Friday 18 October 2013

Anna Williams and the Rogers Family


This is a family connection that was mentioned by Frederick Harry in a letter to his daughter: he wrote about his cousin, Olly Rogers, who lived in Adelaide.  Unfortunately I can’t find the exact link.  I believe that Oliver’s mother, Anna Williams (possibly just Ann!) was connected to either Frederick’s mother; or his grandmother (who were both named Mary Williams, and both had mothers called Ann and, I think, sisters called Ann!).  I’ve not been able to find the link which is very frustrating…  However, seeing I have researched Anna Williams and the family, I thought I should write it up! (I've focussed this on Anna - seeing that it is more likely that the family relationship is through her).

Anna Williams was born in about 1833.  I suspect she was born in Wales – Ann Williams was a relatively common name in Wales – but a relevant baptism record hasn’t been found! 
Sometime between 1850 and 1856 Anna Williams married Jonathan Rogers.  
Jonathan was slightly older – possibly about ten years older – born about 1823.  A Jonathan Rogers was registered as a mechanical engineer, at the Pontypool Iron Works in 1853 – this fits his future career and places him close to one of the relevant Williams family who were also living in Pontypool!
Anna and Jonathan’s first child, a daughter named Mary Maude, was born in about 1856 – but again, I don’t know where!! 
By 1858 the family was living in South Australia.  Their daughter, Kate was born in 1858 in Adelaide and a son, William Edward, was born in 1859 in Payneham.  Jonathan was appointed to the South Australian Railways as a first Draftsman in October 1859. 
1862 was a mixed year.  A new son, Oliver Herbert (the Olly referred to in the letter) was born on 21 June, but on 16 August, six year old Mary Maud died of diphtheria.  Anna and Jonathan had a further three children: 1863 – Agnes Maud; 1866 – Annie Edith; and 1870 – Arthur Ernest.  The family now consisted of six children: three boys and three girls.

On 25 April 1887, Anna Rogers died of paralysis aged 54 years.  Paralysis was a relatively common description of death and could possibly have been caused by a stroke or polio or even syphilis (although given that only one of her children had pre-deceased her, this is less likely).  Just ten days later Arthur Ernest (her youngest son) died aged 16 years on 4 May 1887, at the Private Hospital, North Adelaide.  The reason given for his death was “inflammation of the lungs” which could have been Pleurisy or Pneumonia.  It is possible that Anna and Arthur died of the same disease, with either description being incorrect – but could have just been a sad coincidence…

Jonathan Rogers, age 78, died on 10 September 1900.  For many years he had held the position of superintendent of public works in the south-east of South Australia.  One of his highest profile tasks was as the engineer for the Millicent drainage scheme.  The Kingston and Beachport jetties were also constructed under his supervision.  He died at his residence, a farm named Poolna, near Millicent.  The family was later described as a “South Eastern pioneering family”.
Agnes Maud Rogers died on 6 January 1914 (age about 51).  She was unmarried.
Kate Ida Ellis died on 24 November 1927 (age 69), at her daughter’s home in Prospect. She gained a middle name at some point!  Her husband James Ellis had died earlier and they had a daughter and two sons.  Interestingly, she was buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the New Cemetery.
Oliver Herbert Rogers died on 28 June 1929 (age 67) with an obituary published in the Adelaide papers.  He had married Elsie Eliza Roach in 1892 and they had one daughter.  Elsie died at her daughter’s home in Perth on 22 December 1951.
William Edward Rogers died in April 1938 (age 77) in the Naracoorte Hospital.  He had married Rosa Day in 1896; she died a few years before him; and they had no children.
Annie Edith Rogers – who called herself Edith – died on 6 June 1947 (age 81), nearly 10 years after her brother’s death.  She was also unmarried and her death was registered without any details of her parents. 

It would appear that Frederick Harry had met the family, although not Anna - she died before Frederick arrived in Australia.  

Relationship to SNR = possible sibling of great-great-great grandmother

Saturday 12 October 2013

Hugh Dixson


Hugh Dixson was born on 5 June 1810, in Edinburgh, Scotland.  He was the son of Mary Scott and Hugh Dixson, a baker.  When I first voiced an interest in family history, I was told in no uncertain terms that “the family always spelt the surname as D I X S O N”.  However, it appears that Hugh Dixson's father, for most of his life at least, spelt his surname “Dickson”.  This was the spelling he used on marriage to Mary Scott on 25 August 1809 in Edinburgh.  In the 1814 Directory of Midlothian – North (Edinburgh and Leith) he was listed:
Dickson, Hugh baker, 11 Shakespear square

In contrast, Hugh Dixson Junior, with only a few exceptions, used the spelling “Dixson” throughout his life.  It appears that his siblings also started spelling their surname Dixson.  For example, when Hugh's sister Rachael was born, she was baptised as Rachael Dickson.  When she married she used the name Dixson. 

