Samuel Edmund Brock

1911 – 1981

✓ Validated against records · 2026-07-05

Mum recorded him as “Edmond”; the 1939 Register and the GRO birth & marriage indexes all spell him “Edmund”. We’ve adopted the evidenced spelling and kept hers as a noted variant.

Samuel Edmund Brock — “Eddie” to everyone — was born on 21 April 1911 in Hull, the youngest of William Edmund and Minnie’s three children. His father packed starch at Reckitt’s and his grandfather had kept a grocer’s shop; Eddie’s step was different again — into an office, behind a clerk’s desk.

It was schooling that turned him. He did well at Brunswick Avenue Central School — strong in science, and on the football field — and on leaving went into the city’s Education Offices, adding a shorthand diploma to push himself on. In October 1937 he married Joan Kathleen Frith at St Giles’, Marfleet.

Then came the war, and the part of his life he set down in his own hand. Called into the RAF in 1940 as an aircraft fitter, Eddie kept a pocket diary through 1944 that is the rarest thing in this archive — not a register of dates but a young man’s voice. It crosses the Channel in the weeks after D-Day and follows him through Normandy into Belgium: the football matches and the letters from Joan, the shelling near Tilly that killed four of his fellows, the night the gliders passed overhead and he wrote that it was “the best night of my life”, the welcome the people of Brussels gave them, mobbed with joy in the streets. It is worth reading whole.

He came home to the Education Department and stayed, rising to Administrative Officer over a career of forty-five years. After the war the family lived for a time at Cottingham, and in the mid-1950s bought a house of their own — a substantial place, with a garden, in Ellesmere Avenue off the Holderness Road. All three of his sons became teachers, following their father into education but into the classroom rather than the office — a further step from the mills. On retiring, he and Joan moved out to the coast, to a new flat at Bridlington; and there Eddie died on 7 July 1981, aged seventy — he had just cut the grass, and was settling down to watch the Test match.

