Genealogy Chat

Violet Nutzlader died in bombing in Fetter Lane London on 9th October 1940. She was at the Monotype Building according to the CWGC site. I know she had an infant child called John at the time. As her husband was already dead this means John would have been orphaned if he didn't die with his mother. I assume this to be the case as only Violet's death is recorded. Any ideas how I can verify whether little John died that night or not?

Scuse my ignorance but whats the CWGC site?

From googling: 1941 - Monotype offices in London at 43 Fetter Lane destroyed by enemy bombing on 10 May. The Monotype School in Dean Street was bombed on the same night and re-established in Rosebery Avenue (the company’s warehouse) and later at 54/55 Fetter Lane. How old was the infant? If Violet worked at the Monotype building then surely the child would not have been at work with her? I can only think to trawl through the marriage and death indexes for any sighting of him? Do ou know if she had any other living relatives who would have reported the child as missing? Suzanne

Susanne, did you notice the discrepancy in the dates? It seems the Monotype building was hit twice on 9th October 1940 and 10th May 1941. I have no evidence that Violet worked there so she may have just been using their air raid shelter. However, her address at the time was in Lambeth which is why I think it's reasonable to assume she worked there. Her family originated from the Fetter Lane area. I agree that a 2-year old child would not normally accompany his mother to a place of work but I don't know whether wartime caused people to do such things. The child is not listed as dead so I think on balance he was more likely to have been orphaned than killed. I think I'll have to search newspapers from October 1940 and May 1941 to get some answers. He had adult siblings who could have looked after him. I've found nothing about him after an exhaustve trawl through the usual records.

Hi paul Yes I did notice the date but like everything...you cant beleive what you read. The date suggested was actually 10 May 1841! Suzanne

You're quick Suzanne! I'd noticed my error as soon as I'd sent it and amended my last posting before I read yours.

I see you're an insomniac like me, Susanne!

Fetter Lane is in the City, so I doubt if anyone would be sheltering there with a child. If she lived in Lambeth, that's where they would be sheltering. As far as I am aware, children were placed in special day and/or night nurseries when their mothers were at work during WW2. My own mother worked as a nursery nurse for one at Penge. nell

Nutzlader is an unusual name and one that might easily be misrecorded. It's also possible that if someone adopted - or even just fostered John - that they might have changed his surname to something less unusual. nell

Would the child have been evacuated?

Now we're motoring! This is the kind of useful feedback that makes Genes Reunited worthwhile. Somebody ought to set up a website to record evacuess. My mother was sent to Wales but after a while was brought back to London. I would bet every evacuee has an interesting story to tell.