Hugh was educated at Edinburgh High School and served an apprenticeship with a tobacconist before opening his own business as a manufacturer and retailer of tobacco.  The 1833 Directory of Midlothian (North) Edinburgh his entry reads:
Dixon, Hugh, tobacconist, 42 Prince st.

Prince Street was, and still is, one of the main streets in Edingburgh.  It has very few buildings on the south side of the street as a means of protecting the views over the gardens and to Edinburgh Castle.

By 1833 both of Hugh’s parents were deceased.  Hugh Senior died on 24 October 1830 and Mary Scott died on 23 March 1832.  At the time of Mary’s death, Hugh’s was 22 and it is possible that he had responsibility for his siblings.

Hugh Dixson married Helen Craig in Edinburgh, Scotland on 11 April 1837.   Helen Craig was born 25 April 1810 in Edinburgh – about six weeks older than Hugh.  Her parents were Isabella Duncan and Robert Craig.  Robert Craig was described as a shawl maker.   Helen was the second eldest of nine children.

Helen and Hugh with their son Hugh, emigrated from Edinburgh to Sydney on board the Glenswilly departing Greenock on 23 May 1839 and arriving in Sydney on 29 October 1839.  Hugh was encouraged to immigrate to Australia by relatives who had returned from the Colony.  It is unknown who these relatives are, but Helen’s older brother was already living in the Colony (in Goulburn, as it so happens).  Hugh and Helen were part of the Bounty Scheme. 

Upon arriving in Sydney, Hugh Dixson immediately opened a tobacco shop in George Street.  This was the start of one of the largest enterprises of its kind in Australia, the Dixson Tobacco Co. Ltd.  In the early 1840s the city of Sydney was new and was only officially established in 1842.  There were a little over 30,000 people living in the city.  The Dixson family lived at 540 George Street - across the road from Town Hall.  

One of the first things that Hugh Dixson did was to order 400 gross of pipes from Scotland.  These pipes bear an inscription ‘Sydney’ on one side and ‘Dixson’ on the other.  I am lucky enough to own one of these unbroken clay pipes.

Helen and Hugh had 10 children but only 5 survived infancy.  Their children were named according to naming patterns common during the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in Scotland.  The first son is named after his paternal grandfather and the second after his maternal grandfather; the first daughter after her maternal grandmother and the second daughter after her paternal grandmother.  

The first son was Hugh, named after his paternal grandfather.  He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but died before a second son was born.  Helen and Hugh’s second son was born in Sydney, Australia in 1841 and he was also called Hugh.  Another son was born in 1843, Robert, named after his maternal grandfather.

Their first daughter, born in 1845, was named after her maternal grandmother, Isabella (nee Duncan).   Another son, John Saunders, was born on Christmas Day in 1846, however he died on 7 March 1848.  A second daughter, named Mary after her paternal grandmother Mary Scott, was born on 11 August 1848 but she died on 10 April 1850.  Three more sons were born: Craig in 1850, Andrew in 1852 (who subsequently died in 1854) and Thomas in 1854. 

According to the death certificate of Helen Dixson, completed by her son-in-law, another child was born, however the child must have died at birth or soon afterwards as neither the birth or death appears to have been officially registered.  It is possible that her son-in-law merely miscounted the number of children.

Helen and Hugh must have spoken to their Scottish relatives glowingly about Australia as a number of their family emigrated from Scotland to Australia.  In particular, Hugh's sister, Rachael came to Australia in 1858 with her second husband, John Watson and their family.  John Watson became a successful Chemist in Australia - but that's another story!

The family grew up predominantly in Sydney.  In around 1860, Hugh relocated his family and business to Twofold Bay, near Kiandra presumably to take advantage of the goldrush, but it was not as successful as he had hoped and by 1862 the family was again in Sydney at 193 York Street.  In 1864 Hugh and Robert became partners of their business with their father and the company was renamed Dixson and Sons Pty Ltd.  In 1875 the business moved to Castlereagh Street. 

