The next and final owners of Feirm Bawn had a familial British military history which predated their arrival and even postdated it. Their connection even went all the way up to the Royal Family in more recent times. This blog article will showcase " Lady " Harris's life story in Togher up to her death in 1968 with a nod to her past and a look at the eventual demise of the farm.
Feirm Bawn 1960s
" LADY " HARRIS
" Lady " Harris's mother
Constance Nesham
nee Bedford
Constance Nesham
nee Bedford
To understand " Lady " Harris's story it is necessary to look at her own family history and its origins. Her mother Constance Eliza Nesham ( nee Bedford ) was born in 1846 in Oban , Scotland to a family of " independent means " implying wealth. Her father had been a Captain in the Royal Navy. She married her first husband Isaac Colquhoun in December 1865 but sadly he died soon after in March 1866. She then reverted back to her maiden name of Bedford. She would later go on to marry Thomas Peere Williams Nesham on April 1877 in Paignton , Devon. They had 2 children , a boy Tom jnr. ( born May 2nd 1880 ) and a girl Beatrice ( see below ).
" Lady " Harris
Feirm Bawn 1940s
Beatrice Caroline Nesham was born in Devon in 1882. She grew up in Portsmouth and was later a boarder at the Great Ayton Friend's School in Yorkshire. She had one brother Tom but would not have spent much time with him or her parents due to life as a boarder. The family lived at Belmont Lodge , Belmont Lane/Road , in the Portswood area of Portsmouth amongst other families of Royal Navy officers whilst Thomas snr. was deployed abroad. Today , the old house has been demolished and Ivydene Care Home now occupies the site.
Great Ayton girl's school , Yorkshire
Beatrice's former home ( site of Belmont Lodge )
now Ivydene Care Home , Belmont Lane
now Ivydene Care Home , Belmont Lane
FATHER
Her father , Thomas , retired with the rank of Admiral in 1892. He died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Yarmouth on 1st May , 1900. Below are photographs of the ships he Captained during his service which saw him in action in the Arabian Peninsula , East Africa , Mediterranean and Australia.
Captained by T.P.W. Nesham snr.
1887 - 1890
Captained by T.P.W. Nesham snr.
1890
H.M.S. Tauranga
Captained by T.P.W. Nesham snr.
1891 - 1892
Captained by T.P.W. Nesham snr.
1891 - 1892
BROTHER
Her brother , Thomas jnr. died at Tweesbosch in the Transvaal Republic ( later merged into the new Union of South Africa in 1910 ) on 7th March , 1902. He had only joined the Armed Forces in 1898. He was the leader of a group of heavy guns during a battle in the Boer War and being ordered to retreat steadfastly refused to leave , instead bravely continuing to man his guns against enemy forces and died as a result. He famously uttered " I'd rather die than surrender! " He was just 21 years of age. He was posthumously cited for the V.C. for his courage though this was never awarded. He is buried in Ottosdal Cemetery in South Africa. A brass memorial lectern commissioned by his mother Constance is dedicated to him at Highfield Church in Southampton not far from their old home , Belmont Lodge ( see above ). He was also listed on a Boer War memorial erected on The Mall , London circa 1910 ( see below ).
Lt. T.P.W. Nesham
" Lady " Harris's brother
Map from 1902 showing Transvaal Republic
where Tweesbosch was located
" Lady " Harris's brother
where Tweesbosch was located
Lectern at Highfield church , Southampton
Highfield church , Southampton
Boer War memorial , The Mall , London
Lt. T.P.W. Nesham
Inscription on pillar placue
Inscription on pillar placue
Ottosdal cemetery , South Africa
HUSBAND
Her mother , Constance , would pass away herself in 1936 at the ripe old age of 90. Not much is known of Beatrice's life as a young woman but one fact was certain. She went on to marry one Major John James Fitzgerald Harris whose family were primarily based in Tralee , Kerry. His own father had been the Prison Governor in Tralee.
