Alfred Henry SKINNER
Jane
HICKEY
============================
These are the parents of Charles Roy
Skinner, who married Edna Mary Burgess at Unley SA in 1941.
Refer also (in The Stories) “John Hickey
& Catherine Hurley”
Refer also (in Chrons SA) “George Skinner
& Jane Brown”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Alfred Henry SKINNER'S early years
==================================
mid 1865 ? –
Alfred’s family moved to Auburn in the mid north of Sth Aust, when his elder
sister Harriet was 3, and brother Albert 2 [xx]
1865 to
1874 – Three more sisters (Sarah, Jane, Margaret) and two more brothers (James,
George) were born in Auburn [xx]
Margaret
was actually regd in Moonta, in 1874, but she died aged 5 months in Dec 1874.
early
1876 – His father George may have moved to Adelaide ahead of the family, who
may have followed soon after (ref Birth Notice below). [xx]
16/3/1876
- Alfred Henry Skinner born, father George (a bricklayer, living at Sth Tce
Adelaide, Young Ward), mother Jane Wilson (nee Brown) [b] [h]
“Young
Ward” seems to have been at the eastern end of Sth Tce.
18/3/1876
- Ad Observer (and others) BIRTHS - SKINNER – On 16th March at South Tce East,
the wife of George Skinner, of a son
[g]
This is
Alfred, but why “at Sth Tce”? His army records say Auburn.
25/4/1876
- Alfred's birth was registered in Dist of Adelaide by his father [b]
mid 1876
? – The family moved to the new inner southern suburb of Goodwood, where his
father George worked as a mason and builder
[xx]
29/4/1877
– Alfred’s brother Horace (known as ‘Bill’) was born at Goodwood [xx]
30/8/1880
– Alfred’s sister Ethel was born at Goodwood [xx]
26/2/1881
– Alfred’s baby sister Ethel died at Goodwood aged 6 months [xx]
7/9/1881
– His eldest sister Harriett married John Charles Ashby [xx]
6/1/1882
– His brother Percy was born at Goodwood
[xx]
1882 to
1888 ?? – Alfred probably attended school at Goodwood Primary, which opened
1879 [guess] [xx]
24/10/1883 – His
sister Sarah married Ernest Walters at Goodwood [xx]
25/11/1883
– His brother Charles was born at Goodwood
[xx]
21/2/1884 – His father
severed his close connection with his local Baptist church, as he was “leaving
for NSW”. At this time the kids were Charles 1, Percy 2, Horace 7, Alfred 8,
George 13, Jane 15, James 17, Albert 21, while the two older girls Harriett and
Sarah were already married. [xx]
Indications are
that the family stayed in SA and only George went to NSW, chasing business
opportunities, as coastal shipping data shows him returning from Sydney on his
own in April 1884.
c 1889 –
Alfred probably started work, most likely as a (builders?) labourer [guess]
about
1889 - At this time his dad and mum moved to WA, taking Charles (6), Percy (7),
Horace (12), James (22), and Albert (26). But it seems that Alfred (13), George
(18), and Jane (20) never went to WA, nor the two married daughters. [xx]
Feb 1891
– Alf’s elder brother James married in WA
[xx]
18/3/1901
– Alf’s elder brother George William (27, Bach, “Hawker”, of Portland, father
George) married Mary Emily Baker (21, Spin, of Portland, father James) at the
Presbyterian Manse Pt Adelaide. Witns E H Walters, Fruiterer of Portland, and H
V Sutherland of Pt Ad [c]
c 1902 –
Alfred was a labourer, living in “St Lena” Pl, Adelaide [c]
This
must be today’s St Helena
Place, just SE of Victoria Sq, between Halifax and Carrigton Sts.
Jane
HICKEY'S early years
==========================
7/10/1876
– The Hickey family sailed for South Aust from Plymouth in the "Robert
Lees", listed as John 33 Labourer (nationality as "English" even
though he was Irish), wife Catherine 29, and children Mary A 6, Nora 4, John 3,
Catherine 2, Margaret 5 months. [xx]
Margaret died on
the voyage out, aged 6 months, of "general debility".
11/1/1877
– The Hickeys arrived at Pt Adelaide.
[xx]
26/3/1877
– Jane was born (probably in Adelaide CBD), the 6th(?) child and 5th
dau of John Hickey and Catherine (nee Hurley)
[xx]
8/4/1877
– Jane was bapt at St Patricks in Adelaide, sponsors Chris(?) and Sarah A
Kerr. Parents were shown as "of
Adelaide" [g]
None of the Hickey children were ever
registered.
