Frederick and Ellen

Frederick Charles William Payne and Ellen (known as Nelly) Brooker were my grandparents.

Both were born in Bedfordshire, Frederick in September 1915 and Ellen in February 1916. Interestingly, I have noticed that all four of my grandparents were born within a year of one another – my grandfather Louis Bowers Abram was born in September 1916 and my grandmother Delia Eileen Clarke was born in March 1916.

Frederick was the only son of Ellen Rose Payne and Ellen was the daughter of David Brooker and Ellen Kefford, who had two other children, a son called Arthur and a daughter called Phil.

The couple were married by special licence two days before Frederick had to report for military service, during which time Frederick was reported missing in action.  They had three children. Pamela Ann and Freda were twins born in 1940 but Freda only lived to be three days old – her death certificate states she was a premature twin born at  seven months. Frederick’s occupation at the time is given as Private Number 198808 Royal Army Service Corps (Butchers Assistant).  My mum Diane was born seven years later in 1948.