263 replies to this topic

[Matt Richards]

Neither of my grandfathers were in any war! But their brothers were in World War II ...

[Phil Elliott]

It has just occured to me that my Grandfather was born 150 years ago this year! To answer the question of what he did is easy, as on my fathers birth certificate he is listed as Groom[domestic]. However, he had a sideline as a point to point jockey, and sadly this led to his death in a fall at Haldon bridge, Newton Abbot in 1897. Now I've only just qualified for the bus pass, but it always amazes people when I tell them that Grandad died two centuries ago. He would also have probably been too old at 54 to have been in WW1. Not quite Guiness book of records stuff but unusual nonetheless.

                                                                              Phil.

[snapper1907]

Maternal Grandfather - William James Isaac RANDALL. Prior to the war - Regular Soldier joined 2nd Bn East Yorks in Oct 1907. After the war a long period of unemployment and then Road Sweeper.

Paternal Frandfather - Archibald Harris - Prior to the war -Jewel thief (no I am not kidding). After the war a Bookie. During the war - in prison for avoiding the draft. Ho Hum.....

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Patrernal Grandfather first a farmer in Oregon, followed by service in the 15th U.S. Infantry in Tsien Tsin China followed by a rapid rise through the ranks during the war to 2nd Lieutenant then a farmer/carpenter after discharge.

Maternal Grandfather exempt from service, married with a child. He worked at odd jobs before the war and was involved in various criminal actions with his brothers and after the war more odd jobs including work for the the Jewish mob in New York, the chicken market, an electrician and the shipyards. He was called before the Dewey Commission on his activities within the mob.

You can choose friends, not family.

Ralph

[sue ault]

Hi YES
My Grandad Henry Charles Ault was in the RGA prior to the 1914-18 and after he was a milkman. On his daughter Alice's birth certificate 1919, his occupation was RGA/MILKMAN.

                      SUE AULT

[Gunner Bailey]

Paternal Grandfather - Pre war - Bees Wax refiner - Post war - Market Porter
Maternal Grandfather - Pre war - Lift Engineer - Post war - Lift Engineer.

Gunner Bailey

[Phil Elliott]

Just read'Snapper', Post 178, and realised I had not even considered my maternal Grandfather for the previous posting. What prompted this was that although the family referred to him as a jeweller, he was in fact a Pawnbroker name of Boulton in the town of Weymouth before after WW1. Probably fenced a few dodgy trinkets in his time.

[JohnBelcher]

Must be a youngster here as my maternal grandfather was a scholar before the war and was still a scholar at the end of the war.

Born in 1903. But then he joined the RN in 1923, steam submarines, China service when the Japanese invaded, Narvik, Dakar and being torpedoes by the French, Arctic and Malta convoys before ending up in the Far East. Recalled for Korea and Suez.

Paternal Grandfather - again too young for Great War. Served in Second as RASC before being shot and killed in the Greek Civil War.....or he might have been a Canadian soldier waiting for D-Day!

Maternal Great Grandfather - Ex RN and serving in the Coastguard in the Great War. No idea on the paternal side.

[GRACELAND]

I think this post will go on and on and on As They came from all walks of life !

[certacito79]

My great grandfather was a farm labourer before enlisting in 1910, he was born in Blythburgh work house. He left the army in 1919 and married, working for the Brewry in Halesworth. his wife died after bearing him 4 children and 1 stepson and was left to bring up the family in the 20's on his own.

A very different challenge but with an MM and bar probably just as challenging as anything the war threw at him.

In fact times were tough  and the story goes that when my grandad was still a wee one (b.1924) the local inspector from the poor society (whatever the equivelent was back then) and said that as my great grandad kept a clean house, the kids had clothes and there was a ham bone and pea soup on the go he didnt need anything extra. In the style of a ex squaddy (having seen his service history 2 weeks field punishment no2, scapping etc) he ejected the man outside into the street on his behind.

Here endeth the story, great thread by the way.

John

[Wainfleet]

My maternal grandad was a sheet metal worker in a factory. When he volunteered in 1914, he was told there'd be a job waiting there for him when he got back. When he got home after the war, he went straight back to the factory and walked up the steps to the office. The same foreman was there from before the war, and recognised him. "Hullo, what do you want?" "I'm here for my job back, like I was promised". The foreman laughed and said, "There's no job here for you now! Things have changed, you'll have to find something somewhere else!"