1877 –
The family moved to Pt Adelaide [guess]
4/7/1878
- Jane was born (acc to info from Dad on later school admissions form) [xx]
11/8/1878
– Her brother Andrew Joseph was bapt at St Pats Ad. Parents shown as "of
Adelaide" [xx]
1/12/1879
– Her sister Ellen was bapt at St Patricks Adelaide. Parents shown as "of
Adelaide" [xx]
/
/188? – Interpreting the death certif info of John and Catherine re
“Issue – Living and Dead”, the "missing" son was possibly born in
here somewhere. And there seemed to have been two more sisters. [xx]
Dec 1879
to Dec 1881 – The family must have moved from Adelaide to Hindmarsh, being ‘of
Adelaide’ in Dec 1879 at Ellen’s bapt, but ‘of Thebarton’ when what appears to
be an infant son dying in Dec 1881. But why Hindmarsh? Probably for work as
there were small industries along the river.
[xx]
March
1882 to June 1883 – The family must have moved from Hindmarsh to the Port,
being ‘of Hindmarsh’ in March 1882 above, but ‘of Pt Adelaide’ when John was in
court in mid 1883. [xx]
1883 –
Mary Ann Hickey, 13 (prob Jane’s elder sister), a "Nurse Girl", of
King Wm St, admitted to RAH with a broken rib.
[xx]
1884 -
Honorah Hickey (prob Jane’s elder sister Nora) admitted to the Royal Ad Hosp, age
13, occ Servant. [xx]
23/5/1884
- Brother Luke Dominic bapt at Pt Ad, son of John Hickey, Labr of Largs
Bay [xx]
Luke
died aged 6 months at Largs Bay.
1886 –
Her sister Norah again admitted to RAH, age 15, of Pt Ad, [xx]
23/6/1888
– Her brother Alexander Sidney was born
[xx]
5/8/1889
- Jane was enrolled at Pt Ad Primary School, (aged 11?), father "labourer
of Longville St Portland". [xx]
There’s no Longville St in 1936 Gregorys,
or today. Nearest in 1936 is Langham Pl in old Portland.
The school entry record says she was
“previously at Sisters School Pt Ad”. Mt Carmel School website says this was
the Sisters of St Joseph co-ed RC school, opened in 1868, today part of the
Port Market precinct, as is a lot of old “Portland”.
5/9/1891
– Jane’s sister Mary Anne (22, of Glanville) married Edward Edmunds (labourer
of Glanville) at Wesleyan parsonage Pt Ad.
[xx]
1901 –
Edw Edmunds, James St, Glanville [p]
(This is
just west of the Jervois St bridge)
c 1902 –
Jane was living in Deslandes St, Glanville
[c]
This was
probably at the home of her married older sister Mary Anne Edmunds, who was
also a witness when Jane later married. Deslandes St is only 4 streets east of
James St.
abt 1902
– Alfred Skinner (abt 25) and Jane Hickey (abt 25) met. [guess]
Most likely this
was through his brother George, who was working in old Portland in 1901, and
married a Portland girl there.
?/9/1903
– Alfred was bapt in Pt Adelaide RC church as an “adult convert”, sponsors John
and Catherine Madigan. [a]
Apparently this was as pre-condition to
marriage to a Catholic girl.
-----------------
MARRIED ----------------
14/9/1903
– Alfred Skinner (26, bach, “Labourer”, of St Lena Pl, Adelaide, father George
Skinner) married Jane Hickey (23), Spin, Lady, of Deslandes St, Glanville,
father John Hickey) at St Marys RC in Pt Adelaide, witns Edward Edmunds,
Labourer, and Mary Anne Edmunds, Lady, both of Deslandes St, Glanville (all
signed) [c]
5/12/1904
– Their daughter Kathleen Jane was born at St Helena Pl, Adelaide, Young Ward
(Ad dist), father Alfred Skinner, “Driver”, reg by Jane 11/1/1905 [b]
30/8/1906
– Their daughter Hettie Lavinia
was born at Gray St Adelaide, Gawler Ward (Ad dist), father Alfred Skinner
“Hawker”, mother Jane nee Hickey, regd by Jane 10/10/1906. [h]
28/10/1907
– Their daughter Kate was born at Forestville (Ad dist), father Alfred Skinner,
“Trolly Driver”, mother Jane nee Hickey, regd by Jane of Louisa St Ad on
9/12/07 [b]
In this period a
“trolley” was a horse-drawn vehicle, prob a dray. Presume Forestville is
“Forest Gdns” in 1936 Gregorys, west of Keswick Barracks.
