’It is said that grandchildren should learn of the past from their grandparents’ knees. As mine have rarely had that chance I shall jot down a few memories as they come. At our age it is easier to look back than forward and less frightening. ’I was born in Lpool (Liverpool), and at the age… Continue reading Puss – Hilda Mary Jones
Category: Family history
Mouse – Elizabeth Mary Hallas-Hill
When thinking to write notes on Mouse’s life, it makes me realise how little I know. For people way back when - who I never met - I might feel happy to weave together some facts, and then draw some conclusions, and write it up as ‘their life story’. But for Mouse, who I knew,… Continue reading Mouse – Elizabeth Mary Hallas-Hill
Mary Ann Pickering
I’d had it in mind to research the childhood of Mary Ann Pickering (his daughter) since the spring of 2024, and had been thinking about it on and off for ages before that. Mary Ann Pickering was Puss’s grandmother. Pretty much all I know about Mary Ann was that she was the young girl, who… Continue reading Mary Ann Pickering
John Hill’s VE Day
THE CAST: W/C J.E.S Hill D.S.O. (aka Growly) and F/O Peter Hallas John Elliott Scott Hill (aka Growly – Mouse’s future husband) was a pilot in 177 Squadron, 901 Wing (the Beaufighter wing), based in Chiringa, Burma during 1944, and on 5 October 1944 he (W/C – Wing Commander - John Hill) and navigator F/O… Continue reading John Hill’s VE Day
Our Orkney ancestors
This is a mini ancestor trail starter kit, identifying some of our Orkney ancestors, and the places they once lived. If you're a descendant of Barbara Scott who was born on South Ronaldsay, Orkney, in 1845 then these are some of your ancestors. If Growly was your ancestor, then Barbara is too. Watch the video… Continue reading Our Orkney ancestors
My ancestors in brief
Woah. Where have the years gone? This is my list of ‘ancestors in brief’ made for a different website a few years ago, and the note to myself at the bottom says ‘last updated 5 February 2016’. So I guess it will need a bit of updating, and - reader alert - I think it… Continue reading My ancestors in brief
John McPherson
(This is the one who worked in Brazil, Madeira, Portugal, and who did sketches of Gallipoli in WW1.) Mini family fact file Childhood - see the video below Working life His war years Back to civilian life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJdPxhp2ITw Above is a presentation I created and shared for the Society of Genealogist's All About That Place… Continue reading John McPherson
John McPherson’s war years
(This is the one who did sketches at Gallipoli of “Cluny’s cave” and was an ambulance driver in the First World War.) Of my (our) four great-grandfathers, each of whom served in the army in the First World War, John McPherson (father of Rita and Betty) is the hardest to trace. He returned from Brazil… Continue reading John McPherson’s war years
How to find things in this blog
It’s a bit tricky, but each of the posts have categories. 1. Find a category that looks interesting to you. They tend to be topics or people’s names. 2. Click on the category word(s), e.g ‘Growly’ or ‘Textile history’ and a list of all the relevant posts will be made. 3. Categories that are used… Continue reading How to find things in this blog
Who were you Bill Pole?
THE CAST: Mouse (aka Elizabeth Mary Hallas; Bill Pole) The utility clothes, the curly hair. Smiling. Enjoying the outdoors… mucking about in a boat. Mouse in her early 20s I’ve always loved this photo of Mouse. She was born in 1921 and looks a very young woman here, her early 20s most likely – do… Continue reading Who were you Bill Pole?
A home for our family history 