Thames (NZ): Then & Now Pollen Street - north of Sealey Street Intersect

Introduction

A 'new' photograph in my collection is featured in this post, but lets first look at Pollen Street (north of Sealey Street over the decades. The images in the first collage ranges from 1906 - 1937 - 2017. (From 1930s Thames: The Goldfield Revisited)

• 1906: A military parade proceeds along Pollen Street, heading south to the Shortland Cemetery. The signage of Hetherington's shop (where Farmers is today), can be seen a third in from the left.
• 1937: Many of the old buildings remain, interspersed with new premises such as Galloway's Store (where Noel Leeming is today). Wide gutter drains line the street, and in the 20s a concrete strip had been laid down Pollen Steet. The Depression still raged, while the threat of war was just around the corner - cars were few and far between, at The Thames in the 1930s.

POLLEN STREET - another view 1950s-60s

Thamesites regularly have one complaint about the main street. Lack of parking! Well, take a look at this photo from the late 1950s early 1960s - the street is lined with cars. Some things never change!!! Guess what, parking on the western side was challenge back in those days, just as it is today. The driver fourth from left has not managed to park within the white line - something many readers will sympathise with.

1955 Businesses

     In the 1955 Wises Street Directory for Thames, the businesses located on the right (east side of the street) are as follows:

From Mary Street intersect. Lee, Chuck Yue (Fruiterer); Danby's Shoe Store; Taffe, W; Bond & Bond Ltd; Arbury Ltd; Self Help Co-op; McAllum (Jeweller); Presswood & Presswood (Optician); Hallensteins Bros; A J Brokenshire Bookseller; Judd Ltd; Muir, D J (Chemist); Bulmer (Jeweller); Hetherington's; Harris' Restaurant; Marriotts Store; Maxwell & Sons (Butcher); Galloway's; Modern Stores Ltd; Misses Donnelly (Dressmakers); Charlie Fay (Fruiterer); McPhail & Ganley Shoes; Gwynne's Garden House; Bongard's Chemist; Restaurant; La Fabrique Fabrics; C Hill (Jewellers); and D McL Wallace Ltd. Sealey Street intersect.

 

ABOVE LEFT: Signage includes 'Slaney's Radio Service; Knitting Service; Opticians. Further down the block can be seen the Regent Theatre sign before the Mary Street intersect. There is a barber shop (stripes on street post), tractors for sale (query part of Judd's that are located on the other side of the road) and the Bank of New South Wales and Post Office.

ABOVE RIGHT: McKenzies are centre left in Galloway's old building; and McPhail & Ganley Shoe Store is far right.

MCKENZIES

     The McKenzies department store was stocked a wide range of goods. Who can forget the chocolate & lolly 'pick and mix'? Or the coin operated spaceship / car that kept youngsters occupied while 'mothers' shopped inside. Later the store was taken over by DEKA. 

Further "Then & Now' Photographs CLICK HERE

Thames (NZ): Battle of Britain Commemorations at Thames 13 September 2020

Sunday 13 September 2020

8.30am Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield, Ngāti Maru Highway, Thames.

(The programme for the day as per the Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield Inc Facebook Page:)

Inauguration Service at the Sir Keith Park Memorial at the Airfield

• Speaking at the service was Wing Commander Andy Bryant, RAF, the UK Defence Attaché for the Ministry of Defence at the British High Commission.
• Dedication and blessing performed by unknown Reverend.

---------------------------------------------

Early Sunday morning, Thamesites and visitors from further afield gathered at the airfield for the dedication of Sir Keith Park's replica Hurricane. The Kerepehi Brass Band provided the music, and playlist included the National Anthem and the Last Post

 

 

This plaque, made by A & G Price will be added to the display when the statue arrives.

The area around the replica plane will also be landscaped.

11am Thames War Memorial Civic Centre, Mary Street

• Speakers included RNZAF Air Commodore Walshe, Hon Scott Simpson and Russell Skeet (who read the message from Defence Minister Ron Mark.
• Wreaths were laid at the statue of Sir Keith Park outside the Thames Civic Centre
• A flypast by the Bristol Fighter F.2B in Sir Keith’s WW1 battle colours from NZ Warbirds

MP Scott Simpson.

Several wreaths were laid to commemorate the Battle of Britain 80 years ago. 

Left: Wing Commander Andy Bryant, RAF; Right: RNZAF Air Commodore Walshe.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

For more information on the Battle of Britain 1940, an excellent resource is Papers Past. There are the daily reports from England, along with reports and analysis over the following years. Example below.

