My mother - Diane Wyles - has been speaking (online) with people born in the King's Cliffe and Duddington area whose elderly relatives are still alive and are willing to share their memories and local knowledge. This dialogue has confirmed that there was a vibrant and proactive population in the area during WWII - and that Civil Defence activity did exist. Prior to this testimony, I was not sure if there still was viable a population in Duddington as my last direct relative (my great grandfather Archibald Britton Wyles) left the area in 1906 - although his mother (my great great grandmother) stayed in Duddington and did not pass away until 1917. Furthermore, the WWI War Memorial contains the name of a Duddington man who was a 'Sergeant' in the (Regular) British Army who was killed in North Africa during WWII. I will confirm the name of this brave man the next time I am in Duddington. Slowly but surely we are building-up a historical picture of Duddington during WWII!
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My mother - Diane Wyles - received the above photograph from an individual online. This person stated that her father served in the King's Cliffe Home Guard between 1940-1944 (that is during most of WWII). This confirms that King's Cliffe possessed a Home Guard Unit and strongly suggests that the nearby village of Duddington (situated 4.7 miles North of King's Cliffe) also possessed a Home Guard Unit! As of yet - we do not know the Platoon, Company or Battalion designation - but this is an ongoing research project and we will post all our resulting findings on this website! The soldier standing second from the left in the back row is one 'Jim Bollans' (the 'father' in question) - although we cannot ascertain whether this gentleman is a 'Private' or an 'NCO', etc. As the sun was shining brightly during the taking of the photograph - we have not been able to successfully enlarge and/or clarify the details of the cap-badge - which could give us the Battalion designation - but it could be the Northants insignia as follows:
On the bottom of the WWI Monument situated at the gate of St Mary's Church - Duddington - there is a section recording the death of a 'Sergeant' Killed in Action in North Africa during WWII! His name is obscured by the wreath. This means there were men in Duddington who had joined the British Army during WWII. Interestingly, although there is a metal plaque and hand-written list honouring the Duddington men who fought during WWI - there is nothing recording the men who fought during WWII. This might explain why I cannot find anything about a Duddington 'Home Guard' during WWII! The dedicated online website detailing the Northants Home Guard mentions all the surrounding areas - but does not mention Duddington, King's Cliff or Gretton for that matter! Given that the British government ordered (in 1942) that all areas of the UK had to have an 'Invasion Plan' - these areas must have possessed some type of Civil Defence Force. This makes me wonder whether perhaps the Duddington Home Guard defence did not fall in the Northants area. I have contacted the local Vicar for Duddington, the Northants Records Office, the Women's Institute, King's Cliffe Museum and an 'expert' on the history of the Home Guard - and none of these depositories of knowledge have anything to add to this subject. However, the general consensus is that Duddington probably did possess a Home Guard - even if their is no tangible evidence for it!
Dariᴎgold Wyles (d. 1688 CE) - Other Examples of this First-Name Spelt 'Daringold'! (29.9.2023)9/29/2023 On the East-facing base-wall of the Vestry of of St Mary's Church - Duddington - the names of a number of 'Wyles' ancestors are recorded. One woman carries the first-name 'Dariᴎgold' - spelt with a reverse 'ᴎ' by the stone-mason in 1688 CE - the year of her passing! When her name was transferred from the Wyles Tomb that used to occupy the area to the foot of the Vestry-wall around 1872 CE - the stone-mason retained this convention. This name appears in the English Records during the 16th and 17th centuries CE - and then disappears without a trace. Of course, it could be that the reverse 'ᴎ' simply refers to the Latin indication of a 'ee' sound - making the name 'Dariegold - but again, why bother which such linguistic gymnastics? Diane Wyles has proven a) that this name did exist in England during the 16th and 17th centuries CE, and b) most, if not all commentators, seems to spell the name as 'Daringold'!
