1917 Kate GEBHARD is married to Ernest FRANKLIN in Aston District.
1918 English women get the right to vote.
First World War ends.
1920 Martin James GEBHARD and his family (including my grandfather Jim aged nearly 13) live at 4, Court 14, Bracebridge Street, Aston (Electoral Roll). Polly PEARSON aged 8 still lives at 7, St. Helens Place, Church Lane, Aston; her mother Mary Elizabeth (nee MCDONALD) was almost certainly dumb and possibly deaf too. My PEARSON line goes back to Plumtree in Nottingham.
1921 On Saturday the 14th of May Johann Martin GEBHARD ("Martin") dies aged 68 (my Great Great Grandfather). He is buried at St. Barnabas, Erdington; at the time of his death his eldest son Martin James GEBHARD is 41 years of age and his youngest son Edward Valentine GEBHARD is only 15.
There are two million unemployed in Britain.
1923 On the 27th of January Clifford GEBHARD (son of Martin Gebhard and Alice Maud) dies at the age of 39 in Leicester.
1924 The widowed Alice Maud GEBHARD is married to John G. BROOKS (she got married for the second time at St. Saviours Saltley); later in the year Alice Maud BROOKS (formerly GEBHARD nee GRETTON) dies aged 64.
The first talking pictures are released.
1928 Edna GEBHARD born (youngest child of Martin James GEBHARD and Eva).
Penicillin is discovered.
1929 Jean Edna May GEBHARD (now Jean ALEXANDER) is born, daughter of John Gretton GEBHARD (he was an 18 year younger brother of Martin James GEBHARD).
1930 Clifford James GEBHARD (my uncle) was born on Tuesday the 18th of February.
1931 Roy Albert GEBHARD (my father) was born on Monday the 27th of July in Heathfield Road Hospital. Joan GEBHARD is born on the 29th of May in the North London Hospital (daughter of Edward Valentine GEBHARD and Lilian RALPH).
1932 There are three million unemployed people in Britain.
The infamous Body Line Test Cricket series takes place in Australia.
1933 Cynthia PRITCHARD (my mother) was born on Thursday the 13th of July at 171, Devonshire Street, Winson Green (mum’s parents were George PRITCHARD and Rose GODWIN; my PRITCHARD line comes from Brierley Hill in the black country, Holly Hall in Worcestershire and Wellington in Shropshire; my GODWIN line starts from at least 1650 in Stafford , mainly Cordwainers).
Gerald GEBHARD (my uncle) was born on Thursday the 21st of December.
1934 On the 1st of June Lischen Marion Gebhard SMITH (nee Islip & Johann Jacob Gebhard’s niece) dies aged 86 at 43 Caerau Road, Newport, Monmouthshire. She is buried at St. Nicholas, Kings Norton. In her will her effects go to her daughter Matilda Lischen SMITH; (my grandfather would have been 27 years old when Lischen Marion died and my great grandfather would have been 55 years old).
1935 Martin James GEBHARD was born on Wednesday the 8th of May at the Gate Inn, Saltley (son of Howard GEBHARD and his second wife Quilla CAUSIER – she was born in 1902 in Birmingham). On the 30th of May Alice GEBHARD marries George Henry MARKLAND.
Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister.
1936 Frederick GEBHARD (brother of my great grandfather Martin James GEBHARD) dies at the age of 56. My dad Roy GEBHARD commences his schooling at Peckham Road School Kingstanding.
The first continuous television service commences.
King Edward VIII abdicates.
1937 The Coronation of King George VI.
1939 My Grandfather "Jim" GEBHARD joins the 51st Highland Regiment and when later they became attached to the 8th Army he would see active service in the desert. Approximately 75,000 Birmingham schoolchildren were eventually evacuated including my dad Roy and his brothers Clifford and Gerald – they were sent to Ironville which sits on the borders of Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire.
Great Britain and France declare war on Germany, 3rd September.
1940 On the 8th of August the first air-raid hits Birmingham – on Erdington.
1941 The census is not taken due to the war.
1942 My dad passes his exams to go to King Edwards Grammar in Aston.
Battle of El Alamein, 23rd October to 4th November.
1943 The Allies win in North Africa.
1944 On the 14th of June James Andrew GEBHARD is born (son of Arthur Claude Gebhard and Ann DRUMMOND) at 3, Gwalia Grove Erdington.
1945 The War in Europe ends in May.
War in the Far East ends in August.