were both buried with her.

Ewart Hubert Clack – cause of death appendicitis

It’s easy to be nostalgic about ‘the good old days’ but quite another thing to have lived through them. Personally, I am eternally grateful for so many aspects of modern life, particularly antibiotics.

When 39 year old Ewart Hubert Clack died in 1906 the obituary published in the Swindon Advertiser stated ‘that strange disease, appendicitis claimed him for a victim.’

The Late Mr E.H. Clack – The mortal remains of the late Mr Ewart Hubert Clack, whose death was announced in our last Friday’s issue, took place on Saturday afternoon amid many manifestations of sorrow. The deceased was the fourth son of the late Mr Charles Clack, who for many years resided in Newport Street, Swindon. For some years Mr Hubert Clack had been employed as a clerk in the GWR Timber Stores, though he commenced his business career as an ironmonger, having served an apprenticeship under Mr Joseph Walter, who at that time had a shop in High Street, Old Swindon, and another in Bridge Street. New Swindon.

In the GWR Works Mr Clack had won the respect of all with whom he came in contact. Nor were his many friends confined to those who were engaged in the Company’s service, for all who came into close touch with him found in him an affable companion, and one who was ever ready to sympathise with those in trouble.

It is only sixteen months ago that he entered upon married life, his wife being a daughter of Mr George Moore of Curtis Street.

That strange disease, appendicitis claimed him for a victim, for nothwithstanding strenuous efforts made to save his life, he passed away on Wednesday morning in last week, at the comparatively early age of 39 years.

Many tokens of respect were visible on the occasion of the funeral, neighbours and friends uniting in manifestations of grief. The cortege left the deceased’s late residence, 33, Tennyson Street, the chief mourners being: Mr and Mrs Ashley Clack (brother and sister in law), Mr Douglas Clack and Mr Bernard Clack (brothers), Mrs E.L. Gardner and Mrs A.E. Clack (cousins), Mr George Moore (father in law) and Mr John Frost. Others who joined the sad procession included Mr R. Wall, Chief of the Department where the deceased had been employed, while a number of the clerks attended to show their last token of respect to their late companion.

The first part of the funeral service was conducted in St Mark’s Church, the officiating clergyman being the Rev K.M. Graeme, who also conducted the remainder of the service at the Cemetery.

Extracts from The Swindon Advertiser Tuesday December 4, 1906.

Ewart Hubert Clack was born in Swindon in 1867, the son of Charles Clack, a boot and shoe manufacturer, and his wife Eliza. The family home was at 67 Newport Street. Ewart married Elsie Winifred Moore at St. Paul’s Church, Swindon. At 21 years old Elsie was more than 15 years younger than Ewart. The couple’s daughter Reta/Rita Mabel was born in 1907, after Ewart’s death, and baptised at St Mark’s on March 4. It seems likely Elsie remarried and emigrated to Canada where Rita grew up in Toronto.

Ewart Hubert Clack was buried on December 1, 1906 in grave plot C1763. It is possible this was a public plot and later sold to the Critchley family where Henry James was buried in 1937 and his wife Louisa in 1940.