The Bergh Family Records

Francis Rattray Bergh

Period II

Love and Ambition 1904-1914

1904

Having said 'goodbye' to the wedding quests Mother and Dad left for Paris, where the first part of their honeymoon was spent, the weather was lovely and they saw all the sights including the Eiffel Tower, for the latter part of their holiday they invited Grandpa over to Boulogne and stayed there for one week, Grandpa showing Dad and Mother round the town and also his old school which was now a museum. They returned home to London to a private hotel in Notting Hill, Pembroke Mansions by name. Dad had purchased the house in Chiswick, but it was not ready for occupation. In the meantime Mother busied herself with getting things ready for the house and Dad returned to the office in Walbrook, near the Mansion House. The house was ready in September and towards the end of the month Dad and Mother moved into 19 (afterwards 33) Ellesmere Road, Chiswick, their future home for forty-three years. That Christmas they went up to Grandpa's house in Leeds.

1905

On the 19th July, 1905 their first son Henry John Walter was born. The next Christmas was also spent at Leeds, this time with the baby. During these years Dad was actively engaged at the office and Mother was busy with the house and baby, but Dad found time to continue with his researches into the family history and both he and Mother made friends in Chiswick. Mother's sister Lucy also settled in Chiswick with her husband so that they could be near to each other.

1908

On the 27th May, 1908, Francis Oldfield the second son was born, but Francis was to contract Laryngeal Diptheria from which he died on January 19th 1910.

1910

On 6th December, 1910, in the same year, their third son Rowland Frederick was born, and their last child, a daughter, how pleased they were, Mabel Doris was born on the 8th July, 1912.

1912

During these early years in Chiswick life was full of interest and happiness. Dad developed the garden into beauty and tidyness and the house was improved by the purchase of a Billiard Table which enabled pleasant evenings to be spent with relations and friends. Grandpa Bergh was a frequent visitor to the house and as the children began to grow up he brought his Magic Lantern down from Leeds and I can still vividly remember the early shows which Dad and he gave to us all. Holidays were spent each summer by the sea, Folkestone, Swanage, Painton, New Milton and Barton were all visited. Going away in those days was no joke for Mother as everything went by rail and I can still remember Mother stitching up the pram in sack cloth casing using string with a large packing needle and also the cabman, Mr Blake, coming to fetch and take us up to the train terminos in London. Dad was always ready to play with us children and many were the fights we had with my toy soldiers and guns on the dining-room table, he was also fond of reading to us, Swiss Family Robinson, Masterman Ready, Robinson Crusoe, all occupied pleasant hours on Dad's lap in the armchair. He was not above providing me with some further excitement, when the road in Chiswick was made up I can recall a trip on a steam-roller and also, later, a ride in an engine when we were down at New Milton. Further holidays were spent at Weymouth, a very wet holiday, Torquay, and again Swanage.

1912

In 1912 I developed scarlet fever and Dad arranged for Grandpa to take me down to Eastbourne to convalese there, I don't remember this stay but I can remember Grandpa teaching me to read while I was confined to the scarlet fever room.

1913

In 1913 we all went to Folkestone for the summer holidays, Grandpa, Mother, Dad and I going over to Boulogne for the day, it was most interesting and I can remember carrying back long French loaves and also a model aeroplane which Dad had bought me in Boulogne.

That Christmas Grandpa spent at Chiswick and shortly afterwards he was taken ill and ultimately died on the 27th February, 1914. Before his death I can remember his attacks of aphasia and mother signing to me to take no notice of them. I can also remember how anxiously Mother waited to tell Dad all about it on his return from the City. On the evening of Grandpa's death there was a large gathering round the dining-room table for dinner, Mother, Dad, Auntie Maggie and two trained nurses, I was sitting in the arm-chair feeling very glum and waiting to go to bed, I shall always remember Dad trying to cheer things up although he must have been feeling heartbroken. Some months later Dad and Mother went for a holiday to Portugal they went out on the S.S.Avon returning on the Andes and whilst out there stayed with Dad's sister Jeannie and her husband John Wilson. Dad showed Mother all the old places and they had a weekend in Cintra. Mother feels that Dad was a little disappointed with what he saw, all the old places had deteriorated and in many ways he wished he had not gone back. I can remember my excitement at their return, Mother having large quantities of ripe oranges in her trunk! Those early days in Chiswick with their joys and sorrows were days of happiness and love, with Dad striving to reach the top of his profession, but there was always a dark shadow in the background, money. However much Dad increased his business and professional capacity in the City he received a miserable pittance from the firm and this affected considerably his whole life in more ways than one. However much he felt inclined for social activities and making friends in Chiswick, he was unable, through lack of money to entertain and thus he gradually became somewhat shy and reserved in his manner towards strangers and always happier in his home with his family rather than in the company of other people. At this stage of his life he was badly bothered with migrane, but all the efforts of the medical profession were of little avail and every three to four weeks poor Dad was rendered prostrate for perhaps a day with a severe attack. These attacks began to make him irritable and throughout his life he had a gradually increasing tendency to irritability and impatience. Well can all my children remember Dad helping us with our homework and even now I can remember being called a 'Blithering Idiot' most vehemently by him! But he was always ready with a smile and a word of encouragement and a kiss when he said 'Goodnight'.

Whilst this happy family was living its peaceful life in Chiswick war clouds were gathering over the Continent and with the Summer of 1914 hate and murder reached their climax with the assassination of the Archduke at Sarajevo.

1914

We were all at Littlehampton that year when on the 4th August war was declared. Dad hurried home to Chiswick and the office, and the family soon followed with fear and apprehension in their hearts. The died was cast, the battle joined and no one could forsee the future. Dad and Mother's happy world, their life, their hopes, seemed to be collapsing before their eyes.

Copyright © Anthony Hickson