Happy New Year

Hallo my friends, just a few photos to post and to wish you all a Happy New Year/Bon Annee!

We had a nice quiet Christmas and are just pottering along, this Summer has been mild so far compared to some we've experienced.

My old barbecue looked quite charming in the early morning light after I'd watered all the pot plants...I spray painted it this bright blue last year, inside the hood behind the front pots is a great space for storing tools and pots. My chandelier and birdcage were rescued from the verge where they'd been out discarded as rubbish...(grrr)

the silverbeet is still going well although I have given up on growing tomatoes as the little green caterpillars are relentless and I won't use pesticides...

Have also become as obsessive knitter these days...lots of socks...these are Winwick Mum's free pattern, I have used Bendigo Woolen Mills 4ply Merino and Nylon yarn for these socks for Joe...Christine has blocked hers but I don't feel it's necessary...

I made a second Feather and Fan stitch scarf with the Jennet wool from Northern Yarns in Lancaster , the first one was posted back to Lancaster to my cousins who sent me the wool...

and Spotlight had that gorgeous Jeans yarn on special again so Charlie will have two posh jumpers this Winter lol...it has some nice wooden buttons on it now...it's such a soft acrylic and a delight to knit with...pattern is free of course from ravelry, Meabh's Cardigan (isn't she a cutie, Charlie wouldn't wear the hat so I'm not making that...am also making a complicated French pattern for him and am knitting the collar for the third time as I watch tennis on telly...

Dad is doing quite well but now I'm making him 7 meals a week, it's a challenge as he needs small meals of soft foods and is rather fussy, I plate it up on a bread and butter plate and write what it is, when to eat it and hot or cold otherwise he will just eat rubbish and then have indigestion again! Cue really bad photo...

In other news our dear Rhonda has been unwell but is in great spirits and has started her blog again, just if and when she feels like writing, I can't tell you how much influence her simple lifestyle has had on me and many thousands of others, do have a look if you haven't already...

Down To Earth blog

Always leave them laughing...Charlie is now just the right height for his ole Nana to lean on lol

Christmas Day <3 My tablecloth is a length of Christmas fabric from last January when it was 75% off the original price. I forgot to get the crackers/bonbons out so that's one thing less we'll need to buy this year lol

Keep well and be happy,

Love Sue

xx

Easy Burp Cloths/Bathmats etc

With grandchild #7 on the way I want to help ease the costs for his parents ... in the olden days we would throw an unfolded terry nappy/diaper over our shoulders to catch any milky burps...now they sell burp cloths which looked cheap and nasty to me so I got cracking on these. I bought 2 brightly coloured thin bath towels and cut off the hemmed edges, then I cut each towel into 6 even pieces.

I had lots of oddments of fabric here and bought a few cheery fat quarters, washed and ironed them and placed them right sides together on the towelling squares



Then I stitched around the edges leaving a hand sized gap...I trimmed off the excess fabric and corners, turned the piece back out so that the right sides were showing, stitched that opening closed and then stitched a quarter inch around the edge. Before long I had a dozen individual cloths which will serve a myriad of uses.





I think they measured about 18 x 14 inches and they cost me $17.50 for the whole dozen!

This technique is also how I make bathmats and pet bedding...just bigger sizes and you can use old towels and clothing to save even more money.

Hope all is well, we're muddling along and had a big family get together on Saturday from which I am still recovering! Will get posting again soon as I have a million old family photos I need to add...here's a wee taste thanks to Dad's cousin Marion...my Grandad Gardner with 5 of his 6 siblings, they were photographed by the local paper in response to their call for the oldest group of living siblings, Uncle Fred was too far away to come for the photo but here are Annie, John, Betty, Margaret, Jim and Herbert(grandad)

This is a character reference written for Grandad in 1926 by a local businessman, Mr Carr. The writing around the reference is Uncle Alan's explanation and mention of meeting Mr Carr fifteen years later

Big hugs xxx

Bye Bye Twitch

Just a quick sad note that Twitch was put to sleep March 10th as he had a huge abscess in his cheek and the necessary surgery would have just been far too much for him. At least he gave me comfort for the 6 days after Mum passed and I like to think that they're together right now.

