Person

Edward and Stanley Fawcett were brothers, aged nine and seven in 1914. Their parents had died of consumption by that date. Their father, Thomas Fawcett, was living at the time of the 1911 census, where he is described as a miner and widower, aged 29. However, Thomas died shortly after the census was taken and is buried in Ropery Cemetery, Chester-le-Street. Clearly, his wife had died between 1907, when Stanley was born, and 1911 when the census was taken.

The boys were therefore fostered with their grandmother, Christiana Rutter Gramm, and step-grandfather, Emil Frank Gramm, a miner. According to the census, Emil was a German. Christiana was born in Cleadon and married Emil in Chester-le-Street in 1903 (her second marriage).

Two sets of records exist for these boys, as with many other such children; the visitors reports, which were made for all “ Boarding-out children”, and school reports. The visitor was Amy Walker Black, who stated in one report that she visited the boys frequently and also received visits from Mrs Gramm. The boys were clearly being monitored very well.

It is clear that Stanley suffered from a number of illnesses. In October 1914 he was described by his visitor, Amy Walker Black, as very weak. His grandmother was sleeping with him in order to attend to him, though usually he shared a room with his brother, Edward. Stanley’s school reports also refer to his medical problems between 1914 and early 1915. In January 1915 he was suffering from severe influenza, though the report also refers to his promising academic progress. In October 1916 the family circumstances were described as “very poor” and Stanley was described as “thin and pale”. Despite his problems the visitor report constantly stresses the good level of care each of the boys receives from Mrs Gramm. But it is also clear that the family was struggling financially.

In October 1914 the report points out that the grandfather was only receiving insurance benefit. Earlier, in a report of 1912 Mrs Gramm had applied for financial help to buy cod liver oil, possibly for Stanley. In July 1915 the visitor comments included a reference to the internment of Mr Gramm, presumably because of his nationality. The visitor suggested that, “ now matters will go smoothly”. There is no additional information on what she means by this comment, but perhaps Mr Gramm had been facing some hostility by local people and so his removal may actually have made life more peaceful for his wife and Edward and Stanley. This is a possibility but there is no evidence to support or challenge this suggestion.

Then, in October 1916, Amy Walker Black stated in her report that the family did not have enough money, only income from the boarding-out allowance and Mrs Gramm’s weekly allowance of nine shillings and three pence. The children were therefore not receiving an adequate amount of suitable food.

Edward suffered fewer health problems than Stanley but he seems to have done less well at school and his poor attendance record was commented on as early as 1911 when he was only 6 years old. In one school quarter Edward was late on 30 occasions. By January 1914 we learn why he was so late, for he had been selling a newspaper, the “Chester Chronicle”, presumable to earn money. By July 1914 this was stopped. His punctuality improved though there were still occasions when Edward was late. His behaviour was also described as “erratic” and more details about his attitude were recorded in 1918 when he was attending secondary school. Clearly Edward was considered bright, like his brother, and he had passed the examination for the Labour Certificate in June 1917 when he was 12. His progress at the next school was mixed, for he was capable of doing well and was placed 3rd out of 26 in his class, but unless he was pushed, Edward did not work hard enough. He was also urged in one school report to be quieter and more gentlemanly!

Stanley received more glowing reports from school in these years. He made excellent progress though he was still prone to illness, for in 1920 he suffered from mumps and lost time at school.

A promising detail, written down in March 1917, tells us that an additional two shillings per week was awarded to the family and Amy Walker Black claimed that this had been very beneficial for the whole family.

This account shows us the importance of regular reports on the children in poor families, for the information provided by their visitor led to an increased income which was sorely needed.

Edward appears to have joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1921, but by 1925 he was on a ship to Australia. The passenger list records that he had been living in Chester-le-Street and working as a miner. Edward spent the rest of his life in Australia where he married in 1929 and died in 1978.

Civil Parish: Chester le Street

Birth date: 28-Jun-1904

Death date: 1978

Armed force/civilian: Civilian

Residence: 15 Benson Street, Chester-le-Street (1911 census)
8 Melville Street, Chester-le-Street (School admission register, 1917)
Euroa, Victoria, Australia

Education: Chester-le-Street Secondary School (admitted 9 November 1917, left 24 July 1918)

Employment: Miner (School admission register, 1918)

Family: Father: Thomas Fawcett
Mother: Eleanor Smith Graham
Grandmother: Christiana Rutter Gramm
Step-grandfather: Emil Frank Gramm
Wife: Florence Lilian Hutchinson, married 1929 Australia

Military service:

Royal Marine Light Infantry
Joined up 5 December 1921

Gender: Male

Contributed by Mel Brown, Durham