Thomas Barton Aitken

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:

• Occupation: Shipwrights Carpenter
• _UID: AB1F833832DF44D8921BE3F81A9503443098
• Occupation: 16 Apr 1938; carpenter (journeyman)
• Residence: 16 Apr 1938, 34 Clare Rd, Braintree, Essex, England
• Occupation: 29 Jun 1957; Joiner (builders)
• Residence: 29 Jun 1957, 122 Occupation Rd, Corby, Northants, England
• Occupation: 14 Aug 1958; steel worker
• Residence: 14 Aug 1958, 81 Argyll St, Kettering, Northants, England

Notes:

He served his time, as a Shipwright's Carpenter, with Brown Shipbuilders, Leith. Also joined the Royal Scot 7/9th Territorials.
He went to London and nothing more was heard of him. A member of the family went to the address that he had been staying at, in London, but it had been levelled by bombs during the blitz.
In 2012 a marriage cert was discovered for Thomas in Kettering. This was his second marriage.

The informant on the death of Thomas, in 1958, was his second wife, Violet Scadden

------ From Source Attached To: Residence ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 11 Mar 2012.
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------ From Source Attached To: Death ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 11 Mar 2012.
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------ From Source Attached To: Occupation ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 11 Mar 2012.
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Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Florence Maria Jones on 16 Apr 1938 in Registry Office, Braintree, Essex, England. Florence (daughter of Joseph William Jones) was born in 1886; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Occupation: domestic servant
• _UID: A82A0B5AC0D945E8BCAA17A2F029B968569E

Notes:

After leaving school Nelly went into service and became a Domestic Servant, first working for Mrs Sorley at Blackie Road., Edinburgh.
Mr Sorley owned a "Furniture Emporium" in Duke Street, Leith. There Nelly managed to get her sister, Sarah (Chris) a job in the shop.
Nelly then went to work for Mr & Mrs Shiels as a Cook & Housekeeper.
Mr Shiels was a Portrait Painter and one time he was commissioned to paint a lady. This lady did not have nice hands and so Nelly was used as a stand in. Thus Nelly's hands ended up being hung in the Royal Academy in Edinburgh!

Notes from Terry Stewart
As a youngster William Kiddie Lumsden had left his family home in Perth and moved to Edinburgh. Finding work on the railways, as Clerk at Bonnington Railway Station in Edinburgh, he met my father, David Stewart, who also worked there.
Dad befriended Willie and took him to a religious meeting at David Redpath's mission and it was there that Bill met Helen (Nelly).
Bill was a member of the Territorial Army and so when WWII broke out he was called up immediately and made Corporal.
As a member of the British Expeditionary Force he was serving in Belgium when they were told to retreat.
He, his Sergeant and two men found themselves left behind in Belgium and so had to fight their way through the enemy lines to escape from Dunkirk.
The sergeant was all for protecting himself and wanted Bill to abandon "Dougie", a friend of Bill's, as Dougie was a little slow, and was retarding the sergeant's escape.
Bill sent the sergeant on his way and was never seen again.
Managing to keep the troop together and after some harrowing experiences they eventually got to the coast. Dougie was freezing cold and found a dead German. He put on his overcoat, which caused problems when they reached the beaches.
As they were being evacuated the sailors tried to beat back Dougie because they thought he was German.
Uncle Bill, a very gentle gentleman, never mentioned any of this until about 1980 when they came back to WA on holidays. And so it came as a great surprise when he started to talk of his army time.
After Nelly and Bill married they managed to get a house in the Goldenacre district of Edinburgh. It was when they were living there that their son Alistair was born. He was a sickly child and died 5 months later. Willie was still in the army at this time and so Aunt Nelly came to live with us at 14 Union Street, Leith.
As uncle Willie did not smoke he used to swap his cigarette ration for sweeties which were then given to me.
When Willie was demobbed they managed to get a house, a prefab, at Sighthill.
After a couple of misscarriages Muriel was born but 8 months later she too died.
A baby girl, Barbara, was adopted.
After the war Bill had gone back to work on the railways but studied to become a Church of Scotland minister. He never formally completed his training but became a Lay Preacher. He was appointed to the Ministry of the Church of Scotland at Camden, New South Wales, Australia, in about 1951.
We were then living at Sunshine in VIC. and so we met them at their ship when it docked at Melbourne on its way to Sydney.
Resigning from the church in about 1953 they moved to 37 John Street, North Fremantle, WA, where Bill became a Bus Conductor and then a Storeman at the Shell Oil Company.
About 1956 he was appointed to the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church at Merredin.
After Aunt Nelly was diagnosed, as having breast cancer, the family moved back to Scotland in about 1960.
He rejoined the British Railways as a Ticket Collector and later became a Left Luggage Clerk, at Waverley Railway Station. At the same time he and Aunt Nelly were Caretakers of various churches.
In 1976 Maureen, Shona and I went to Scotland on holidays, staying with Aunt Nelly and Uncle Bill at St Nicholas's Church, Sighthill, Edinburgh, where they were caretakers.
They met us at Heathrow airport and we stayed overnight at the Ariel Hotel. The next day we were driving to Scotland. Aunt Nelly was prepared for everything. She had marked out our route and out of this magical string bag she carried came everything one could need, biscuits, cake, cool drink and sweets just seemed to materialise.
On 19 Mar 1984, when they were caretaking the church at Lochend roundabout, now demolished, Bill went down to water the roses in the church garden. When he did not return, for his dinner, Nelly went looking for him. She could not find him so went to another elder's house. The elder told Nelly to stay at his house whilst he went looking for Bill. He found him slumped against the back of the garden shed. He had died of a heart attack.
After Bill died Nelly kept her flat but then found the neighbours left a bit to be desired and so moved into a retirement home, at 60 Loaning Road, Edinburgh.
In June 2001 the fire brigade had to be called twice to her flat. The alarm had gone off as twice Nelly had forgotten pans on the stove and damage had occurred due to fires. She had to be taken to The Queen Victoria Hospital where it was found she was suffering from pneumonia and a recurrence of cancer.
Nelly went downhill quickly and then seemed to pick up for awhile. The Wednesday before she passed away she seemed to rally sufficiently to say her goodbyes.

