In the November 6 edition of the Gazette & Herald we featured a postcard sent in by Gordon Williams of White Lion Park in Malmesbury. He knew very little about it, just that it was posted on Christmas Eve 1914 to Master Bertie Batt, Willowbrooke Cottage, Eton, Windsor, Berks, and the message read: “Bertie, with all good wishes for Happy Xmas, from Auntie Tillie”.

Amateur genealogist Stewart Amor of Market Lavington, emailed in to say that Bertie Batt of Willowbrook Cottage, Eton, was actually Herbert Batt born in Eton in 1899, the fifth son of John George and Grace Batt.

Mr Amor was born in the same road, Tangier Lane, not far from Willowbrook Cottage. The lane is just over the bridge from Windsor, where his father was a Grenadier Guard.

Mr Amor, whose father was born in Pewsey, remembered the name Batt, and, with a little help from the internet, managed to piece together the clues.

“John George was a gardener at Eton College,” he said.

“Grace Batt was born in Malmesbury in 1857, maiden name Slade. She married John George Batt in 1884 and prior to that she was a housemaid at Eton College.

“Grace’s parents were William and Rosetta Slade of Kings Wall, Westport, Malmesbury.

“Grace had three brothers and five sisters, one of whom was Matilda Slade, born in 1854. I assume this is Aunt Tillie. She married a Hillier Neale of Sherston in 1885.

“I don’t know if Herbert ever served in the Great War. Two of his brothers did – one died the day after the armistice.”