Rosa Oldmeadow

To search our directory of workers at HM Factory Gretna either enter any name, place of birth or place of death in the search box or if you know what their job was from select from the drop-down menu.

Go back to directory.

Police Constable in the Women’s Police Force

Birthplace Worcestershire Kings Norton Place of Death Buckinghamshire Maids Morton Date of Birth: November 11, 1895 Date of Death: October 16, 1972

Biography

Information supplied through Research Project led by Nigel Crompton.

Name: Rosa Oldmeadow
DoB: 11 Nov 1895
Place of birth: Kings Norton, Worcestershire (Birmingham suburb)
Parents: James & Rosa (nee Smith)
Parental Home(s): 1891 – Back 20, Clevedon Road, Kings Norton
Siblings: James (1888-1889), Mabel (1890-1973), Kate (1894-1979)
Spouse: Arthur Frederick Edmunds
Date of Wedding: Banns in March 1923 – Married in Buckingham area
Children : Joyce (1925-1925), Priscilla (1926), Ruth (1930)
Marital home(s) : numerous
Employment: Lady’s maid after war
1911 Census: Living with James, her father, in Maids Moreton. Her Mother died in 1897, her brother died within a year of being born. Rosa is not shown as Working or being at school
Date of death: 16 October 1972
Location: Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire. Buried at St Edmunds, Maids MoretonGretna details

Name: Rosa Oldmeadow
Clock No: Not known
Date joining: Not known
Date leaving: Not known
Addresses: Number 1 Women’s Police Barracks, Gretna
Rank on start: PC
Promotion: None locatedNewspapers: Only as attending wedding in Maids Morton

Career after: Lady’s Maid in 1921 at Leawood House, Bridestowe, Devon

Addresses after Gretna: Lambeth, Hertfordshire and Maids Moreton

Additional information

It appears Rosa joined the Police in the Great War possibly underage, although her relation Emily Violet who joined at the same time was old enough. There is no indication if they served at Gretna all their time in the WPS. She went into service as a Lady’s maid, employed by Capt. N Summers, Leawood in Devon. After the war, Rosa went abroad before marrying Arthur F Edmunds in 1923. Their first child, Joyce, died within the first year, which is the same fate as befell Rosa’s brother, James. After marrying, no confirmed employment relating to safety services has been located for Rosa. The couple had two more children. The family appear to have returned to Maids Moreton where Rosa died in 1972, about 46 years after her father James had passed away on 13 September 1925 also at Maids Moreton aged 63. She is buried along with Arthur in the graveyard of St Edmund’s, Maids Moreton.