'My knowledge begins with Thomas and Mary Wyles who lived during the first half of the 1700s in Frinstead, which is a tiny, ancient town in the Maidstone borough of county Kent, in south-east England. This earlier Thomas was born in 1711 in nearby Bredgar Parish. We don’t know much more about him, or his wife, whose maiden name is still a mystery to me.' prairie wordsmith - Researching America's history, one family at a time - Wyles 'The next two generations also give up very little more than their names and where they lived. Thomas’ son, John Wyles married Sarah Frost in Linstead, Suffolk in 1773. Their son, also John Wyles, was born in 1775, and married Frances Sears in 1805, in Boxley, Maidstone, Kent. In 1806, they were in Stockbury; in 1814 they were in Newington Geat, Sittingbourne, Kent; and they were still there in 1818 when their son Thomas was born there, and he was my third-great-grandfather.'
Dear Diane I was contacted by a US Genealogist today - who asked me if I had heard of a 17th century surname in the UK - known as 'Ong'! I have heard of the Hokkien Chinese surname of 'Ong' (王) - pronounced 'Wang' (meaning a monarchal 'King') - but not an English equivalent! The Ong family is supposed to have migrated to North America in 1631 (seeking religious 'tolerance') from Suffolk - just prior to the English Civil Wars of the 1640s! Of course, 'Suffolk' derives from the Germanic 'Sud Volf' ('South Folk') and is thought to denote Germanic ettlers in the area - the nearby 'Norfolk' derives from the Germanic 'Nord Volk' or 'North Folk'! Perhaps these are settlements of the 'Angle' people (as opposed to 'Saxons' who settled elsewhere) from what is today Denmark (hence the region of 'East Anglia'). To me, the name 'Ong' sounds more like a name from the North of England - perhaps of Scandinavian origination. Either way, I have never come across this name in the UK! Thanks!
Dear Diane The following article highlights a number of photographs fwe took when visiting the Central Bandstand area of Wandsworth's 'Battersea Park' (27.5.2023). The Saxon Warlord 'Wendle' or 'Wandle' was so powerful that his name was used to describe many areas from the Northants down to South London and out (Westward) into East Surrey! This represents the geographical area of England dominated by the Anglo-Saxons ('Duddington' is believed to be a Saxon name - as in 'Dudd-ing-ton' which refers to the Saxon man 'Dudd' - the 'Meadow' he owned - and the 'Enclosure' surrounding it which he controlled). The compilers of the definition for 'Wellingborough' (below) seem to omit the 'ing' element. 'The town was established in the Anglo-Saxon period and was originally called "Wendelingburgh" as the area was occupied by a Saxon warlord called Waendel - meaning the name translates as "stronghold of Waendel's people". It is also surrounded by five wells: Redwell, Hemmingwell, Witche's Well, Lady's Well and Whytewell, which appear on its coat of arms.' It is important to understand how historical reality overlaps and reinforces its own structure! Best Wishes Adrian
Dear E
Thank you for your interesting email: Wyles Paternal DNA (Duddington) UK The above article provides the Paternal DNA results of our 'Wyles' name clan as associated with the Lincolnshire village of 'Duddington'. Both Scottish (Pictish) and Russian historians are of the opinion that 'Wyles' is the plural of 'Wyle' - and that 'Wyle' is an Anglicisation of the Viking (Cyrillic) title of 'Уайл' (Uayl) - meaning 'a dominant warrior whose fighting skills unite the people'. Sometimes, 'Uayl' is written today as 'Jarl' - with the 'J' retaining the 'U' sound. The Anglo-Saxons took this non-Germanic title and renamed it 'Earl' - using it as a noble status linked to 'birth' and not to 'ability' (within Viking culture any would could become a 'Uayl' providing they could 'fight' and quell any enemy). Today, in modern Russia the surname 'Wyles' is written as 'Уайлс' (Uayls) - and this is how I am referred to in all written communication, etc. The Vikings, as you know, settle vast parts of the UK and Eire, and so their DNA is everywhere, being particularly linked with the Celtic areas. However, as there are so many sounding similar names, such as 'Wills', 'Wells' and 'Willis', etc, all possessing different origins and distinct (unrelated) lineages, correct association can be difficult. I believe the Oxford definition of 'Wyles' (Wiles) - stating it is linked to eel traps and trickery - relates only to one lineage