O.B.E Medal
Kimberley showgrounds circa 1915
British Army training facility
British Army training facility
Kimberley showgrounds as seen today
Left of stadium
Left of stadium
Map of Union of South Africa circa 1910
*Note : Kimberley where Major Harris' daughter
Annabel was born in 1915
*Note : Kimberley where Major Harris' daughter
Annabel was born in 1915
Modern aerial view of Kimberley
site of several diamond mines
site of several diamond mines
Undoubtedly , he would have moved between bases in Ireland and England at the time. He spent a great deal of his military service abroad and served with the South African Infantry , 1st Regiment during the Boer War 1899 - 1903. It was whilst stationed in England that he would have been introduced to Beatrice and they were married on 22nd January 1912 in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State (OFS), South Africa at St. Andrew & St. Michael Anglican church , where 10 years earlier a famous author had been baptised ( see below ).
St. Andrew & St. Michael Anglican church
( Photo : Pascal Burger )
Interior of church
( Photo : Pascal Burger )
Famous author J.R.R Tolkien
baptised at same church!
( Photo : Pascal Burger )
( Photo : Pascal Burger )
baptised at same church!
( Photo : Pascal Burger )
He spent much of the First World War stationed in South Africa ( it was here that his first daughter Annabel was born - see below ) fighting in German South West Africa , Egypt and later on return to England at Ypres and Passchendale in France.
Major John James Fitzgerald Harris death cert
Major John James Fitzgerald Harris' grave
*Note Beatrice's tombstone on right
*Note Beatrice's tombstone on right
Following his units dispatch to England and thence onto France , Beatrice gave birth to another daughter Rosaleen in England in 1916 ( see below ) as determined by his posting at the time. He survived the First World War ( and was duly awarded an O.B.E. ) Following his discharge from the Armed Forces circa 1919 , he passed away a short while later from an abominable tumour as a result of his war service on 21st January 1920. He was buried in the family plot in Annagh graveyard in Tralee , Co. Kerry. Beatrice made the decision most likely to be near her husbands grave to move the family from Headley , Hants. to Ireland. Plans were put in motion and in mid 1920 they relocated to a small farm in Doughcloyne , Togher which was advertised for sale by the Phairs.
Feirm Bawn in its heyday
( Photo : Katie Rowland )
( Photo : Katie Rowland )
" Lady " Harris circa 1960s
FEIRM BAWN
Beatrice , an Englishwoman by birth was now left a widow with 2 young daughters in an Ireland enveloped in the War of Independence ( 1919 -1921 ) and soon thereafter the Civil War ( 1922 - 23 ). She knew all too well about the casualties of war , having lost her father , brother and husband to it. Beatrice must have endeared herself to the local community as like the Sarsfields ( A nearby family also of English heritage ) , they were left unscathed by the Republican Forces. Having been raised as Church of England she had earlier converted to Catholicism.
Rosaleen and Annabel - Feirm Bawn mid 1920s
*Ai enhanced image
*Ai enhanced image
It was because of her upper class English accent that locals took to referring to her as " Lady " Harris , though in truth she held no such title although she came from a wealthy background. Her two daughters , Rosaleen and Annabel were allowed to have a carefree childhood and they befriended many local children. Beatrice
would hold parties for the local community in her house and she was
legendary for her ice cream which amazed locals as they pondered on how she kept it frozen. Initially she and her 2
daughters occupied the 2 cottages ( see below ) which covered 6 rooms.
Rosaleen & Anabelle 1920s
*Note original separated cottages in background
*Note original separated cottages in background
1926 Census
1926 Census Returns
In the 1930s she had the 2 cottages on her land conjoined and later on had an upper story added. This higgledy piggledy appearance of the house only added to its charm. Local man James Roche assisted builder Jim Long in the extension of the house. It was during the Second World War , that Beatrice would see her 2 daughters leave for England and join the Armed Forces. After the War they settled down permanently ( see below ) in England. Beatrice would rent out one half of her house which had a separate entrance and live in the other half alone.
Annagh cemetery , Tralee , Co. Kerry
" Lady " Harris was a much loved character in Togher and local legend has it that when the Forge at Togher Cross was demolished in the early 1960s that she had the stone repurposed for her garden wall which survived up to the houses demolition in 2014. Her daughter Annabel who remained single all of her life would continue to visit her mother at Feirm Bawn for summer holidays over the course of the years and after her mother's passing on 16th November , 1968 would still visit to ensure the upkeep of the house. " Lady " Harris is buried with her husband at Annagh graveyard in Tralee , Co. Kerry.