Helen married William Kiddie Lumsden on 6 Mar 1942 in St Pauls Church, Lorne Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. William (son of Henry Lumsden and Mary Watt) was born on 10 May 1917 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland; died on 19 Mar 1984 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 8AE485DA69B745388F4A17F0AFACC588F251
• Residence: 16 Jul 1943, Vellore Cottage, Maddiston, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

When younger Sarah was nicknamed Sis. As she got older she thought this was a bit childish and so she changed this to Chris. No one new her as Sarah, always Chris.
Chris got her first job, through her sister, Nelly. This was working as a Shop Assistant in Mr Sorley's furniture emporium in Duke St., Leith.
One of the first things she bought with her wages was a radio gramophone. When she took it home her dad promptly changed it into a cabinet. He was forever modifying things.
Eventually Chris went into service and became a cook.
Chris was a friend of Jean Redpath (nee McCallum). One day, whilst visiting Jean at Pilton, Jean's cousin, John Gardiner came to visit. This was the first time Chris and John had met.

All her married life she cared for Walter, her mentally retarded brother-in-law. Chris was very placid in nature and not very robust in health.

Sarah married John Orr Gardiner on 16 Jul 1943 in Vellore Cottage, Maddiston, West Lothian, Scotland. John (son of Walter James Gardiner and Agnes Scott Orr) was born on 5 Dec 1909 in Scotland; died on 17 Apr 1982 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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: FEBC87A7E1D44121B39CAC74B20B93CE8C21

Notes:

Sinclair and John were twins. Sinclairina Aitkern was named after Sinclair.

Other Events:

• _UID: 1286450259114020BED88BF28AA83CE812B5
• Occupation: 1939; barman
• Residence: 1939, 54 Saxon Road, Croydon, SUrrey, England

Notes:

After leaving school he worked in the glass works and at various other temporary jobs. Because he could not get permanent work he went south, to London, seeking work. Eventually he found work with a plumber and later worked as a Barman. He was willing to turn his hand to anything
It was at this time that he met Susan Plummer, who was a barmaid at the York Hotel, London. They married in a registry office at Lambeth.
This was not good enough for Susan's sister who was a Roman Catholic nun. She insisted that they get married "properly" and so the ceremony was repeated in the Roman Catholic Church. Susan already had a son, Bernard, and Bill formally adopted him.
"Called up" during WWII Bill was sent to Edinburgh Castle. It was whilst he was there that he was discharged as medically unfit. Not until much later did the family discover he had been discharged because he suffered from heart disease.
He became the Caretaker of a block of flats at 20 Lowndes Square, London. He was decorating his flat and planning for Bernard's wedding. Bernard and Margaret were spending their honeymoon with them and so Bill was redecorating. He was very tired and went to bed on the Thursday night. He woke about 2.00 a.m. with a backache. Took a couple of codeine tablets. Went back to sleep and never woke up.