Grandad picked up the foreman in full view of all the factory workers, threw him down the stairs, and walked out, never to return to that particular factory. Good old Grandad!

[BRONNO]

Two Grand Fathers were both coal miners and were as hard as iron with scars on top of scars, both served in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt). One came from Nottingham and the other came from Derbyshire and both served in the same Battalion and both survived. Its a miracle I'm here.

[14th HLI]

The 1911 census shows my grandfather as a hoist minder.........I used to be a crane driver........I guess hoisting must run in the family!!!  

Steve.

[DaveG]

Paternal grandfather was an electrician by trade. Also a musician, when there was no work with his trade he started his own band playing music for silent films in the pictures houses of Manchester.

Maternal grandfather was an Ag lab and gardener, After the war the effects of the mustard gas meat he had trouble with heavy labour and ended up as a sweeper up in a turnery.

[Grantowi]

Maternal Grandfather - George Gates - joined the 7th City of London regiment (TF) after his brother - Robert T Gates  - was KIA whilst with the Royal Lancaster regiment.
He was diagnosed with a bad heart after a year and thirty two days and discharged
He got a job in Reuters (the news bods) and worked his way up to be the timekeeper and was known as "the Chief" before dying in 1980 aged 82.
When he was in Reuter's he gave a job to a young Derek Jameson, who later mentioned him in his autobiography "Touched by Angels"

Grant

[rendellers]

My grandfather was a clerk at Henley's Telegraph works in Woolwich before the war. He was a territorial and served in the RFA throughout the war. An early driving license describes him post war as a 'battery specialist'. I have a picture of him with Lord Reith of BBC fame and understand (unsubstantiated) that he was involved with the early development of TV.

[mark f]

The 1911 census as my Grandfather working as a "Biscuit Maker". This was in Deptford, S.E. London.  He was only 13 in 1911 but the census as him as 15. One assumes they lied about age so he could go to work and bring more money into the house. I wonder how many other children that happened to. After the war he was a Stevedore at London Docks, I thinked he worked all over but mainley Millwall.
He did this until 1961/2 when he had to retire due to ill health, but lived for another twenty years. A great man.

Mark

[matthew lucas]

James Lucas was a footman, under footman if i remember correctly before the war, same afterwards then gardner like his father . Edward Bardsley was a railway porter, and eventually a laundry man
matt

[sueburden]

Errand boy at 14 years old, postman at 25, cycle machinist and then silk bleacher.  He survived the war but died in 1921.

Sue

[mattgibbs]

My Great Grandfather was a Yeast Salesman.
During the war he was hospitalised and reduced in medical class, eventually discharged as unfit and in reciept of a pension for permanent 30% disability.
His 3 brothers [those old enough] were killed in WW1.
1 was an apprentice Butcher.
The other 2 I am researching!

[libden]

My maternal grandfather was a brass moulder beofre WW1 but was also in the Territorials and wanted to be a professional soldier. His war wounds put paid to that ambition and after the war he became a park keeper (brilliant at topiary I am told) and was also a singer (tenor) performing at local clubs and at cinemas during the intervals singing and accompanying himself on the piano.

My paternal grandfather was too young to serve in the war but he was a shoehand as were his two older brothers who were both killed in action.

Both grandfathers sound like very interesting men, wish I had known them but both died many years before I was born.

Denise

[Gheluvelt]

Paternal grandfather was a career soldier, joining the Worcestershire Regiment in 1905 until 1912. Millwright until outbreak of war in 1914. On reserve list in the interim,and continued as millwright post war.
Maternal grandfather was a steelworker until joining up. Continued post war.

[Stephen Garnett]

My great-grandfather Charles Reginald Garnett was demobbed in 1919 and joined up again the very next day. I'm not sure when he left the Army, late forties I suspect but he was still a Senior NCO in India during the Second World War.

Regards,

Steve Garnett

[andalucia]

One was a Pressman and the other was a Soldier in India, a Steward and a Coal heaver for the Cunard Line.

[wig]

A putter in the mines of Newcastle.  Killed in the battle of Arras


Those who fill the corves (strong osier baskets in which the coals are conveyed) and lead them from the hewers, on four-wheeled carriages called Trams, to the crane or shaft. The barrowman pulls before, and the putter putts or thrusts behind. In high seams, horses are used instead of men.