variant of an entire host of similar sounding but very different names! Of course, I know nothing about the 'van Wyk' surname as such, but 'Wyk' is written as 'Вик' in Cyrillic and pronounced 'Vik'. Within the Russian language this word is a noun meaning to 'cry', 'shout', and 'call-out', etc. I presume 'van' is Dutch for 'of' or 'from' and 'Wyk' refers to a place in the Netherlands. I have seen some people in the UK referred to as 'de Wyle' or 'de Wyles' on occasion - usually in the 12th and 13th centuries - with the 'de' (Norman French for 'of') eventually being dropped. There are theories that assume there were a number of disconnected places all over the UK - all carrying similar sounding names that possessed no direct historical association with one another. Perhaps a place with a water 'Well' might figure greatly in the old days (as we all need to drink) and at least in that sense the name 'Well' or 'Wells' might be laterally associated in a conceptual sense, whilst not sharing a DNA lineage. I personally believe that 'Wyles' is distinct from 'Wiles' - even though confusion is sometimes caused due to both lineages borrowing one another's spelling from time to time - usually by mistake. Therefore, we can be 'related' but by the 'error' of poor spelling! In the days before full literacy and the stabilisation of language - scribes would often spell exactly same word on a single page in many different ways! All Best Wishes Adrian PS: A Scottish historian stated that 'Wyles' is pronouced 'Wy-les' in in Scotland - and is the proper or correct surname associated with who is today known as 'William Wallace' - with 'Wallace' being a modern re-invention of his clan name. If this is correct - then this probably reinforces the Viking hypothesis! Dear Merrill
Thank you for your very interesting email regarding Private Edward Vaught and my following article: 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot – Battle of Quatre Bras (1815) I have never seen an official 'Discharge' Document issued to Enlisted Men when leaving the British Army during the early 1800s - and I must thank you for sharing this with me. We will examine the text of this Document and see if we can extract any further data or conclusions - although you seem to have done a very good job. As you know, many of the men from this era were often recruited from over-crowded inner city areas and were usually 'illiterate' (partially or completely). Therefore, when issued with these 'legal' documents - they probably made the mistake of not attaching too much importance to them. I suspect these Documents granted certain legal rights and obligations on behalf of the British governmet, etc, to Veterans of the British Army. The designation of the 'East' Indies (India) and the 'West' Indies (Caribbean) seems a little vague - but can be explained. Of course, soldiers recruited in the UK were often relatively 'small' in number and transported all over the Empire to secure stability - and where necessary train 'Native' troops recruited into 'newly' formed Regiments of the British Army. This is the case with the West Indies and a very good historical assessment of the late 18th and 19th centuries is dealt with in Barry Renfrew's book entitled 'Britain's Black Regiments - Fighting for Empire and Equality'. The author discusses how 'White' British soldiers were brought over to the West Indies to 'train' 'Black' men (usually 'Slaves' or 'former' Slaves) who had volunteered to join the local British Army Units. I believe that these 'Slaves' were granted their 'Freedom' with Enlistment. Interestingly, components of the newly created West Indian Regiment were transported to the British colony of 'Sierra Leone' in West Africa - which I had no idea was part of the British Empire until I read the above book! On occasion, 'White' soldiers (recruited in the UK) are traversed through the area. This type of peripheral military data is often of interest to various historical researchers - as the professional (military) authors have gained access to difficult to find historical documentation. Within 'India', as far as I am aware, The East India Company was permitted to recruit and train a 'Private Army' which was commanded directly by the East India Company (and not the British government) - but was to be used only in the pursuance of British government business and political objectives (which 'mirrored' the business interests of the East India Company). The East India Company locally