Annabel Fitzgerald Harris
Annabel Fitzgerald Harris
Bus outside Togher National school early 1930s
both Annabel and Rosaleen were pupils
Sacred Heart Convent , Brussels , Belgium
University College Cork
Entrance Gates
both Annabel and Rosaleen were pupils
Entrance Gates
Annabel was born on 29th April , 1915 in Kimberley , South Africa where her father was stationed. It was the custom of the time that families traveled with the troops. Like her sister she would spend her childhood at Feirm Bawn from 1920 onward and attend Togher National School where she learnt to read Irish. She , like her younger sister Rosaleen , would have spent their secondary education as boarders at the Sacred Heart Convent in Brussels , Belgium where both learnt French fluently and were tutored on European history and social etiquette. Undoubtedly , she would have attended U.C.C. for a short time before leaving for England at the outbreak of war and serving in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force ( WAAF ).
Annabel during World War II
City of Cologne , Germany 1945
Annabel would have served nearby
Annabel would have served nearby
Annabel 1950s
She also worked for the Foreign Office in London and in Embassies abroad including Vienna and Athens. She was based in Germany after the war in Wahm near Cologne. She also worked for the Anglo-Egyptian Oilfields Company (AEO) primarily undertaking intelligence work. This ceased when British control shifted back to Egypt when they nationalized the oil industry in 1964. She never married and would frequently come home to Feirm Bawn in the summer to visit her mother Beatrice. She passed away on 4th January 2003.
Anglo-Egyptian Oilfields company share cert
Anglo Egyptian Oilfields HQ located here
Rosaleen Fitzgerald Harris
Rosaleen Elizabeth Fitzgerald Harris was born on 9th September 1916 in Southampton , England. At the young age of 4 and like her sister Annabel, she would have traveled with their mother Beatrice to Togher after they purchased Feirm Bawn in 1920. The sisters quickly befriended many local children even attending Togher National School where she learnt to read Irish. Like her sister Annabel she would undergo her Secondary Education at the Sacred Heart Convent in Brussels in Belgium in 1933.
( It is thought she also spent some time at Taylor's School for Girls in Galway - *T.B.C. ) Upon finishing her secondary school education at Sacred Heart Convent , Brussels , she returned to take up a degree in U.C.C. , Cork City. She never finished her degree as of 1939 she returned to England to join the Armed Forces at the outbreak of World War 2.
WRNS recruit video 1941
Acting 3rd Officer WRNS
World War II
World War II
Throughout WW2 she was a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service or WRNS ( a.k.a. Wrens ) and was promoted to Acting 3rd Officer on 20th December 1943. She was involved in the Intelligence Corps and was initially stationed at Rosyth Naval Dockyard in Scotland , where Royal Navy warships were constructed. She then moved to Clyde , again in Scotland where the Royal Navy had just completed a major shore base which patrolled the North Channel.
Wren Officer passing secret document
to dispatch rider at Clyde
to dispatch rider at Clyde
Wren telegraphist sending Morse code at Clyde
Secret signals being decoded by Wren Officers at Clyde
She had also served at Simon's Town in South Africa ( ironically the country where her Father , Uncle , Mother and Sister had once been ) which was a major Royal Navy vessel repair hub. It was from here that Rosaleen and her fellow colleagues of the WRNS who worked as cyphers and decoders were instrumental in the sinking of the famous German warship the Graf Spee.
Simon's Town Naval base WW2
Graf Spee 17th December 1939
This ship was a thorn in the sides of Allied Naval troops in the Atlantic. By intercepting the German naval codes , they were able to track her location. After suffering heavily at the Battle of the River Plate where her fuel systems were essentially crippled by intercepting British warships who themselves had to retreat due to heavy damage she docked at Montevideo , Uruguay for urgent repairs. However , WRNS cyphers had already sent coded messages out knowing the Germans would intercept them including most crucially the Captain of the Graf Spee , Hans Langsdorff who was fooled into thinking a large armada was awaiting them offshore. Not wanting his ship to fall into enemy hands he ordered the scuttling of the Graf Spee. He himself committed suicide 2 days later. After the war , Rosaleen was transferred to the Mediterranean where she worked with displaced persons.