Hugh Dixson was committed Baptist and respected as a good employer.  The Empire Newspaper, Sydney, on Saturday 26 January 1867 reported on a presentation to Hugh.  The address read:
"Presented to Hugh  Dixson, Esq., senior, by his Employees, on the occasion of his departure from Sydney, NSW, to England, as a mark of their esteem and a token of their appreciation of his uniform kindness and general consideration displayed on all occasions towards them.-Respected Sir : In bidding you farewell we feel we should be deeply wanting in
gratitude did we permit you to depart without in some tangible form manifesting to you the high regard in which you have ever been hold by us. Whilst maintaining your position as an employer, you have without sacrifice of self-respect, in the most courteous and friendly manner, mingled with us in healthful recreations, and by your generosity on those occasions to us and our families, you have contributed considerably to our health and happiness, and to the promotion of those feelings of respect and goodwill that should ever exist between an employer and his servants. Nor are we forgetful of the numerous instances in which you have sympathised with us in sickness, and by your good advice and spontaneous pecuniary assistance, relieved us from pressing liabilities. The junior assistants and apprentices have ever been the peculiar subjects of your solicitude, and anxiety for their moral and social advancomant has been constantly manifested in the fatherly advice and admonitions which you have tendered for their welfare. We heartily congratulate you upon your commercial success, and we trust that the Divine Providence may still be vouchsafed to you and your family ; and that after a safe and pleasant voyage, you may again revisit the scenes of your childhood, and should your heart be saddened by finding that many with whom you were once familiar, and who would have welcomed you with warm congratulations, have long since been deposited in the silent tomb, you may be cheered and reanimated in the thought that in this sunny clime, so long the land of your adoption, and endeared to you by so many ties, there are many warm and loving hearts, who will long after your career on earth is ended revere your name and bless your memory."

Hugh thanked his employees for these words, adding that he wanted to treat people as he would like to be treated and advised that he was visiting some "States of America" to look at the growth and manufacture of tobacco and to look at the improved machinery.

His children were all well educated.  The Scots are known for their commitment to education and Hugh Dixson had signed a petition for better provision for education.  Hugh and Robert - the two elder sons - worked with their father in the tobacco business.  The two younger sons, Craig and Thomas, were both medical doctors.  Isabella, the only daughter to survive childhood, married Rev Frederick Hibberd, a Baptist Minister.  

Hugh Dixson died at home in 111 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney on 3 November 1880.  At his death, his estate for probate was valued at over thirty five thousand pounds.  Helen went to live with her daughter, Isabella.  She died at their home in Holden Street, Ashfield, Sydney on 5 February 1894.  Hugh and Helen Dixson are buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Christian Rowe Thornett


Christian Dixson was born in 1879, the daughter of Emma Elizabeth and Hugh Dixson (she was the sixth child and third daughter!).  She married Arthur John Rowe Thornett on 23 November 1902 at her parents’ home Abergeldie, in Summer Hill, Sydney.  They were married by her uncle, Rev Frederick Hibberd.  Christian was 23 and Arthur was 36 plus he had previously been married. And that is the last reference to Arthur… Not quite, the last reference was in the divorce records lodged by Christian in England in 1910.

Christian spent the next fifty years travelling extensively.  For many years her home was in Monte Carlo, but with war looming in the mid 1930s she relocated to Australia. 

She was a part of the ‘social set’ and her movements were often reported on.  In addition, she continued an interest in many of the charities supported by her mother, who died in April 1922. 
Some examples of these are:
  • In June 1922, Christian opened the Surry Hills Welfare Centre.
  • The Evening News (Sydney), on 7 September 1922, reported that Christian was the patron of the “Powder and Patches Ball” raising funds for the “Little Citizens Kindergarten, which is the charge of the Feminist Club”.
  • Christian officially opened the fete at the Trinity Grammar School, South Ashfield, in September 1925.
  • Christian and her sister, Emma Keep, entertained 120 members of the Dulwich Hill Scout Troop at a Christmas party in December 1929.
  • The Canberra Times, on Saturday 21 April 1934 noted that “The Excellencies the Governor General and Lady Isaacs entertained at Government house yesterday afternoon, delegates of the fifth Australian Cancer Conference.  Captain and Mrs Chester Wells and Mrs C Thornett are the guests of her Excellency Lady Isaacs at Government House, Canberra.” (Mrs Chester Wells was Christian’s sister, Marion). 
  • In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 20 August 1943, it was reported that Christian had lost a diamond platinum ring valued at £3,000 somewhere in the city.  It was found later in the day by the proprietress of Turkish baths, under a mat in a cubicle at the baths (Christian had visited during the afternoon!).
  • In October 1951 Christian paid for the carpeting of Christ Church, Kiama.  Later in the year she presented Sunday School prizes at the Church.