I'm starting to feel a little more normal today. I took 2 neighbours to the library and found a beautiful  pattern for another little jumper for Baby Charlie who is due in May. Have also finished a wool blanket for him but I need to block that before I show you it.

Just being at home is a great comfort to me now, the new bread-maker is working beautifully as is the new fridge. The house is cleaner than it has been for ages and the garden is doing well despite the very high temps. I've made a huge pot of Savoury Mince(Ground meat) with vegies and beans as I know Dad enjoys it very much and it freezes well. Dad lost half a pork pie on Sunday~~~we suspect he ate it without really noticing as we cannot find it any-where :)

In about three weeks my brother and I will gather our whole families together at Dad's home for a much over-due pizza and sandwich 'do' as we say in Lancashire. We'll have a beer and a glass of wine and remember our beloved Mam. Her ashes will be available next week but Dad is still deciding what to do with them...she wanted to be scattered on the golf course in front of their home where they spent many happy hours playing golf with so many lovely people. The Golf ladies plan to plant a native tree nearby to remember Mam.

I'll leave you with this photo of my Grandad Gardner in the mid fifties. Her Majesty appears to be looking directly at his MBE that she had given to him in 1952 in honour of his service at Dunkirk during WW2, I think my Dad should also have been on parade but had to work that day...these were the Territorial Army of part-time soldiers

Hope all is well at your place
Love from Sue
xx

Bree's Tribute

Bree is our daughter in love and expecting her first baby in May...she was an amazing rock during Mum's illness to our whole family and we're so happy that she's here with us now.

So its taken me a while to come up with the words to pay my respects to one of the greatest women i have ever met..
I almost feel like ive been robbed of time spent with you. In saying that it has been an honour getting to know you. You shared with me so much knowledge, intriguing stories of your past, your contagious smile, an inspiring ability to hold strength and positivity at all times and most importantly your loving heart.

In your final weeks of life u shared an experience with me that ill never forget, and with that ive learned:
- that there not enough people left on this earth quite like yourself. I only speak for myself when i say knowing you has made me a better person.
- life is cruel and unfair to those that least deserve it. As scared and sad as i felt at times, u always brought out positivity in every conversation. Your superpower was the ability to light up a room with your smile alone.
- the meaning of family. How quickly you welcomed me to be apart of yours will forever dumbfound me. Who knew i would be so lucky.
- the love and kindness people gave you was only a small expression of how much love you actually filled their hearts with.

My list could go on and on. In a nutshell, you will be dearly missed. Though we are left with a hole in our hearts, u certainly left it full of cherishable memories and love. Im sorry that my son never had the pleasure that i did to meet you, he will learn of the beautiful angel, that is you, that has his back for the rest of his life.

Rest in peace sweetheart.. always missed but never forgotten xoxo

R.I.P. Mum

Mum passed away yesterday morning at 12.09 am.  She died peacefully at home after several days of attentive nursing and  full-time company from one or more loving members of her family.

Marjorie Emma Gardner, nee Kelsall
April 5th 1937 to March 4th 2016
Leaves behind her husband of 60 years, Jack, children Sue and Ian and their partners, Joe and Wendy.

Grandchildren Paul, Gordon and Bree, Elizabeth, Pete, Jack and David.

Great-grandchildren Cody, Jacob, Jessica, Olivia, Caleb, David and Charlie who is due in May.

Brother Tom and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jessie and Alan and their families.

aged about 3years

Feeding the chickens with Tom

aged 17 yrs with her own beloved Mam

Wedding Day, October 1st, 1955

Honeymoon in London

Trying to get into the Capt Pugwash ride near Carnforth in 2008

Korea 2012

Photo bombing two of her great-grandchildren on Christmas Day, 2015

Getting her paperwork in order, February 11th, 2016

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there; I did not die

Mary Elizabeth Fry 1932

Mum will live on in the laughter of our children.