 

OTAGO DAILY TIMES, ISSUE 26270, 30 SEPTEMBER 1946

Conclusion:

The Phrase heard several times today in relation to Sir Keith Park's involvement in the Battle of Britain:

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few

Winston Churchill

Keith Park standing by his Hurricane OK 1

Source: https://alchetron.com/Keith-Park

Thames (NZ): Sir Keith Park's Replica Hurricane arrives at Thames Airfield

Sir Keith Park at Thames

When the 1914-1918 World War Commemorations started back in 2014, the name of Thames born Sir Keith Park was remembered by many. Then in 2019 a generous donation led to a life size statue of Park being erected outside the Thames War Memorial Civic Hall.

There are many worthy historical projects needed at the Thames, this would for many be way down the list of priorities. But, hats off to the group who made this happen, they have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for yet another statue and a replica plane that will be on display at the Thames Airfield, the Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield. The first phase is complete and the replica plane is to be officially unveiled on Sunday 13 September, followed by the marking of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain - with a ceremony at the Civic Hall in Mary Street at 11am. (Details of the day)

Sir Keith Park's Hurricane

Below are photographs of the plane. It looks small as you drive along the Ngati Maru Highway, but once you get nearer, the size and the imagery are very impressive. Interesting to find out though, just as we will have two statues of Sir Keith within a few kilometres of each other, there is also another replica plane a short distance away in Auckland. At MOTAT, there is "a replica of Park's Mk 1 Hawker Hurricane 'OK 1' - the aircraft he used to visit airfields under his command during the Battle of Britain."

 

Several information boards give details on Park and the Battle of Britain.

Further Reading:

Details on Sir Keith Park - Blog Post 7 February 2019

Thames (NZ): Electoral Rolls & Early Pakeha Settlers - Part One

 Introduction

Electoral Rolls are an invaluable resource for family genealogists and historians in general. While the pre 1893 are restricted to only some members of the male population, they are better than nothing. They can provide an indication to location, occupation and financial status. The qualifications varied from year to year. An excellent summary of qualifications can be found in a New Zealand Society of Genealogists help sheet.
     Just as the boundaries change today, the people of Thames have often found themselves in a variety of electorates. An excellent resource is New Zealand Electoral Atlas by Alan McRobie. (GP Books, Wellington, 1989.)
     A previous blog post in 2014 discussed the electoral history of the Thames.

Electoral Rolls for Early Settlers at the Thames 

The following section has names from early electoral rolls 1853 to 1868. While we know there were a limited number of Pakeha settlers before the goldfield opened in August 1867, there were certainly more than are named on the rolls. The reason could be that they appear on a different roll, or simply they did not meet the qualification of the day. Also note that spelling of place-names varied and that 'Thames' could stretch the length of the old Thames Valley Region.

1853 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 179-191

Name – Place of Abode – Calling or Business - Qualification
BAINES, William Mortimer, Hikutaea, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
HAY, George William, Hekutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder

1855 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 70-90

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hikutaia, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hekutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hikutaia, Farmer, Freeholder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, Settler, Householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1856 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 73-99

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hikutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, Settler, Householder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1857 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 79-107

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, timber merchant, leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hekutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, settler, householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, freeholder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1858 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 87-117

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, timber merchant, leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, mill owner, leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hekutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, settler, householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1865-6 To 1867-8 Franklin Electorate page 1-25

MCCASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Hekutaia, Thames, Freehold, Cook’s County; 2176 acres
THORP, John Wullanora, River Thames, 1. Freehold, River Thames, Cook’s County, farm and premises on which he resides. 2. Household River Thames; Dwelling

During the above years, Coromandel residents feature in the electoral rolls as settlers headed there to undertake mining and seek other opportunities.

Thames 'hits' the Electoral Rolls in 1869

A considerable change is found in the Franklin Electoral Roll of 1869, as the number of voters eligible and enrolled has dramatically increased. A transcription of names for the greater Coromandel region is available.

Sample - Thames entries in the Franklin Electoral Roll 1869

Full transcription available HERE

Closing Comments

Don't despair if you can not find your relatives in the early electoral Rolls. At Ancestry.au (free access at the Library) a simple search does not always work, as not all are indexed. You may have to resort to the old method of scrolling through the pages. If you still have no luck, try the directories, old rating lists and school records to find out more about your Thamesites.

    Part Two (coming soon) will look at the early pakeha settlers named in the early rolls.

