lads from bryn gates

In 1939 several of us were enrolled in the Militia after signing up for six months training in the army. That six months lasted seven years in my case.
Arthur Hayes, lived on the opposite side to Lloyds pub.He was at Dunkirk in the same Company as me. He survived the war but I think moved away.
Jimmy Grundy, red/sandy haired lad.
Wilf Young was another. He was at Dunkirk and after doing a rearguard action with the Bren Carriers, caught up with Wilf, His Unit was awaiting transport to get out of the area. We had a chat and He had a good drink out of my water bottle. sorry Wilf there is nothing to eat.Great crowd of lads. I settled in Middleton and lost touch with many.
I don't expect many to remember those names.

Norman, do you remember the Bailey family from Bryn Gates?

Joe, yes I do. Didn't a daughter later live in Cedar Grove, Downfall Green. Was it Betty?
I remember most names from Bryn Gates/Bamfurlong.
My Aunt Martha lived in Bamfurlong.

Thats quite correct. Betty (my Mum) lived in the house that was on the corner of Cedar Grove, just opposite where Dougie lived.

Was Bishops shop in Bryn Gates prewar, or did it come later?

Norman,
Do you remember Jack Chapman who passes away earlier this year?? Lovely man.

Joe, I recall the name Boshop. But I don't recall it pre-war. The shops were as follows. From bryngates co-0p. The next was flit crofts,then across the road to Williams chip pie. Then the hut with. Newspapers. Etc. then the general grocers. On the same side was butler's chippie. Across the road was a damsons
Ast lip trots coal dealers and on to Mrs judas on that side and on your way to bamfutrmlng.but no bishops up there. There was a shop just beg
Fore Westheads Post Office but they didn't seem to do much trade. I have all this info on my computer as part of my life story from age 4.

Joel didn't give the name of the grocers shop, that of course was Peter Gorton's shop.

You're testing my memory here.I think Butlers Chippie must have been at 629. It was an end terraced house, on the opposite side to Lloyds. After it came a block of four houses, then it was the Jolleys entrance.

Bishops shop would have been on the same side as Lloyds. Going towards Bamfurlong, there was a row of 9(?) houses.It was the 7th (no. 626) next door to Baileys that lived at 628.

I'd love to read your life story when its finished, as I'm sure others would.

Joe,that is where butlers chippie was. Bishops took over the original owners Adamsons who had that shop for many years on the same side. As Lloyds public house.

On another subject, the Methodist Chapel was very busy during the miners strike of 1926, as a soup kitchen for the children of Bryn gates.
I could tell you lots about those strike years, much of it as part of my life story.

Gentlemen - how can you remember those names and places? must be good memories I can read about them all day, please continue?.

Norman - are you any relation to Ronnie Prior who worked at Golborne Colliery? Sadly passed away recently.

Campfire. I'm sorry but I don't know of any Ronnie in my end of the family.
There were other Priors, cousins of my Dad lived in Simms Road Ends, Garswood.
Dad's cousins were Tommy Prior, Jake Prior and Bill Prior. Whether there were more at that end I don't know. They all came from the Garswood end.
Sorry I can't be more helpful. But may he RIP.

Campfire. Remembering names. It is gift I suppose and I am pleased to say, I can remember things and events from yester year, I have my life story on my computer from the age of four.
At four and a half, I thought my two older brothers, Harold and Leonard, going of to school each day must be enjoying something that I was missing out on and after complaing, my mother asked at Bryn Gates school if I too could go. Permission granted and I went with them to school. At playtime, I left the school yard and walked all the way home to Croft Cottages at Bryn Hall. On arrival my mother, shocked to see me there asked what had happened> I said, I didn't like it and didn't go back until I was five.
Memories!

Nice one Norman.. I'm pleased that you have recorded your life history.. my wife is a Manager at at local Residential home and over the years I have spoke to dozens of folk both Men and Woman and could listen to their stories all day. Sad thing is though..apart from my memory, none of it is recorded and over time will be lost. I remember one old Gent who was in WW1 in Flanders and always wanted to go to the Cenotaph on Rememberance Day but unfortunitly never did. He was no relation of mine but I've felt guilty ever since he passed away. Over the last few years, I have been jotting their stories down and maybe in years to come someone may read them.

Campfire.
For fifty years I was very involved with the Dunkirk Veterans Association, Manchester & District Branch as well as on a National level. I held every Office in the branch and for the last twenty-six rears was President
The Association Disbanded on 30th June 2000 on the sixtieth anniversary of the evacuation from Dunkirk.
You would be amazed at the number of Children and Grandchildren who have approached me for information on members who never left their offsprings any written memories of their Service days or life after. I was able to help some, but others were not so lucky.
There is so much history which families should know of.
I'm sure you will have realised that during your visits to old friends.
Do your best to find out as much as you can on this subject.
I wish you well

Thanks Norman, much appreciated and I trully respect your involvement in the DV Association, Well done and best wishes.

campfire. For more information, visit Norman prior Lancashire fusiliers on line.

Norman my dad said his family lived at the Lump do you recall the Wilcoxs about five brothers and a sister.

jack52. I think you are on the right trail, but we were the Priors from Bryn Hall. My Mother was a Wicox and my grandparents lived in back beech tree street.
WE were five brothers and one sister.
Ask your dad if that ties in with his recollection.

Norman - I have been on the Lancashire Fusiliers web and its really good, I did also found your updated contribution and it made some really good reading, again well done..
With not knowing much about the Regiment, I also took a ride out to where the Barracks where in Bury, only to find a housing estate and football ground. However, I was pleased to see that they have the names of the Streets related to the Fusiliers. Did find a stone Monument that dipicted some of the campaignes that the Fusiliers were involved in, notably in North Africa and India and spoke to a really nice man in the Regiment Cafe on the main road.