1909 (to
1913) – Alfred Skinner, Mason, 4 Louisa St, Ad [p]
Louisa St is just
off South Tce, by Hutt St. This is the first time he describes himself as a
“Mason”.
29/11/1909
– Son Alfred Henry born at Louisa St, Young Ward, Adelaide (Ad Dist), father
Alfred (32) a Mason of Louisa St, bn Auburn. Mother Jane nee Hickey (29) bn Ad,
married 1903, 3 kids living, regd by Jane of Louisa St Ad on 31/12/09 [b]
15/9/1911
– Son Sydney born at Louisa St, Young Ward, Adelaide (Ad Dist), father Alfred
(31) a Mason of Louisa St, bn Auburn. Mother Jane nee Hickey (29) bn Ad,
married 1903, 4 kids living, regd by Jane of Louisa St Ad on 24/10/11 [b]
5/3/1912
– Jane’s sister Mary Ann Edmunds (40, wife of Edward Edmunds, wharf labourer of
Portland, bn “Town Not Known” Kent England, in Aus 33 yrs, aged 19 at marriage)
died at Commercial Rd Portland of TB.
[d]
14/12/1912
– Their son Albert Jack was born at 4 Louisa St, Young Ward, Adelaide (Ad
Dist), father Alfred (37) a Mason of Louisa St, bn Auburn. Mother Jane nee
Hickey (28) bn Ad, married 1903, 5 kids living, regd by Jane of Louisa St Ad on
28/12/12 [b]
12/12/1913 – Their children Sydney (2y), Alfred Henry
(3y), Ettie (9y), and Jane (10y) admitted (all for the first time) to
Edwardstown Industrial School [n]
The
Edwardstown Industrial School (Naldera St, in the Anzac Hwy/Cross Rd cnr)
opened in 1898 on the site of the former Girls' Reformatory at Edwardstown. It
replaced the Magill Industrial School as a government receiving home for State
children.
The main
role of the industrial school was to provide a reception centre for neglected
children who had been made wards of the state ... the institution, despite its
name, was not an industry training school. The ‘school’ part of the institution
was run by the Education Department and taught the usual curriculum of the day.
Children
placed there came from varying circumstances. Many had suffered the loss or
desertion of one or both parents. Others had been removed from parents due to
alleged neglect. Some were physically and/or intellectually handicapped. Others
were ill.
Life in
the Industrial School during the early part of the twentieth century was
difficult. Discipline was strict, food unvaried, activities limited and work
hours long and hard. Staff numbers were too small to properly cater for the
number of children. (SA Archives
website)
1914 – A
H Skinner, 4 Moore St Ad [p]
Moore St is just
off Angus, SE of Victoria Sq.
17/6/1914
– Their daughter Jane (10y 5m) admitted (second time) to Edwstn Ind School [n]
18/5/1915
– Their daughter Ettie (8y 9m) adm (second time) to Edwstn Ind School [n]
12/8/1915
– Their son Lloyd George was born at Liverpool St, Gawler Ward, Adelaide (Ad
Dist), father Alfred Harry Skinner (34) bn Adelaide, mother Jane nee Hickey
(34) bn Ad, married 1903, 6 kids living, regd by Jane 21/8/15 [b]
Liverpool St is
in the cnr of West Tce and North Tce.
late 1915
– The family was living in Edward St Adelaide
[e]
This is
a lane off Sturt St in SW corner, not far from Bartel St.
16/12/1915
– (AIF Attestation Paper)
Alfred Henry Skinner enlisted in the AIF,
(“#9866 C Coy 2nd Depot Batt AIF” crossed out) #4295 50th
Batt, bn Auburn SA, age 35yrs 8m (he
was actually 39y 9m), a Mason (never apprenticed), Married, 7 children.
Next of Kin Wife Jane (“Hickey” crossed out) Skinner of (“Hardy St Enfield”
crossed out) Edward St Adelaide. Convicted? No. Prior Military Service? No.
Prepared to have smallpox and enteric fever injts? Yes. Signed A Skinner. [e]
In 1936
Gregorys there’s a Hardy St in old Yatala, now Rosewater, which is at the
extreme west end of old Enfield Dist.
