The Bergh Family Records
Francis Rattray Bergh
Period IV
Frustration and Hope 1918-1939
- 1918
- The position in the Bergh Family when war ended was
as follows:- Dad's Uncle, the Abbot Frederick Augustus
Bergh was alive and well, and was Abbot of Carshalton, and
Francis was in Canada, alive and still farming. Tio and
his wife Polly were living comfortably at Mafra, New
Milton. In the younger generation, Dad's brother Hal
was in Toronto and Rowie (R.H.B.) was soon demobilised
and returned to Canada. Meggie, his sister was at
Fairseat in Shipley but afterwards left when her
husband retired to Bedford. Jeannie was in Portugal but
soon afterwards came home and took a house at Hook to be
near her daughters, Mary and Leicester. Annie (R.A.B.)
was in America but later came home to Fairseat and then
moved to Brighton with Frieda Hickson. During the war
Dad, of course, had served in the army also his brother
Rowie (R.H.B.) Meggies's step-son Bernard had been in
the army. Dad's aunt Annie Sargent, who lived at Bradford,
lost her only son in 1917, he was killed in France, No
real damage was done to any property owned by the family,
except some windows were broken at Chiswick by a bomb
which fell on some vacant ground about two hundred yards
behind the house. Altogether the family were very lucky
to have escaped, so well, from the ravages and losses of
so prolonged and expensive a war.
- Dad returned to the office and quickly got to work
but it was some months before he became completely
rehabilitated to the old routine and surroundings. He took
the first opportunity of seeing Tio again and for the
next few years we all spent Summer holidays at New Milton.
On many occasions Tio and Auntie Polly coming up to our
house in Chiswick and we going down to Mafra.
- 1919
- In 1919, the
following year, I went to St. Paul's School and my brother
Rowie (R.F.B.) was taken seriously ill, his illness was
never diagnosed till its later stages, but poor Rowie
was ill for twelve months and there is no doubt he suffered
from Tubercular Mediastinal Glands and must have been infected
by milk contaminated with the Tubercle Bacillus, he
nearly died. I can remember Dad saying one evening
It's a
bit hard to lose one son, but two ...
However Rowie at
last recovered and went down to Worthing to convalesce. It
was a wonderful joy for everyone. For Dad, though, it meant
the loss of his gratuity, which had all been spent on
Doctors' and Specialists' bills and nursing.
- 1921
- In 1921 news came through from Canada that Dad's Uncle
Francis had died out there, and a few years later Frederick
Augustus was taken ill, Dad saw him several times before he
died, in King's College Hospital. I can remember being
taken over to Carshalton by Dad to see the old Abbot two
years before he died, I was much struck by the snuff which
he frequently took and also spilt down the front of his
clothes, I also remember the strawberries and cream we had
for tea, and the nuns who waited on us calling the Abbot
'Father'.
- 1924
- In the office, Percy, Bertram and H.R.Oldfield still
reigned supreme and it came as a blow to Dad when they
decided to take in a new partner, Dad felt there was
neither the work nor the money for an increase and Mr Hart,
the new solicitor, had wisely insisted on a fixed minimum
share of the takings. In later years Dad had the mortification
of seeing a junior partner who had only been in the
partnership a few years taking out more money than himself.
- Dad's life was now, more and more bound up with his
growing children and their hopes and cares, their ambition
and their mistakes. I was embarked on a medical career and
was assisted by Tio, who sent £100 towards the expenses.
- 1926
- and in 1926 I won two scholarships, a London University
Scholarship of £70 and an Entrance Scholarship into St.
George's Hospital of £30; these two scholarships helped
materially with the expenses. Rowie (R.F.B.) entered the
City of London School, which incidentally was Tio's old
school, and Doris later was sent to Putney High School.
- The cost of educating a growing family was a great and well
nigh impossible strain on Mother and Dad who had to eke out
their resources, they had so many hopes and wishes to fulfil,
but these hopes were always partially frustrated by lack of
money.