Further Resources:

• Thames Electoral Roll 1876 and objections
• Thames Electoral Roll 1879 Surnames A to C
• Coromandel Electorate 1885
• Thames Burgess Roll 1887
• Ancestry.au has New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853 to 1981 - many of the years are searchable
• The Thames Branch, NZSG has Electoral Roll CD's that can be borrowed and used at monthly meetings CONTACT

Thames (NZ): Then & Now Beach Road

Introduction

      Beach Road, at the Grahamstown end of Thames - a quiet spot, with a narrow road, that has metal parking areas. 

     The south side of Victoria Park is on the western side, along with the Petanque area and Croquet Club. Travel further north and there is an access to the walkway that loops around the coast to the old Burke Street Wharf. On the eastern side you start at Albert Street, to Williamson Street, past A & G Price Foundry to the Burke Street intersect - then the road becomes Tararu Road.

 

Then & Now: 1900s & 2018 Corner of Beach Road and Albert Street.

Beach Road History (From Streets of Thames)

     "Named after the location, originally adjacent to the beach before reclamation was carried out.  

     On the 1868 map there is no Beach Road, although there is an unnamed road (where Brown street meets Cochrane Street and along to Pahau Street). 

     The 1910s Cleave’s map records Beach Road extending to Mary Street as well as a portion of road from Albert Street to Coromandel Street intersect. The road length was changed in 1938, today Beach Road only runs from Burke Street (north) to Albert Street (south)."

1868 map - Beach Road does not exist. The red line marks the location of Beach Road today.

Residents and business along the foreshore gave their address as The Beach.

1910s Map - the 'x's mark the two portions of Beach Road. Coromandel intersect to Albert Street intersect; and Cochrane to Mary Street intersects.

Collage View of Victoria Park south, on Beach Road.

In the 1900s, the view was unobstructed,

 and you could watch the ships arriving at the Burke Street Wharf.

Residents of Beach Road 1870 and 1923

     In the Thames Directory 1870, the road still does not formally exist, however a large group of businesses and residents record their address as "Beach". They included: Joseph Bargrove's Ladies' School, H C Lawlor, Joseph Faltt (carpenter), John McConnell, Charles Toft (store dealer), James Buchanan (stone-cutter), John Taylor (Bay View Timber Yard), William Anderson (architect), John Gwynneth, R N Smith (store dealer), M Rae ( Cornwallis Saw Mills, Miss Shepherd (actress), Richard Dodd's Boarding-house, Henry Phillips (boat builder), Holdship's Timber Yard, Wesleyan Chapel, Thomas Sharp (engineer), S Smale (legal manager), Thomas Keven's Boarding-house, John McColloch, Frederick Smith, Richard Richards, Marine Fmaily Hotel, Native Office (E Puckey), C F Quint, M Browne (coal merchant), Alexander Unthank (coal merchant), B Jones (actor) and George McAnnalley (telegraph linesman).

      In the Cleave's Street Directory 1923 the names recorded in Beach Road are: 

Right side from Haven Street: Thames Railway Station, John Arthur (stationmaster) ... nothing further is recorded until Mary Streets.

     On the left hand side from Haven Street: A & G Price Bulk Store, William Wells (labourer), Charles Fleming (moulder), John Coutts (boilermaker), Arthur Henderson (fitter). 

Burke Street intersect. A & G Price Ltd.  Abraham Street intersect. Rawiri Pearson (carpenter), Wm H Lucas (JP), Mrs Dunbar (Gwendon Boardinghouse), Thomas Dunbar (hairdresser - private residence), John Milner (boilermaker), Thomas McLeay (tailor), 

John Galloway (grocer). 

Williamson Street intersect. John Salmon (SM), Reg Williams (Manager A & G Price), James Parkinson (jeweller), Alf Lomas (carter), Park Hotel (back entrance). 

Albert Street intersects.  Cochrane Street intersects.

Richard Dovell (carrier), Wm Milne (foundry hand), Jas Frogley (store manager), Mrs Margaret Bayldon, Arthur Batchelor (machinist), John Judd (pattern maker). 

Amy Street intersects. Mrs Elizabeth Heard, Miss Alice Wishart, John Wells (labourer), William Skelley (labourer), Duncan McKenzie (bush contractor).

Walters Street intersects.  Mary Streets intersect.

Closing Comments

   Once a thriving street, Beach Road was full of businesses and residents. A popular place to live for those who worked at the foundry as evident in the Cleaves 1923 Street Directory. A busy and noisy place, close to A & G Price, and an area that once boasted a railway track, in the days of the trains being made and refurbished at the nearby foundry.

Take the Challenge

    Wander the streets - stop and imagine how it would have looked one hundred years ago.