16/12/1915
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) A Pte in C Cy 2nd
Depot to 31/12/1915 [e]
16/12/1915
– (AIF Medical) Alfred Henry Skinner. Age 35y 8m. Hgt 5ft 8in. Wt 145 lbs.
Cmplxn Fair. Eyes Blue. Hair L Brown. Relgn Baptist. Vision R 6/6. L 6/9. Vac
scar. [e]
1/1/1916
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) to 15/2/1916 Trsfd to 1st
Depot Battn [e]
16/2/1916
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) to 19/5/1916 Trsfd to 16/10th
Sup? [e]
8/3/1916
– (Nominal Roll summary) #4295 Alfred Henry Skinner, aged 35, a Mason, of 3
Edward St, off Sturt St Adelaide, a Baptist, enlisted 16/12/1915, part of 77th
Inf, NOK Mrs J Skinner wife, same address, paid 5/- a day before this date,
paid 3/6 to him and 1/6 to her per day after this date. [e]
9/3/1916
– (Active Service Form) Pte Alfred Henry Skinner #4925, of 15th
(Rplcmt)/10th Inf AIBD embarked on Aust Tpt RMS “Mongolia” [e]
WWI Background...
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli (on 19/20th Dec 1915), the 10th Battalion returned to Egypt and, in March 1916, sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918, the battalion took part in bitter trench warfare. (Internet)
29/4/1916
– (Untitled AIF form) At top - Prev conduct entries? None. Last Drunk? None. At
Tel-el-Kebir while in the 15th/10th, Alfred “(1) While on
active service, refusing to put lights out when ordered. (2) Insulting language
to a superior officer [a Lt Wyllie] (and?) drunkedness.” He was given 28 days
Field punishment for the first and “admonished” for the second. [e]
Tel-el-Kebir was a town near the camp, NE of Cairo.
WWI Background...
During the Gallipoli landings, and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War, Tel-el-Kebir was a training centre for the First Australian Imperial Force reinforcements, No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, and also a site of a large prisoner of war camp.
Some
40,000 Australians camped in a small tent city at Tel-el-Kebir of six miles in
length. A military railway was eventually constructed to take troops from the
camp to their vessels in Alexandria and elsewhere for embarkation to Gallipoli
landings.
The
Tel-el-Kebir village was described by an Australian soldier in 1916 as “...a
very dirty little place with a few dirty shops in it...” (Wikipedia)
12/5/1916
– Their daughter Ettie (9y 9m) adm (for third time) to Edwstn Ind School [n]
20/5/1916
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) Trsfd to 50th
Battn [e]
WWI Background...
The 50th Battalion was raised in Egypt 26/12/15 as part of 13th Brigade of 4th Divn, half from 10th Batt veterans, and half fresh recruits, and dubbed “Harcombes Hungry Half Hundred”. (From that book)
7/6/1916
– (Active Service Form) Sailed from Alexandria to Marseilles (in south of
France, across the Mediterranean). [e]
On
“Arcadian”, 14,000t, 24 kts, “jammed in... 2,500 troops and room for about
1,500... bulgy lifebelts everyone had to wear... danger of submarines... smooth
trip of 5 days...” [q]
11/6/1916
– The 50th Batt arrived in France
[j]
14/6/1916
– (Active Service Form) Disembkd Marseilles to join BEF 4 Divn Base Depot [e]
“Camped
just outside the town... magnificent spot... reminded me of the Adelaide
Hills... all had leave in the afternoon... all the girls came rushing out...
rained flowers on us... Marseilles... a splendid place... thoroughly enjoyed
our first meal in a French restaurant...” [q]
June 1916
– By troop train north across France to the Picardy area on the north coast
(prob Amiens area) [q]
10/7/1916
– Back home, Alfred’s mum died aged 75, in WA
[xx]
10/7/1916
- March north towards Estaires and then the front lines [q]
Unit
diaries tell of shelling, gas alarms, hostile aeroplanes.
12/8/1916
– Moved up to the front line [j]
13/8/1916
– 50th Battn start first major battle, at Mouquet Farm (lasting 2-3
days) [j]
3/9/1916
– 50th Batt second major battle, at Mouquet Farm [j]
WWI Background...
Battle of Mouquet Farm “...the flayed land, shell–hole bordering shell–hole, corpses of young men lying against the trench walls or in shell–holes; some – except for the dust settling on them – seeming to sleep; others torn in half; others rotting, swollen and discoloured.” (Charles Bean).
