This is an update on a lady I wrote about in 2014.

Just before I went off on my holiday I had a message from a lovely chap called Phil about an old photo of a baby that was named and I had written about way back in September 2014. Her name was Dorothy Gertrude Chalmers.

“Hello, Lynn. I originate from Southport and am reading a book on MI5 during WW1. It tells of a young lady called Dorothy Gertrude Chalmers 69 Leyland Rd, Southport coming to their attention for writing to personel she didn’t know on warships she was suspected of being a German spy. MI5 got the Chief Constable of Southport to check her out and he reported she was being foolish. I guess she was bored having nothing to do“.

I was intrigued so I messaged Phil back and we exchanged emails and he sent me some pictures of the book and relevant pages he had mentioned, how fascinating!

More from Phil: “I’ve had a look on Google Maps and I think the original house has been knocked down and 2 houses built on the plot. I have also had a look on Ancestry UK, her dad was a chartered accountant. He might have worked in Liverpool as the house is less than a 10 minute walk to Southport station and they had a good electric commuter service to the centre of Liverpool.

Do you think her mum & dad married? They kept different surnames!” To answer Phil’s question, yes they did marry in 1890 and you can find the record on Ancestry, Find My Past (Free without a subscription)Screenshot below, and also on Family Search where everything is wonderfully FREE!

Here’s the direct link to my original Blog about Dorothy Gertrude if you haven’t read it: Dorothy Gertrude Chalmers Blog

It still amazes me that I have people commenting or emailing me after searching for a name on Google years after I have written about them, I am very grateful to Phil for making contact, thanks so much Phil.

Till next time then……