CLICK HERE for further Street 'Then & Now" photos.

Thames (NZ): Searching the Thames Star Newspaper for Death Notices

 September already, and a note to self to get 'blogging' as I have a few amazing new photographs to share.

But, first I have to share a search tip that I got from Emerson at Papers Past, that is a must use for searching our local papers.

Background:

Over recent months I have been searching for hundreds of death notices, as I upgraded memorials at Findagrave Shortland Cemetery.

To narrow the search down I usually use seven newspapers: Auckland Star, Daily Southern Cross, New Zealand Herald, The Thames Advertiser, Thames Guardian and Mining Record,  The Thames Star and The Waihi Daily Telegraph.

The newspapers are ticked in far left column, indicating which newspapers will be searched for the chosen keyword/s

Search Examples:

Example 1: Lets find a death notice for Walter Henry Adams, who passed away 24 May 1920 at Thames.

I have selected my seven newspapers and put the start date as 24 May 1920. Normally I would go backwards a couple of days, eg to 22nd. Reason? I find that many deaths actually occurred earlier than what was stated in family histories or even on headstones. I believe that in these cases people may have mistaken the burial date for the actual death date.

Here is the search for Walter's death notice. CLICK HERE Keyword ADAMS

No obvious results! Look what happens when we add the wildcard symbol *. CLICK HERE Keyword ADAMS* Yeah, the sixth result is the one I am after.

Example 2: Lets find the death notice for Muriel Ellen Brien who passed away 17 March 1926.

Here is the search for Muriel's death notice. CLICK HERE Keyword BRIEN.

There are no obvious results, so lets again use the wildcard option. CLICK HERE Keyword BRIEN* Below, the first result is the death notice we were looking for.

Why did the WILDCARD * give the different results?

Here is where the staff at Papers Past solved my search problems.

Take a look at the wording below. Can you see how the search becomes complicated?

The typesetters format was to write the surname / add a full stop / then an em dash.

While other papers use this format, for some reason the Thames Star notices are often more sensitive.

The help section at Papers Past has a list of search tips - it will soon include this example.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE

Next time you are having problems with a Death notice search, try adding the wildcard option. Fingers crossed it will lead to a higher rate of success. You can add other keywords if desired eg. First names, death, deaths, town and so on.

 

Then & Now: 1962 & 2020. The Thames Star Office, Sealey Street Thames. 

The service lane runs along the west wall.

Hauraki Publishers constructed a new building, which they have since vacated.

Thames (NZ): Train books with references to Thames

 Introduction

Past blog posts have covered various aspects of transportation and specifically trains at, and manufactured at the Thames. See Links at end of post.

Railway Books

Yes, there are hundreds of books on trains in New Zealand. Thames Coromandel District Libraries has a variety to select from, plus can interloan titles from libraries around New Zealand. The core ones that provide an overview of locomotive manufacture at Thames are:

• Conservation Plan for A and G Price E Type Locomotive No 110, by Rotorua Ngongotaha Rail Trust 2007.
• Men of Metal, The Story of A & G Price Ltd 1868-1968, by C W Vennell. Wilson & Horton Ltd 1968.
• Prices of Thames, Locomotive and General Engineers, Thames, N.Z. by Bob Stott. Southern Press Ltd 1983.
• Steam At The Rainbow's End by K I Bullock. The Railway Enthusiasts Society (Inc) 1964.
• The Thames Branch, End of an Era, by Dave Nelson. 2014.
• The Thames Line 1898 - 1990, by R Brett Green & Trevor J Lees. Railway Enthusiasts' Society (Inc) 1990.

A selection of books at Thames Library

Its a rainy Thames day - so a great chance to browse a few of the railway books at the library! Did they have any Thames references?

• New Zealand Railway Memorabilia 150 Years, by Geoffrey B Churchman. Transpressnz.com 2015. A delightful full colour booklet that has photos, postcards, cards and general memorabilia featured. Reliving the glory days of the railway in New Zealand. The engines shown, need their identification numbers checked to verify which ones were made in Thames. Our Tararu to Grahamstown steam train is pictured, showing the commemorative stamp that was issued March 6 1985. (page 9)

          The book also has pages on the Silver Star. Who remembers the carriages parked at Thames?

 

The 'old' Silver Star carriages that had rested in A & G Price's northern storage yard, 

found new homes at the end of 2016.

