Introduction

Lily Amelia Voizey was a talented and confident young woman who made valuable contributions to Hardington School and the local church, as well as helping on her family’s farm. At the age of eighteen, she accepted a responsible position on a remote farm located fourteen miles from home, but unfortunately, events did not unfold as expected.

Birth

Lily Amelia Voizey was born at East Chinnock in 1895, the first of six children born to Thomas and Amelia Voizey.  Her father, Thomas, worked as a saddler, having trained under William Brown, his grandmother’s second husband. Following Brown’s death in 1888, Thomas established his own business.[1] In 1893, he married Amelia Annie Elliott, the daughter of William Elliott, a local dairyman.

Move to Hardington

By 1897, the family had moved to Barry Lane, Hardington, where Thomas combined saddle-making with farming.

Death of a sister

When Lily was about nine years old, her sister, Flora Annie, died on 31 July 1904, due to broncho-pneumonia at the age of two.[2]

Move to Cary’s Farm

In about 1906, her father became the tenant of Cary’s Farm, Hardington, following the departure of Giles Hodges. Lily helped with the dairy work on the farm.

A new job

In February 1914, Frederick Glide of Bushfurlong Farm, Isle Brewers, advertised for a cheesemaker for his 36-cow dairy.[3] Lily, then eighteen years old, applied for the position and was successful.

Illness and death

Tragically, just a few months into her new job, Lily fell ill with enteritis. Her employers sent for her father, who rushed to the farm, but sadly, nothing could be done. The illness led to heart failure, and Lily passed away on 25 June 1914.[4]

Her body was brought back to Hardington for burial on Saturday, 27 June 1914. Along with relatives, the funeral was attended by several prominent local men, including Abraham Genge of Manor Farm, Henry Sandiford of the New Inn, Albert Gatcombe of Lyatts Farm, James Saint Partridge of the Royal Oak Inn, Walter or William White, William Watts the village blacksmith, Frederick Spearing of Rydon Farm and Francis Purchase, the village postmaster or his son. During his sermon the following morning, the Irish curate, Charles Milligan, acknowledged Lily’s contributions to the village as a teacher, deputy-organist and choir member.[5] Notably, on that very morning at 11 o’clock, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, sparking a chain of events that led to the First World War—a war in which Lily’s brother, Harold, tragically lost his life.

References

[1] Western Gazette, 7 February 1890, p.8.

[2] Death certificate of Flora Annie Voizey.

[3] Western Gazette, 6 February 1914, p.8.

[4] Death certificate of Lily Amelia Voizey.

[5] Western Chronicle 3 July 1914 p. 4. Walter White and his brother, William, both kept shops in the village.