Composed from validated records · 2026-07-05

Birth: April 21st 1911, Hull
Marriage: October 14th 1937 to Joan Kathleen Frith in St. Gile's church, Marfle et
Death: July 7 th 1981, Bridlington aged 70 years
Parents: William Edmond Brock and Minnie Gertrude Richmond
Siblings: Harold Henry Brock born 1906 Lily May Brock born 1908 Samuel Edmond Brock born April 21st 1911
School: Brunswick Avenue Central school, excelling in Science and football
Occupation: On leaving school Sam (Eddie) became a clerk in the Education Off i ces.He f ur thered his career by taking a diploma in shorthand
1937: Marries Joan Kathleen Frith in St. Giles Church, Marfleet Samuel Edmond Brock, aged 26, bachelor, Clerk, of 38, Savery Street, Hull and Joan Kathleen Frith aged 23, spinster, of 1055, Hedon Road, Marfleet, were married on the 14th October, 1937, in the presence of Harold H. Brock and Clara Ounsworth. Fathers: William Edmond Brock, Packer; Samuel Frith, Clerk (deceased)
1939 Register: Samuel E. Brock born April 21st 1911 Clerk, Education Officer Joan K. Brock born December 2nd 1914, Housewife Unpaid Address: 8 Wharfdale Avenue, Hull
War Service: In 1940 Sam was called up into the Royal Air Force where he served for the length of the war as an aircraft mechanic. For most of the war, Sam was stationed at Wheeton near Fleetwood and it was near here on a farm near Esprick that his wife and two young children came to stay, to escape the German bombs that were falling on Hull. They were joined at times by their Ounsworth cousins and their grandmother Lydia Frith. In 1944 following the D Day invasion Sam served in France and Belgium. War Diary 1944 Service No.1075745 Date of Birth:21.4.1911 Leading Aircraftman RAF Trade Fitter 2 Airframe: Height 5' 8" Home Address 8 Wharfdale Avenue, Southcoates Lane, Hull: Car No. RH 5035 New Year's Eve : Stayed in the Billet and slept the New Year in. Hope it is a good one. January Saturday 1st : Played football for Gravesend. Beat Dartford Ams. 2-1. Ding dong game. Scored winning goal. Tuesday 4th : Innoculated - typhus Thursday 6th : Played football for the airfield. Drew 2-2. Friday 7th : Pay day - sent Joan 16 shillings. Went to Plaza at night with Earnie Skinner. Saturday 8th : Played for Gravesend RAF at Dartford- lost 6-1. Return game…… Groggy foot and could not walk. Sunday 9th: Went to the "Crown" for a drink with Bill M. and Earnie S.- quiet night. Played darts. Bob went on Leave. Wednesday 12th: Went to Regal with Earnie Skinner "Above Suspicion" with Joan Crawford and Fred McMurray - good picture Thursday 13th: Air Raid. Friday 14th: Getting short of doh, ray, me and fags. Stayed in. Sewed my shirts. Time I had some new ones. Saturday 15: Sirens at night. Half day off - should have played for the station v Settingbourne Too foggy - match cancelled. Went to see "New Moon" at Plaza Friday 21st: Got paid. Air Raid at night. Pretty hot do. Incendiaries and bombs. Monday 24th: sent boots for repair. February Saturday 12: Hitched-hiked home from Blackpool. Got home at 12.30 a,m, Joan was waiting up for me. Sunday 13th: Had a lovely morning, visited George and Muriel, Ma and Pa and got the 4.30p.m. train to Blackpool. Monday 14th: Arrived back at 6.00a.m. Worst train journey I've ever had. Drove 3 ton Bedford lorry for the first time. March Sunday 12th: Went on 9 days leave. Monday 13th: Got home at 8.30 a.m. Wednesday 15th.: Went to Clara's and stayed the night. Saturday 18th: Went to see Hull v Huddersfield at Boulevard with Les. Good match. Played Snooker at the W.H. (White Hart) Monday 20th: Last night of Leave. Played cards with Ma and Pa. Tuesday 21st: Caught the 12 noon back to Gravesend Monday 27th: Made extra allowance of 2 shillings a day to Joan. Allowance to commence from 1st April. Stayed in. April Tuesday 4th: Duty Crew. Thursday 6th: Stuart had his tonsils out. Played football. Echelon v 1 squadron - won 5-2 Wednesday 19th: Cut my knee. Friday 28th: Went with Jack Lamont to Brighton on day off. May Saturday 6th: Had a bath. Saturday 13th: Last day at Ford, packing. Sunday 14th: Moved from Ford to Huntington. Drove 3 ton Bedford in convoy for first time - ok. Monday 15th: Lousy place. Very much like Ashford. Tuesday 16th: Went to Chichester- day off. Couldn't get a bed, slept on the floor in a boarding house. Rained and thundered. Sunday 28th: Very hot. Monday 29th: Went to Shoreham. Very hot. Went to pictures at night. Merle Oberon in the "That Uncertain Feeling". June Monday 5th: Went into Emsworth at night with Jack. Walking home. 100's of kites passed overhead. We little knew that the invasion had started. Tuesday 6th: D Day. Very quiet. Could not realise that the invasion had started. Got innoculated. Hundreds of gliders towed by Stirlings and Halifaxes passed over about 8.30p.m. Best night of my life. Wednesday 7th: Very quiet Friday 16th: On guard. Saturday 17th: "B" Party moved into Concentration Ave. Sunday 18th: Moved to Bungalow in "C" Party's Billets. Went to Chichester at night with Tom Hardman. Monday 19th: Day off tomorrow. Went to Brighton with Tom Hardman. Tuesday 20th: Stayed in YMCA in Brighton. Good day. Came back broke. Wednesday 21st: Long day. Nothing to do. Caught up with washing. Friday 23rd : Got paid. Walked to Emsworth at night with Tom Hardman. Saturday 24th: Two officers brought some mail from