- 1927
- In 1927 Dad had become troubled with his prostate gland and
this was to continue all his life ultimately becoming very
serious. His attacks of migrane were beginning to recur but
otherwise his health was good and his every want and need was
carefully and lovingly provided for by his wife Mabel, my
mother.
- 1929
- In 1929 I became a qualified doctor and married in 1930,
taking up practice in Staines. My bride was Molly Slater and
the wedding was held at St. Michael's Church, Chiswick. It is
an interesting coincidence to know that Mrs Slater, Molly's
mother, lived as a child at Wargrave and can remember going to
the sale of the A'Beare's furniture and goods at Hare Hatch,
she bought several things including a Coffee Set and a large
China Cat, the cat is still in her possession (1948) and the
Coffee Set is still in use in my house (dated 1776). Rowie
was still at the City of London School and Doris was at Putney,
but the family funds had been drained to make me a doctor and
there was not a lot for Rowie (R.F.B.). It was decided that he
should take up a career in the Royal Exchange Assurance, and
later Doris was to take up the career of a Physio Therapist
beginning her training at St. Thomas's Hospital.
- 1935
- In 1935 Dad had to consult his doctors again, he had been
complaining of headaches and giddiness for some time and it
was found that his blood pressure was beginning to become
rather high, he was then aged fifty-five years and his
pressure was approaching 180, but on the whole his health was
good, he enjoyed walking and swimming in the sea on our
holidays. It was in this year that he was knocked down by a
cyclist in the City and broke his left arm at the shoulder,
the fracture was in a good position and united very easily
and quickly.
- At the beginning of the year, I had an urge to look at
Paradise House School to see whether or not it was still
in existence, so accordingly on Sunday the 17th February
Molly and myself together with Dad and my brother Rowie
paid a visit there. Dad afterwards made a few notes for
the 'Chroncile' which goes as follows:-
- Those were Dad's notes, my reactions were similar but in
addition I remember with horror the many nights I had
spent in the old cellars during the Air-raids of the First
World War, and I could also remember the shock to the old
building when an A.A. Shell hit the roof and exploded,
blowing off a chimney. It all looked forlorn and dilapidated
but it was interesting to see the old place once
again.
- 1935
- On the 28th December, 1935 his first grandchild, my
daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born and he was delighted
with the news, coming over for the christening in the
New Year.
- 1936
- In this year 1936, Jeannie, whose health had been
failing for some months, died of cancer April 4th and two
months later John, her husband, also died. Dad was
beginning to feel a little saddened at the parting of his
friends and relations, but he had so much to live for in
the joys and pleasures of his children and grand-children.
- 1938
- On the 4th June, 1938 Rowie (R.F.B.) married Mavis
Hatchett at St Giles, it was a lovely wedding in an old
country Church, followed by a reception in a country
hotel. Dad and Mother thoroughly enjoyed themselves, Dad
looking very smart in his 'topper' and morning coat! On
October 3rd of this year my second daughter Gillian was
born and once again he came over to Staines for the
christening.
- 1939
- On Dad's birthday this year, poor Aunt Polly, Tio's
wife, died suddenly from heart failure and this upset Dad
considerably but he was always able to hide his feelings
and so not upset others by his grief. During these past few
years Hitler had risen to power in Germany and once again
warlike dominant Germany was beginning to put fear into
smaller countries of Europe. Dad was always very emphatic
about the Germans, he used to say
The only good Germans
are the dead ones
he loathed them.
- Dad and Mother were happy in the happiness of their
children this year. I was settled in Staines with my
children, Rowie was happily married and living at Chalfont
St Peters and Doris, although working at a Hospital in
London was living at home and helping Mother as only a
daughter can. Dad could begin to look back on his life
and feel that in spite of all the worries and anxieties it
had been a full and happy one. Mark Twain, Dad's favourite
author, puts it so well in a letter to his wife:-
Copyright © Anthony Hickson
