The Bergh Family Records

Francis Rattray Bergh

Solicitor

Commissioner for Oaths

Captain and Temporary Major, British Army

Sub-Inspector Chiswick Special Constabulary in First World War

Father to:-

H.J.W.B.F.O.B.R.F.B.M.D.B.

Grandfather to:-

M.E.B. G.R.B. P.S.B.
S.A.B.. E.J.B.

Comtemporary:

  1. Discovery of flying by Airship and Aeroplane.
  2. Atomic Fission, the Submarine, the Motor-Car, the Telephone, the Cinema.
  3. Bacteriology, Hormones, Insulin, Penicillin and Sulphonamides.
  4. Wireless, Television, Radar.
  1. Memorandum by H.J.W.B.
  2. Memorandum by R.F.B.
  3. Reference from Headmaster of Paradise House School dated April 9th, 1891
  4. Coloured picture postcard of Paradise House School
  5. Honours Examination Certificate of the Incorporated Law Society - 18th June 1897.
  6. Certificate of admission to be a Solicitor of the Supreme Court - 9th November 1897.
  7. My first practising Certificate - 3rd February 1904.
  8. Membership Certificate of the Law Society - 3rd April, 1905.
  9. Copy of own Wedding Invitation - 8th June 1904.
  10. Wedding Hymn Sheet - 8th June 1904.
  11. Newspaper Cuttings of the Wedding:-
    1. The Tunbridge Wells Advertiser - 10.6.1904
    2. The Courier - 10.6.1904
    3. The Daily News - 18.6.1904
  12. Sundry Newspapers announcements - Births, Marriages and deaths.
  13. Appointment by the Lord Chancellor as a Commissioner for Oaths - 17th July 1914.
  14. St John Ambulance First Aid Certificate - May 1915.
  15. Metrolpolitan Special Constabulary Proficiency Certificate in Drill.
  16. Metrolpolitan Special Constabulary Letter awarding a badge for Long and Good Service.
  17. Chiswick Special Constabulary Certificate - 28th October, 1916.
  18. Newspaper cutting - Chiswick Times - 17th November 1916.
  19. Three Army record papers - copy of Attestation etc. 1916.
  20. War Office Advice re posting to Officer Cadet Unit - 18th June, 1917.
  21. Menu Card and Signatures - Farewell Dinner - Sidney Sussex College, August 18, 1917.
  22. Appointment as Second Lieutenant in the New Armies 31.8.1917.
  23. Original - Army Book 439.
  24. Commission as Second Lieutenant - 1.9.1917.
  25. Group Orders - 11th March 1918.
  26. Authorisation to wear badges of a Captain, from 13.3.1918.
  27. Protection Certificate (Officer) - 1.2.1919.
  28. Demobilisation letter from the War Office - 8th March 1919.
  29. Army Demobilisation Instructions.
  30. War Office letter re granting of rank - 6.1.1922.
  31. Two War Medals.
  32. German Public Notice as used in Belgium.
  33. Oldfields - Change of Address - 2.5.1921.
  34. Oldfields - change in Partnership - 1.7.1927.
  35. Royal Free Hospital Certificate as Life Governor - 11.3.1930.
  36. Letter dated 24.1.1947 to Doris re christening of Sally Ann.

As eldest son it is my honoured privilege to write the story of my dear father's life and so add another page to the illustrious history of the Bergh Family. My brother R.F.B. was asked by my father, in future to be called 'Dad', to edit, compile and bring up to date all the records of the family; this he has done in a truly magnificent manner. I am sure he is more able to undertake this work, but at his suggestion I will attempt to put on paper incidents and memories, and when completed, these notes of mine will be sent to him for his advice and, if need be, corrections. R.F.B. has inherited Dad's meticulous mind, his thoroughness and his passion for detail, whilst I, as a hard working General Practitioner of Medecine have not the time nor the ability for such thoroughness. In Dad's story of his father's life, Grandpa to me, I am spoken of as Jack. I have always been called Jack by the family but in my medical student days I became secretary to the Football Club and signed notices and cheques as 'Henry Bergh' even copying to the best of my ability Grandpa's signature. This delighted Dad and just as my friends now call me 'Henry', Dad continued to do so until his death. I always believe, that in so doing, he somehow felt nearer to his father to whom he was so devoted and such was his love of the family and its traditions that he was more than pleased when we named our first daughter 'Mary', - 'Mary' after his mother. To Dad who has been described as the Chronicler of the Family must go the honour of producing such family record as this, but I am sure my brother R.F.B. on whom his mantle has fallen, will follow in Father's footsteps and show that his industry and diligence of many of our forefathers has been handed down and is still present and even enhanced by this present generation.

I have decided to divide the story into the periods which lie between the prominent dates in his lifetime thus:-

PeriodI1876-1904 The best years of our lives
PeriodII1904-1914 Love and Ambition
PeriodIII1914-1918 The First World War
PeriodIV1918-1939 Frustration and Hope
PeriodV1939-1945 The Second World War
PeriodVI1945-1947 The Autumn of his Life
PeriodVIIMay, 1947 Twilight

and conclude with ' Memories' both personal and what I can gather.

For let us remember as Rupert Brooke does in his sonnet 'The Dead':-

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