She was an avid collector – like her older brother William (who bequeathed his collections and funds to establish the Dixson Library).  In order to store all her items, she had specially constructed barns erected at her property near Kiama.  She had a special collection of fans which were donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

She died on 26 February 1972, aged 93.  She had no children, so she gave just over $150,000 to her friends and family and the remainder of her $1,068,528 estate was distributed to twelve different charities.  For example:

  • ·      The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Trinity Grammar School received substantial sums of money;
  • ·      Funding was given to the University of NSW to establish a scholarship – the “Christian Rowe Thornett Scholarship” – for postgraduate studies in the development of agricultural science; and
  • ·      The Powerhouse Museum has a number of items donated by Christian. 


[Relationship to SNR = cousin of great-great grandmother]

Sunday 6 October 2013

Eric Joyce


Eric was Ian’s uncle.  Eric didn’t have any children, so I’m not breaking my rule about putting up posts of people who have children still alive.  That being said, I have considered whether I should post this or not, seeing that Eric still has a brother living.  However, I suspect that if this brother reads this, he would appreciate it being posted.  Likewise the ten nieces and nephews of Eric Joyce have heard the story and know much about a man that none of them met but was important in her parents' lives.

Eric Joyce was born on 16 April 1913, the second son of Elsie May (nee Spicer) and Albert Charles Joyce.  A further four children were born to the couple and the family was very happy – living in Melbourne surrounded by a large extended family.  Eric was very bright, he attended Carey Grammer School, plus he played the piano in Church.  He was well liked.

In 1932 Albert Charles was promoted to Assistant Secretary, Treasury – which entailed moving to Canberra.  The three eldest boys – Eric and brothers William and Cecil – had finished school and were working.  They remained in Melbourne, as did their younger sister who was finishing school.

When War was declared, all four of Elsie and Albert’s sons enlisted in the RAAF - Eric as a Warrant Officer.  Eric had been going out with Jane Woodhouse Paton for some time and the war spurred on their marriage plans.  They announced their engagement on Saturday 26 September and married on 13 November 1942 in Melbourne.  Jane was born in Scotland and had a strong accent and as a result most people pronounced her name “Jean”.  The whole family loved Jane. 

Eric was a part of the RAF 467 Squadron at Waddington and was the Flight Sergeant in a Lancaster Crew.   Life was difficult but had his bright moments.  Travelling to his base in southern England, Eric stayed in New York and was able to visit different parts of England.  His postcards are upbeat – and talk of sightseeing.  His many photos show young men in uniform enjoying the new experiences and undaunted by the task they faced.

According to Bomber Command diaries, November 1943 to January 1944 was part of the Battle of Berlin.  There were 14 large scale raids on the city.  They were difficult raids because they were at the limit of the Lancasters.  Also the winter of 1943-44 was particularly cold – one pilot and navigator were hospitalised for frostbit and exposure after the nose of the plane was hit during one of the raids. Eric’s crew had two particular incidents in December 1943.  On the night of 3 December the target was Leipzig.  Two motors of the Lancaster Eric was in cut out on takeoff making the aircraft spin around at the end of the runway.  The rear gunner, Flight Sergeant Cecil Frizzell from Brisbane was thrown out of his turret and badly injured.  It took some time to find him in the dark and unfortunately he died in Rauceby hospital on 5 December 1943 – he was 20 years old.  There was a group of men standing at the end of the runway watching and one of them was unfortunate enough to be hit by the aircraft and killed. The Australian War Memorial has pictures taken from the funeral service for the two men.  Then on the night of 29 December, their aircraft was hit by German anti-aircraft guns whilst on their flight to Berlin.  They proceeded to Berlin, dropped their bombs and literally swept out the burning materials before “diving away from the target” in order to put out the fire.  Someone in the family has kept two of the newspaper articles reporting these two incidents.  Sixty-five years on, the language seems violent and the positive spin is quite discomforting. 

At 2359 on 5 January 1944, Eric’s crew took off from Waddington, Lincolnshire on a mission to Stettin.  They were flying a Lancaster Mark III, serial number ED994.  The crew of seven consisted of five RAAF personal and two RAF.  They were (and my titles aren’t consistent here):
  • Pilot Flying Officer Colin Irwin (Curly) Reynolds;
  • Flight Sergeant Kenneth Nigel Bishop Davies (from Albany, WA);
  • Flight Engineer Lt William King, RAF (from Glasgow);
  • Navigator, Eric Joyce (from Melbourne);
  • Wireless Operator, Eric’s friend Henry Morton (Hal) Vellenoweth (also from Melbourne and a long term friend of Eric’s);
  • Mid Upper Gunner Flight Sgt Robert (Bob) H Keating (he had turned 20 on 3 January); and
  • Rear Gunner Sgt JW Neeve, RAF – who had replaced Cecil Frizzell one month earlier (he was also 20 years old). 

