My Grandson William John Elwick Feltham (1887-1952) The Soldier

William John Elwick Feltham (London, 1919)
[Colonial Studio (F. Segers) December 1918 - April 1919]
[United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London]

William (1887-1952) was my first grandson, born of my oldest son John William Feltham (1856-1938). He enlisted at the age of 29 years (23rd August 1916) with the 12th Battalion from Newtown, Tasmania and embarked overseas to the First World War (1914-1918) aboard the HMS Suffolk (20th September 1916). Private William Feltham was wounded in France, on the left side and left leg, and captured on the 13th April 1917. He was held as a prisoner of war in Germany, before being repatriated to England on the 23rd of December 1918. Whilst in London he was photographed (see picture above). William returned back to Australia on the 10th of May 1919, learning that I had already died (11th of October 1918). Some of the family believed that I had died as a result of the worry about William's fate.

The Mercury (Hobart, Tas) Newspaper on 17th of July 1917 reported that William John Elwick Feltham, of Newtown, previously reported missing, has been confirmed as a PRISONER OF WAR [link].

William was the first of my many descendents to return to mother England though he never managed to visit my family or birthplace in Dorset.

Feltham Surname - International Comparisons and Geographical Spread

The Feltham family surname originates from England but has disseminated around the World. The following data from the National Trust Names Website [here] demonstrates, in particular, that the Feltham name is thriving in both Australia and Canada.



The incidence of the Feltham surname is twice as high in Tasmania as the Australian average. I will take some credit for this, with the help of my descendents (as one of the original Felthams to come to Tasmania). It is interesting to see that Salisbury is the most populous area for Felthams.

The Blog Of Joseph Wheeler Feltham dec.

I am Joseph Wheeler Feltham dec., born Joseph Feltham 1831, originally from England, near Wimborne. I was tried and convicted of burglary at Dorchester on the 13th March 1850 and spent time in prison before being sent to Tasmania as a convict. I was shipped to Tasmania on the convict ship the Equestrian, leaving Plymouth on the 1st of September 1852 and arriving in Hobart on the 16th of December 1852. I was never to return to mother England.

This blog is about my life, ancestors, descendents and perceptions.