Ford. Two letters for me from Joan. The only letters. Sunday 25th: Went to Chichester at night. Monday 26th: Still at Huntington. Went to Chichester for the day. Notice to move tomorrow 9.10a.m. Tuesday 27th: Went to Old Sarum (?) in convoy. Went to pictures at night. Wednesday 28th: Got paid £1 in Francs (200). Went to pictures at night. Thursday 29th: Lorries waterproofed. Went to pictures at night. Moving tomorrow. Friday 30th: Received orders to move to Tilbury. Got half way in convoy and was turned back. Finally arrived at place near Southampton. Rain, rain, rain. Slept in lorry. July Saturday 1st: Rain, rain, rain. Parked in S….ing Road, Bassett, Southampton. Sunday 2nd: Rained all day. Monday 3rd: Still at Parry Road, Bassett. Orders to move at Midnight. Travel at 3.30 a.m. Tuesday 4t: Boarded "The Anzio" at 9.30 a.m. Backed up the ramp okay. Had a wash and shave aboard. Wednesday 5th:Arrived off France about 10.00 a.m. Got ashore - dry landing at 2.30. p.m. arrived at Camp Martingay and met the lads of "B" party. Air lift. 12 letters waiting. Thursday 6th: Went a walk at night and had a drink of Vin Rouge (15 franks), deadly drink. Don't want any more. Friday 7th: Typhoon rocked accidently fired, just missed me and also 500 lb bomb nearly. "Heavy" night guess we need a slit trench. Saturday 8th: Dug slit trench, covered it with mild steel plate - very comfortable. Letter from Joan nearly every day. Sunday 9th: We captured Caen today. On guard at night. !st shift. Sunday 16th: 11 a.m. Moved to Monday Jean le …..(?) near Tilly. Shelled at night. 4 chaps killed and 18 casualties. Monday 17th: The worst night I have ever spent. No slit trenches. Dug slit trenches. Had a fairly quiet night, but a terrific barrage by our guns. Tuesday 18th: Went for "bombs" (?). Ralph Reader show at night. Think we have advanced a few miles. Wednesday 19th: Lousy night. Shelling in the distance. Thursday 20th: Went to see "Mutiny on the Bounty" in camp. Lazy night. Shelling in distance. Hitler bombed. Pity it missed. Friday 21st: Good news- part of German army in revolt - hope it is the beginning of the end. September Thursday 7th: Work all day. Went to Beauvaix at night. Walked back and found we were packing ready to move at 6.30 in the morning. Friday 8th and Saturday 9th: Up at 4.30 and travelled with "A" party to Grimbergen, near Brussels. Lorry running very rough. Passed Froissy, Paillart, Sourdon, Moreuil, Demuin, Marcelcave, Sailly, Laurette, Morlancourt, Albert, Bapaume, Vitry, Douai, Orchies, Tournai, Leuze, Ath, Enghien, Hal, Brussels. Arrived in Brussels at about 6.00 p.m. Got lost in the city. Spent two hours in a hotel and the people greeted us with drinks and were fantastic with joy. Mobbed all the way. Sunday 10th: Half day in Brussels with Joe. Met 2 people and were taken out for drinks at hotel and taken home. Slept the night at Ave Felix. Marchant Skarbeck (?) Monday 11th: Had a very enjoyable time. Work, work, work. Tuesday 12th Work and work. Wednesday13th: Work, work. Went to the person's house at Brussels at night. Made us very welcome. Vermouth, drink, beer. Thursday 14th: Went for a drink at local. Played continental darts. Wednesday 27th: Moved up to Antwerp at 2.30 p.m. under shell fire- deadly. Slept in cellar under house near drome. Woke up at 9.30 p.m. and told to clear out back to Brussels. The "A" Party up at Grave cut off by Jerry. Thursday 28th: Back at Brussels. Ready to fly to England at 2.30 by Dakota. Lovely trip to England. Arrived at Matliske near Norwich at 4.00 p.m. Grand to be back in England. October Friday 6th: Went home to new house. 36 hour pass. Had a grand time. Saw Ma, Lily and Shirley at our new house. Saturday 7th: Left for Matlocke at 2.10 p.m. Joan and chips, and ma and pa saw me off at station. Wednesday 11th: Moved to Andrew Field, Sayling near Braintree, Essex. Advanced party. Saturday 14th: Went to camp cinema. (Final Entry
1945: After discharge from the RAF Eddie returned to the Education Department at the Guildhall where he served as Administrative Off i cer until his retirement. At this time the family were living at 42, Brocklehurst Avenue, Inglemire Lane, Hull. They then moved to 118, Hull Road, Cottingham, in about 1948. In about 1954/5 with the help of a £300 loan from his father, they bought their first house in East Hull. This was in Ellesmere Avenue, Holderness Road (no. 75) as both Christopher and John were attending Malet Lambert School.
1971: In 1971, their youngest son John married and emigrated to New Zealand.
1976: Eddie suffers a life threatening illness (an aorta embolism) and as a consequence he and Joan decide in 1977 to move to a new purpose built flat in Bridlington at 58 Darwin Road, Bempton Lane. During this time they made regular visits to New Zealand to visit John and his family.
1981: Eddie dies suddenly at home aged 70 years. He had just cut the grass and was happily watching the cricket (a Test Match) on the television
1981: After Eddie's death, Joan remained in Bridlington before eventually moving to sheltered accommodation in Dunham Gardens, Sutton Park. Here, too, Joan enjoyed many visits to New Zealand, accompanied either by her sister Clara or friends, Christine and Avril
2000: A deterioration in health saw a final move to a care home in Pearson Park.
2002: Death of Joan aged 87 years