They were all tired as the night before they had been on a particularly long flight over Germany and had only reached the airport at 7am on the morning of 5 January.  Most of the crew would had requested that they not fly that night but Reynolds had agreed before consulting them and, according to King, they felt it wise not to object.
They had approached the target – Stettin – by way of Sweden.  They had just got over the target, and dropped their bombs when an anti-aircraft shell exploded alongside the plane, and a fragment struck the pilot (Reynolds) in the head killing him instantly.  King who was Engineer of the aircraft sitting alongside the pilot immediately pulled Reynolds out of his seat and began to operate the controls.  Shortly after, they were attacked by a fighter plane, at which time Eric, Hal and Keating were killed and one of the engines were set on fire.  (Later King told Albert Joyce that he was sure they were killed outright and could have felt nothing.)  The plane kept going, but a short time later Neeve, the rear gunner, reported that there was another fighter coming above.  In accordance with the usual procedure in such cases, King put the nose of the machine down and dived to get away in the darkness, but there was apparently another fighter coming at them from below, following a well-known tactic when working in pairs.  At the time King didn’t understand why there was a terrific crash, but it appeared that he crashed into a Junkers 88 and brought it down with him.  In that crash King had several ribs, his wrist and his leg broken.  Recovering somewhat from the shock he still tried to fly the machine but found that he was rapidly losing height.  The rear-gunner signaled that he was baling out and King decided to do the same.  Crawling along the aircraft King came upon Ken Davies unconscious and pushed him out of the plane and at the same time pulling his rip-cord.  Then he followed.  He tried to get away and apparently walked a few metres, notwithstanding his injuries, but was almost immediately surrounded by three German officers armed with revolvers.  He wisely offered no resistance.  He was later informed that he was the only survivor. 

With regard to Neeve - it appeared that his parachute had simply not opened. 

Ken Davies had died as the result of his injuries.  His father sent a letter to Albert Joyce expressing his hope that Ken had died before hitting the ground as he found it difficult to think that his son may have been conscious as he lay dying alone on cold, foreign land.  He was very angry about the death of his 23 year old son and the lack of information given by the RAF.  The Reynolds and Keating families were also unhappy about the lack of information, and it seems that all families of the five Australians killed in ED994 exchanged letters with each other containing whatever information they happened to obtain.

Official records noted that on the night of 5/6 January, the plane, along with one other, did not return to base – MIA: 5, POW: 1.



The family was informed that Eric was “missing” on 9 January 1944.  On 10 February a letter was written reporting that Eric was now “missing, but believed to have lost his life” and that the “change of classification has been made by the Air Ministry, London, in consequence of a report received from the International Red Cross Committee, Geneva, which states that, according to German information, your son, two other Australians, one Royal Air Force, and two unknown members of the crew lost their lives.  It is also advised that one Royal Air Force member has been captured, and is a prisoner of war.”  Within two weeks the authorities confirmed that Eric had died.  Eric’s father Albert wrote to his sons saying: “For myself, the task of breaking the news to mother yesterday afternoon was the hardest trial I have ever been called upon to face.  May God spare me from ever having to do the same again.”  He finished the letter saying: “Our hearts are all very heavy … However, we still have three wonderful boys and two lovely girls and are all a united family, together with happy memories of one who is gone before.”  

Eric was the only child at that stage married.  His wife, Jane, remarried after the war and had one son.  Members of the family remained in contact with Jane until her death in 1998.  The family also put a memorial to Eric in the Canberra Baptist Church - on the family pew - third row from the back on the right.

The family was fortunate to obtain detailed information about the events surrounding the incident from the one surviving crew member, Sargeant William King, who spent time in a German concentration camp.  During this time he wrote to Jane briefly outlining the bare facts of the crash and saying how sorry he was.  Albert met with him on Wednesday, 29 August 1945 in London, and talked to him about the crash.  Jean lovingly put together a beautiful, detailed scrapbook of Eric’s time in the RAAF, which she gave to Reg before her death.  Various members of the family have also visited Eric's war grave in Poland.  And the first born nephew of Eric Joyce was named in his honour.

Eric was just one of 39,000 Australians killed during World War II.


“I am not forgotten if someone mentions my name” (inscription from gravestone of a casualty of War as told to me by Kathleen Spurling, a War Historian)

Update: In July 2016 Ian, Andrew (great-nephew), my father and I visited Poznan, Poland to see Eric's Grave in the Commonwealth War Grave attached to the Cemetery - along with the other members of the crew (you can see Reynold's grave in this photo). The day was dreary, and the roadtrip took a little longer than we'd anticipated, but it was absolutely worth the time spent to get there and we were all very moved.