(click on pictures for a bigger image)

Ernest Stratford became stepfather to Victor Avery, age 6. The photo above was probably taken when Ernest joined the army, most likely in 1915.

Kathleen Ruth apparently born in Chapel Street, Downley, which is probably where these photos were taken.

Kathleen, middle row, third from left, apparently in a 'Mummers Play', in the early 1920s

Caroline, middle row, centre, with the Downley Choral Society, probably around 1930

Caroline in costume (on the right), for a local drama group.

Kathleen (in the wider hat) with her cousin Vera Lewis . . .

. . . and some unknown men in the 1930s.

Kathleen, probably 1930s

Victor and Ethel in the 1970s or 80s, at a wedding anniversary.

Births Jun 1905 - Avery Victor Wycombe 3a 924 - Caroline's son, father unknown.
1905 Birth in the Sub-district of Wycombe in the County of Buckingham
Fifth March 1905, Downley, West Wycombe RD.
Victor, boy, -- , Caroline Avery, domestic servant.
Caroline Avery, mother, Downley, West Wycombe, Seventh April 1905, William Guy, registrar. (certificate right)

1905 birth - Name: Buchanan, Ethel Ann; Quarter: September ; District: Wycombe ; Volume: 3a Page: 941

1911 Census
AVERY HENRY M 1842 69 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
AVERY ELIZA F 1851 60 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
AVERY ROBERT M 1883 28 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
AVERY CAROLINE F 1887 24 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
AVERY EDWIN M 1888 23 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
AVERY SARAH F 1893 18 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
AVERY WALTER M 1895 16 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
AVERY VICTOR M 1905 6 Wycombe Buckinghamshire

1911 Census
STRATFORD MARY F 1855 56 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
STRATFORD EARNEST CLARLES M 1895 16 Wycombe Buckinghamshire
- Ernest was b.1883, age 28!

1911 marriage - Caroline Avery, Ernest C. Stratford, Wycombe Dec. 3a 1740
1911 Marriage Solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of West Wycombe in the County of Buckingham.
Nov. 25 1911
Ernest Charles Stratford, 28, Bachelor, Decorator, Downley West Wycombe, Charles Stratford (deceased), Chair polisher
Caroline Avery, 25, Spinster, -- , Downley West Wycombe, Henry Avery, Cowman
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me, Raymond Townsend
This marriage solemnized between us, Ernest Charles Stratford, Caroline Avery, in the presence of us, William Lewis, Sarah Avery (certificate right)

1916 birth Kathleen Ruth Stratford, Wycombe, Jun, 3a 1856
Birth certificate (right):
1916 Birth in the Sub-district of Wycombe in the County of Buckingham
Fourteenth April 1916, Downley, West Wycombe RD.
Kathleen Ruth, girl, Ernest Charles Stratford, Caroline Stratford formerly Avery, House painter & decorator.
E. C. Stratford, father, Downley, West Wycombe, Twenty ninth April 1916, A. J. Lee, Deputy Registrar

1930 marriage: Victor Avery and Ethel Buchannan, Wycombe Dec. 3a 2391 (cert right)
1930 Marriage solemnized at The Parish Church in the Parish of High Wycombe in the County of Buckingham
Oct. 25th 1930
Victor Douglas Avery, 25, Bachelor, Painter, Downley West Wycombe, father --
Ethel Ann Buchannnan, 25, Spinster, --, 49 Oxford St., father: Albert Buchannan (Dec.) Polisher.
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me, J. Stuart, Asst. Curate.
This marriage was solemnized between us Victor Douglas Avery, Ethel Ann Buchannan, in the presence of us John Thomas Gamester, Percy Gilbert Jones.

'The Haven' in Plomer Green Lane (1), built to Caroline's design. probably in the 1930s. (photo 2005) Click for more scenes of Downley.

Below: Margate, probably summer 1939, just before the war broke out in September. Kathleen, 2nd left at the top, with her boyfriend/fiance Arthur Jemmett (they married July 1940); Kath's cousin Vera Lewis and her boyfriend/fiance Keith Morriss (also married 1940) and two unknown friends of Vera's:

l-r: Arthur, u/k, Keith	l-r: Vera, Kath, u/k

1940 - Kathleen married Arthur Jemmett, marriage certificate gives Ernest as 'House Decorator'. Caroline is believed to have been a midwife, but not known when or for how long. Kath continued living at The Haven while Arthur was away during world war 2.

1945 - Arthur returned and moved into The Haven

1948 - granddaughter, Hazel, born.

1949 - Arthur and Kath moved into a council house at 15, Plomer Green Avenue, Downley.

1964 - Caroline died. GRO: 1964 Jun. Wycombe 6a 461 age 79
Arthur, Kath and Hazel moved back to The Haven with Ernest.

1969 - Ernest died November, Amersham, Bucks
GRO: Ernest Charles 1969 Dec. dob: 20 Oct 1883, Amersham 6a 811

1992 November - Victor Douglas Avery died in Wycombe
1994 June - Ethel Ann Avery, nee Buchanan, died in Wycombe

For more living descendents:

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Victor Avery birth cert. 1905

Ernest & Caroline marriage cert. 1911

Kathleen Stratford birth cert. 1916

The army group has a board reading: '9th Gloster Pioneers, Leichlingen, Germany. June 16, 1918 (or 1919)'. Ernest is 2nd from the left.

Kathleen in Brownies uniform, probably outside the cottage in Chapel Street, mid-1920s.

Vic & Ethel marriage 1930

Caroline in another costume (under the banner) on Downley Common, possibly a Jubilee event. Both probably 1930s.

Kathleen in the 1930s

Kathleen Stratford (left) and Katie Jemmet, probably late 1930s before they both married.

Caroline, front right, probably from 1950s, circumstances unkown.

Ernest age 80, with granddaughter, Hazel age 16, September 1964, Cliftonville.