In your grandmother’s words · from her notebook

Family

Parents

WBFatherWilliam Edmund Brock1880–1962 MRMotherMinnie Gertrude Richmond1881–1961

The children of William Edmund & Minnie Gertrude

· · Samuel Edmund Brock b. 1911this page

Marriage

JFSpouseJoan Kathleen Frith1913–2002

Children

Photographs

18 photographs are with the family — family sign-in

Life

Confirmed — anchored to a recordEstimated — inferred

1911

Born at Steynburg Street — three weeks after census night

21 April 1911 at Hull

William Edmund Brock, Head, 30, Married — Tram-Conductor, City of Hull, Worker · Minnie Gertrude Brock, Wife, 29, married 6 years — 2 children born alive, 2 still living, 0 died · Harold Henry Brock, Son, 5 · Lily
May Brock, Daughter, 3 — all four born Yorkshire, Hull. Four rooms. Signed: William Edmund Brock, 90 Steynburg St., New Bridge Rd., Hull.
— 1911 Census of England & Wales

Births registered April–June 1911: BROCK, Samuel E. — Sculcoates — vol. 9D, page 205.— GRO Birth Index

The record image is with the family — family sign-in

Read at the image record Evidence

Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:

1911 Census of England & Wales — TNA RG 14, piece 28664, schedule 215 — 90 Steynburg Street, Hull (Sculcoates). findmypast GBC/1911/RG14/28664/0429/1. The schedule is in his father’s own hand, signed at the foot. Census night was 2 April 1911; Sam arrived nineteen days later — the household he was about to join. William entered the marriage particulars on his own line and they were struck through and re-entered against Minnie, as the form required. read at the image
GRO Birth Index — England & Wales Births 1911 Q2 (Apr–Jun). findmypast BMD/B/1911/2/AZ/000171/050. Index only — mother’s maiden name not shown (the GRO began indexing it from September 1911; Sam was registered in Q2). A third independent source agreeing on 1911; the certificate itself (9D/205) is on the research list below. index entry — original not yet seen

1921

The 1921 Census — 46 Wynburg Street

1921 at 46 Wynburg Street, Hull

William Edmund Brock, Head, 40, Married — Packer & Labourer, Mess.rs Reckitt & Sons Ltd, Black Lead, Starch, Blue & Metal Polish Manufacturer — Kingston Works, Dansom Lane, Hull · Minnie Gertrude Brock, Wife, 40 years 1 month — Home Duties · Harold Henry, Son, 15 · Lillie
May, Daughter, 13 · Samuel Edmund, Son, 10 — the three children all “Whole Time” at school, everyone born Yorkshire, Hull. Four rooms; five persons. Signed: W. E. Brock.
— 1921 Census of England & Wales

The record image is with the family — family sign-in

Read at the image record Evidence

Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:

1921 Census of England & Wales — TNA RG 15, piece 23671, schedule 227 — 46 Wynburg Street, Hull (Alexandra Ward). findmypast GBC/1921/RG15/23671/0455. Taken 19 June 1921 (the postponed census), again in William’s hand, signed “W. E. Brock”. Minnie’s age is written “40 years 1 month” — which sits exactly on a birthday of 18 May 1881, corroborating the 1939 Register’s date for her. read at the image

1937

Married Joan Kathleen Frith

14 October 1937 at St Gile's church

Samuel E Brock married Joan K Frith — registered October–December 1937, Hull district. (Volume 9D, page 575.)— Marriage registration — GRO index (Q4 1937)

Marriages registered October–December 1937: BROCK, Samuel E. = FRITH — Hull — vol. 9D, page 575.— GRO Marriage Index

Samuel Edmond Brock, aged 26, bachelor, Clerk, of 38 Savery Street, Hull, and Joan Kathleen Frith, aged 23, spinster, of 1055 Hedon Road, Marfleet, were married on the 14th
October 1937, in the presence of Harold H. Brock and Clara Ounsworth. Fathers: William Edmond Brock, Packer; Samuel Frith, Clerk (deceased).
— Marriage certificate — St Giles’, Marfleet, 14 October 1937

The record image is with the family — family sign-in

Confirmed in index record Evidence

Found in an index or transcript — the original page not yet read:

Marriage registration — GRO index (Q4 1937) — England & Wales civil marriage index (findmypast BMD/M/1937/4/AZ/000143/082), Samuel E Brock and Joan K Frith cross-referenced on the same volume and page. The family record gives the day and the church — 14 October 1937, St Giles', Marfleet; the parish register entry itself, with the fathers' names and witnesses, is at Hull History Centre (see the research note). index entry — original not yet seen
GRO Marriage Index — England & Wales Marriages 1937 Q4 (Oct–Dec). findmypast BMD/M/1937/4/AZ/000143/082. The MarriageFinder cross-reference gives Joan K Frith on the same volume and page — the index pair matching Mum’s date exactly. index entry — original not yet seen
Marriage certificate — St Giles’, Marfleet, 14 October 1937 — The original certificate is held in the family archive and photographed on Mum’s page (it appears in the gallery below, beside the wedding photograph and the honeymoon hotel bill — two nights at the Lincoln Hall Hotel, London). This is her transcription of it. The witnesses are his brother Harold and Joan’s sister Clara; Joan’s father Samuel is “deceased” — he had fallen at Oppy Wood twenty years before. from Mum’s research

1939

The 1939 Register — 8 Wharfedale Avenue

1939

8 [Wharfedale Avenue], schedule 378 — Brock, Samuel E · 21 Apr 1911 · Married · Clerk, Education Off[ices]. Brock, Joan K · 2 Dec 1914 · Married · Housewife, unpaid. Line 3: “This record is officially closed.”— 1939 Register

The record image is with the family — family sign-in

Read at the image record Evidence

Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:

1939 Register — TNA R39/3170/3170B, schedule 378 — 8 Wharfedale Avenue, Hull (E.D. JAXF, Kingston upon Hull 522/5). findmypast TNA/R39/3170/3170B/006/32. Source errors recorded, not inherited: findmypast’s transcript mis-records Joan’s sex as “Male” and Sam’s occupation as illegible; on the page itself Joan’s forename is corrected in red in the register hand. Schedule line 378/3 is officially closed — the infant Stuart, born 1938. read at the image