recruited ethnic Indians as private soldiers - and 'White' Officers from the UK (at least in the early days) - these 'Officers' were either recruited from retired British Army personnel or directly from University, etc. Even so, British Army Units (recruited from the UK and directly controlled by the British government) were still traversed through India on occasion. The following is what we think we can read from the 'Discharge' Document of Private Edward Vaught. He apparently could 'Sign' his own name - but does not seem to know his exact date of birth. The British Army authorities seem to be assuming that Edward Vaught was '18' in 1811 - which would suggest the birthdate was somewhere within the year of 1793: Colonel: Liet Gen Sir John Hamilton Bart Discharge: Edward Vaught (Private) Reason: Being affected with tape worms and being lame from an old (permanently hot) wound on right thigh - Charles Whyte (possibly Regimental ‘Doctor’ or ‘Surgeon’). On These Grounds - Demobilisation Process is Authorised: By Maj Gen Commanding - Dated 6th May 1828. Age: About 34 years Height: 5 foot 6 inches Hair: Dark Brown Skin: Dark Complexion Occupation: Labourer Character: Good British Army: 69th Regiment of Foot (Company and Platoon not clear) First Enlisted: Durham, Norfolk - 20th January 1812 - Age 18 - Limited Service. Re-Enlisted: Cannonne - East Indies. 13th March 1819 (aged 25 years) - Unlimited Service. East Indies 28th June 1817 - 24th February 1826. British Army: 69th Regiment of Foot (Waterloo) Duration of Service: 25th December 1811 - 28th May 1828. Total Years of Service: 16 years and 156 days. Signed: Charles Cuyler - Commander 69th Regiment of Foot - (Demobilisation Granted) 28th May 1828. With regards to Private Edward Vaught - the Discharge Document states his service could have been 'In East or W. Indies' - and that he served in these theatres between 1817-1826. However, as the 'time served' data column contains only a capital 'E' - I suspect this refers to military service in the 'East India' theatre alone - an assumption supported by the fact that there is no date entry attributed to a capital 'W' (or the 'West Indies' - a matter probably dealt with by a different form already printed with a 'W'. If a soldier had served in both theatres - then a form containing a pre-printed capital 'E' and 'W' would have been used). This seems like a 'medical' discharge as he had tape worms and an inflamed wound as you say. Oddly, it seems he joined the British Army on the 25.12.1811 - but his 'official' join-up is recorded as being the 20.1.1812 (under 'Limited Service'). He seems to have been considered '18' even in 1811 although 'both' dates are retained - with his Service being taken from the earlier of the two. As you can see, 'Drummers' and 'Trumpeters' were recruited - quite often boys as young as 8 or 9 years old at the time. His second 'Enlistment' was in India during 1817 when he about 24 years old (designated as 'Unlimited Service'). He was in India until the 24.2.1826 (around 33 years old) - after which he must have returned to the UK - where he was finally 'Discharged' on the 6.5.1828 (aged around 34 or 35 years old). As to whether Private Edward Vaught was at the Battle of Waterloo - it would seem to be the case from the 'Battle Honour' of 'Waterloo' being added to his Discharge Notes. Although the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 69th Regiment of Foot were amalgamated in 1816 - it seems that each part (or Division) of this Regiment retained its own distinct 'Battle Honours'. Whilst the 1st Battalion saw action in India and Java, etc - during the time period under discussion - the 2nd Battalion was the Unit of the 69th Regiment of Foot which fought at the Battle of Waterloo. I suspect that Private Edward Vaught enlisted in the '2nd Battalion' in 1811-1812 and was eventually deployed to Belgium during 1815 (where he would have been 22 years old). Perhaps this is where he picked up his leg wound. It would seem a musket ball or piece of shrapnel had embedded itself in his thigh - and after its extraction the wound was 'cauterized' - but never fully healed. If this is the case (as we cannot be sure), then it is remarkable that he continued to serve for another 13 years as a professional soldier in the British Army without complaint! Kind Regards Adrian |
AuthorAdrian Chan-Wyles - Last Male Descendant of the 'Wyles' Family of Duddington! Archives
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