Great Grandma Betty Webber used to write poetry to Winston Churchill and actually received a handwritten letter in return, as well as one from his secretary.
She was born in 1917 and her poems have been printed in books. Betty was interviewed on the radio about her poems. She often wrote about God, despite not believing in him, but she did it because she thought it would be what most people wanted to read.
Francis Gordon Webber received medals in the war. His wife died and he was not excused from the war effort, so the child was put up for adoption. When he was finally given leave, it was too late. In 1937, he was the band master (see photo of man with a trumpet)
One member of the family had a gas mask, which actually contained asbestos.
Francis made a photo frame using part of an aeroplane (see frame alongside photo of Francis with trumpet)
Lukas' great grandfather owned a barber shop, where he also sold silk cigarette cards.
Item list and details
1. Relic Luftwaffe German Helmet from D Day (c.1944)
2. British 37 pattern webbing set
3. 1942 WWII American entrenching tool
4. WWII British Sandbag
5. ARP Gas mask and box from 1938 with address and name D.W.John
6. Brodie Liner
7. AFV periscope found on top of a tank
8. British Civil Defence Gas Mask
9. WWII French Civil Defence sewing kit
10. Original WWII map reading magnifying glass
11. Back of photo frame made of aeroplane wings
12. WWII British canteen and leather straps, used as a water bottle
13. WWII ARP lamp
14. German WWII Side Cap
15. Letter opener's, trench art x4
16. War time German Eine Mark
17. Russian GP5 Gas Mask
18. Great-Grandfather's (Francis Gordon Webber) medals
19. Victory Certificates given to school Children
20. Back of the Victory Certificates
21. Photograph of Melville and Vivian Sweeney as children (c.1945)
22. German WWII Field Post Postcard
23. Army Corporal Arm Band
24. Personally Handwritten Winston Churchill Letter and Photograph (addressed to Betty Webber) with photo of Bety and Francis
25. Civil Defence Corps welfare arm band
26. Silk cigarette cards
27. Photo of three children including Vivian Sweeney (c.1945)
28. Tank Goggles and Case
29. American M1 Helmet
30. French Adrian Helmet with battle damage
31. WWII Zuckerman helmet
32. WWII Zuckerman helmet
33. WWII Warden Brodie Helmet
34. Bulgarian M36 Helmet
35. Swiss WWII Helmet
36. 1914 French military binoculars with leather case
37. Photo of William (Melville) Woodland, as band master (c.1937)
With the Front of photo frame made of aeroplane wingsPerson the story/items relate to
Betty and Francis WebberPerson who shared the story/items
Lukas D'ArcyRelationship between the subject of the story and its contributor
Sarah's grandparents, Lukas' great-grandparentsType of submission
Shared at Llandaff Memorial Hall, Cardiff on 11 November 2023. Organised by The Cathedral School, Llandaff.Record ID
105641 | LLA026