“Add to
this terrible picture endless weariness, lack of sleep, hours of constant enemy
shelling, the exertion of bringing up of food and supplies, the long
muscle–wrenching carry involved in bringing out the wounded, and the endless
digging to repair blown–in trenches and make new ones...” (Govt WW1 website)
bal of 1916
– The 50th Batt had front line duty & training, labouring behind
lines, through to the “bleak winter” (Dec ‘16 to Feb ‘17) [j]
This is probably
when his “Chronic Rheumatism” took him out of the front line, and saw him moved
to Etaples.
early/mid
Nov 1916 – Battn was still involved in fighting, but Alfred had been moved to
Etaples on the coast [j] [e]
16/11/1916
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) Charged with drunk on active
service Etaples, given 28 days Field Punishment by CO at Aust Divn Base
Depot. [e]
2/4/1917
– 50th Batt in attack on Noreuil
[j]
1/5/1917
– Their daughter Ettie (10y 8m) adm (for the fourth time) to Edwstn Ind
School [n]
15/8/1917
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) Promoted from Pte to A/Corporal
at 4th ABDB at Etaples France
[e]
late 1917
– Jane sent him a photo-postcard of herself and son Lloyd George (bn Aug 1915
and then aged abt 2) during the war (that survived intact so assume it never
went through the trenches). It reads –
“Dear Alf me and
little Lord George on this Post Card I send you this to cheer you up a bit they
are taken so dark and Janey said that it look to old in the face for me Alf but
never mind dear it some think like me fore you to see I will be taken better
again when you come home dear. Take this Photo and think of me has I think of
you dear. I look at yours every night Alf dear xxx”.
Up in the corner where the stamp normally
goes she added – “before
I go to sleep dear”
17/10/1917
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) Charged with drunkenness,
demoted to Pte by CO 4th ABDB at Havre [e]
c Oct
1917 – Alfred’s father George returned from WA to Adelaide to live, with his
daughter Harriet at Blackwood. [xx]
20/2/1918
– (Active Service Form) Trsfd to HQ ABBD at Havre [also hand-written on form]
“(HQ AIBD 50 Bn Rfs late 15/10th Bn)” [e]
20/2/1918
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) Pte, trsfd to Hd Qts AIBD ex
Aust Inf Base Depot Havre France [e]
7/6/1918
– (Statement of Service for #4925 A H Skinner) Trsfd to UK Class E ex
Havre [e]
1/8/1918
– (Untitled form) “Returned to Australia per D19 from [London?] England. Chron
Rheumatism.” [e]
21/12/1918
– (Army Form-Letter – from Staff Officer Invalids and Returned Soldiers,
Keswick Barracks, to Officer in Charge Base Records Victoria Barracks and
marked Confidential.
“The undermentioned soldier has been
handed his Discharge...” and sets out some key data - #4925 Pte Alfred Henry
Skinner, 50th Batt, late 15/10th Battn, enlisted
16/12/1915, embkd 9/3/1916, dismbkd 4/10/1918 ex ‘Carpentaria’, dischgd due to
Medically Unfit 20/12/1918, Total Service 3yrs 5 days, Abroad 2 yrs 210 days
(implying 160 days in SA before embarked)
[e]
4/10/1918
– Alf returned to Adelaide, on a (part?) war pension [e] [d]
1919 – A
Skinner, bricklayer, Royal Pk Extentions
[p]
This is today’s
Royal Park, off Old Pt Rd. This is the first recorded time he describes himself
as a “Bricklayer”. From 1909 to here it was always “Mason”.
1919 –
Mrs Jane Skinner, 50 Coglin St, Brompton Pk
[p]
1919 –
Mrs J Skinner, Marlborough St off Gouger St, Ad [p]
Not sure which of
these is Alf’s Jane.
