Re: William Varley

[Harry1950]

Hello Sheila

Thank you for you personal message response, I am apparently blocked from direct response until a number of postings have been made. It would have been 1979 when your grandmother Ethel visited my dad in Denton, can remember the meeting very emotional after I believe 25+years , Ethel traced him with help from DWP/Salvation Army. Dad died February 1980 and Mum Nov 1984.
Don't believe Dad ever made contact with Lillian or Fanny. I know little about Dads sisters and have never really attempted to trace history. However for my youngest daughter and ex wife it is the subject, ex wife was a researcher for Manchester University Family History unit attached to the Setanti exhibition when it operated in Ashton Town Hall and has obtained some good material on Dad and Grandfather William with copy army papers. How I came to see your posting is very much coincidence looking on line to print out a photo of the memorial at Helles on which Williams name appears for my grandsons school project, and having entered Williams details came across you posting. The Varley name lives on with me two sons and two grandsons. I believe, but would need to check, that we have a photo of William and Sarah with grandfather in uniform.

Kind regards Harry

[Sheila2748]

Hello again Harry,

I can tell you that Fanny Varley born 1900 married James Lightfoot in 1921 and she died 1978, I do not remember ever meeting her. But I did know Lillian Varley who was born 1904 and she married Thomas Lever in 1948 and had two sons. But Thomas died in 1948 and then Lillian married Joseph Kerrigan in 1958 and I remember going to see them when they lived off Stockport Road. Lillian also was rehoused on Grey Mare Lane and she died in 1985. I have a photo of Ethel and Lillian together and I also have two photos of the Helles Memorial, one of which is a photo of the panel with William Varleys name on it. I also have a copy of his service record and a photo of him in uniform with his wife Sarah. I do know that Ashton Town Hall have information and a museum about the Manchester Regt, which William was in and I am interested in finding out what I can. But I live in Devon now, so there is not much chance of me getting up there.  I also had to help my grandson, when his home work was doing the family tree and I believe he got a good mark for it.

Can I ask, was your ex-wife called Liz? The reason that I am asking is that someone called Liz Varley got in touch with me on Ancestry a few years ago about your family and that is how I found out that my gran (Ethel) met up with her brother Harry, after many years, but she died not long after that.

Anyway Harry, best wishes for now and hope to hear from you again sometime.

Sheila.

[Harry1950]

Hello Shiela

Thanks for you reply and further information, yes Liz Varley is my ex wife now a museums manager for another local authority. Currently she's out of the country I'll let her see the posts when she gets back and see if she has any additional to share. Incidentally mention of Audenshaw in the first post I think was as a result of Ethel mentioning Ashton Hill Lane which shares its location between Audenshaw and Droylsden.

Still in the area in Mossley, although around 1990 were looking at property in Newton Abbot strange coincidence but went in the opposite direction to rural Aberdeenshire !!!

Regards Harry

[Sheila2748]

Hello Harry,

I know that your father served during the First World War and could you tell me what Regiment he was in and what his job was. With the anniversary of the war today, I have been remembering William Varley. I have him on the websit Lives of the First World War and on the WW1 Memoriam.  But dont know much about your dad, only that he was Williams son and my grandmothers brother. I hope you don't mind me asking you for this info and I hope to hear from you.

From Sheila.

[Harry1950]

Hello Sheila

With apologies for not replying to your previous message earlier my ex wife Liz has all the information which I or she will forward to you.

Regards


Harry