ARP Warden Liverpool

Post by **brownegaz** » 16 Dec 2010 04:50

Hello everyone this is my first post here.

My great uncle Edward Thomas Gaskin (Hubert).

There is some confusion as to which name he used, at some stage the family changed the name from Gaskin to Hubert, any way Im told that he was an Air Raid Warden in Liverpool during WW2.

He was born around 1901, Im not sure of the date or where he was born.

Is there anyway of finding out more information about his service etc during the war, I did meet him back in 1972 and he told me about some of the terrible destruction he witnessed.

Thanks for any replies
Gary
Perth
Western Australia

Post by **Tina** » 16 Dec 2010 07:28

Hi Gary

A warm welcome from Waikiki!!
You've come to the right forum, great crew here.

Tina

Post by **dickiesam** » 16 Dec 2010 11:17

Hello Gary and welcome!
These sites will tell you what ARP (Air Raid Protection) Wardens were all about: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk ... ardens.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Raid_Precautions

All volunteers, there were also Fire Watchers, who spent their time during Air Raids watching for outbreaks of fire, usually from a convenient roof-top, and reporting the fire to the Fire Brigade.

The ARP Wardens were often first on the scene after bombs had hit houses, shelters etc, so witnessed the awful human devastation immediately after the explosion.

On the 'lighter' side, part of their job was to make sure that blackout curtains were securely drawn on all the houses and that no lights were visible from outside. As one who lived through the Blitz, one of my lasting memories is the local ARP Warden shouting "Put that [bl**dy] light out"!

As to what your gt.uncle saw, this site may give you some idea:
http://liverpoolremembrance.weebly.com/index.html

Dickiesam

Post by **MaryA** » 16 Dec 2010 11:37

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There are no entries showing in either the free 1911 index or the 1901 census by either Edward Gaskin or Hubert. Perhaps you have more information you can let us have and we will see if we can dig further. Either the information his marriage certificate, or do you know any details of your own direct ancestor - his brother or sister? or other members of his family?

Post by **dickiesam** » 16 Dec 2010 11:40

Hello again Gary,
Curious as to when your gt.uncle Edward might have been born and where, I found this as the only Edward Thomas Gaskin bn 1890-1910:
Births Mar 1903> Gaskin, Edward Thomas - St Faiths - 4b - 98.

St Faiths is in Norfolk so went looking for his parents in 1901. By a roundabout route I found this family. You would need to check the 1911 census to be sure because he is in the free index. But I am certain these are his parents. As often happened in a census, there's a very slight surname change:
1901>
GASKINS, Henry - Head - Married - 30 - 1871 - Agricultural Labourer, general - Cawston, Norfolk.
GASKINS, Elizabeth - Wife - 31 - 1870 - Adlew, Kent.
GASKINS, Ivy - Dtr - 2 - 1899 - Cawston, Norfolk.
Address: School Road, Haveringland, Norfolk.
RG13 / Piece:1832 / Folio:25 / Page:15.
Registration District: St Faiths.
Ecclesiastical Parish: St Peter, Haveringland.

There is an Edward Gaskin bn 1902 in Norfolk, but the above is the only E T G!
And just a thought... If there was a name change later it might have been because his father Henry died and Elizabeth married a Hubert, making Edward Thomas a stepson of her spouse.

Edited to add: The above Edward has a brother William:
Births Mar 1909> Gaskin, William Henry - Aylsham [also Norfolk] - 4b - 80.
And finally,
Births Jun 1899 > Gaskin, Ivy Laura M - Aylsham - 4b - 85.
Marriages Sep 1925 > Gaskin, Ivy L M to Fuller, Walter S - St. Faiths - 4b - 179.

Dickiesam

Post by **MaryA** » 16 Dec 2010 12:23

I may be wrong in these entries but just looking while waiting for you to reply.

There is a death in Bury for Edward Thomas G Hubert September 1992, (Ref Bury 38 517) birth date is given as 13 October 1902.

There is a birth of an Edward Thomas Gaskin Q1 1903 St Faiths, Norfolk 4b 98.

Post by **MaryA** » 16 Dec 2010 12:30

I see we are thinking along the same lines.

Post by **dickiesam** » 16 Dec 2010 12:38

Mornin' MaryA,
Yes looks very much like it. But I haven't found a death for Henry Gaskin(s) before Edward became 'of age' when a mother's name change wouldn't really matter.

Dickiesam

Post by **MaryA** » 16 Dec 2010 13:50

I did wonder what Elizabeth's maiden name was, but without much hope since the dates wouldn't have suggested illegitimacy

Henry William Gaskin married Elizabeth Warren Q1 1898 St.Faiths 4b 165

Post by **brownegaz** » 16 Dec 2010 14:11

Thanks for the welcome and all the replies, its nice to see Im not the only one from downunder, lets not talk about cricket!!

I will do some digging and see just what my ancestor was doing during WW2 in Liverpool.

