Here are a couple of letters that Sidney sent home to his family in March 1943.








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In the middle of January 1943, Sidney sent a post card and letter to his parents and a letter to his fiance Amy. In January 1941, Sidney had obtained a marriage license for Amy and himself, but he never used it. 10th January 1943 Dearest mum & Dad, I have only had 1 letter this week - Mothers of 26th Nov. Sorry to hear you are not getting my mail regularly - things seem to be so disorganised at present. This week has been one of continual snowfall as we have quite a depth on the ground now. Last night I went to a lecture - "Experences of a Reporter in New York" which was very good, and that is about all I have to tell you this week. I hope no-one has any ill effects from the Xmas Rush. I am still very well. Give my love to all - Your Loving Son - Sidney 16th January 1943 18th January 1943 It appears from this letter, that Amy has called off her engagement to Sidney and this is his reply to her.
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Friends Ambulance Unit

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A lot of my paternal side of my family were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers), and can be traced back to the 1700s in Coventry.  When World War One broke out, they did not fight due to being contentious objectors as Quakers were pacifists. But this did not stop some of them from helping the war effort.  One  ancestor William Waterfall joined the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU).  The FAU was established during WW1 and was later revived during WW2. Click here for a history of the FAU. WIlliam Waterfall joined the FAU on the 16th June 1915 and served in Section Sanitare Angalise 19 attached to the French Army for most of the war and in 1917 he was awarded the Croix de Guerre.  William was discharged in November 1918. The Society of Friends have published the personnel cards for all those who served in the FAU in World War One.  To view and search the database click here . Croix de Guerre Certificate awarded to William Waterfall in 19...
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Vincent Waterfall

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Vincent Waterfall was the first airman, along with his co pilot to be killed in the First World War. He was born on the 25th May 1892 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire to Walter Frank Waterfall and Mary Figgins and was the youngest of 10 children.  By the time of the 1911 census, Vincent and his family had moved to Burgess Hill in West Sussex. In January 1912, he was gazetted to the 3rd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment.  In 1913 Vincent trained as a pilot The Vickers School, Broadlands and in July 1914 he joined the Royal Flyin g Corps becoming a Flying Officer in August 1914. On the morning of the 22nd August 1914, Vincent Waterfa1l and his co-pilot were flying over Labliau near Enghien in Belgium and were shot down by German Platoons and were killed.  Vincent is  bur ied at  Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension in Belgium.
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