King David Hotel , Jerusalem
aftermath of bomb
aftermath of bomb
She was finally moved to the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946 which housed the British Military Intelligence headquarters. This was the central hub for command of Palestine at the time. However , a Jewish terrorist cell , known as the IRGUN , planted a bomb which almost destroyed the entire building. Many WRNS personnel were badly injured or killed in the ensuing blast which ripped though the hotel. As a result , the British Authorities handed over control of Palestine to the United Nations. Rosaleen then retired from active service and returned to England. She would have visited her mother Beatrice in Togher on a number of occasions. Like most retired WRNS Officers , she used her organizational and logistical skills to transition into the booming " Rag Trade " which took off when the acquisition of fabrics was no longer a problem. This would stand her in good stead many years later in the creation of a famous dress ( see below ).
In April 1954 , at the age of 38 she married one Francis Benjamin Oliver Slocock ( known as Frank ) in Richmond , Surrey and lived in Hale initially and then the nearby village of Altrincham until 1970, when they moved with Gerald and Caroline to Silverwood , Manor Park , Burley-in-Wharfedale , West Yorkshire. Frank had also served in WW2 having been commissioned into the Armed Forces as a 2nd Lt. on 29th August 1939 and was in the Royal Engineers ( Sapper ). They had a son Gerald born on July 1955 and daughter Caroline born on January 1957. Frank passed away on 1st January 1992. Rosaleen herself passed away in 1993.
Lady Diana's Wedding Dress
Caroline & Gerald
Perhaps one of the most surprising revelations is the fact that Beatrice's daughter Rosaleen and her grandchildren , Gerald and Caroline were involved to a great degree in the making of Lady Diana's Wedding Dress! Caroline , Rosaleen's daughter , having graduated from St. Martin's School of Art , was involved in the fashion industry and was personal assistant to the House of Emanuel. The company was picked to design and create the Royal Wedding Dress for Lady Diana in 1981. Due to the security pressures around the event , family members who could be trusted not to speak to the press were drafted in , including Caroline's mother Rosaleen.
Caroline Slocock
" Lady " Harris's granddaughter
" Lady " Harris's granddaughter
Gerald Slocock
" Lady " Harris's grandson
" Lady " Harris's grandson
To avoid media leaks the dress was transported in a van and personally delivered to Diana by Caroline's brother Gerald. Caroline was invited to the Wedding thereafter. Gerald personally drove her to St. Paul's cathedral himself. She would go on to deal with other high profile clients including Faye Dunaway and Sigourney Weaver. Caroline most recently has turned her hand to writing and lyricism , including a musical about Ruth Ellis , the last woman to be hanged in Britain. Gerald is involved in the finance sector.
Ruth Ellis trailer
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In 1995 , Gerald and Caroline , sole heirs to Feirm Bawn , decided to sell the land and property to Bradley Bros. builders as it was deemed too expensive to refurbish. Thus ended over 70 years of the Harris legacy in Togher. Fernwood housing scheme was built soon after and finally in 2013 , following years of neglect and vandalism , the titular Feirm Bawn house was demolished and in its place arose a 5 house enclave named appropriately enough - Feirm Bawn. 
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
W.A. Hill ( Genealogist research )
Gerald Slocock
Caroline Slocock
https://www.nam.ac.uk
https://www.cwgc.org
https://www.visitwintertuin.be
https://omniatlas.com/maps/sub-saharan-africa
W.A. Hill ( Genealogist research )
Gerald Slocock
Caroline Slocock
https://www.nam.ac.uk
https://www.cwgc.org
https://www.visitwintertuin.be
https://omniatlas.com/maps/sub-saharan-africa
https://www.kerrylibrary.ie
https://www.findagrave.com
https://marinerguesthouse.co.za/simons-town-during-world-war-ii/
https://www.commsmuseum.co.uk
“This work includes content from records of the 1926 Census of Ireland, made available by the National Archives of Ireland under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
https://marinerguesthouse.co.za/simons-town-during-world-war-ii/
https://www.commsmuseum.co.uk
“This work includes content from records of the 1926 Census of Ireland, made available by the National Archives of Ireland under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
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