Wigan Album

Does anybody know the names of any of these men?

Robert Alexander Derbyshire (Bob) my grandfather is seated, second from left. He's the one with badges on his sleeves. He lived at 23 Hey Street, with his wife Mary Alice (Polly).
Derby Street where Spring View school is situated, is reputedly named after his Grandmother (Emma Derbyshire, nee: Alexander). She lived at number 20 with John and Martha Dyson, her daughter.

Front row L to R ? ? ? John Middleton (my dad) Teddy Crook (B.R.driver Ince) Back row L.to R. ? Bert Derbyshire (B.R. driver, from Hey st. Spring View) ? ? ? BoB Mcsorley ( B>R> driver from Ince) They used to Parade at the Chapel in St. Clement St.

roland.
can you tell me anymore about Bob McSorley from ince?

Hi. Peter,
I know that Bob Mcsorley lived in Hr. Ince, he was a friend of my dad's, he was also still working on the railway at Springs Branch when I started work there in 1953, I left in 1961, I don't think I ever saw him after that, I remember during the war him coming to our house in spring view, and at British Legion functions.
I also remember Bob Derbyshire from Hey St. I think he had a son called Bert, is he any relation to you Bernard?

Hi. Peter,
I know that Bob Mcsorley lived in Hr. Ince, he was a friend of my dad's, he was also still working on the railway at Springs Branch when I started work there in 1953, I left in 1961, I don't think I ever saw him after that, I remember during the war him coming to our house in spring view, and at British Legion functions.
I also remember Bob Derbyshire from Hey St. I think he had a son called Bert, is he any relation to you Bernard?

Hi Roland, Bob did indeed have a son Bert, he was my dad, he died in 1978. Bert had a brother also called Bob, he was in the navy during the war and served on the Rodney, I still have his ships papers and album. He died in 1980

Hi again Roland,
Bob's wife (Polly) is on Spring View pensioners, see if there is anyone else you know.

hi Roland
we are doing our family tree and i think Bob has shown up on it.
according to our tree, he was one of 9 siblings born to robert and lily.
can you confirm this?

Sorry Peter can't help

According to my Grandfather these fine chaps where led by a man known in Spring View as "Squire Walmsley" presumably the man seated in the middle bottom row. One story he used to tell was of the Home Guard parading through Spring View on a wet rainy day. Squire Walmsley was naturally on horse back leading his men dressed in a waterproof cape but he hadn't ordered his men to do likewise so they trudged behind him soaked to the skin. That was until one or two of the wives came and chased their husbands indoors with a tea towel and berating them for being "Daft sods!" My father also said a man named Joe Holland was in the Spring View Home Gaurd and one evening fired his rifle from Taylors Lane bridge at a plane overhead beliving it to be German but in fact it was British. Naturally the occupants of Taylors Lane came outside on hearing the rifle shot and above the excitement someone exclaimed "Who's give Joe a gun? He's going to kill somebody!"