Author of mystery 100-year-old journal identified by readers

The book was found behind a set of drawers at South Staffordshire College's Lichfield campus.

Claire Pinder-Smith, work-experience co-ordinator at the college, said the earliest entry dated back to 1898, although most of them seem to have been made during the early years of the First World War. Inside the book is the dedication 'To Gwen Bushill, on her first birthday, from Dad'.

The book also contains the badge of the South Lancashire Regiment, 55th Division, and a signature from Pte E Thompson of the 1/4 South Staffordshire Regiment, dated June 30, 1918. Another signature appears to read 'Ernest Luckwell Lieut, 11th Earl Lancs.

More details have been available after the book's discovery was highlighted by the Express & Star.

Research by Tipton historian Andy Johnson and college governor Andrew Elsby-Smith both identified Gwen as Gwendoline Bushill, born on May 16, 1900 in Handsworth. Mr Elsby-Smith, confirmed her identity through a copy of the 1911 census form, filled in by her father Joseph Henry Bushill in handwriting similar to that used it the book. The census shows Mr Bushill as being aged 42 in 1911, while his wife Sarah was 39. The couple also had a son Henry, who was born 1904.

Another clue came through the picture of the house in the book, which was identified by Mr Johnson, Mr Elsby-Smith and also by Lichfield reader Julie Walton-Butler as Burcot Grange girl's school in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield.

Mr Elsby-Smith believes Gwen was most likely a pupil of the school, as the corner of the page had been signed by headmistress Elizabeth Preston. The building is now a retirement home.

Mrs Walton-Butler says she is in possession of a similar book, which belonged to her great grandparents.

"This was the autograph book of its day, which like the one found would be illustrated by friends and family with the most beautiful drawings and watercolours," she said.

Mr Elsby-Smith reveals that Gwen Bushill married John Turville Ross, known as Jack, in 1933, but Jack died just 15 years later, and the couple had no children.

"They lived and she continued to live at 70, Goldiesly Road, Sutton Coldfield until her death on July 25, 1979," he said. "Gwen left her estate to her brother Henry. She is buried as is her father in Sutton Coldfield Cemetery."

Mr Johnson managed to dig out a photograph of Gwen and her husband Jack. His research found that while in 1901 she lived with her parents at 99, Crompton Road, Handsworth, by 1911 the family had moved to the more affluent White House, Birmingham Road, Wylde Green after her father had been promoted to the role of electro-plating manager.

The book also contains the badge of the South Lancashire Regiment, 55th Division, and a signature from Pte E Thompson of the 1/4 South Staffordshire Regiment, dated June 30, 1918. Another signature appears to read 'Ernest Luckwell Lieut, 11th Earl Lancs.

Given that Gwen would have been in her teens by the time of the First World War, it is likely these messages would have been from her friends. Mr Johnson says references to the '11th Earl Lancs' was probably the 11th East Lancs regiment, better, known as The Accrington Pals.

The one anomaly in the research is the entry dated 1898, two years before Gwen was born. Presumably, her father had been started keeping the record before her birth, and later decided to hand it down to her.

The information gives us more knowledge about the book's original owner was then, but who would have brought it into the college?

Mr Elsby-Smith says that Gwen's brother Henry married Molly Maude Stuart Stephenson in 1930, and they lived at 128 Walsall Road, Lichfield.

Henry, who worked as a master silversmith, lived until 1991, while Molly died in 1999. The couple, who remained in Lichfield until their deaths, had two children, Roger Reginald Stuart Bushell, who was born in 1942, and Nicole Stuart Bushell (date unknown).

Roger married Angela Madeleine Smith in 1967, and had two children, Fiona Helen Stuart Bushell, born 1969 and Simon Andrew Stuart Bushell born in 1971. Both there children were born in Crewe, and Roger Bushell was recorded as living in Sandbach in the 1990s.

Nicole married Denis Murphy in 1966 in London, and they had three children: Tracey, born 1966, Paul, born 1967 and Amanda, born 1969, and the family was later recorded as living in Chiswick.

While the Murphys and the Bushells are Gwen's nearest blood relatives, Mr Elsby-Smith believes it is more likely that the book was brought into the college by a member of Jack's side of the family.

Jack's sister Hilda, born in 1898, married Cyril Wood, and they remained in the Sutton Coldfield until their deaths. Their son John, born in 1926, married Edna Ladbury in 1955, and are known to have had children.

While he hasn't been able to find their names, Mr Elsby-Smith believes it may be them who took the book into the college.