Joe joined Sarah back in Liverpool in 1932. They were to remain there for the rest of their lives. Three years previously, Joe's father had sent a glowing reference to McDougall-Butler "Makers of Fine Varnishes, Enamels and Paints". Now, in a reversal of this, they sent a reference back to "To Whom It May Concern" in England. The words used in both the reference and the letter to Joe show how respected and liked Joe was, both professionally and at a personal level.
"He was industrious, energetic, well liked [ ] of excellent habits
and character [ ]
I would recommend highly for any position to which he might aspire."
In the covering letter, there is also a hint that the real reason for their return was the love of Liverpool and family - homesickness.
"knowing full well that the surroundings in the old homeland would be more congenial for you, as well as other members of your family"
Joe did not rejoin his father's business. Had he enjoyed his independence too much? Instead he joined Goodlass Walls Co of Liverpool. I believe he remained there for the rest of his life.
I don't know too much about his life after this, certainly not until 1939. But of course, I have lots of photos!
Joe and Sarah (left) with two of her sisters
Audrey and friend
Sarah and Audrey on a windy day! Love that coat!
Joe and Audrey - just before the war. She absolutely loved him
"He was such a lovely man"
I think I agree! I love this photo.
Then came the War.
Joe and the family were living in Hightor Road at the time, as the government carried out a register in 1939 of everyone's details including date of birth, marital status, occupation etc. and I have found the family there.
On the evening of 15th September 1940, in the Liverpool Blitz, their home was destroyed. And of course, they photographed the damage. Incredible! But totally unsuprising!
Audrey told me that Edgar was about to go back into the house to get his fire fighting equipment and uniform when Sarah told him to wait for 10 minutes. The bomb dropped within minutes - when he would have been in the house. He went on to live to be 97!
This photo seems to me to be very much like those
posed for proganda and to boost morale during the war
I wonder who took it! Joe is left and his brother in law is adjusting the dial.
The family took so many unusual photos. A treasure!
I am not sure what the family's next move was after the bombing but I know that Audrey went to stay in Bury with Sarah's sister's family. At least in this war, the family were spared to loss of life that affected both Joe and Sarah's family in the Great War - Joe losing a brother at sea and Sarah her brother at Gallipoli. Of course Joe was also seriously injured in that war.
After the war there were weddings, christenings and deaths - as in all families. Edgar married and moved to the Midlands - he carried on in Joe's tradition and worked in paints and varnishing. Audrey married and settled down on the Wirral. She had two sons. Both she and Edgar lived well into their 90s.
Audrey's wedding day
Sarah seated left, Edgar's wife seated right.
Joe died in 1957 while on holiday with the family in Wales. He was 64. Sarah went to live with Audrey and her husband and two sons in Wallasey. She died in 1975 aged 83.
There I will leave Joe and Sarah - but only for a while. They left autograph books, sketches and many postcards and many more photographs, so we'll meet them again.
In my next blog I will look at Sarah's three sisters. One lived to be a supercentenarian (someone who lived past the age of 110!)
Which one was it.....?
This photo shows Sarah and her three sisters
Sarah is holding Edgar, next to her is Doris. Next to her
(I'm sure she is giggling!) is Lillie ("Nin)
seated left with the long hair is their much younger sister, Kathleen ("Gracie")
LOTS more lovely photos of the sisters and entries in Sarah's autograph books next...
No comments:
Post a Comment