1919 –
Andrew Hickey (Jane’s younger brother), shown as Labourer, 3 Aberdeen St Pt
Adelaide [p]
c 1919 –
Oral history has it that while the elder daughter Jane was reading to their
youngest son George in bed, a breeze coming through the window caused a candle
to set fire to the curtains, and their house burnt down. [f]
c 1919 –
It’s said that Alf’s father offerred to give him one of his houses (he had
four?) if he gave up drinking, which caused a major argument and a family
ruction. [f]
27/6/1919
– Their daughter Jane Skinner (as “11y 9m” old, but she was actually 15)
admitted (for the third time) to Edwstn Ind School [n]
27/6/1919
– Their daughter Kate Skinner (11y 9m) admitted (for the first time) to Edwstn
Ind School [n]
????? –
At some stage this Kate (known as “Kittie”) was permanently fostered out, and
eventually married fairly well. [m]
25/11/1919
– Their son Alfred (10y) admitted (for the second time) to Edwstn Ind
School [n]
1919/1920
– At this time Alf built his own house at West Tce (now called Dew St) at
Thebarton [f]
It’s this house that his sister Harriet is
said to have gone around there and broken all the windows as a result of a
family argument [f]
7/11/1920
– Charles Roy Skinner was born at West Tce Thebarton, to Alfred Henry (48, bn
Auburn SA, bricklayer of West Tce Thebarton) and Jane Skinner (nee Hickey, 42,
bn Adelaide, mar 1903, 7 kids living, none dec). Infmt Jane Skinner “Sister”,
of West Tce Thebarton. Regd 11/11/1920 Dist Hindmarsh. [b]
c 1921 –
Their son George went to school at Marist Bros at Thebarton, and hated it. [f]
1921 (to
1930) – Alf Skinner, Bricklayer, 19 West Tce, Henley Park [p]
11/5/1922
– (Thebarton Mag Crt) Alfred Henry Skinner fined £1-5s for having used indecent
language in his house at West Tce Henley Park
[g]
1923 –
Alf Skinner, Bricklayer, 19 West Tce, Henley Park [p]
1923 – G
W Skinner (Alf’s brother), bricklayer, Royal Pk Extn off Tapleys Hill Rd [p]
25/10/1923
– (Thebarton Mag Crt) Alfred Henry Skinner fine £1-5s for having used indecent
language in his house at West Tce Henley Park
[g]
16/12/1924
– (Thebarton Mag Crt) Alfred Henry Skinner fine £1-5s for having used indecent
language in his house at West Tce Henley Park
[g]
12/3/1925
- Alfred Skinner, a bricklayer of West Tce Thebarton, was charged on the
informatiin of Arline Christina Shiell, of 12 West Tce Thebarton, with having
assaulted her on February 28. He pleaded not guilty.
Complainant gave evidence to the effect
that the defendant was using disgusting language in his back yard within the
hearing of another young woman and herself, who were in the yard adjoining.
Witness asked him to stop, where upon he threw an axe at her, and said “I’ll
fix you.” The axe struck the top of the fence and fell back in defendant's
yard. Dorothy A. Roberts, single woman, of 21 West Tce Thebarton, corroborated.
Skinner, with denial, said the complainant
called out to him “Come out you coward, and show yourself.” He took no notice,
but when it was repeated he simply went out and told them to mind their own
business. He picked up the axe solely to throw it to the woodheap. Mrs. Shiell
said “That is meant for me.”
Defendant's wife also gave evidence, and
Harry A Shiell was called by the Court as an independent witness. The S.M.
found the charge proved, and imposed a fine of £2, with £2-5-0 costs to be paid
within 14 days. [g]
19/3/1925
– (Thebarton Mag Crt) Alfred Henry Skinner fined £5 for having used indecent
language in his house at West Tce Thebarton [g]
11/2/1926
– (Thebarton Mag Crt) Alfred Henry Skinner fined £5 for having used indecent
language in his house at West Tce Thebarton [g]
4/1/1928
– Their daughter Kate married Richard Pearson at Strathalbyn [g]
1929 – A
H Skinner, Bricklayer, 19 West Tce, Henley Park [p]
16/1/1929
– (Thebarton Mag Crt) Alfred Henry Skinner was ordered one month’s imprisonment
for having used indecent language on January 14 [g]
Oct 1929 - The Wall St Crash (ex SA Lib website and others)...
This signalled the beginning of a severe
depression for the whole industrialised world, but even before that the
unemployment in Australia was already at 10%.
After
the crash unemployment in Australia more than doubled to 21% in mid-1930, and
reached its peak in mid-1932 when almost 32% of Australians were out of work.
The
1930s were to see riots on the streets of Adelaide where workers, armed with
iron bars and spiked sticks and branded as "communists" by some
sections of the press, protested against the action of government in removing
beef from the ration issue.
Bailiffs, supported by police equipped with batons and sledgehammers,
forced families from slum homes into the streets, while malnourished
bare-footed children in rags stood forlornly with their parents in queues at
soup kitchens and dole centres.
Among
the aggrieved were diggers from the first world war and widows of ex-servicemen
who were refused a pension from the repatriation authority whose counterpart,
the War Service Homes Commission, was "as ruthless as the banks in
evicting those unable to keep up their rent payments."