William married Susan Julia Katherine Plummer on 4 Sep 1939 in Registry Office, Lambeth, London, England. Susan (daughter of John Henry Plummer and Margaret Hannah Pasquall) was born on 12 Jan 1911 in Brompton, Kent, England; died on 10 Nov 1996 in Hither Green Hospital, London, Middlesex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: DB1B9948A1A740FA9835929EB70D24175565
• Residence: 1941, 14 Union St, Leith, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Scotland

Notes:

Notes from terry Stewart
Attending Lochend Road Primary School she received first prize in the "Safety First Essay Competition", in 1932.
On the 1st Sep 1933 she was awarded her "Edinburgh Lower Certificate".
After leaving school Mum got her first job, working as a as a Live-in Helper in a children's home at Gilmerton, Edinburgh.
One night her hot water bottle burst and scalded her legs. Because she could not work until her legs healed she was sacked.
Working for the Martin's bakery chain of shops she became a Window Dresser and then Shop Manager.
Mum and her sisters attended the Minerva Christian Mission, run by David Redpath, where they met a group of boys who also attended the mission. Their missionary worked involved them with visitiing the Leith docks and handing out religious tracts to the visiting seamen.
Cathy, Mum's sister, started going out with one of the boys, David Stewart. This did not last all that long and eventually Dave gave up Cathy and started courting Mum.
Following the death of husband dad, Mum continued to live by herself in Maddington.
In 1999 I promised I would take her to Scotland.
In the March, three months before we were to depart, her heart specialist said that he would not give his permission for her to fly until closer to the time.
We were due to fly out on the Sunday. But on the Monday before he had still not made a final decision. Mum was not very well. No wonder with all the procrastination of the specialist and the worry of whether he would let her go or not.
We arrived for her appointment and he sent her for more tests. That afternoon he whacked her straight back into intensive care. Her body was so short of potassium that he reckoned she would die if she went on the plane. He did say though that it would be easily rectified.
Things did not look good. It did not look like Mum would survive the night. But Mum was still fighting.
Tuesday no better. We had resigned ourselves to losing Mum.
Wednesday morning Mum rang from the hospital and told me she was going home.
Obviously Mum had had enough. She wanted to go home to her own bed. I told her I would be right out to pick her up.
"No. I am going home to Scotland."
There had been such an improvement the doctors had given their permission for her to go.
Mum had a marvellous holiday but was very tired by the time we got her back to Australia.
The week after we returned she contracted pneumonia and was ambulanced to St John of God's Hospital, Murdoch.
Late on Saturday 7th Aug 1999 she had another stroke, kidneys failed and had to be restarted.
By a.m Tuesday 10th she was at deaths door.
That evening she was sitting up and telling everyone "I have cheated them again."
Fully recovered she went home again.
Then at the beginning of October she was opening her curtains and she fell over.
Unable to move from the floor and not wearing her medi-alert either, she had to struggle to the phone where she called my sister, Pat.
Pat was unable to lift her without causing her great pain.
An ambulance was called and Mum was back in St John Of God's Hospital. It turns out she had broken her pelvis. After 4 weeks in hospital she was sent home on Tuesday 26th Oct. 1999.
In 2003 she received an invitation to her neice, Barbara's, wedding.
Mum was desperate to go.
No one was keen to see her go or to take her.
She was staying with Maureen and I this particular weekend. My travel agent was advertising a special price to the UK.
I went into Fremantle, before Mum was awake, and decided to book a couple of tickets to the UK.
When I got back home Mum was just getting up.
She came down the stairs from her bedroom still in her nightdress, walking slowly, with the aid of her walking stick. She was very tired and barely able to walk.
I told her I was going to Scotland.
"Oh please take me with you".
"I have got a ticket for you as well" says I.
On hearing this she started beaming. She dropped the walking stick and went jigging around the room.
She rushed off and disappeared up to her room.
Maureen and I were astonished at this transformation but we were concerned about her heart. We could hear movement in her room and decided to leave her to her own emotions.
Thirty minutes went by when she came rushing into the kitchen, fully dressed.
"Can you take me into Fremantle right away".
"Off course, but why?"
"I have to get some things for our trip!"
She had made a shopping list of items, new underwear, slacks and blouses.
Two weeks later she and I were in Scotland.
She made it to the wedding where she was treated like the honoured guest she was.
After a brilliant holiday I got her back to Australia, all in one piece.
When I got her home she was extremely happy but very tired. A visit to her doctor resulted in her being admitted into hospital yet again.
When the heart specialist found out about her trip he went ballistic saying that he would never have given his permission.
Mum stood up to him, for once, and said, "Well I did, I went and I am back".
A surprise birthday party was arranged for her as her 80th birthday was spent in intensive care.
All the family and her old friends attended and she was so over the moon about it you couldn't get the smile off her face.
Everything seemed well with her on Friday 7th May, when she had her hair done. On Saturday morning I was going out to take her to lunch when Pat, who lived directly opposite her, noticed her curtains were still drawn. When Pat went across Mum had passed away.
The doctor estimated she had died at about 2.30 a.m.
Always the lady even in death. She was lying on the bed in her night attire with her dressing grown carefully draped over herself.
Her funeral was held at the Fremantle Crematorium on Wednesday 12th May 2004. Mum's ashes were interred next to Dad's.
When we cleared the house we found a packet of letters to us all. She was so prepared.
Everytime she had gone overseas she had left this packet of letters in Lauries care. And it had to be returned to her when she returned home. If she did not return the letters were to be distributed.
In each envelope was a personal letter expressing her love and how much she had enjoyed our company.