Ian's words

Hi Guys
Ian here. My Mum, Marjorie Emma Gardner died early yesterday morning 4/3/16. She was the master of her own destiny until the end opting to die at home surrounded by family .We enlisted the help of Silver Chain- who I cannot praise enough - they provided a hospital bed so we could make Mum more comfortable, all the palliative drugs she needed (although she was of course still in a fair amount of discomfort) and lots of professionalism and compassion. Mum was first diagnosed with that bastard cancer on Xmas Eve, so it was at least over fairly quickly. Right to the very end Mum never complained once,( I think she didn't want to distress us) and she left us with the grace and dignity that she lived her life with. I'm so glad that I had the time at the end to tell her how much she meant to me and how much she was loved by her family and friends. Thanks Mum for being the best ever and Sue and I will make sure that Dad is looked after. . R.I.P. xxx

Bree's words

So its taken me a while to come up with the words to pay my respects to one of the greatest women i have ever met..
I almost feel like ive been robbed of time spent with you. In saying that it has been an honour getting to know you. You shared with me so much knowledge, intriguing stories of your past, your contagious smile, an inspiring ability to hold strength and positivity at all times and most importantly your loving heart.

In your final weeks of life u shared an experience with me that ill never forget, and with that ive learned:
- that there not enough people left on this earth quite like yourself. I only speak for myself when i say knowing you has made me a better person.
- life is cruel and unfair to those that least deserve it. As scared and sad as i felt at times, u always brought out positivity in every conversation. Your superpower was the ability to light up a room with your smile alone.
- the meaning of family. How quickly you welcomed me to be apart of yours will forever dumbfound me. Who knew i would be so lucky.
- the love and kindess people gave you was only a small expression of how much love you actually filled their hearts with.

My list could go on and on. In a nutshell, you will be dearly missed. Though we are left with a hole in our hearts, u certainly left it full of cherishable memories and love. Im sorry that my son never had the pleasure that i did to meet you, he will learn of the beautiful angel, that is you, that has his back for the rest of his life.

Rest in peace sweetheart.. always missed but never forgotten xoxo

A Diamond Wedding Anniversary

Today is Mum and Dad's 60th wedding anniversary, we wish them beautiful day and are so grateful for the wonderful couple they are and the loving family they have created.

From this blessed union have come two children(Ian and I), 6 grandchildren and 6 great-children.

The wedding took place at St Mary's Priory in Lancaster where Dad's parents had married about 28 years before.

L-R Nana Kelsall, bridesmaid, Uncle Tom, bridesmaid, Uncle Ken, Dad, Mum, Uncle Alan, Auntie Jessie, Uncle Bob and Nana and Grandad Gardner...

They went to London for their honeymoon...

Congratulations to you both, enjoy your special day
xox

William Gardner b. 1876

William is my paternal great-father and I posted what little I knew about him almost 12 months ago in this post .
Today on a Lancaster Facebook page people were discussing the Lancaster War Memorial as there is a very sad story of 4 bros from the Butterworth family who were all killed in action in WW1. This prompted me to look for William and this is what I found...

WILLIAM GARDNER

Awards: MM

Sergeant 152411 6th Bn., King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.)
who died of wounds on Thursday, 08/03/1917 . Age 41 .
Son of Mrs. Jane Gardner;
Husband of Mary Ann Gardner, of 1, Albert Square, Lancaster.

BASRA MEMORIAL, Ref:: Panel 7, Iraq

Borough of Lancaster Civic Reception H M Forces Report Form shows:

William Gardner. Resided at 1 Albert Square, Lancaster. A married man. Sergeant 152411. K.O.R.L.Regt. Military Distinctions Awarded: M.M. He served for 6 months at home, and 2 years and 4 months abroad. Killed.

William Gardner. SERGT. 15241. King's Own [Royal Lancaster Regt.] 6th Bn.
Born, and enlisted in Lancaster.
Died 08/03/17. Died of Wounds. Mesopotamia.

Source: Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919

Gardner William Sergeant Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, awarded D C M. wounded at Baghdad, died of wounds in Mesopatamia 8 March 1917, 1917, age 40, address 1, Albert Square, Bridge Lane, Lancaster, educated at Quay school, employed at Lune Mills, he leaves a widow and seven children. His brother Private James, is serving in the same Battalion.

Source Lancaster Guardian date 24 March, 1917 page 5, photo Code ? 857, 867 .

