Ian Spencer Aitken

Ian married Valerie Evelyn Hagger [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Stuart James Aitken
2. Susan Margaret Aitken

Other Events:

• Occupation: Jersey; Security Officer
• Residence: 13 Pomona Road, St Helier, Jersey
• _UID: 8ECF58F976194F8E8922F7A35125F6A26D95
• Residence: 1944, Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, Mdlothian, Scotland; Sergeant Major
• Occupation: 29 May 1950; Army Quartermaster
• Residence: 29 May 1950, Glencorse Barracks, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1975, 21 Montrose Avenue, Welling, Kent, England
• Residence: 3 Sep 1986, 13 Pomona Road, St Helier, Jersey

Notes:

Sinclair and John were twins
Also know as jack.
His first job was as a Page Boy at the newly opened Playhouse Cinema, Edinburgh. Leaving the cinema he became an apprentice butcher.
When he was about 17 he disappeared from home and his parents called the police. The police found him at the Glencorse Army Barracks of the Scots Guards, he had joined up. Jack was underage but had falsified his age by altering his Birth Certificate. The police told his mother that he would be better off in the army, as he was sure to be laid off from the butcher's shop, as soon as his apprenticeship was up.
And so John became a Professional Soldier.
Jack served in the tropics of Africa and it was here that a Tse-Tse fly bit him. The bite became infected and he ended up with a large depression on his temple. A cancer developed, as well. This was treated with cobalt radium treatment. It was not entirely successful but a few years later a Pakistani doctor treated and cured it without the need for further radium treatment.
By 1944 he was a Sergeant Major stationed at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh.
During the Korean War he served in Korea as a quartermaster.

The following story was authenticated from three different sources.
"The Scots were supplied with whisky from one of the Scotch whisky distillers. The American forces were not allowed spirits. The Scots were sleeping in Bell Tents. (Not very comfortable for the forthcoming winter in Korea.) The Americans had Nissen huts.
John had a jeep loaded up with whisky, drove 100 miles to the American quartermaster stores and spoke to the quartermaster in charge and offered the jeep load of whisky as part payment/exchange on the supply of 6 Nissen huts. The agreement being that when they huts were delivered 100 miles up the line there would be another jeep load of whisky supplied, including the jeep. Agreement being reached plans were supplied to John for the foundations of the huts. John returned to his base, organised an area to be cleared, foundations laid. The huts arrived and were erected by the Americans, whisky and jeep were handed over, and so 600 British troops slept dry and warm that winter."

Reminiscences from Ben Fox, his son-in-law
After he left the army, about 1956, he became a Police Officer in Kent. He then transferred to Special Branch.
As an officer in Special Branch he was very much concerned when Harold Wilson became Prime Minister as he felt the country was going communist. Come the revolution he felt that all Special Branch would be in danger.

Jack became a Security Officer until his retirement. He was found dead at his home at 13 Pomona Rd., St. Helier, Jersey. He had died of coronary thrombosis due to ischaemic heart disease.
.

John married Kathleen Yvonne Holloway on 5 Sep 1939 in Welling, Kent, England. Kathleen (daughter of Arthur Holloway and Hilda Kemp) was born on 6 Dec 1917 in Loose, Kent, England; died on 15 Oct 1975 in St.Nicholas's Hospital at Plumstead, Kent, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 9E7C5FECFA8B43C7898C3F10588F8515D9B2
• Residence: 29 May 1950, Glencorse Barracks, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1975, 21 Montrose Avenue, Welling, Kent, England

Notes:

Kathleen worked as a personal secretary in the Ministry of Defence.


(Medical):In 1975 Kathleen was diagnosed with cancer.
Kathleen was operated on for a carcinoma of the rectum.

