Like Father Like Lumm Part 2
Corporal Herbert John Lumm Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers
Herbert John Lumm
The Man Herbert John Lumm, known as Bert, was born on 24th March 1914 in West Ham, son of John William and Mary Eliza, nee Gilbey and grew up in Woodford Essex, with his parents at 36 Chingford Lane. He was one of two children, his twin sister dieing whilst very young. Bert began his working life in a garage, later becoming a fitter’s mate, and as a result retained a lifelong interest and fascination in motors, engines and all things mechanical. Following the outbreak of World War II Bert aged 26 enlisted at Taunton into the Royal Artillery with service number 1574212 on 17th June 1940. He was described as 5’.8¾” tall, weighing 124lbs with a 34” chest and pale complexion. He had brown eyes, black hair and his religion was Church of England. He transferred into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps three month later on 20th September 1940, and again into the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers on 1st October 1942. During his service, in line with his civilian career he qualified as a Fitter in 1940 and Vehicle Mechanic in 1943. He served in Italy and was awarded the 1939-45 and Italy Stars, Defence & War Medal 1939-45. Bert married Nellie Julienne, known as Nell, on 5th January 1946 at the Parish Church of St Andrews in Walthamstow. Nell was the eldest daughter of a French lady from Lille, Julia Mathilde Bruchez, who had met and married a British Soldier during World War I, Corporal WR283463 Charles Childes of the Royal Engineers. Four months later on 22nd June, Bert was released from the Army his military conduct being described as exemplary. His Commanding Officer said at his release “Honest, sober and trustworthy. Has an average technical knowledge but makes every endeavour to better himself. A good hard worker who with further experience will become a first class technical man. Has an excellent soldiering record”.
Bert clearly enjoyed the camaraderie during his war service and on 17th March 1949 re-enlisted into the REME Territorial Army as a Craftsman with a new service number 22270479. In early 1950 Bert and Nel had a child Jennifer Ann; he was described as a warm, gregarious and sociable person, who greatly enjoyed the company of others. He would often pop out for a pint of milk, but be gone for some considerable time as he would meet an old friend and end up ‘jawing’ as Nell described it.
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He was also the ‘go to’ man for car repairs, doing much work on vehicles for the love of it and for friends. He was often seen fiddling with broken toasters, lawn mowers or some such, with endless concentration and patience, and had in his garage countless boxes of fittings, screws, washers, jubilee clips, nuts and bolts. Bert continued his service with the TA until at least November 1961 when awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ for 12 years efficient service, and by 1964 was living with his family at 14 Beechwood Drive in Walthamstow. Bert was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather and friend, who always spoke highly of his mother Mary, and in later years when she began suffering dementia following the death of her husband John, she moved in with Bert and Nell where they cared for her in their home until her death in 1960. He was a kind person who would do anything for anybody at any time; enduring the deaths of his daughter Jennifer in 1987 aged only 37 and his wife Nell in 1990, with his usual good grace and incredible bravery, such life changing events might have reduced a lesser man. Bert died at his much loved home in Waltham Forest in August 1994 aged 80, and was described by his granddaughter as a “Truly lovely man; a gentleman in every sense of the word, honest, upright and charming, with a wonderful sense of humour, a greatly loved and enormously missed Father-in-Law and Grandfather”.
The Story please click on John William Lumm for the full story.
Corporal Charles Childe Royal Engineers
Charles Childe
The Man Charles Childe is the Father in Law of Herbert John Lumm. Little detail is know about his life except that he was born in 1894 and in about 1907 aged 13 he stared work with the Midland Railway Company as an Apprentice. On 26th August 1914 Charles enlisted into the Railway Troops Royal Engineers as a Sapper, later promoted to Corporal with service number 40921, later changed to WR283463. He entered France on 19th May 1915 and was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals. He was described as 5’ 67/8” tall, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. During the war Charles met, and married Julia Mathilde Bruchez, who lived in Lille in France. Following the war she returned with him to England, away from her family and all she knew to begin a new life. The had a number of children, the eldest of whom was Nellie Childe, who later went onto marry Herbert John Lumm. Charles was demobilised on 15th November 1919 and transferred to the Army Reserve where he remained until 31st December 1925, before being placed onto Section D Army Reserve until 30th December 1929. Charles retired from the Midland Region British Railways, as it had become, on 17th April 1959 after 52 years service.Charles died during the last quarter of 1967 aged 73 in Hertford.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 2227049 CPL. H.J.LUMM. REME.
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This page last updated 1 Mar 17