VC & Canadian forces

ray green · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject: VC & Canadian forces

I have given up on Mary Ellen Rimmer for the time being and I have transferred to my paternal grandmother's family. Her father John Shilling married a widow Ann Brennan aged 33 at Salford on 12/9/ 1887. Ann's father was John Bearman and I know that Ann Bearman was born in Southport c1854. John Shilling died at 135 Boundary Street, Southport on 5/10/1905 and the death was registered by J Brennan, stepson who also lived at Boundary Street.
you would think with names such as Bearman and Shilling it would be so easy and maybe for someone who knows what they are doing it would be!
BTW when I saw John shilling's death cert that was the first I knew that my grandmother had step siblings despite me visiting almost every day as a kid.
Why did the old folk play there cards so close to the chest?
Are there any Shillings, Bearmans or Brennans with Southport connections who can provide details of Ann bearman's mother (John's wife) or indeed anything else to fill in the gaps.
regards Ray Green

Dotty · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:36 am Post subject: Hello

I love your avatar, what a splendid looking chap...may I ask who is it?

Your family is unique and I'm sure you'll hear something from somebody soon. You've implied that you are new to the family history game. Have you joined the society yet as we have members who do free look-ups.

Good hunting...

Dotty

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Family History is moo-sic to my ears!

bobg · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 92 Location: Canada

By 1914/15 the Bearmans & Shillings appeared to have disappered from the Southport area,including Banks & Formby. No one with these surnames are listed in the Seed's Southport & District Directory for those years. However there were four Brennans:

Brennan, Albert, motor driver, 3 Mill St
Brennan, Jno., private tutor, 50 Alma Rd
Brennan, J., coach ptr., (painter?), 10 Palmerston Rd
Brennan John, motorman, 144 Cemetery Rd

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bobg
Canada

ray green · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject: My avatar

Slightly embarrased for using that photo. I was doing some research about George Masters VC, who was a racing cyclist before the FWW, and I came across another VC born in Southport but who emigrated to Canada and won his VC while in the Canandian Army. That's his photo and I guess that explains the "Mounties" style hat. I seem to recall that he returned to lancashire but I can't remember his name.
John Brennan of 144 Cemetery Road is definitely the son of Ann Bearman by her first marriage (thanks for that info). A move from Boundary Street to Cemetery Road, is that upwards mobility? just about I guess but at that rate it will be a long time before I find any relatives in Waterloo Road!

SeaCopRimmer · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

There is a grave to 'Masters, VC' in St Cuthbert's Churchyard; it is visited frequently by his family - if anybody is interested I can take a picture and get it posted?

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I may be a shrimp but I'm BIG on family history

Dotty · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject: OK

That would be grand seacop...

Dotty

_________________
Family History is moo-sic to my ears!

baxtersp · Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 129 Location: Church Road, Banks

I think this is the gravestone you mean

SeaCopRimmer · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:46 am Post subject:

That's the one - saved me a trip, ta Smile

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I may be a shrimp but I'm BIG on family history

bobg · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 92 Location: Canada

ray green · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject: Southport/Canadian war hero

I think it is highly unlikely I would remember the name even if I saw it again. I think there is more chance that I could find the website again so I will start Googling.

ray green · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject: The Other Southport VC

Arthur Richardson won his VC in 1900 at Wolve Spruit in the Boer War. Below is a little of his story.

Arthur Richardson, who was born in Southport, England, on Sept. 23, 1872 was brought up in Liverpool. At age 21 he emigrated to Canada, and after working as a rancher joined the North West Mounted Police. At the outbreak of war he took a leave of absence and joined the Canadian Army. After the war he rejoined the Mounties until ill health forced him to retire. He was made constable of Indian Head, Sask., but poor health forced him to give that up as well. After that he became dependent upon the welfare of the townsfolk.

In 1908, Richardson returned to Liverpool. Little is known or was heard of him until the Dec. 16, 1932 issue of the Liverpool Post and Mercury newspaper. In it was a story that described him as the “Shy VC” who worked as a “tramway ganger, cinema attendant and so on, unknown to his relatives (his wife reportedly died in 1910) who believed him to be dead.” Richardson apparently went into seclusion until 1924 when, the newspaper reported: “There was a happy reunion between the long lost VC and his mother and eldest brother.” Richardson later found employment as a foreman with the Edge-lane tram depot.

Although he preferred the role of a recluse, ironically a namesake had been impersonating him in Scotland where he was widely feted and honoured wherever he went. The imposter even had the effrontery and gall to attend a garden party for VC holders hosted by the king at Buckingham Palace. His role as a fake went unrevealed until the real Arthur Richardson died in Millroad Hospital, Liverpool, and was buried with full military honours on Dec. 15, 1932.

bobg · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 92 Location: Canada

Thanks for that Ray. A most interesting story.

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bobg
Canada

Dotty · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:57 am Post subject: Errrr....

Did it name the imposter?

_________________
Family History is moo-sic to my ears!

bobg · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 92 Location: Canada

I think it is safe to say the namesake was named Arthur Richardson Wink

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bobg
Canada

Dotty · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject: ?

So the imposter's name was really the same and he just pretended he was the famous one?

I'm confused....and dotty! Sad

_________________
Family History is moo-sic to my ears!

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