Sinclairina married David Corrie Stewart on 20 Jun 1941 in St Paul's Church, Lorne Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. David (son of Alexander Stewart and Mary Graham Kerr) was born on 6 Apr 1920 in 25 Halmyre Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland; died on 12 Aug 1997 in Armadale, Western Australia, Australia.; was buried on 15 Aug 1997 in Freemantle Crematorium, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• School: Bellevue School Edinburgh.
• _UID: 5CC72632C4814250911F76183E9BA5DAE8B0
• Residence: 1921, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 14 May 2014, 8 Clement Rise, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Cath attended Bellevue School Edinburgh.
On leaving school she went to work in Martin's bakery shops until she was called up during WWII.
Before WWII she attended David Redpath's Minerva Christian Mission in Leith. Here she met David Stewart, who she went out with for a while.
When she was called up she went to work in a shipyard in Fife installing the electrics on corvettes.
During the war Cathy met Petty Officer Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) Austin Howes.
Austin and Catherine lived in retirement at Dedridge, Livingston

Informant on the death of Catherine was her daughter Joyce Mack

------ From Source Attached To: Death ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 23 Dec 2014.
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------ From Source Attached To: Residence ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 23 Dec 2014.
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Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 2E121AE919554394AA356BEFB1F8EE2D8579
• Occupation: 1939; Seaman, Merchant Navy
• Residence: 21 Apr 1945, Vellore Cottage, Maddiston, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 9 Nov 1946; Chauffeur
• Residence: 9 Nov 1946, 13 Priory Rd, Whitecross, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 21 Jul 1961, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1 Jul 1972, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 13 Aug 1985, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Being an epilectic when he was young did not stop him from joining the Merchant Navy.
During the war he served on convoys to Russia, mainly on tankers, the most dangerous ships of all. He served in many different capacities, Cook, Carpenter, Seaman, anything to get a berth.
Two seperate occasions he was on ships that were torpedoed and sunk.
On the second sinking it was feared that he and all his shipmates were lost at sea.
Sinclairina, his sister. saw a newsreel of "torpedoed Canadian seamen" being unloaded at Nova Scotia. She was sure she saw Jim amongst the survivors. This was the first the family knew of Jim still being alive.
This was the one and only time Jim ever went to jail. Celebrating his good fortune, he had got drunk, broken the curfew and was arrested.
After the war Jim worked on various large house estates, as a Chauffeur/ Handyman and Bessie worked as the Cook or Housekeeper.
Later Jim joined Smith Crisps and became factory shift-foreman.When the firm decided to close down the factory, Jim and other employees bought the firm. Jim was the first employee shareholder of the new firm.
Jim had not enjoyed very good health since his war-time ship sinkings. Despite this Jim cared for Bessie's every need, even to the extent of carrying her and Bessie was a big lady.
On November 1 1995 he was attending a birthday party for one of his grandchildren when he had a heart attack. Taken to St John's Hospital at Broxburn where he died.