Im not sure where he was born all I know is that his name was Edward Thomas Gaskin (perhaps Hubert ?) his parents where George Samuel and Louise Laura Gaskin nee Humphries.

I have found a mention of an Edward Thomas Gaskin on ancestry born 10 Feb 1903 in Wayland, I dont know where Wayland is, Im not sure if this is him, Im pretty sure his parents lived most of their lives in Lewisham which believe is near London, and Edward may have moved to Liverpool when he married, I know his wife was named Bella, they had at least one son, Gordon, I visited them in Liverpool back in the 70s and they had been in Liverpool for many years at that stage.

Thanks again for assistance
Gary

Post by **MaryA** » 16 Dec 2010 14:27

Back to the drawing board

George Samuel Gaskin married Louisa Humphries Q3 1893 (Poplar 1c 827 )
Church of Bromley, St Leonard St Mary
2nd September, 1893
George Samuel Gaskin 21 Bachelor Wine or Wire Worker Bromley
Father Richard Gaskin Engineer
Louisa Humphries 21 Spinster St John's East Dulwich
Father Isaac Humphries Labourer
Both signed their names
Witnesses Thomas Garratt and Henrietta Wolthley Cater

Post by **dickiesam** » 16 Dec 2010 20:37

Hi folks,
Re starting over...
While I try in vain, so far, to find George and Louisa Gaskin in 1901 and a decade later, thought I'd pop in this snippet...

Gary mentioned a birth of ETG in Wayland? Wayland is in Norfolk, the same area I found the two births from abt 1903. The Edward Gaskin I left out was the grandson of a Mary Ann Gaskin, allegedly bn in 1902 in Norfolk but may not have been registered because there isn't a matching birth in the Index. His mother may have been Mary's daughter Anna [bn abt 1869] and the birth illegitimate.

Also, haven't yet found Edward T marrrying a Bella, Isabella, etc.

Dickiesam

Post by **dickiesam** » 16 Dec 2010 21:07

Hi Gary,
Should have given you this URL as well as the other one regarding WW2 and Liverpool.

http://www.liverpoolatwar.co.uk/

Will certainly give you an insight into what Edward saw at first hand.

Dickiesam

Post by **Tina** » 17 Dec 2010 06:20

Enjoyed the morning session from the WACA

Sorry, no luck for Gaskin or Hubert in Kelly/Gores 1938 Directory of Liverpool.

Tina

Post by **MaryA** » 17 Dec 2010 12:09

Although they may have moved later, I suspect they were in London for quite a while earlier as there is a birth entry for

George Samuel Gaskin Q4 1872 Stepney 1c 510
and his christening at St John, Limehouse Fields, Tower Hamlets
Born 2nd November, Christened 21 November, 1872
George Samuel Gaskin Son of Richard Edward and Elizabeth Gaskin - occupation Labourer
Address 20 May Street

Post by **MaryA** » 17 Dec 2010 12:56

And two siblings also christened in the same parish

Born 2 December, Christened 20 December 1866
Edward William Gaskin son of Richard Edward and Elizabeth Gaskin
Occupation Labourer of 7 John Street

Born 10 March, Christened 1 April 1869
Elizabeth Gaskin daughter of Richard Edward and Elizabeth Gaskin
Occupation Labourer of 7 John Street, Rhodeswell Road

and the 1871 census
2 Anns Terrace, Mary Street
Richard E Gaskin Head M 31 Engine Driver Middlesex Bromley
Elizabeth Wife M 31 Surrey Boro'
Edmund W son 4 Middlesex Limehouse
Elizabeth daur 2 " "
RG10; Piece: 553; Folio: 9; Page: 11

Post by **MaryA** » 17 Dec 2010 15:32

I know this is going further backwards rather than the more up to date information you wanted, but the London Metropolitan Archives are very good and have a lot of baptisms and marriages.

There is a possible baptism entry for Richard at St Mary Stratford, Bow, Tower Hamlets
Richard Edward Gaskin Born 6th January, Christened 3 Feb 1839 parents Samuel and Martha Sophia Gaskin – occupation labourer of Bromley
and IF he is correct then siblings are, with the same parents details

at Poplar All Saints, Tower Hamlets
Samuel John christened 11 April 1829 – labourer of Bow
Samuel Robert born 20 March christened 9 May 1830 – labourer of Bow

At St Mary Stratford Bow, Tower Hamlets
John George born 22 June christened 10 July 1831 – Labourer of Bromley
James Thomas born 30 September christened 30 December 1832 – labourer of Bromley
Martha Maria born 22 April christened 29 June 1834 – Labourer of Bromley
Sarah Ann born 27 February christened 10 April 1836 – Labourer of Bromley
William Henry born 30 September christened 1 October 1837 – Labourer of Bromley
Eliza Susannah born 30 May christened 8 August 1841 – Labourer of Bromley
Emma born 6 April christened 11 June 1843 – Labourer of Bromley

At Bromley St Leonard St Mary, Tower Hamlets
Joseph born 16 Nov 1844 christened 19 January 1845 – Labourer of Bromley

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