RootsChat.Com

Dragoman have you read this http://samilitaryhistory.org/diaries/etches.html

 

Yes, that is an article that I wrote about my great uncle in 2011. At that time I remember having difficulty in finding records about his time in the South African Constabulary.

I am researching the life of a man called John Thomas Hillary who was born in a town called Tow Law, County Durham, England in January 1864. He joined the Salvation Army as a young man and soon rose to the rank of colonel. In fact "Colonel" soon became his family nickname. In 1921 he and his family sailed to Kingston , Jamaica where, I am told, he was in charge of all Salvation Army activities in the West Indies. His wife, Fanny, was also a Salvationist of high rank. Unfortunately, the heat proved to be too trying for John and, reluctantly he and his family returned to England two years later in 1923. His health soon recovered and he managed to live until he was 90 years old. I am very interested in finding out more about John while he was in the West Indies and would be grateful if anybody on here could help. Many thanks.

Many thanks Comberton and Carole W. - you have both been of tremendous help!

Hello, I am trying to remember some of the Christmas party games we used to play as children back in Wandsworth in the 1950's. My Dad used to come up with one he called "Follow the Old Paloney Man", although I'm not sure how to spell "Paloney". It consisted of the family sitting in a circle having each chosen an imaginary instrument to play. My Dad would sit in the middle of us and as we all sang "Follow the Old Paloney Man", he would pretend to play one of the instruments we'd chosen. You had to watch him closely and if the instrument was the one you had chosen, you had to immediately play it too. Otherwise you would have to carry out a forfeit. I know that there are variations of this kind of game, but nobody seems to recognise this one. Also, who or what was a Paloney Man?

The topic I'm posting relates to a 19th century clipper ship named The Westland which used to sail from England to New Zealand and back. Because the sailors were on board a week before the passengers or cargo, it was the practice for them to receive a month's salary in advance. So, the end of the first month of the journey was a time of great rejoicing for them because, up to that point, they had been "working for a dead horse" but now their wages would begin to accumulate. The ceremony they undertook involved making a sham horse, stuffing it with straw, tar, pitch and other inflammable materials. The sailors then painted their faces black, wore ridiculous masks and hats and paraded the horse around the deck while singing and playing flutes, tin whistles etc, A mock auction followed and the horse was sold to the highest bidder. It was then hoisted up to the yardarm with its rider who set fire to it, letting it drop into the sea. The rider was then lowered safely. The ceremony ends with the crew assembling at the captain's cabin and being served with alcohol. I have never heard of this ceremony before and I would to know more about it and whether it occurred on other vessels besides a clipper ship.