Perhaps we shouldn’t really have this photo in Market Lavington Museum for Reg was born in Devizes and moved to West Lavington with his family when he was less than ten years old. His father was postmaster and grocer at Littleton Panell. Reg followed in father’s footsteps, and no doubt took plenty of his own for he became a postman.
However, it looks as though Reg signed up for military service during World War One for here we have him in a typical posed picture.
Reg Hillier – Christmas 1915
And it looks as though Reg used this as his Christmas Card 100 years ago in 1915.
We don’t actually know much about Reg, but as we celebrate Christmas 2015, we might remember that 100 years ago things were very different.
Market Lavington Museum 
October 15, 2017 at 5:13 pm |
This is a photo of my Great Uncle Reginald Charles Hillier, known as ‘Uncle Reg’ in the family. His father Edward Hart Hillier was the postmaster, grocer and shopkeeper in Littleton Pannell. We are descended from his sister Nora Dorothy (Dot). He never married. Family tradition tells of him returning from the WWI very much moved by the plight of the horses. I believe he was a sapper, but not entirely sure. He was known for his gentleness, his mild eccentricity and keeping bees in the living room. He lived with his sister Phyllis who was a bit of a handfull. My father, now passed, was very fond of him and always said I most resembled him of all the people in the family. His sister Dot married my grandfather Ernest Greenland in 1912. We have a nice photo of the wedding if you are interested.
January 19, 2023 at 5:18 pm |
Can you put me in touch with Jonathan Greenland please ? He must be a distant relative if mine ; I last saw his family when my parents took me and my brother Hugh to meet the Greenlands on the family farm about sixty years ago! I married a farmer more than fifty years ago , had four children at least two of whom are farming now and we now live in rural Dorset , with grand children and are shortly to become great grandparents , so the family oak tree is spreading wide and deep with acorns in France too!
I thought we had lost touch with the other side of the Hillier branch , but would like to reconnect if poss, please. Yours in hopes , Tessa
February 1, 2023 at 8:40 pm |
I wonder whether you have any further information about my ancestor Reginald Hillier , his elder brother aErnest Hillier or the other chap I ‘ve noticed in your blog who may well be another member of the same family : police sergeant Arthur Hillier ?
February 1, 2023 at 8:48 pm |
Sorry, Tessa, we don’t have any more information about the Hilliers and whether Reginald was related to the policeman.