Updated 19 Oct 2012

Gerald Walsh's memories 1918-1970

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Memories 1918-70

  by Gerald Walsh


Gerald Walsh in 2008
At the encouragement of his eldest daughter Gillian, Gerald Walsh (1918-2010) wrote "Memories" of his life on a manuscript of 185 pages and 100,000 words. This was finished around 1996 at the age of nearly 80. Gillian typed them out, and he recorded many of them in his own voice onto 5 CDs. The text is given here, divided into 9 "CDs" of approximately 75 minutes voice each. The red page numbers refer to the Manuscript.
See also: INDEX | Gerald Walsh's later life | WALSH pedigree | emails | Obituary |

Index

GOTO CD
CD-1 | CD-2 | CD-3 | CD-4 | CD-5 | CD-6 | CD-7 | CD-8 | CD-9 |
GOTO page
01 BEGINNINGS - POTTER'S ROW | 02 Pimblett's Farm | 03 Clogs - Miners | 04 ASHTON and its PEOPLE | 05 Mother's friends | 06 Girls life - Maternal Grandparents | 07 Father's brothers | 08 Ethel - Harold - Winnie - Alice | 09 Aunt Winnie | 10 Aunt Winnie - Uncle Jim - Blackpool | 11 Aunt Winnie | 12 Lewis's - Uncle Jim | 13 Birkenhead | 14 Mother | 15 Winnick - Father | 16 Mother - Aunt Polly - Uncle Ted | 17 Aunty Polly | 18 ASHTON in MAKERFIELD recalled | 19 R.C. Church and School | 20 Irishmen | 21 Welshmen | 22 Mucky Tuppy | 23 Nine tops - Market | 24 Over five? - Travels | 25 BIRCOTES | 26 Phasey family | 27 Moving | 28 LANGOLD - General Strike | 29 1926 | 30 Model village | 31 Langold Lake | 32 Drowning Nora | 33 The lake - Skating | 34 OUR FIRST HOUSE | 35 Sweets - Shops | 36 The COLLIERY | 37 Miner's life | 38 Accident - Miner's life | 39 Miner's life | 40 Shops | 41 Doctors - Co-op | 42 Shopping | 43 British legion | 44 Drunkeness | 45 46 RIDDELL AVENUE 1926-31 | 46 Inside our house | 47 Breakfast - Dancing | 48 Radio - Records | 49 Bathnight - chillblains | 50 NEIGHBOURS and PLAYMATES | 51 Neighbours | 52 Practical Jokes | 53 CHILDREN at PLAY | 54 Mr Driver | 55 Childrens Games | 56 Bicycles - leapfrog - piggystick | 57 Marbles - older boys | 58 Turnips - Roche Abbey | 59 Walnuts | 60 Conkers | 61 SCHOOL | 62 Mr Randall - Mr Phillips | 63 Music | 64 Mr Phillips - Miss Goldberg | 65 Schoolday - school bobby | 66 Prayers | 67 Arithmetic - English | 68 Teacher's influence | 69 Leaving primary school | 70 11 plus exam - RETFORD | 71 Starting Grammar - Bus Trip | 72 Train Trip | 73 Walking to school | 74 School uniform - Retford town | 75 School day - Prayers | 76 School day | 77 School day - THE STAFF | 78 The Head - Pilkington-Rogers| 79 Compound Interest | 80 Mr McFerran | 81 Mr Calvert - Mr Lewis | 82 Mr Marsh | 83 Mr Hammond | 84 Mr Beasley - Mr Hay - Mr Graydon | 85 Mr Charlton - Mr Gover - Mr Dow | 86 Mr Spencer - Mr Stansfield - Chem. Master | 87 FELLOW PUPILS | 88 More pupils | 89 More pupils | 90 THE SHOP - Doncaster Rd - Norah born - Father ill | 91 The shop - shop items | 92 Shop items - Travellers - Confectionary | 93 Choosing sweets - Jarrow March | 94 Baking - Father's health | 95 Tin Lizzie - Buying potatoes | 96 Cauliflowers | 97 Driving - Painting Agnes | 98 Eggs | 99 Representatives - Running the shop | 100 Remedies | 101 UNIVERSITY DAYS - Sheffield - Crewe Hall - Dining | 102 Crewe Hall - Choice of career | 103 Lectures - small Universities - History Dept - Lecturers | 104 Woodward - Tyler - Students | 105 International Trade - National Government - Edward VIII | 106 George VI - World Affairs | 107 Mussolini - Churchill - Moseley - Abyssinia | 108 Hitler - Chamberlain - University life | 109 Student company - Hiking | 110 Holidays | 111 Summer camps - IVSP - Sachsenhausen | 112 R.A.Butler - Fascists - Blackshirts - Graduation - Lithunia | 113 Rubenstein family - Poland | 114 Leaving Lithuania - University classes - teaching | 115 Gosport - the Navy | 116 NAVY DAYS - HMS St Vincent - drill | 117 Shore leave - HMS Daedalus - Tiger Moths | 118 HMS Raven - Battle of Britain - Stukas - Junkers 88 | 119 Blitz - shelters - HMS Orlando | 120 HMS Victory - bombing - HMS AMazon | 121 12 year men - messing - sea sick | 122 Convoy duty - storm - Asdic | 123 Battle stations - depth charges - fear - Iceland - mumps | 124 Reykjavik - American GIs - HMS Hecla - HMS Hood - Greenock | 125 Bismark - bombing - HMS King Alfred | 126 OLQs - casualties - sub-lieutenant - Mother | 127 History of WWII | 128 COASTAL FORCES - Pearl Harbour - El Alamein -Weymouth - MGBs | 129 First Lieutenant - other crew - E-boats - R-boats | 130 Getting wet - coastal places - Lieutenant - Rothesay - Married | 131 Baslow - Chatsworth - Glasgow - Sauchiehall St - Paying-off - D-Day | 132 Mulberry - Roedean - V1s - Lowestoft - D-type Fairmile - low bridge | 133 Working-up - Straits of Dover - Holyhead - crew - East coast | 134 History of WWII - Ostend - Antwerp - Flushing | 135 Xmas - marriage - Ostend - Accident - VE-Day - Chatham -rationing - demobilization | 136 Chattenden - Windmill Theatre - Dyspepsia - VJ-Day - Lancing College - Exbury House - Discharge | 137 RETURN to CIVILIAN LIFE - Worksop Central School - housing shortage - Tiger Moth - flu - motorbike | 138 Oldcoates - bungalow - village - health problem - Landrindod Wells | 139 Recovery - Oldcotes life - Manor Farm - Hermeston Hall - Riddell, Smith, Betts, Snell | 140 Gillian - Grandma Bool -Auntie Edith - Douglas - Jean Pratt - Naylor - Auntie Kit - Uncle Tom - Mary - Alice - Herbert - Howard | 141 Bool family - Frank - Jean - Bob - Leslie - Brocco Bank - Edna - smoking | 142 I GO INTO BUSINESS - Miss Limb - Harold Dean - Marina Cash - Kathleen Snell - Fruit & Veg - Mrs Wilson - cigarettes | 143 Fish & Chip shop - Swifts - Curries - Rileys - Wilsons - Woods - Haywoods - Moulds | 144 Mavis & Tony Grainger - Mrs Cash - Mrs Hill - Miss Greatorex - school bobby - Nurse Walton - shop makes money - Twins Geraldine & John | 145 Nurse Walton - Mrs Simons - Mablethorpe - Auntie Alice - Kathleen Snell - Gillian & Sheila move | 146 WE COME to CANADA - England bankrupt - meeting Canadians - British Columbia - Prince George | 147 Shop problems - physical exam - car problems - sale of shop - Snell family | 148 Extra teaching - Southampton to Quebec 1955 - Goodbye to Bools - Scythia (Cunard) - Midland Bank - Montreal -Transcontinental rail | 149 "Jasper or Bust" - Jasper - Prince George - No housing | 150 Old Nurse's home - New school - Bednesti Lake - Wieners - Winter - 50 below - Frozen nose | 151 Children in winter - House heating - Pipes freezing - Morrison family | 152 Horrocks family - MacAree family - Saleries - School staff - Missing crate | 153 Prince George - Warren Holley - Spring - David MacAree - Squamish - Horseshoe Bay - North Vancouver - Mr Walker - West Vancouver | 154 Inglewood Av - Old Dodge - night watchman - children - Wooldridges - Quelches - Smiths | 155 Griffiths - Minkleys - Cowleys - Hurrells - Foremans - Powells - 1956 - Okanagan Lake - Kelowna - police - Harry Cullis - house improvements | 156 Growing children - meat - holidays - Parks - Eagle Harbour - Horseshoe Bay - camping - Vancouver Island | 157 Oregon coast - California - Crater Lake - a Black Bear | 158 Frank & Avis - DEW Line - Nora & Ted - Traffic accident | 159 Nora - Paisley Island - Bowen Island - Ian - Alan - Norgate | 160 Master's degree - Doctorate - Assistant Professor - Gillian marries Terry - Mother | 161 Phyllis and Jack - Bert and Margaret - Two Johns - Dora and Arthur | 162 1968 Tour of Canada - John crashes car - 1970 Trip to Europe | 163 Frank and Avis - West Sussex - Scotland - Larne - Castlebar - Kiltimagh | 164 Walsh everywhere - Kiltimagh - Margaret Anne Carroll - The Family History Letter | 165 The Family History Letter (continued) | 166 The Family History Letter (concluded) | 167 Miss Caroll - Southern Ireland | 168 Cork - Youghal - Dublin - Rosslare - England - Crowborough - Senlac | 169 France - Chartres | 170 Burgundy - car problem - Switzerland - Jungfrau - Italy - Genoa - Pisa | 171 Florence - Rome - Venice - Austria | 172 Drunken bowlers - Return to Canada - car disappears | 173 FAREWELL to 1344 INGLEWOOD - children grow up - pets | 174 Bears and surveyors - House for sale - Panorama Place | 175 Bowling club - National Championships - Chief Umpire | 176 Discrimination - Jimmy Jarvis - Constitution - Equality | 177 Campaigning - Human Rights - Women admitted | 178 Parks Board - Equality of Status | 179 MOVE to WHITE ROCK - Semiahmoo Bay | 180 Walking - birdwatching - drawing | 181 Rockies - California - Billy Gibbs - Grand Canyon - Wyoming - Angus Gunn - Bowling - Greenkeeping | 182 Umpiring - Chief Umpire - Commonwealth Games 1994 - a long day | 183 Visitors - 50th Wedding Anniversary - Jean's memory | 184 Developing symptoms - Alzheimers - NEW FORMAT | 185 |

