Living at 69 Elm St (later Elmly) was a family called Newman. The father was an engine driver at Woolwich Arsenal. He had six children, William, killed in the Great War, George, motor mechanic, Edward, motor mechanic, Alfred, motor mechanic, John, interior designer and later gentleman’s gentleman, who died in Australia, [and Gertrude Martha]

Gertrude was a supervisor in munitions during the Great War, and manager of Hewsons Child Clothing Factory, Lakedale Road, Plumstead. The Hewsons lived opposite us in Elm St, starting their business there.

 My father married Gert on 18 July 1942. She was then Mrs McGeary, widow of a seaman. She had two sons by him, Robert and Michael. My brother James lived with my father and stepmother, and continued to do so after my father’s death. My father and brother paid all the expenses, and Gert said she never used her pension or her own money. When Bill died he did not leave a will, so I divided his money four ways, Gert, Nell, Bill and myself. Everything else was left with my stepmother, all the furniture, ornaments, pictures, soapstone, jade, jewellery that belonged to my mother. There were sporting trophies, including mine, a family album, at least two postcard albums, one with silk postcards mostly to do with the Great War. There was a Whatnot full of Goss china, and family documents such as birth and death certificates. (I still cannot find out where my mother was born).

 Gert told me she had made a will. Gert’s son Robert resented me dividing Jim’s money, he thought that his mother should have had it all. When Gert died (by then she had left Elm St) nobody was told until after Robert had been to her flat. I didn’t know for some days. When I attended her funeral I was offered nothing except my brothers books which had been donated to Plumstead Radical Club. Robert said he had not found a will or anything belonging to my family.