• 150 Years of Rail in New Zealand, by Matt Turner. Penquin Books. Nelson in 1862 had a horse-powered tram service. Then along came Grahamstown, Thames in 1871 "To pioneer the use of steam-powered trams on a coastal line to its deepwater port at Tararu Point." (Page 38) The book is full of photographs, including A & G Price 16-wheeler geared locomotive designed for bush tramways. (page 23) Locomotives constructed and refurbished at Thames are scattered through the book, along with the iconic photo of when Prices released No 100 in 1923. Maybe you have a relative in this photo? (see below)

The Thames Star 20 November 1923, ran a full page article on A & G Price's achievements.

• Rails Across New Zealand, A History of Rail Travel by Matthew Wright. Whitcoulls 2003.The principal mention for Thames is on page 106, the A & G Price workshop is discussed, accompanied by an A-class locomotive under construction.
• Going By Train. The Complete New Zealand Railways Story by Graham Hutchins. Exisle Publishing Pty Ltd 2019. The development of the provincial rail network is covered, along with the Thames Line. The end of the book has a full list of the classes of Locomotives built in New Zealand, and identifies which models were built at A & G Price Thames.

First Hand account - the Grahamstown to Tararu Tram:

There are delightful reports on riding the tram to Tararu in the Thames Guardian and Mining Record. One of these was published 7 December 1871. The writer 'Town Crier' at first appeared critical, and was sure an accident would happen. To their surprise, the trip despite the continual jerking motion, was safely completed and "certainly a great novelty."

CHALLENGE:

Keep an eye out for books and references on Thames railway history, often overlooked in favour of Gold, Gold and more GOLD History.

1970s Thames Railway Station, Shortland end of town.

Photo by Les Downey courtesy of Motat.

Other Blog Posts related to Trains:

• A Look inside A & G Price 1906.
• Amazing Trains at The Thames 2019 - Thames Small Gauge Railway.
• Plans for Getting the Railway to Thames. And More Plans.
• Industrial transportation / tramways.
• A & G Price Shunter Contract 1956.
• Price's Ab 699 makes a comeback.
• Price's 1909 Locomotive.
• Videos featuring Thames trains.
• Prices Ab 698.
• Kauaeranga Rail Bridge/s.
• 1990 Train visit.
• WAB 796 Train painting.
• A & G Price's Locomotives overview.

Thames (NZ): Postcards revisited - Birthday greeting to Master Milne

Another set of treasures on the Trademe Auction site - two postcards sent to Master Alan Milne of the Waiotahi Valley, Thames.

  

One of the cards was sent December 1914, and the other for Alan's 1915 birthday.

Who was MASTER A W MILNE?

If you are a family researcher beginner or expert, Thames records allow you to quickly find more about the life of Allan Westbrook Milne.

• Start with the birth registration at NZ BMD. Matching the birth date that appears on the card (25 December), it is possible to quickly find the birth details. Registration 1913/2686, Milne, Allan Westbrook, parents Ruby Pearl and William Henry John Milne.
• School Records document that Allan lived up the Waitoahi Creek. He attended Central School from 4 February 1918 to 17 December 1926, before going to Thames High School 7 February 1927 to 19 December 1928.

Allan Milne's School Examination record 1919

Source: Archives New Zealand

• Electoral Rolls, Street Directories and newspaper records available online allow us to follow Allan's life. A selection of rolls from ancestry.au reveal that in 1935 Allan was living in Beach Road, Thames and working as a motor driver. After the war he was in Auckland, and in 1957 residing at 34 Bucklands Avenue Mount Eden, working as a clerk. By 1972, Milne was back in Thames living at 214 Augustus Street, his occupation given as barman.
• Family trees on ancestry.au record that Mr Milne was married to Isobelle Brooker, and secondly to May Sophie Hensley.
• For this article, it is interesting to note that like his father (who had served in World War One), he served in World War Two. An interesting note on the Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph site states that Allan was the "Bugler for the 18th Battalion and performed the last post and revelry at the Auckland War Memorial Museum from 1946 until his death in 1972 [sic]."

WWII Trooper Milne's Discharge Certificate. 

Allan served 236 days in New Zealand and three years, 189 days overseas.

Source: G Milne Collection

• Allan Westbrook Milne born 25 December 1912, passed away 21 May 1977 and was interred at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames - RSA Lawn Plot 0173.

 

Allan W Milne's parents Ruby (left) and William H J (Jack) Milne.

Note, Ruby is in her Salvation Army Uniform - remembering that is where our story started with the birthday cards for Allan from the Thames Salvation Army Church.

Source: G Milne Collection

Take the Challenge!

When undertaking your family research, take a letter or photo and see if you can build up a story about the family. Like the example above, take a card and within a few hours we can learn so many interesting details about our family (and others).