Other Events:

• _UID: E72CE4C07CE5415D8184FEE3C3A8EB6355F6
• Residence: 1891, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; warehouseman (wine merchant)
• Residence: 1901, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 17 Jul 1908; Warehouseman
• Residence: 17 Jul 1908, 11 Lindsay Road, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1909, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1910, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1912; labourer
• Residence: 1912, 3 Henderson St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1914; railway porter
• Residence: 1914, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Occupation: 1916; railway porter
• Residence: 1916, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1919, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1921, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1923, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Occupation: 29 Jun 1957; general labourer
• Residence: 19 Mar 1960, 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Catherine did not enjoy the best of health suffering from heart disease most of her life.
She had 9 living children and also some still births.
Many times Thoams and Catherine moved houses. Not always because of Tom's itchy feet but sometimes to move into less taxing premises for Catherine.
Catherine's mother, father and siblings, except for sister Jo, went to Canada. As Jo and Catherine were already married they stayed behind.
As Kate and Tom's family grew ever bigger they moved around Edinburgh quite a lot. After Prince Regent Street they next lived at 3 Henderson Street, Leith, where Sarah was born. At this time Tom was a Labourer.
When the next three children were born, Tom was working on the railway as a Porter and was living at Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine.
During WWI he served in the Scots Guards as a Private.
After the war the family moved to 30 Arthur Street, Leith, where Sinclarina, Cathy and Jim were born.
Catherine used to knit very fine shawls, in the Shetland style. The toilet would be put "out of bounds" to the family when Catherine was "smeekin" the shawls. She would hang them in the toilet. A fire would be set, on a shovel-full of sulphur, in the toilet. The toilet door would be sealed. This she called smeekin, probably smoking. This was the method used to whiten the shawls. Relatives, who were seamen on the ships sailing between the Shetlands and Leith, would collect the shawls in exchange for cases of eggs and smoked fish. The shawls would then be taken back to the Shetlands where they would be sold as Shetland Isles knitwear. The eggs and fish would be shared with friends and relatives around Leith.
Tom Aitken had many jobs but was basically a country person. Over the years he was a railway porter, railway shunter, warehouseman, horse and cart driver for Melrose Drovers and gardener.
Tom had the ability to turn a soapbox into a piece of furniture. Likewise he had the ability to turn a piece of furniture into a soapbox.
Catherine developed heart trouble and so the family was on the move again. They lived in Lochend, Craigentinny and East Thomas Street.
After his family married and moved on, Tom lived and worked on various estates.
He was a very fit man and a great walker.
In 1996 he was living in the Calders.
Terry Stewart his Mum, Dad, and sister had just returned from Australia when Tom met them at Mid Calder Railway Staion. He had walked from home to the station, a distance of about 2 miles. He gave directions to his house where Catherine would be waiting to give us our tea. Tom had to walk on into West Calder, to get his pension. From the station it was a round trip of some 3 miles. By the time we got to the house he had caught up with us.
Catherine and Tom celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at Sinclarine and David Stewart's house at 17 Meadowbank Avenue, Meadowbank, Edinburgh, in 1958. Great aunt Nel, Catherine's sister and bridesmaid came over from Canada to help them celebrate.
Tom stayed on at Chapelton Drive until he had to enter a nursing home, about 1974.
Every so often he would disappear and go for a long walk.
It was in the nursing home where he developed gangrene. They removed a leg but very shortly after this he died.

Thomas married Catherine Manson Spence on 17 Jul 1908 in 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland. Catherine (daughter of Sinclair Sutherland Spence and Helen Moodie Sutherland) was born on 27 Jul 1886 in Dounreay, Caithness, Scotland; died on 19 Mar 1960 in 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland; was buried on 22 Mar 1960 in Seafiled Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: C4F89097963546B0B38A904102D61837D982
• Residence: 1891, Westerseat, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; domestic servant
• Residence: 1901, 21 Couper St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 17 Jul 1908; Domestic Servant
• Residence: 17 Jul 1908, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1909, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1910, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1912, 3 Henderson St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1914, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1916, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1919, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1921, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1923, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 19 Mar 1960, 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Married:
Witnesses at the wedding of Thomas Aitken and Catherine Spence were James Aitken and Nell Spence.