The
promise of "a land fit for heroes" proved to be no more than idle
rhetoric as misery upon misery was heaped upon a great majority of the working
class.
1930 – A
H Skinner, Bricklayer, 17 Field St Ad
[p]
Field St is just
NE of Whitmore Sq
1930 – G
Skinner (his father George), Eden Hills
[p]
1930 to
1933 – Probably due to the Depression, they lost the house and moved to Percy
St in city [k]
Oral
history has it that Alf worked on the Royal Ad Hosp laying “red brick” in this
period [f].
The new
Outpatients and Casualty buildings were started in Jan 1932 as part of the
State Govt’s Unemployment Relief Council work. The brick-work would have been
finished first and a Nov 1933 photo shows this “near completion”. The new
buildings were opened for use in late 1935. [g]
25/10/1930
– Their son Alfred Henry married Patricia Nicholls in North Adelaide [h]
1931 – A
H Skinner, Bricklayer, 17 Field St Ad
[p]
27/4/1931
– Alfred’s father George died aged 92, of cardiac failure, at Eden Hills [xx]
1932 (to
1938) – A H Skinner, bricklayer, 17 Percy St Ad [p]
Percy St
is a lane off Gilbert St SW of Whitmore Sq
1933 –
Alfred Henry Skinner, bricklayer, 17 Percy St, Adelaide [p]
28/10/1933
– Dau Ettie Lavinia (24) of
Percy Crt Ad, father Alfred Skinner, mar Albert Charlton (34) Wood Machinist of
Broken Hill (but living in Wright St Ad). Witn R A Parsons, Plumber, George St
Stepney, and B J Peterson, Labourer of Wright St Ad [c]
1934
& 1935 – A H Skinner, bricklayer, 17 Percy St Ad [p]
18/11/1935
– Son Lloyd George (20) of Ad, Salesman, father Alfred Skinner, married Una
Muriel Tartoosie (18) of Ad, Home Duties, father Abe Tartoosie, at St Pats
Church Grote St. Witn Alfred Skinner (brother?), Labourer of Col Light Gdns,
and Kathleen M Hall, Home Duties of Ad
[c]
1937 – A
H Skinner, bricklayer, 17 Percy St Ad
[p]
prob 1937
– Alf and Jane moved to Bartels St in the city
[g]
Bartels St is
north of and off Whitmore Sq, near Field St. At least two of their then
unmarried sons also lived there for a while. This was one of a row of typical
Adeliade CBD back street row cottages of the time, but now demolished.
For a detailed
insight into their time there, read the paperback memoir “The Prologue Of Jemma
Raglan”.
14/12/1937
- Alfred Henry Skinner, bricklayer, of Bartels street, city, was fined £1 with
7/6 costs in the Adelaide Police Court, yesterday, for having used indecent
language within the hearing of Constable Cowling.
Prosecutor Crafter said that the defendant
had six previous convictions. [g]
1939 (to
1946) – Mrs Jane Skinner, 17 Bartels St, Ad
[p]
--------------
DEATH OF SPOUSE -------------
24/9/1949
– Alfred Henry Skinner, “War Pensioner”, of 17 Bartels St Adelaide, bn Auburn
SA, died “In ambulance between Bartels St and RAH Adelaide” of “Carcinoma of
Prostate”, aged 75. Age at Mar 35 (s/be 27?), kids living 5m, 3 F, none decd.
Infmt funeral dir. [d]
Advertiser report
says he “fell from bed at his home”. [g]
26/9/1946
– Alfred was buried in the WWI AIF section of West Tce Cemetery [d]
c 1955 ?
– After continuing to live at Bartels St for some years, Jane went to live with
her daughter Jane Blight at Fulham
20/4/1966
– Jane Skinner (89), of 4 Lowry St Fulham, widow of Alfred Henry Skinner died
of “General Debility and Intestinal Obstruction” at RAH. Born at Pt Ad, age 26
at marriage, Children 4M 3F living, 1M dec.
[d]
21/4/1966
– Jane was buried at Cheltenham cemetery
[d]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SUMMARY OF THEIR CHILDREN (as adults)
KATHLEEN JANE
Usually referred to as “Jane” or “Janey”
Married Roy Reginald Blight at Meth
Parsonage Torrensville 10/3/1924.
1936 living at Bowden [g]
C 1957 living at Bowden [k]
Feb 1964 Roy died (suicide?)