William Gardner was born in Lancaster, one of the three sons of Mrs Jane Gardner of River Street, St. George's Quay, Lancaster. He attended St Mary's School on the Quay, and after leaving school worked at Lune Mills. He joined the 1^st(Volunteer) Battalion, The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment about 1899 and, in 1900/1901, served in the South African war with No 1 Volunteer Service Company, attached 2^nd Battalion, King's Own. In recognition of this he received the Queen's South Africa Medal with five clasps, and his further Volunteer/Territorial Force service, up to about 1908, brought him the award of the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.

In October 1914, William was among those who enlisted at Lancaster for the 8^th (Service) Battalion, The King's Own. After a brief spell in camp at Codford, near Warminster, Wiltshire, 8^th (S) King's Own moved to Boscombe, Hampshire, where it was made up to full strength, the men being billeted on the local people. Serious training then began as part of 76 Brigade, 25^thDivision, and, after further moves to Romsey and Aldershot, the Battalion sailed to Boulogne, France on 27 Sept 1915, and had its baptism of fire at Ploegstreet, near Armentiers.

The Battalion then moved to St Eloi, and earned its first battle-honour at 'The Bluff' on 2/3/4 March 1916, when it held the 'post of honour' at the centre of the attack, and the men went 'over the top' for the first time. They swept across the old German front line to the base of the 'Bean' salient, and re-gained British possession of the 'International Trench'. In this action William was wounded in the right shoulder, after which he was invalided to 3^rd Battalion, King's Own at Plymouth. For his bravery in the field, he received the Military Medal in the King's Birthday Honours list - (London Gazette, June 1916). 8^th (S) King's Own casualties for 2/3/4 Mar 1916 were: three officers and 120 other ranks killed or missing; nine officers and 210 other ranks wounded.

Following his recovery, William volunteered to join 6^th (S) Battn, King's Own, then fighting the Turks in Mesopotamia. On 8 March 1917, he died of wounds, most probably from the ill-fated attempt to cross the Dialah River on the night of 7/8 March. One officer and fourteen other ranks were killed, and one officer and twenty-four other ranks were wounded. The only man not wounded or dead was Private Jack White, a signaller who, with great presence of mind, fastened one end of his cable to the pontoon, took to the water and swam to the 'home bank' and succeeded in saving the lives of 2^nd Lt. Paterson and several of the other wounded men. For his gallantry in action, Jack White was awarded the Victoria Cross.

In 1914, William Gardner was a married, family man living at 1 Albert Square, off Bridge Lane, Lancaster. He died aged 41, leaving a wife, Mary Ann, and seven children. His eldest son, Private James Gardner, was serving with 6^th Battn, King's Own in Mesopotamia when his father died.

William's elder brother, T5/0454 Sergeant John Gardner, was killed in action in France & Flanders while serving with 1/5^th(T.F.) King's Own on 27 Apr 1915.

William Gardner is commemorated on the Basra war memorial in Iraq, and John and William Gardner are commemorated together on the Lancaster city war memorial.

Another link from Russell Dunkeld at the Lancaster FB Page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_White_(VC)

Sergeant 454 King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) 1st/5th Bn.
who died on Tuesday, 27/04/1915 Age 37
Son of Jane Gardner, of 5, River St., George's Quay, Lancaster;
Husband of Alice Gardner, of 4, Ross Place, Cheapside, Lancaster.
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ref: Panel 12. , Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Borough of Lancaster Civic Reception H M Forces Report Form shows:
John Gardner. Resided at 3 Ross Yd., Cheapside. [Lancaster]. A married man. Sgt.454. 5th Bn. K.O.R.L. He served for 9 weeks abroad. Left Eng. Feb 1915. Killed.
John Gardner. SERGT . 454. King's Own [Royal Lancaster Regt.] 1/5th Bn.
Born and enlisted in Lancaster.
Died 27/04/15. Killed in Action. France & Flanders.
Source: Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
Gardner John Sergeant 5th Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment killed in action age 37, educated at St Mary's school, employed by Lune Valley Engineering and White Cross Mills, played football for Marsh Hornets and Vale of Lune. His wife is a daughter of Mrs Bonsall of Lodge Street, and several members of her family are serving. He was the son of Mrs Gardner of River street. His brother Private William Gardner sailed for France last week

This photo of William and Mary Ann's wedding, I think the 3 Gardner bros are standing, their sister Elizabeth is on the left, Mary Ann and then her sister, Cissie Garner...this photo must have been taken in the late 1890s...