1940

The war — called up 1940, and the 1944 diary in his own words

about 1940

In 1940 Sam was called up into the Royal Air Force where he served for the length of the war as an aircraft mechanic. For most of the war, Sam was stationed at Wheeton near Fleetwood and it was near here on a farm near Esprick that his wife and two young children came to stay, to escape the German bombs that were falling on Hull. They were joined at times by their Ounsworth cousins and their grandmother Lydia Frith. In 1944 following the D Day invasion Sam served in France and Belgium.
War Diary 1944 Service No.1075745 Date of Birth:21.4.1911 Leading Aircraftman RAF Trade Fitter 2 Airframe: Height 5' 8" Home Address 8 Wharfdale Avenue, Southcoates Lane, Hull: Car No. RH 5035 New Year's Eve : Stayed in the Billet and slept the New Year in. Hope it is a good one.
January Saturday 1st : Played football for Gravesend. Beat Dartford Ams. 2-1. Ding dong game. Scored winning goal. Tuesday 4th : Innoculated - typhus Thursday 6th : Played football for the airfield. Drew 2-2. Friday 7th : Pay day - sent Joan 16 shillings. Went to Plaza at night with Earnie Skinner. Saturday 8th : Played for Gravesend RAF at Dartford- lost 6-1. Return game…… Groggy foot and could not walk. Sunday 9th: Went to the "Crown" for a drink with Bill M. and Earnie S.- quiet night. Played darts. Bob went on Leave. Wednesday 12th: Went to Regal with Earnie Skinner "Above Suspicion" with Joan Crawford and Fred McMurray - good picture Thursday 13th: Air Raid. Friday 14th: Getting short of doh, ray, me and fags. Stayed in. Sewed my shirts. Time I had some new ones. Saturday 15: Sirens at night. Half day off - should have played for the station v Settingbourne Too foggy - match cancelled. Went to see "New Moon" at Plaza Friday 21st: Got paid. Air Raid at night. Pretty hot do. Incendiaries and bombs. Monday 24th: sent boots for repair.
February Saturday 12: Hitched-hiked home from Blackpool. Got home at 12.30 a,m, Joan was waiting up for me. Sunday 13th: Had a lovely morning, visited George and Muriel, Ma and Pa and got the 4.30p.m. train to Blackpool. Monday 14th: Arrived back at 6.00a.m. Worst train journey I've ever had. Drove 3 ton Bedford lorry for the first time.
March Sunday 12th: Went on 9 days leave. Monday 13th: Got home at 8.30 a.m. Wednesday 15th.: Went to Clara's and stayed the night. Saturday 18th: Went to see Hull v Huddersfield at Boulevard with Les. Good match. Played Snooker at the W.H. (White Hart) Monday 20th: Last night of Leave. Played cards with Ma and Pa. Tuesday 21st: Caught the 12 noon back to Gravesend Monday 27th: Made extra allowance of 2 shillings a day to Joan. Allowance to commence from 1st
April. Stayed in.
April Tuesday 4th: Duty Crew. Thursday 6th: Stuart had his tonsils out. Played football. Echelon v 1 squadron - won 5-2 Wednesday 19th: Cut my knee. Friday 28th: Went with Jack Lamont to Brighton on day off.
May Saturday 6th: Had a bath. Saturday 13th: Last day at Ford, packing. Sunday 14th: Moved from Ford to Huntington. Drove 3 ton Bedford in convoy for first time - ok. Monday 15th: Lousy place. Very much like Ashford. Tuesday 16th: Went to Chichester- day off. Couldn't get a bed, slept on the floor in a boarding house. Rained and thundered. Sunday 28th: Very hot. Monday 29th: Went to Shoreham. Very hot. Went to pictures at night. Merle Oberon in the "That Uncertain Feeling".
June Monday 5th: Went into Emsworth at night with Jack. Walking home. 100's of kites passed overhead. We little knew that the invasion had started. Tuesday 6th: D Day. Very quiet. Could not realise that the invasion had started. Got innoculated. Hundreds of gliders towed by Stirlings and Halifaxes passed over about 8.30p.m. Best night of my life. Wednesday 7th: Very quiet Friday 16th: On guard. Saturday 17th: "B" Party moved into Concentration Ave. Sunday 18th: Moved to Bungalow in "C" Party's Billets. Went to Chichester at night with Tom Hardman. Monday 19th: Day off tomorrow. Went to Brighton with Tom Hardman. Tuesday 20th: Stayed in YMCA in Brighton. Good day. Came back broke. Wednesday 21st: Long day. Nothing to do. Caught up with washing. Friday 