Other Events:

• _UID: 61A0F9FC2C974A52BB7A259EA6844B9C5EA5

Arthur married Hilda Kemp. Hilda and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B684C679C1124C05AA5E58D0E3DB34F4B387

Other Events:

• _UID: A1C6878FDCE84C6183338825597685A84DD6
• Residence: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1861, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1871; carter
• Residence: 1871, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1877; Master Carter
• Residence: 14 Feb 1878, Hillderston Hill Farm, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1881; Pier Porter
• Residence: 1881, Clifton Cottage, Boswell Road, Wardie, Leith
• Occupation: 15 Nov 1886; Warehouseman
• Residence: 15 Nov 1886, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: Aft 1886, Melrose Drovers; Cart Driver
• Occupation: 1891; ship labourer
• Residence: 1891, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; general labourer
• Residence: 1901, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 25 Feb 1937, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

About 1855, with a downturn in his father's fortunes, the family had to move from Silvermine Farm to Montaree Farm. This was around the other side of the Cairnpepple hill. Every person in the family had to help with the removal by carrying furniture, goods and belongings. Young John had to carry his own chair.

When the family arrived at their new home, John was missing. A search was instituted. The elder children were sent to retrace their steps. John was eventually found fast asleep on his chair on the side of Cairnpepple hill. He had stopped for a rest, sat down on his chair and fallen asleep

Quite enjoying his drink there was many an occasion when Johns horse would bring him home whilst he was asleep lying in the back of the cart. This whilst working for Melrose Drovers.
Later on John had a gardening contracting business and he used to keep his tools under a pub in Goldenacre. Thus it was handy for his afterwork ale.

After his wife died he used to visit his son, Tom and family, at Craigmiller. Sinclairina Stewart (nee Aitken), remembers him as a small man, looking very much like Beaverbrook. Sinclairina remembers that whoever met him off the bus would always receive a silver threepenny. As a present, to the house, he would also have a packet of Abernethy biscuits and a bag of pan drops.

The informant on the death of William Aitken was John Aitken, brother

John married Sarah Barton on 14 Feb 1878 in United Presbyterian Church, Ecclefechan, Dumfries, Scotland. Sarah (daughter of Thomas Carlyle Barton and Janet Irving) was born on 26 Nov 1851 in Ecclefechan, Dumfries, Scotland; was christened on 30 Dec 1851 in Hoddam, Dumfries, Scotland; died on 11 Mar 1918 in 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; was buried on 13 Mar 1918 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 47F835D3B70744A683B188FF995D991C55D7
• Residence: 1861, Glasgow Rd Woodbine Cottage, Hoddam, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
• Occupation: 1877, Landsdowne Cres, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland; Domestic Servant
• Residence: 1881, Clifton Cottage, Boswell Road, Wardie, Leith
• Residence: 15 Nov 1886, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1891, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1901, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 11 Mar 1918, 3 Middlefield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Name: Sarah Barton
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 26 Nov 1851
Baptism Date: 30 Dec 1851
Baptism Place: Hoddam, Dumfries, Scotland
Father: Thomas Barton
Mother: Janet Irving
FHL Film Number: 1067963
Reference ID: 2:162DBFP

Sarah was quite an enterprising lady. Whilst they were living at the bottom of Restalrig Road, Leith, Sarah had a shop where she sold home made cakes, sweeties and potted heid (potted head).
After moving from there they lived behind a shop Sarah had at 3 Middlefield, Pilrig, Edinburgh.

Helen Sutherland Aitken, loved visiting her granny Sarah. Her grandad John Aitken loved mince and tatties and so whenever aunt Nelly visited she was always sure of getting a plate.



Buried:
Name: Sarah B Aitken
Register Type: Burial
Death Date: abt 1918
Burial or Cremation Date: 13 Mar 1918
Burial or Cremation Place: Edinburgh, Scotland

Notes:

Married:
Witnesses to the wedding of John Aitken and Sarah Barton were Peter Aitken and Janet Barton.

Other Events:

• _UID: F6C520CD83E9420180EBED2743691954EF63
• Occupation: 1891; farm servant
• Residence: 1891, Westerseat, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; labourer
• Residence: 1901, 21 Couper St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland

Sinclair married Helen Moodie Sutherland. Helen was born in 1867; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 354F332BBF814E5A88E5E95B40385F7ED043
• Occupation: 1891; dairy maid
• Residence: 1891, Westerseat, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
• Residence: 1901, 21 Couper St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland