In this special Podcasthon episode, we’re going to be exploring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Therefore, this episode may not be suitable for some listeners. Listen with discretion.

In this Season Ten special Podcasthon episode ‘The Captured’, host Andrew Martin is joined by genealogist and blogger Natalie Mayhew to hear all about her research, her passion for blogging her family’s history, how she got hooked on researching, and her love of old newspapers.

Listen to the episode

Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and others…

The Life Story – Ted Mayhew

In this part of the show, Natalie tells the story of her Great Uncle Ted Mayhew, and to help us navigate this part of the episode, we’re joined by Prof. Walter Busuttil – Consultant Psychiatrist and Honorary Advisor to the Board at Combat Stress. Walter served for 16 years in the Royal Air Force, where he trained as a psychiatrist qualifying as a consultant. He was instrumental in the setting up of PTSD mental health rehabilitation programmes designed for servicemen returning from the first Gulf War, and he was also part of the clinical team that rehabilitated the released British hostages in Beirut.

Ted was amongst the many captured by the Germans at Dunkirk and he became a Prisoner of War (PoW), incarcerated in camps for almost 5 years. During this time, conditions were dreadful, and eventually as the Russians approached the camps, the Germans forced thousands to march for weeks – with those unable to keep up facing death.

When he was liberated, Ted was sent home to recouperate, but his parents had moved due to their house being bombed, and he was still an active soldier. With war still raging in the far east, he was likely to find himself back on the front line despite the traumatic events he’d already barely survived.

Natalie’s research has uncovered an incredible story, and it’s therefore understandable that it had a huge impact on Ted afterwards. She has written his life story in great detail at her blog.

The Brick Wall – Mary Ann Cooper

Natalie has found researching her maternal 3x Great Grandmother, Mary Ann Cooper, a challenge and therefore she’s hoping that you can help her make a breakthrough.

Natalie knows that she was baptised on 5th May 1820 at St. Mary’s Church at Portsea, Portsea Island, Hampshire, England. Her parents are given as George and Mary Cooper. In June 1821, a George Cooper, with the same parents appears in the same parish register too, by now living in Buckland.

Fast-forward to St. Mary’s Church in Portsea in June 1840, and a George Cooper is baptised on 21st June, with the parents Isaac and Mary Cooper… except that on further investigation, the birth certificate reveals that George’s mother was Mary Cooper, an unemployed woman, and his father is not noted. Also, George was born in Stamshaw House – a small privately funded mental hospital for ‘females of unsound mind’.

What Natalie doesn’t know, is whether Mary was a patient there, an employee, or just happened to be there when George was born.

In 1841, at Hayling South, Mary married Isaac Dibbin, and George became known as George Cooper Dibbin. Backing this up, Natalie has found a connection via this Dibbin connection.

• Can you find the correct Mary Ann Cooper on the 1841 census?
• What was she doing at Stamshaw House when George was born there in 1840?

If you think that you can help Natalie smash through that brick wall with a research idea or clue to, then you can send her a message at her blog Funny Where Life Takes You… or via her Bluesky account alternatively, you can send us a message and we’ll pass it along to her.

In the meantime, Andrew offers his help, but Natalie appears to know more than he expected…

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Episode Credits

• Andrew Martin – Host and Producer
• Natalie Mayhew – Guest
• Prof. Walter Busuttil – Guest
• Conor Walsh – PR Lead (Combat Stress)