The Garden of Remembrance in Lancaster where the brothers are honoured...

"Lancaster's War Memorial stands in a small Garden of Remembrance on the east side of the Town Hall.  It was designed by Thomas Mawson and Sons and it commemorates the dead of the two world wars and other conflicts.  The ten bronze panels at the rear record the names of 1,010 Lancastrians who fell in the First World War.  The panels were dedicated on 3rd December 1924.  The plinth in front of the statue carries the names of a further 300 who fell in 1939-45."

Further information is available at this link

Lancaster Military Heritage Group

Dad's cousin Marion has just sent me these photos...Mary Ann and William with who I presume is their first born child James/Jim...

and these are their three daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth/Betty and Annie...Auntie Betty will be 101 yrs old in August...such a poignant photo, their clothing is so poor and yet they look strong and quite happy and remained close all their lives...

Thank you Marion, Annie's third and youngest daughter/child.
xox

My Paternal Great-Grandfather

was named William Gardner and he died aged 41yrs in Iraq during WW1. He was in a small boat under the cover of darkness when hit by heavy shelling on the River Tigris, he died of wounds received that night on March 8th 1916.
This passage was written by Colonel JM Cowper and published by "The King's Own" Regiment in 1957;

"6th Battalion
Established as a result of Lord Kitchener's appeal for volunteers, the 6th Battalion was one of four raised in Lancaster. They were sent to the south of England for training and the joined the 38th Infantry Brigade(13th Division) and fought in the Gallipoli Peninsula from 6th July to 21st December 1915. They then moved to Lemnos in Egypt which they left on 13th February 1916, to join the Expeditionary Force in Mesopotamia, where it fought until the Turks were finally defeated. The Battalion then proceeded to Rowalpindi in India for Frontier Service but was not required. It was demobilised and returned to England in August 1918.

The 6th Bn was involved in the following actions:

Attack on Saribair, August 1915

Actions at Hannah, Sanniyat, Abu Roman on the Tigris River

Capture of Kut-el-a-mara

Crossing of the Diyalah River

Capture of Baghdad

Pursuit of Turks 1917

Occupation of Kirkuk, Spring 1918

A total of 61 officers and 1138 other ranks were killed during these battles."

The current census has reminded me that I gleaned much of our family history from earlier UK censuses and got me thinking about my ancestry again.

William was born in Lancaster(1875) to James and Jane Gardner and was christened at St Mary's Priory Church that year. He married  Mary Ann Cole from Barrow in Furness and left behind 7 children. The family lived at 1, Albert Sq, Bridge Lane, Lancaster.As a child Wm attended the Quay School and worked at Lune Mills before the war. He also served in South Africa during the Boer War.
Granny Gardner received a postcard from her husband on February 2, 1916 saying he had just joined his regiment and "was in the pink".

Their children were as follows...

James(Jim)                       1898-1985
Frederick William(Fred)   1900-
Robert Herbert(Herb)       June 16th 1903-June 5th 1993(my Grandad)
Margaret Jane(Parker)     1905
John Thomas                   1907
Annie(Nixon)                   1910
Elizabeth(Hannigan)        August 1915-June 10 2016

I'm unsure when most of these great aunts and uncles died but they were all well into their 80's. Auntie Betty turned 100 yrs in 2015

the three sisters thanks to Marion Ogden, youngest daughter of Annie...
Margaret(b1905, Elizabeth(b1915) and Annie(b 1907)

This is the only photo we have of William and Mary Ann, it was taken on their wedding day. Great-Grandad is flanked by two of his brothers, his sister is to the left of Great-Granny. Her sister, Cicely Garner* is on the right of the photo.

A second photo has been given to me by Annie's daughter, Marion Ogden, 5 years on from this post,
Mary Ann and William with I presume James, their first-born...

William was a Sergeant and soldier number 152411, 6th Battalion, King's Own Regiment(Royal Lancaster Regiment) and is remembered in this Roll of Honour and a Memorial at Basra. On February 2nd 1916 Great grandad was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. His youngest daughter, Elizabeth, placed the medal in her mother's hand as she lay in her coffin...it was buried with her at Scotforth Cemetery in Lancaster.

*Mary Ann's maiden name was Garner, not to be confused with Gardner.