The Boer War

[BigguyCalgary]

Hi Chinaplate,

   Thanks for this message.  I didn't receive the other one.  I'm really happy to see your post.  I haven't been able to find very much information on any of my Grandfather's siblings and the only information I have on my Grandfather is mostly rumors.  Which sister are we related through?  Do you have your tree available anywhere?  Please let me know.

Cheers,
BigguyCalgary

[chinaplate]

Hi,
Back again. With the passage of time wondered if you still used this site therefore  was so pleased to receive such a prompt reply. Wonders of the internet. In your Grandfathers day no such way of families connecting up again once contact is lost. I've rung my Mother and she would be pleased to answer any questions she can as her mother was very fond of your grandfather. I see that this site doesn't like people giving personal contact details but down the track it may be easiest for us to ring each other or exchange email addresses  to not present information to everyone. Perhaps I should establish who I am first so you can be confident you are dealing with a bonefide family member. I don't have a family tree for the maternal side of my family but can answer some of your immediate questions.
Your grandfather Tom Heritage was first married to Nellie Collinridge (think the spelling is right)  who died with no children. Tom went off to Australia gold prospecting and pearl diving after her death around the turn of the 19th centary (Barbara his daughter gave us a copy of his Australian miners right and seaman's certificate as he apparently bought a pearl lugger. He came back to London having made enough money to buy the tenancy of a pub the "Tower Hamlets" which was subsequently transferred to the "Devonshire Arms" which was bombed out in the war. He transferred to the "Weavers Arms" in 1941. There is quite a write up on him in a Jan 1950 Watney brewery company house magazine of which I have a photocopy.  It mentions that "Mr Heritage is now married (your grandmother Grace) and has two six-footer sons and a daughter." (Roland, Thomas and Barbara - presume your "Bigguy Calgary means your Dad handed on his height genes. I've tried to attach a copy but says I've exceeded my byte limit. Will therefore sent the attachments separately and may even have to break up this message.
My Mum can give you all the perhaps 7 siblings of Thomas but just from my memory my Grandmother Louise was one of his twin sisters  the other being Nellie. I remember being taken to visit their older sister Sarah but don't remember the other brother and sisters names.
As noted above Tom and Grace had your Dad Roland his brother that my Grandmother referred to as "Young Tommy" who married Eileen and I think had children.  Barbara married Roy had your cousins Susan Nigel Julia and Andrew. We might have some contact addresses for them Their Dad Roy died in the last few years in Jersey having been considerably predeceased by Barbara. My parents had quite a lot of contact with them and they visited us here in Australia after we emigrated in 1961. My family is my mother Ethel only child  of Louise and William Caley. Mum married  my Dad Stanley Bell 71 years ago and had  my sister Elaine who came across your message and my twin brother Graham. I am Roger. We are 67 so grew up with quite a bit of awareness and contact with your family in the 50's but in my memory your Dad was always  referred to as being in Canada whereas it was first hand contact with his brother Tommy and sister Barbara and parents Tom and Grace. I'll send this off so you can decide how you want to go from here. I think this site has a personal message facility if we want to exchange more direct contacts. I'd like to hear something of you and your family. Were you aware of our existance? I look forward to filling in some gaps in our mutual family.
Cheers

[chinaplate]

Trying to send  p  25 ,26 and 27 of 1950  Watney House Magazine featuring Tom Heritage.
I've reduced the resolution but still can't get the pages through. will try something different .

[chinaplate]

Trying OCR scanning on the Red Barrel Watney publication p 25

[chinaplate]

The Red barrel p25 Tom Heritage

[chinaplate]

The Red Barrel p26 Tom Heritage

[chinaplate]

The Red Barrel p26 attached this time Tom Heritage

[BigguyCalgary]

Thanks for the above!!  It's wonderful reading about him.  I had heard rumours that he was the adventurous sort but I hadn't known any of the details.  If you know of anything else I'd love to hear it.

Cheers,
BigguyCalgary