Later life

Gillian (daughter of Gerald Walsh) writes:
My Dad went on to graduate from the University of Sheffield, married and had four children. In 1955 he and Mum decided to emigrate to Canada and moved first of all to Prince George, British Columbia where we lived for one year. Dad was a high school teacher there. The next year we moved to West Vancouver where we lived for a number of years, with Dad taking a teaching position at Hamilton Jr. High School in North Vancouver. To subsidize the family income Dad worked at Burrard Dry Docks in North Vancouver as a nightwatchman, a job he despised but the money was needed. Dad decided to further his studies, taking a sabbatical from the high school, and went back to school attending the University of British Columbia where he studied for 3 years. He obtained his Masters of Education and went on to earn his PhD in the History of Education which led to a position as Associate Professor teaching History of Education at the University of British Columbia. This with a wife and four kids at home. Mum supported the family through her drafting business while Dad was on sabbatical. Looking back the thing that stands out most for me was the fact that although they were busy and money was tight there were always three good nutritious meals on the table; a priority in our home growing up.

Obituary

From issuu.com/peacearchnews for 18 Aug 2010, written by his daughter Gillian.

WALSH, Gerald
Gerald Walsh passed away peacefully on August 10, 2010, at the age of 92. Born March 5, 1918 in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, England, Gerald was predeceased by his wife Jean Walsh in 1999. He is survived by his children Gillian (Terry), Sheila, Geraldine and John (Teresa), his sister Nora, and brother Frank (Avis). He also leaves behind grandchildren Valerie (Dori), Michael (Sheri), Chelsea (Troy), Travis, Kim, Steven and Theresa (James), and great grandchildren Jessica, Liam, Ethan, Emily, Nina and Alexandra. In addition, he will be missed by many nieces, nephews and friends. Gerald served in the British Royal Navy during WWII. The family immigrated to Canada in 1955, spending a year in Prince George before moving to West Vancouver. Gerald taught at Hamilton High School in North Vancouver for several years. After earning his Masters and Doctorate of Education at UBC, he became a professor in the Faculty of Education. After moving to Vancouver's West End, Gerald and Jean became enthusiastic lawnbowlers, first at Stanley Park and then at the White Rock Lawn Bowling Club. Gerald was Chief Umpire at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria in 1994. Gerald led a full life and enjoyed cooking, baking bread, reading, and his daily walks. He will be remembered for his remarkable intelligence, memory and quick wit. Education was always an important part of Gerald's life. He was an author, lifelong student and teacher. Special thanks to Dr. John O'Brien, Dr. James Rudnick, Dr Michael Bassett and all of the caring nurses and staff at Peace Arch Hospital. No service by request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

WALSH pedigree

 Irl             York                            Ashton             Ashton
 1861     York   1865                            1853       Wigan   1853
 Patrick  1882   Margaret                        Benjamin   1873    Mary
 WALSH=====v=====TIMLIN                          BLINSTON=====v=====KNOWLES
           |                                     1899         |     1911
           |                                                  |
 |------|--|--|-----|               |------|------|-----|-----|-----|----|---------|--------|-----|--------|
 |      |     |     |               |      |      |     |           |    |         |        |     |        |
1884   1887  1891  1889            1891   1874   1876  1878        1880 1882      1884     1886  1889     1896
James  John  Mary  Patrick         Martha Joseph Ellen Christopher Ann  Elizabeth Winifred Alice Benjamin Mary
                    |               |
                    |               |
                   1889 Mayo       1891
                   Patrick  1917   Martha
                   WALSH=====v=====BLINSTON
                   1953      |     1969
                             |
         |------------|------|------|-------------|
         |            |             |             |
        1918 Wigan   1922 Ashton   1924 Ashton   1932
        Gerald       Frank         Joan          Norah
        WALSH
        2010
         |
         |              Dorothy
        Gerald  1945    Jean
        WALSH=====v=====BOOL
                  |
                  |
     |--------|---|---|----------|
     |        |       |          |
    1945     1949    1951       1951
    Gillian  Sheila  Geraldine  John

emails

----Anyone with more details for publication on this webpage, please email ----
--------------
Gillian Johnston writes on 01 Dec 2011:
This story was my baby. When I was six years old, the unexpected birth of twins to Mum and Dad happened. They were expecting one baby but not two and our home was simply not big enough for all of us. Therefore, my sister (2 yrs.) and I (6 yrs.) went to live with my maternal grandparents. For me it was a remarkable and beautiful experience but I never really knew my grandparents story so I had a burning desire to know my parents story for our children and grandchildren. One year, as a Christmas gift to all our parents, I wrote a poem and gave them several writing pads and pens and pencils requesting they write their life story. My Dad took it very seriously and over the last twenty or so years his story has evolved. I am very grateful that it can be shared with you and others.

John, I have to say what you are doing with Dad's site is just fantastic!!! And....appreciate the time and effort you have put into it.

Best to you,
Gillian

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