James married Elizabeth Sharp Morton on 21 Apr 1945 in Muiravonside Church, Whitecross, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Elizabeth (daughter of Robert Morton and Thomasina Bavis) was born on 1 Aug 1920 in Causwayend, Muiravonside, Stirling, Scotland; died on 29 Jul 2000 in St John's Hospital, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 0CA942D19C034FC0A3C1E2F8AFFC5C04BF16

Family/Spouse: Robert Browning. Robert (son of Living and Living) was born on 5 May 1944 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; died on 20 Dec 1994 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; was buried on 24 Dec 1994 in Warriston Crem. Edinburgh, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: James Douglas Cox. James was born on 27 Sep 1948 in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Scotland; died in 2022. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 60102E2841214EB4AF952E98DAA061C4D3B8

Notes:

Died in Ina Stewart's arms at her parents home at Sighthill, Edinburgh.

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: F04472F57BD045BAB3B0EAC882C3B1F4E40C

Notes:

Bernard was the son of Susan Plummer, and was adopted by William Aitken following his marriage to Susan.
Joining the Royal Marines, No. 42 Commando in May 1950, he served in many places around the world including Malay during the time of the emergency, Singapore, Malta, Borneo, Aden and Egypt. The commando's home base was in Plymouth, DEV.
He was still serving with them when he married Margaret Millett in 1957. At that time his home address was Plymouth, DEV.
In 1960 Bernard was in HQ Company, 42 Commando, stationed in Singapore.
In 2004 terry Stewart placed an advert on the Commando Magazine website asking if anyone knew of Bernard's address. Very shortly after he received a reply. A chap was working with two of Bernard's sons. They in turn supplied his address.
After 25 years service with the Marines Bernard retired. Settling in London he became a Bus Driver in 1975. At the age of 56 he decided that the stress of driving in London was no way to live and so taking early retirement he and Margaret sold up and headed to a new life in Torreblanca, Spain, on the Mediterranean coast.
In May 2005 Terry was told that Bernard had suffered a stroke. He lost his speech and the power of movement in his right arm and leg. He has regained his speech with some impairment and movement back into his arm and leg although not fully recovered. He still enjoys a game of dominoes with English friends in Spain.

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Maureen Collins. Maureen (daughter of Living and Living) was born on 16 Jan 1939 in 7 East Thomas Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; died on 5 Aug 2013 in Perth, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: James Mack. James (son of John Coutts Mack and Mary Anderson Logan) was born on 23 Apr 1944 in Hutchison Road, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland; died on 26 Sep 2003 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: A7342380442E4FCA9C61BF2A709131688950
• Occupation: 4 Jul 1970; Printing Warehouse Worker
• Residence: 4 Jul 1970, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1999, West Calder, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Irene lived at Chapelton Grove, Polbeth, spending most of her time looking after her grandchildren.
On 12 May 2007, in Broxburn, she died of lung cancer. Irene had not told the family how seriously ill she was

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B3950B899D304F1F8F790DD6B720C749E969
• Occupation: 21 Apr 1973; Stores Auditor
• Residence: 21 Apr 1973, 85 Chapelton Drive, West Calder
• Residence: 2000, 78 Heatherbank, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Robert was best man at the wedding of his brother, Thomas, in 1972

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 56DD56D37E7F4631B83EE4C6A439D4F0110B

Notes:

In 1997 Charlie was studying for Advanced GNVQ Engineering and Physics.
In 2001 he was working for JET (Jersey Electricity Telecommunications) as an apprentice telephone engineer, at Jersey.
Now in 2005 he is a Residential Child Care Officer in the Remand Home.
Charlie is mad on racing cars.

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Craig Leslie Beringer. Craig (son of Living and Living) was born on 22 May 1969 in Woodside Hospital, East Fremantle, WA. Australia; died on 21 May 2012 in Fremantle Hospital, Western Australia, Australia.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]