1913 to 1920

Just out of wedlock and just before the First World War Jack William Woolgar was was born on 15th September 1913 in Long Ditton, Surrey. The first of three children. His father, a journeyman joiner, also called Jack was absent from home for large parts of his early years serving in the Great War. Reputedly driving his horse drawn food wagon around France behind German lines - this story is one of many the storytelling Jack would later recount and embellish on every outing, his father, eventually in the tale, went on to feed many of the German troops. A tall tale?  Jack senior, who served in the Royal Field Artillery, did however get gassed at least twice and a photograph of him shows his bloated face as a result of being gassed. This didn't stop him fathering other children on his leaves home, a daughter Eileen Maude in 1915 and then siring another son, named Roy Francis when on leave from Rouy in France.. This again may be a tall tale as a little research shows Roy to have been born in 1920 well after any leave from the war and Rouy is a long way down France well out of any military areas!

Jack junior's war was, from what I recall from his tales, one of siting under tables during air-raids and living in a matriarchal world. He recalled being terrified by the huge Zeppelin airships that flew over London. His mother Maud may have been instrumental in this terror as she always seemed a very superstitious woman and prone to over reaction and over protection. Jack had a bad chest and was permanently in a woollen vest plastered with a liniment or embrocation. A manifestation of her over protection.

 

His schooling began in the local village school in Tolworth attending St Marks C of E and during that time gaining some school prizes for reading.

 

He was very proud of his working class and humble roots but was always a self educationalist recognising the need for mental self improvement and where it could lead.