Veitch Family in Burnham-on-Crouch

by Paul N Brown

Effie Mary Veitch

My grandmother - Effie Mary Brown (1900-1996) passed on many interesting photographs and heirlooms and these pages relate to the Veitch family and their six years living in Edwardian Burnham-on-Crouch where her father was the Essex town's Head Coastguard. I would be delighted to hear from anyone else who could add to the story and in particular anyone who can identify more people in the old photographs.

I believe the Veitch family arrived at Burnham in Essex in 1904 and stayed until 1912 when John Veitch (1856-1920) retired from Navy Coastguard service and became Landlord of 'The Ostend George', just outside Burnham. The family moved to Dorset (wife Emily's home county) for a while before moving inland to Aldbourne in Wiltshire where they took over The Crown public house. It was in Aldbourne that Effie met my grandfather Clifford Walter Brown (1897-1882). ( A Brown & Goddard Family History )

Edwardian Burnham - Photographs

Click on the photo thumbnail below for a bigger view and to see who is who.

King Edward VII's Memorial Service 1910

Picture taken outside The Temperance Hall.
From front - Chapel Minister , Rev. Gooding (Baptist), Rev. Watson (St. Mary's Vicar), Mr. Mitchell (father), Charlie Mitchell (son), Mr Kirk , Mr Thomas , Mr Hogden , Mr Wright , John Veitch (Effie's father), Percy Veitch , Town Silver Band , Edith Kirk , Emilly Jean Veitch (Effie's older sister), John Veitch (Effie's brother) , Burnham Councillors

St. Mary's Senior Girls Sunday School 1910

Mentioned from centre front - Effie Mary Veitch , Edith Kirk , Edith Coles , Kathlene Harvey , Emilly Jean Veitch (Effie's sister and Sunday School teacher), Muriel Wright , Daisy Dowset , ? Wagstaff , Dorothy Elliot

Coastguard Station and Veitch's home
(1904-1911)

Ten year old Effie and her coastguard father John Veitch can just be seen in the photgraph toward the flagpole.

The Burnham Yacht Building Company 1910

Completion of new motor boat with Mr H.C. Smith (Boss) and John Veitch - Effie's brother killed in 1918 just before the end of the war.

The Coles brothers are possibly included in this group but I do not know who is who. They both may have been killed in the war.

William Veitch at Rayne Station

Not a Burnham photo but shows Effie's brother William Veitch who was a relieving Railway Booking Clerk who travelled to various stations to work.

William migrated to Canada just before The Great War.