I wonder whether anyone has any knowledge of a HIBBERT family in the Nant-y-Moel area
around 1940. There is quite a story behind this, as follows:-
I’m an English woman, living in Lillehammer, Norway. Recently there was an article in
our local paper, stating that a family from Lillehammer had a pocket-sized New Testament
from 1940, belonging to a Pte D. Hibbert. On the title page was written “Presented to Pte
(Private?) D. Hibbert by the members of Mount Zion Church, Nantymoel. Signed W Y Lewis,
Minister. March 1940.” The copy was new, printed in 1939.
On the back page is written in handwriting in pencil :” If anybody get this book I beg
to keep it for me. April 1940.” The family here in Lillehammer has kept it all these
years, but never found the owner and would like to return it to any family members alive.
Nobody here knows whether Hibbert survived the war.
A little background history : In April 1940 Germany invaded Norway and occupied it for 5
years. Britain sent some troops over to try and resist them ,and there was fighting round
Lillehammer. The action was not successful and after 10 days the British troops were
withdrawn hurriedly from Norway, leaving a lot of belongings behind. This was about 27th
April 1940. The battalion Hibbert was in may have been the Sherwood Foresters or the 5.
Leicesters.
I would love to hear if anyone can give me any clues, meanwhile I shall pursue research
myself.
Regards
Rosemary Knutsen
PS. I understand that the church mentioned is no longer in use. I think it was in Station
Road.