Campfire. The barracks on Bolton Road closed abut four or five years ago and the Museum transferred to Bury.
The monument that was outside at the old barracks was also outside the museum. Well worth a visit but parking is not on site.
I'm glad you were able to get on the Fusiliers web site.
Keep up the good work.

Jack52. Now for more information for your Dad.
The Wilcox family he asked about were my cousins>.My Mothers eldest brother Richard married Mary Donoghue and they had six children. Tommy, Margaret, John, Horace, Joseph and Bill. Bill had a nasty accident on the Screens at Bryn Hall Colliery and suffered a lot afterwards.
Horace was similar age to me and was awarded an MM during WW2.
My Mother's youngest brother John Edwin, Served in WW1 and was awarded the MM and Bar. He Married Mary's sister Kit,and emigrated to the US in 1923 on the liner Tirana
which was later renamed the Lancastria and was sunk off St. Nazaire in June 1940 with heavy casualties.
Jack there you are with a bit for your Dad to absorb.

I'm sure that Norman won't need me to remind him of this, but campfire did you know that the Lancashire Fusiliers were awarded six Victoria Crosses in one morning during the Gallipoli invasion in 1915. Two of the recipients were residents of the borough of Wigan.

tuddy - Hi,I did know of the six VC's and the saying "6 before breakfast" but was'nt aware that two of the resipients came from Wigan. I'll look it up as I'm really interested in what these brave men & women did.
Relating to a VC, next door to my Mam & Dads house in St Helens, lived a Gentleman who won the VC and Belgium's highest honour in WW1 but sadly passed away in 1972. John Moleneux was is name born 1890 - 1972, an ex-miner and just a normal bloke !!! Another VC recipients from St Helens in WW1 was John Davies..

What a generation the men and women of ww1 days. We should all be proud of them. It was so sad that we had to lose the cream of our country. But the families still coped. Yes a wonderful generation of whose love for their country made them proud to Serve.

Campfire, the two Lacashire fusiliers who were awarded the Victoria Cross at Gallipoli were also mineworkers, as was Thomas Woodcock, another Wiganer who won a Victoria Cross. I don't want to turn Norman's excellent thread into anything political, but dose'nt it highlight the ignorance of that prime minister who described the miners as "the enemy within."

Correct tuddy - She had a short memory when it suits..proud individuals who fought for what they believed was right..
Luckily we have moved on and the Country in general are now recognising the true diligence of those proud and brave individuals.

Jack52, I hope the information on the Wilcox family is up to your dad's expectations

Norman,
Sorry but my dad died 18 years ago. He was christened John Edwin but everybody called him Jack.There was another brother called Arthur as well.Ended up running a pub in St.Helens.I always remember him telling me about his dad drowning in the canal at Abram don't know if you recall that.

jack52, Am I right in thinking that you are a Wilcox?
If so, then your Dad would be called after his and my uncle John Edwin.
I missed Arthur off my list my brother told me that Arthur kept a pub in St Helens.
Re the drowning of Richard. The details there are that Richard who was not a heavy drinker was drinking in the Harrow Pub in Riding Lane and one of the suggested going to the Dover hotel, Richard against his better judgement was reluctant but in the went with them.
They had the extra drink after time and came out through the back door ahead of Richard who had called in the Gents.
It was a foggy night by the canal bank and Richard walked out and fell into the canal. That was on the Saturday night.
On Monday morning John came to our house at Bryn hall to inform my mother (her brother)of the situation and the police were going to use grappling irons to recover the body. The canal bank was steep at that area and Richards hands were worn down to the bones as he tried to climb up the bank. A sad time. He was a lovely man who used to mend clocks in his spared time.
My wife and I used to go to the Park Lane Club with my sister Pamela and her husband Alan on Saturday nights and meet up with John and his wife, sometimes his daughter would join us.
My last connection was at the funeral of Joseph at Our Ladies Church.
So Jack you have the information that I have.
John Edwin Senior died in America in 1972.

jack52, You say your dad was always called Jack. All my family always called him Johnny. Not that it matter, it's just how times change.

jack52. A bit more of your family history. Richard's eldest sister, Emily and her husband emigrated to Canada and then into America in 1912. She came over a few times and eventually died at the age of ninetysix. Her sister Rose, her husband was killed at Gallipoli in 1916, live in Bolton in her later years and died age 96. Grand Parents were in their eighties so there is some good stock there.

Norman
Thanks for all the information you have got a brilliant memory. I remember my auntie Maggie she was the only one who called my dad John.

Norman, my Mum is pretty sure that the Wilf Young you mentioned at the beginning of your post is Jessie Young's brother. Jessie and Mum worked together on Bryn Hall pit brew, they now live in the same area and they see each other from time to time

suesa, you could be correct re Wilf Young.It depends on the age group. Wilf would be 20 in 1939 so I assume he must have been older than Jessie.
He would also be one of the Militia who were going in for six months training but the war started and the six months became "Duration of Emergency".
Did your mum like the picture of the house she lived in, number 5 Croft Cottages?

jack52. It seems that you and I are directly related.
as second cousins.

Norman oh yes mum loved the photo! It brought back so many memories. Thank you so much

Jack52' talking to my sister Pamela this morning and connections with you and we. we were memorising on all the things of the past.She lives at Simms Rd Ends Garswood. She is twenty years younger than me and confirmed some of the things that happened during my time away in the army. I was the middle of five lads and she came last. Happy days.
How things have changed everywhere.
Do you live in Ashton area or have you deserted the old places. Have you got any more brothers.

Norman yes I live in Ashton near to Stubshaw Cross and yes you will be my dads first cousin.I have two brothers Horace and David one ten years older and one five years younger.

Norman, Congratulations on your award from the French,