Lydia Fardoe was born on 2 September 1882 in West Felton. She married Austin Ledwith, a Supervisor H.M. Post Office on 12 July 1909. Austin’s family ran a grocery store on Church Street, Oswestry. Lydia and Austin lived at 10 Ferrers Road (6 room house with a servant May Elizabeth Morris). Their son Bernard was born 9 October 1910 and they had a daughter named Kathleen on 13 July 1913, by which time they were living at Grimpo Cottage, West Felton. Austin joined the army in January 1915 and embarked on 14 June 1915 and died of disease at sea on 31 July 1915.
His army effects £6 8s 6d (though £3 of this is claimed back as being over-credited) went to his widow Lydia and in his will Austin left Lydia £387 18s.
Lydia wrote and asked about her pension according to Austin’s record sending them her marriage certificate and children birth certificates. After requesting detail of Austin’s death her pension was awarded giving her 18s 6 d for herself and her two children.
Austin and Lydia’s son Bernard followed his father into military service. He joined the Royal Corps of Signals at the start of World War II and died whilst serving in North Africa.
In 1939 Lydia is living at Cambrian Drive Oswestry with her daughter Kathleen, a post office telephonist.
Lydia died in 1964.