Living at 4 Lowry St Fulham in 1966
Died 10//3/1972, bur Chelt Cem
HETTIE LAVINIA
Usually referred to as “Ettie”
28/10/1933 – Ettie Lavinia (24) of Percy
Crt Ad, father Alfred Skinner, mar Albert Charlton (34) Wood Machinist of
Broken Hill (but living in Wright St Ad). Witn R A Parsons, Plumber, George St
Stepney, and B J Peterson, Labourer of Wright ST Ad [c]
Bert died
Remarried
Died 1978
KATE
At some point Kate was permanently fostered
out to a family in the southern suburbs
[m] (This is probably the Mrs
Keating of Strathalbyn below)
4/1/1928 - (Trove Ad Adv - Marriages)
PEARSON —
SKINNER
There was a large attendance of
townspeople and others at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Strathalbyn, on
Wednesday morning, January 4th (1928), when Mr. Richard Sidney
Pearson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Pearson of Mitcham, was united in holy
matrimony to Miss Katherine (Katie) Skinner, of Strathalbyn (daughter of Mr and
Mrs A. Skinner of Thebarton), by the Rev. F. J. Gatzemeyer.
The bride, who was given away by her
foster-brother, Mr. J. A. Mason, looked sweetly pretty, gowned in white silk
georgette with a handsome overskirt of silk lace, and wearing a delicate cap
and veil of lace, and carrying a bouquet with streamers.
Her bridesmaid, Miss Ettie Skinner
(sister) wore a pale shell-pink costume of silk georgette, and also carried a
bouquet. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, Mr. Rupert Pearson.
The wedding service was choral, Miss
Eileen Miles presiding at the organ, and the congregation included a
considerable number of non-adherents of the church whose presence testified to
the general popularity of the bride, who owns the respect and esteem of a very
large circle of friends and acquaintances.
At the conclusion of the ceremony a
reception was held at St. Barnabas' Hall, where Mrs. J. M. Keating, the bride's
foster mother, entertained a large party of guests at a daintily-laid wedding
breakfast. The usual toasts were honoured, and various speakers in ex pressing
their good wishes for the young couple, referred to the enviable popularity
each owned in town and district, the bride having endeared herself to all who
knew her and having been a valued and deservedly popular young townswoman.
Very kindly reference was made to the
hostess (Mrs Keating), and general regret was felt for the loss she and the
town sustained by the bride's removal to another district.
The young couple motored to Adelaide early
in the afternoon en route for Sydney, where their honeymoon will be spent. Mr
and Mrs Pearson were the recipients of a large and beautiful lot of presents,
which included also a big collection of articles given at a 'Kitchen evening'
recently arranged for her by her girl friends. Mr Pearson is stationed at
Morgan which will be his bride's new home.
ALFRED
Oral history has it that he was “taken away” by a “gin” when he was “very little”, and he wondered if it was because she’d lost her own son and was grieving (although there’s nothing in the papers of the day). He was made “a ward of the state at age 6”. (*)
By his own
admission Alf was a “bit of a tearaway as a young bloke”(*), and was part of a
boxing troupe before he married Patricia Nicholls 25/10/1930 at St Laurences
Nth Ad.
He was in the
Merchant Marine (*)
He was a “walking
postman” for the PMG (*)
Lived at Christies Beach in later life [k]
Died 1990
(*) Oral
history by Alf himself
SYDNEY STANLEY
Never married
Said to have worked on a farm as a young
man, but was attacked with a shovel by the farmer (oral – Edna Mary Skinner –
Charles Roy’s wife)
Died 1986
ALBERT JACK
Married Lorna . . .?? (none regd in SA)
Served in Middle East in WWII, then trained
for “Special Duties (Adv Party)” in New Guinea
Died 1963 of leukemia at Daw Park
LLOYD GEORGE
CHARLES ROY
(Refer details separate file)
Married Edna Burgess
Died Daws Rd Repat 1979
======================
SOURCES....
[a] RC bapt records
[b] Birth certificate
[c] Mar certificate
[d] Death certificate
[e] Army Records Files and AWM data
[f] Oral history (brother George Skinner)
[g] Trove website newspapers (ANA)
[h] SA BMD Indexes SA Lib
[j] Unit diaries and extracts online
[k] Oral history (gr-dau Jan Edmonds)
[m] Oral history (gr-dau Lorraine Elliott)
[n] Index of Admissions to Industrial School
(SAGHS)
[p] SA Directories (Ad Lib)
[q] “Hurcombes Hungry Half Hundred”
[xx] Previous generation’s files
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>