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EVA FORSDICK

Civilian

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Summary 

Eva worked in a parachute factory before she met and married Walter Forsdick. They were known to be very happy together until he died from a burst appendix in his forties

Place and date of birth

Lived in Southend

Connection to Southend 

EVA FORSDICK

Story

When Eva died in 2005 her will requested that her body should be buried with her mother, father and husband. Eva’s mother, Alice Bertha Rice was born in Paglesham in Essex in the 1870s. Alice went to school in Paglesham and when she left at the age of 12 she went to work as a housemaid. She later worked for a doctor’s family who holidayed in the Isle of Wight and that was where she met Austin Guy, who worked in the large gardens on the island.

They married and settled in the Isle of Wight. They had three children, two sons and one daughter, Edward, George and Eva. Edward died before his second birthday and around this time we know the family moved to Southend-on-Sea.

As children, Eva and George were very close. George was described as a quiet and serious boy and it must have come as a great shock when he decided to enlist for the Isle of Wight Regiment shortly after the outbreak of World War I. At the young age of 16, George was killed in the Gallipoli Campaign. Alice and Eva grieved for the rest of their lives.

Eva worked in a parachute factory before she met and married Walter Forsdick. They were known to be very happy together until he died from a burst appendix in his forties. Eva is possibly the oldest person buried in North Road, dying just before her 104th Birthday. Eva was devoutly religious, a marvellous vegetable grower and even until she was quite elderly loved to cycle around the town.

Eva Forsdick is the oldest person buried in North Road Burial Ground. She was witness to great change, including both World Wars where she sadly lost her beloved older brother at the age of sixteen. Eva is remembered by Peter and Jacqueline Mills (Eva was Peter’s Aunt)

Given to us by Peter and Jacqueline Mills

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