Now we move on to the family of my mother’s mother. This comes in two parts – Constance’s father the Flatt family and her mother the Butt family. Let’s start with the Flatts.

This family can be traced back to Andrew Flatt born 1661 in Methwold in Norfolk where they were farmers for many generations. Some Flatts were publicans and there are records of at least two local pubs being run by them!

However the story really starts with Joseph Flatt. He was born in 1830 in Methwold and died in 1896 in West Ham. He married Martha Washington in 1855. Through Martha and with a little imagination, we are related to George Washington, first president of the USA. And of course once a relationship has been established with him, we are then related to all the Royal families of Europe, including the British one! It’s a hugely distant relationship – my mother is 30th cousin to the Queen. However it’s a relationship.

Joseph was a Wheelwright’s apprentice and then a Carpenter. And finally a railway ticket inspector. He moved to West Ham around 1885 having lived most of his life in March. He had four children and I will run through them and their families in turn.

Frederick Joseph Flatt (1857-1926) was a Baptist Minister. The easiest way to give you his history is to copy the entry for his obit from the Baptist Handbook. “FLATT, FREDERICK JOSEPH was born at March, Cambridgeshire, on 6th March 1857. After a short business career, he received the call to the work of the ministry and obtained entrance to Spurgeon’s College. His active service covered a period of nearly forty years, dating from his settlement at Bugbrooke, Northants., in 1883 to his final pastorate at Downham, Norfolk, where in 1922, his health broke down and he was compelled to seek retirement. Between these two pastorates he served the churches at Dunstable, Boxmoor, and Littlehampton with rare devotion, and in each place he left behind him a most gracious memory. In 1890 he accompanied the Rev. John Burnham on a memorable evangelistic tour to Canada and the United States. Mr. Flatt rendered efficient service to the cause of Christian Endeavour as secretary of the Beds., Bucks. and Herts. C. E. Union; to the Free Church Council as secretary of the Herts. Federation, and to the work of the Baptist extension as secretary of the Pioneer Mission. In the early days of his ministry at Littlehampton he initiated and carried through the scheme for erecting the present church. His later years were overshadowed by many sorrows, but his faith in God’s unchanging love and in the eternal verities of the Gospel never faltered. He entered into rest on the 27th March, 1926.”

In his turn he had five children. Harold Worsley Flatt (1885-?). On the 1901 census he was a Clerk in the British Jesuit Society in Hemel Hempstead. In the First World War he enlisted in the R.A.S.C. and was awarded the Military medal. He may have married Julie Best in 1924 in Hampstead.

Frederick Washington Flatt born 1886 had two children.

Cyril Paterson Flatt born 1887 again had two children. I have spoken to both of their descendants and nice people they are. Both had quite large families, but as it concerns living people it’s not for publication here.

Florence May Flatt (born 1890) married Arthur Luke and appears to have had one son – David Flatt.

Finally Douglas Arthur Flatt born 1892 fought in the First World War and was killed in Boulogne. He was awarded the 1914/15 star, the British War medal and the Victory medal. He was in the Army Medical Corps.

The CWGC site says:

Name: FLATT, DOUGLAS ARTHUR
Initials: D A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
Unit Text: 54th Field Amb.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 02/03/1917
Service No: 46511
Additional information: Born at Dunstable, Beds. Son of the Rev. Frederick Joseph and Florence Flatt, of 70, Arundel Rd., Littlehampton.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. A. 199.
Cemetery: BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY

Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August when the Allies were forces to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas. Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de L’Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen. During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940. The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery contains 5,577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War. The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.

OK now on to Frederick’s sister – Martha Mary Flatt. (1860-1944). She never married. However when John William’s wife died bearing Constance, she stepped in and lived with John William and raised the children. She devoted her life to them and was John William’s loyal companion.

Alexander Washington Flatt born 1863, was the next brother of Frederick. He worked for a hosier and married Elizabeth Frances Holmes. They had three children. Leslie Alexander Flatt has no record I can find. Irene Nora Flatt (known as Nora) was known to my mother, as where her two children. Finally Eric Victor Flatt was another casualty in the First World War. He was buried in Rouen. I have his papers from his service from the National Archives and they say the following:

Aged 18y 8m as at 28 March 1916 when enlisting in the 6th (Cyclists) Bn the Royal Sussex Regiment  as Pte 12908. Transferred to 4th Territorial Force Reserve Brigade 10th Infy Base Etaples, France on 23 Sept 1916 Transferred to East Kent Regt 6 October 1916 No 2736. Allowed leave to UK 26 Nov to 10 December 1917. Suffered a gunshot wound to his back on 6/10/1918 and died of these wounds 9 days later.

Left the following to his father: Safety Razor and Blades in case : 2 Pipes & Tobacco pouch : 2 Religious Books : Comb and Nail Clippers : Cap badge : Disc : Photos : 2 Titles : French Dictionary. Eric Victor was awarded the following medals in the war: British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Again from the CWGC site:

Name: FLATT, ERIC VICTOR
Initials: E V
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Unit Text: “D” Coy. 1st Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 15/10/1918
Service No: G/12908
Additional information: Son of Mr. A. W. and Mrs. E. F. Flatt, of 61, Woodlands Rd., Ilford, Essex.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: S. II. B. 4.
Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city. Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920. During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation. The cemetery extension contains 8,346 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

The last son of Joseph was John William Flatt (1866-1941). He married Kate Butt. As my direct ancestor, he was Constance (my grandmother)’s father. He had two children Lily and Constance. I have the following information about John William.

He lived in Forest Gate before they moved to 32 Coventry Road. John was connected with the grocery trade. There are various stories about him:

1) He apparently worked as a rep for Kearley and Tonge who produced “Epicure” brand products of good quality groceries.

2) He seemed to have some connection with Brooke Bond the tea firm. The story I was told was that he was a tea taster and had been on the development of “Brooke Bond Digestive Tea”. This became “Brooke Bond Pre Ges Tee” and later became “Brooke Bond P.G. Tips”. However I wrote to Brooke Bond and they could not confirm this.

“He had a bit of heart trouble and blamed this on being a grocery traveler, by bicycle which had strained his heart. When my grandmother and grandfather got married, John William and his sister moved into the first floor flat at 34 Redcliffe Garden, Ilford.

“During the 1939-45 war an incendiary bomb came through the roof at 34 Redcliffe Gardens. John William dealt with it, but it had a bad effect on his already dicky heart and he died not long after.

The Flatt family playing croquet c 1905.