23rd : Got paid. Walked to Emsworth at night with Tom Hardman. Saturday 24th: Two officers brought some mail from Ford. Two letters for me from Joan. The only letters. Sunday 25th: Went to Chichester at night. Monday 26th: Still at Huntington. Went to Chichester for the day. Notice to move tomorrow 9.10a.m. Tuesday 27th: Went to Old Sarum (?) in convoy. Went to pictures at night. Wednesday 28th: Got paid £1 in Francs (200). Went to pictures at night. Thursday 29th: Lorries waterproofed. Went to pictures at night. Moving tomorrow. Friday 30th: Received orders to move to Tilbury. Got half way in convoy and was turned back. Finally arrived at place near Southampton. Rain, rain, rain. Slept in lorry.
July Saturday 1st: Rain, rain, rain. Parked in S….ing Road, Bassett, Southampton. Sunday 2nd: Rained all day. Monday 3rd: Still at Parry Road, Bassett. Orders to move at Midnight. Travel at 3.30 a.m. Tuesday 4t: Boarded "The Anzio" at 9.30 a.m. Backed up the ramp okay. Had a wash and shave aboard. Wednesday 5th:Arrived off France about 10.00 a.m. Got ashore - dry landing at 2.30. p.m. arrived at Camp Martingay and met the lads of "B" party. Air lift. 12 letters waiting. Thursday 6th: Went a walk at night and had a drink of Vin Rouge (15 franks), deadly drink. Don't want any more. Friday 7th: Typhoon rocked accidently fired, just missed me and also 500 lb bomb nearly. "Heavy" night guess we need a slit trench. Saturday 8th: Dug slit trench, covered it with mild steel plate - very comfortable. Letter from Joan nearly every day. Sunday 9th: We captured Caen today. On guard at night. !st shift. Sunday 16th: 11 a.m. Moved to Monday Jean le …..(?) near Tilly. Shelled at night. 4 chaps killed and 18 casualties. Monday 17th: The worst night I have ever spent. No slit trenches. Dug slit trenches. Had a fairly quiet night, but a terrific barrage by our guns. Tuesday 18th: Went for "bombs" (?). Ralph Reader show at night. Think we have advanced a few miles. Wednesday 19th: Lousy night. Shelling in the distance. Thursday 20th: Went to see "Mutiny on the Bounty" in camp. Lazy night. Shelling in distance. Hitler bombed. Pity it missed. Friday 21st: Good news- part of German army in revolt - hope it is the beginning of the end.
September Thursday 7th: Work all day. Went to Beauvaix at night. Walked back and found we were packing ready to move at 6.30 in the morning. Friday 8th and Saturday 9th: Up at 4.30 and travelled with "A" party to Grimbergen, near Brussels. Lorry running very rough. Passed Froissy, Paillart, Sourdon, Moreuil, Demuin, Marcelcave, Sailly, Laurette, Morlancourt, Albert, Bapaume, Vitry, Douai, Orchies, Tournai, Leuze, Ath, Enghien, Hal, Brussels. Arrived in Brussels at about 6.00 p.m. Got lost in the city. Spent two hours in a hotel and the people greeted us with drinks and were fantastic with joy. Mobbed all the way. Sunday 10th: Half day in Brussels with Joe. Met 2 people and were taken out for drinks at hotel and taken home. Slept the night at Ave Felix. Marchant Skarbeck (?) Monday 11th: Had a very enjoyable time. Work, work, work. Tuesday 12th Work and work. Wednesday13th: Work, work. Went to the person's house at Brussels at night. Made us very welcome. Vermouth, drink, beer. Thursday 14th: Went for a drink at local. Played continental darts. Wednesday 27th: Moved up to Antwerp at 2.30 p.m. under shell fire- deadly. Slept in cellar under house near drome. Woke up at 9.30 p.m. and told to clear out back to Brussels. The "A" Party up at Grave cut off by Jerry. Thursday 28th: Back at Brussels. Ready to fly to England at 2.30 by Dakota. Lovely trip to England. Arrived at Matliske near Norwich at 4.00 p.m. Grand to be back in England.
October Friday 6th: Went home to new house. 36 hour pass. Had a grand time. Saw Ma, Lily and Shirley at our new house. Saturday 7th: Left for Matlocke at 2.10 p.m. Joan and chips, and ma and pa saw me off at station. Wednesday 11th: Moved to Andrew Field, Sayling near Braintree, Essex. Advanced party. Saturday 14th: Went to camp cinema. (Final Entry)
— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research, cited — not yet re-verified at the image:

The 1944 pocket diary — Eddie’s own pocket diary for 1944, kept as No. 1075745, Leading Aircraftman, Fitter II (Airframe) — height 5′ 8″, home address 8 Wharfdale Avenue, car RH 5035, says the flyleaf. The year-long run above — from New Year’s Eve in the billet, across the Channel in the weeks after D-Day, to the final entry at Andrews Field — is Mum’s transcription of his own hand, kept whole. On the road to Brussels his lorry passed through Albert and Bapaume — the Somme names of the war before. from Mum’s research

1945

Back to the Guildhall

1945

After discharge from the RAF Eddie returned to the Education Department at the Guildhall where he served as Administrative Off i cer until his retirement. At this time the family were living at 42, Brocklehurst Avenue, Inglemire Lane, Hull. They then moved to 118, Hull Road, Cottingham, in about 1948. In about 1954/5 with the help of a £300 loan from his father, they bought their first house in East Hull. This was in Ellesmere Avenue, Holderness Road (no. 75) as both Christopher and John were attending Malet Lambert School.
— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1971

In 1971

1971

In 1971, their youngest son John married and emigrated to New Zealand.— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1976

In 1976

1976

Eddie suffers a life threatening illness (an aorta embolism) and as a consequence he and Joan decide in 1977 to move to a new purpose built flat in Bridlington at 58 Darwin Road, Bempton Lane. During this time they made regular visits to New Zealand to visit John and his family.— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1981

In 1981

1981

Eddie dies suddenly at home aged 70 years. He had just cut the grass and was happily watching the cricket (a Test Match) on the television— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1981

In 1981

1981

After Eddie's death, Joan remained in Bridlington before eventually moving to sheltered accommodation in Dunham Gardens, Sutton Park. Here, too, Joan enjoyed many visits to New Zealand, accompanied either by her sister Clara or friends, Christine and Avril— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

1981

Died

7 July 1981

July 7 th 1981, Bridlington aged 70 years— From Janet Brock’s research

The record image is with the family — family sign-in

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

Schooling

Brunswick Avenue Central school, excelling in Science and football— From Janet Brock’s research

The record image is with the family — family sign-in

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

Occupation

On leaving school Sam (Eddie) became a clerk in the Education Off i ces.He f ur thered his career by taking a diploma in shorthand— From Janet Brock’s research

Mum’s record Evidence

From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

Records & papers

1 record image is with the family — family sign-in

Our research

The service record, the logbooks — and one football match

Open research · RAF Disclosures, the family archive & the Hull papers

The RAF service record. WWII airman records are held by the MoD and released to next of kin only — not on any subscription site. To do (Jon): RAF Disclosures request for No. 1075745, Fitter II (Airframe), 1940–45.
The aircraft-maintenance logbooks. Mum attached them to the foot of her page — “Wartime aircraft Maintenance book 1” and “book 2”, each with inserts. Only one attachment survived the archive pull (image_13.bin, unidentified). To do: re-pull the page’s file attachments via tools/pull_page.py with the cached Graph token, identify, then a reading sitting.
The birth certificate (GRO 9D/205). Would settle Edmund-vs-Edmond at the point of registration, and give the informant. To do: order form.
The NALGO final, 26 April 1938. Mum’s caption to the team photograph: “Hull 4 North Riding 3, S E Brock scoring the winning goal.” The match report has not yet surfaced — the Hull Daily Mail has archive gaps around that week. To do: a dedicated newspaper session (BNA/findmypast, Yorkshire titles, that exact week).
The death certificate, 1981. Photographed on Mum’s page; not yet transcribed onto this one. To do at the next Brock sitting; add the Bridlington registration and probate line.
Gallery-to-timeline pinning. The certificate and death-certificate photographs should sit against their events, not only in the gallery. To do: map her page’s original image numbers, then attach via fix_images.