Horace Ernest Farndale

4 June 1882 to 4 April 1921

The Ampleforth 1 Line

FAR00584

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Post office telegraphist

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London

1882

Horace Ernest Farndale, the son of John and Emily Eliza (nee Greenwood) Farndale (FAR00374) was born at Bethnal Green District on 4 June 1882 (school record). Horace Ernest Farndale’s birth was registered in Bethnal Green in the third quarter of 1882 (GRO Vol 1c page 198).

1888

Horace’s brother John Farndale attended Mowlem Street School and was admitted on 9 January 1888.

Horace was admitted to the same school on 13 February 1888.

1891

1891 Census, Bethnal Green

John Farndale was head of the household, now aged 43, and a telegraphist. He lived with his wife, Emily and his son John R (aged 12) and Horace E (aged 8), scholar.

1900

The Edinburgh Gazette, 31 July 1900: CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. July 27, 1900. The following Candidates have been certified by the Civil Service Commissioners as qualified for the appointments set against their respective names … July 23, 1900 … Post Office, Male Learners, London – Horace Ernest Farndale, …

A male learner at the post office in London in 1900 (Post Office Appointment Books).

1901

1901 Census, Bethnal Green

John Farndale was head of the household, now aged 53, and a pensioned telegraphist. He lived with his wife, Emily and his son John R (aged 22) and Horace E (aged 18). Horace was a telegraphist with the GPO.

Horace’s granddaughter, Patricia, told me that Horace was involved with the pioneering work of Marconi and assisted to lay the first cable for communications from Cornwall under the Atlantic Ocean to America.

From the 1890s, Marconi began experimenting with “wireless telegraphy”, using a transmitter and a receiver. In 1896, he travelled to Britain to demonstrate his system to the government, and in 1897 he was able to send the first ever message across the sea, transmitting across the Bristol Channel.

At the turn of the 20th century, Marconi began investigating a means to signal across the Atlantic to compete with the transatlantic telegraph cables.

He soon made the announcement that the message was received at Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland (now part of Canada), on 12 December 1901, using a 150 m kite-supported antenna for reception – signals transmitted by the company's new high-power station at Poldhu, Cornwall. The distance between the two points was about 3,500 km.

Challenged by sceptics, Marconi prepared a better organised and documented test.

On 17 December 1902, a transmission from the Marconi station in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, became the world's first radio message to cross the Atlantic from North America.

Marconi began to build high-powered stations on both sides of the Atlantic to communicate with ships at sea, in competition with other inventors. In 1904, he established a commercial service to transmit nightly news summaries to subscribing ships, which could incorporate them into their on-board newspapers.

Patricia tells me that he then served in the Admiralty.

1907

Horace E Farndale, married Rosalie Mole in 1907 and the marriage was registered in the second quarter of 1907 at Hackney District (GRO Vol 1b page 856).

Rosalie Mole was the daughter of Thomas William Mole (1845 to 1915) and Susannah Harwood (1852 to 1924). Susannah Harwood was the daughter of John Harwood (1824 to 1889) and Susannah Adams (1820 to 1866). John Harwood was the son of Edgar Harwood (b 1806), and descended from Thomas Harwood (1760 to 1819) and Thomas Harwood (b 1740).

Horace’s grand daughter Patricia tells me that Rosalie was descended from the sister of Admiral Lord Harwood with links to the Mary Rose and had businesses in London. She was told that Rosalie’s mother, Alice Mole (nee Harwood) was the sister of Admiral Lord Harwood and that the family owned Castle Howard.

There was an Admiral Sir Henry Harwood (1888 to 1950) who won fame at the Battle of the River Plate. I haven’t found a Harwood linked to the Mary Rose.

Patricia also tells me that Rosalie was a court seamstress for Queen Victoria and was given a thimble which Patricia still has.

Patricia tells me that Rosalie’s family were all entrepreneurs. One emigrated to New York in the early 1920's with a chain of hotels in New York. One owned cane industries. Another owned watercress beds in Kent. She was told that one uncle invented the water closet. In WW1 one of Rosalie’s brothers was in the Household Calvary who put his horse and himself in front of his commanding officer and he and his horse were blown apart. Another uncle died in the late 1920's of mustard gas poisoning.

Rosalie’s siblings were John Mole (b 1872), Samuel Mole (b1873), Alice Mile (b1875), Emily Mole (b 1880), Ethel Mole (b 1882), Thomas Mole (b1882), another Thomas Mole (b 1884), Florence Mole (b 1886), and Alfred Mole (b 1890)

These photos are labelled Thomas’ wife with Rosie. The photo on the left seems to be a photograph of Rosalie.

1908

Rosalie Hessie Farndale (FAR00748) was born in Brentford, West Ealing on 23 July 1908 (1939 Register). Rosalie Hessie Farndale’s birth was registered in Brentford District in the third quarter of 1908 (GRO Vol 3a page 144).

1911

1911 Census – 14 Ridley Avenue, West Ealing, Middlesex

Horace Ernest Farndale, 28, born Bethnal Green in 1883

Rosalie Farndale, 24

Rosalie Hessie Farndale, 2, born Brentford, West Ealing in about 1909

Three others, members of the Harris family

1913

Kathleen Alice Farndale (FAR00791) was born on 28 January 1913 (1939 Register).

Horace Thomas Farndale with Rosalie nee Mole and Kathleen and Rosalie in about 1914

1919

John Horace Thomas Farndale (FAR00856) was born on 21 July 1919 in Southampton, and baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Prittlewell, Essex on 7 September 1919 (St Mary the Virgin, Prittlewell PR). The birth was registered in Rochford District, Essex in the third quarter of 1919.

Rosalie Farndale (nee Mole) Rosalie’s mother, Alice Mole (nee Harwood) (all photos kindly provided by Patricia)

1921

Horace E Farndale, died aged 38 on 4 April 1921 at Kingswood, MacDonald Avenue, Southend, Essex (Probate Index) and his death was registered Rochford District in the second quarter of 1921. (DR)

Probate: FARNDALE Horace Ernest of Kingswood Macdonald Avenue Southend Essex died 4 April 1921 Probate London 21 April to Rosalia Farndale widow. Effects £281.

He died when his son John Horace Thomas Farndale was only three years old. His granddaughter Patricia tells me that there was a family story that he was murdered for his money because although he was very wealthy there was no trace of any grave stone and the grave was unmarked. She thinks he was buried at Pretty Well Church which might be in Surrey or Hampshire.

After Horace died, Rosalie married a jeweller and they bought three business in Sandbanks Dorset and lived in a Bungalow originally at Sandbanks, then a large house on the Sandbanks road. Her new surname was Gill and she had her own tailoring business and tea and cake shop in Parkstone and also owned her own restaurant.

Rosalie married Thomas Yabsley Gill (1873 to 1957) in 1922 in Rochford, Essex (GRO Vol 4a page 1553).

1939

By 1939 they lived in Poole in Dorset (1939 Register).

1940

Thomas Gill, with John Farndale (right)

John Farndale with Kathleen Farndale in about 1940

1977

Rosalie died in Bournemouth in 1977 (GRO Vol 23 page 47).