George Dixie FORD (1886-1965) and Sarah Jane WEST (1893-1941)
Family Stories > 3rd GENERATION
George Dixie Ford (1886 - 1965)
Spouse : Sarah Jane West (1893 - 1941)
George Dixie Ford and Sarah Jane West were my Maternal Grandparents - 3rd Generation
1. Nola Irene Warren
2. .... Iris Ella Warren & George Ernest Edward Warren
3. .... .... George Dixie Ford and Sarah Jane West
1923 - George Dixie Ford and Sarah Jane West
GEORGE DIXIE FORD Born 1886, December 5 at 59 Albert Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK Baptised 1890, January 19 at St. George's Church, Birmingham, Bedfordshire Mother Marianette Kingham (1859 - 1916) Marriage 1914, November 14 at Registry Office, Edmonton, Middlesex, London Spouse Sarah Jane West (1893 - 1941) Death 1965, July 9 at PANCH Hospital, Preston, Melbourne, Australia Age at Death 79 years Burial 1965, July 12 at New Cheltenham Cemetery, Melbourne, Australia Siblings Wallace Ford (1883 -1954) Algernon Percy Ford (1884 - 1926) Rose Ellen (or Helen) Ford (1888 - 1892) Stanley James Ford (1891 - 1942) Ella Ford (1893 - 1982) Hilda Gladys (1895 - 1897) Herbert Cyril Ford (1897 - 1956) Aubrey Reginald Ford (1889 - 1889) Occupations 1901 Plumber's Mate 1906 Engine Cleaner, Great Northern Railway, London 1907 Spare Fireman, Great Northern Railway, London 1910 Regular Fireman, Great Northern Railway, London 1914 Locomotive Fireman, Gt. Northern Railway, London 1919 Fitter, Barber, Wilsons & Co., Wood Green, Middlesex, London 1923-1933 Brass Finisher, Glover & Michell, Melbourne, Australia 1933-1963 Brass Finished, McIlwraith's, Melbourne, Australia Residences 1887 59 Albert Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK 1891 10 Henry Street, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK 1892 29 Pelham Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, UK 1914 33 Pelham Rad, Wood Green, Middlesex, UK 1915 76 Andrew Street, Windsor, Melbourne, Australia 1923 56 Argo Street, South Yarra, Melbourne, Australia 1925 21 Peel Street, Windsor, Melbourne, Australia 1926 39 Waterloo Street, South Yarra, Melbourne, Australia 1927 65 High Street, St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia 1931 22 Stewart Street, Windsor, Melbourne, Australia 1934 25 Showers Street, West Preston, Melbourne, Australia 1947 5 Moore Street, South Yarra, Melbourne, Australia 1949 38 Morang Road, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia 1959 10 Henty Street, Reservoir, Melbourne, Australia 1964 Council Club Hotel, Preston, Melbourne, Australia 1965 26 Sylvester Grove, East Preston, Melbourne, Australia Children |
SARAH JANE WEST Birth 1893, February 4 at 67 Admiral Square, Clifton, Bedfordshire, UK Marriage 1914, November 14 at Registry Office, Edmonton, Middlesex, UK Spouse George Dixie Ford Death 1941, February 11 at Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Melbourne Age at Death 48 years Cause of Death Acute Asthma - 2 years Burial Cheltenham Cemetery, Victoria Siblings Alfred John West (1883 - 1956) Harriett Ada West (1887 - 1958) Emily West (1896 - 1976) Clara May West (1898 - 1980) Occupations 1911 Domestic Servant, Ramsgate, Kent, UK 1925 Dairy, 56 Argo Street, South Yarra, Australia C1930 Labourer, AJC Factory, South Yarra, Australia Residences 1893 67 Admiral Square, Clifton, Bedfordshire, UK 1901 54 Henlow Road, Shefford, Clifton, Bedfordshire, UK 1914 1933 Pelham Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, UK 1915 84 Westbury Avenue, Wood Green, Middlesex, UK 1923 76 Andrew Street, Windsor, Melbourne, Australia 1925 56 Argo Street, South Yarra, Australia 1926 21 Peel Street, Windsor, Australia 1927 39 Waterloo Street, South Yarra, Australia 1931 65 High Street, St. Kilda, Australia 1934 22 Stewart Street, Windsor, Melbourne |
George Dixie Ford - His Early Life
1886, December 5 - Birth
George Dixie, the son of Joseph Samuel Ford and Marionette nee Kingham, was born at 59 Albert Road, Luton (counties of Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire).
Joseph Samuel was a brass finisher (journeyman). The birth was registered by the mother, Marionette who signed the birth registration and gave her address as 59 Albert Road Luton. The birth was registered on January 15, 1887.
1890 - Baptisms
Baptisms at St. George's Church, Birmingham on January 9, 1890.
See the last entries on the second page. On the same day - January 19, 1890, Joseph Samuel Ford and his wife, Marianette Ford, took their children, Wallace (born February 25, 1882), Algernon Percy (born January 29, 1884), George Dixie (born December 5, 886), and daughter Rose Ellen (born 1888) to the church for baptism. At the time, the family were living at Back, 92 Town Street, Birmingham.
1901 - Census
George was working as a plumber's mate, according to the census document, aged 14, at 29 Pelham Road, Wood Green. It appears that George's younger sister, Rose Ellen Ford, born in 1888, had died prior to this census - and further research showed she died in September 1892, aged about 4 years old..
Transcription -Address - 29 Fulham Road, Wood GreenHead - Joseph Samuel Ford Age 41 years Occupation Brass Polisher Birth Place BirminghamWife - Marionette Ford Age 42 years Birth Place HampsteadSon - Wallace Ford Age 18 years Occupation Machinist/Printer Birth Place LutonSon - Algernon Percy Ford Age 16 years Occupation Meat Packer Birth Place LutonSon - George Dixie Ford Age 14 years Occupation Plumber's Mate Birth Place LutonSon - Stanley James Ford Age 10 years Scholar Birth Place LutonDau - Ella Ford Age 8 years Scholar Birth Place LutonSon - Herbert Ford Age 4 years Birth Place Wood Green
C 1903 - Family Portrait
From L to R Standing - Stanley James Ford, George Dixie Ford, Wallace Ford, Algernon Percy Ford, Ella Ford
Form L to R Seated - Marianette Ford, nee Kingham, Joseph Samuel Ford, and Herbert Cyril Ford on Joseph's knee.
1906 - Engine Cleaner at Great Northern Railway
By July 28 in 1906, George, then aged 18 years, was employed on the Great Northern Railway as an engine cleaner. Eighteen months later on November 16, 1907, he was promoted from engine cleaner to spare fireman.
It is an indication of the type of man George was, that he worked diligently and honestly to be again promoted on April 9 in 1910 from spare fireman to regular fireman, still working at the Great Northern Railway.
He remained working on the engines until January 1, 1919 when he left of his own accord. The reason that prompted his resignation is lost to time. He ultimately received written references from the London & North Eastern Railway dated 1923 and 1924.
1911 - Census
The 1911 census showed the Ford family still living in Wood Green - at 33 Pelham Road.
33 Pelham Road, Wood Green
Transcription of 1911 Census -Address - 33 Pelham Road, Wood GreenHead - Joseph Samuel Ford Age 51 years Journeyman, Brass Polisher in Plumbing Work Birth Place Birmingham
Wife - Marionette Ford Age 52 years Birth Place WheathamsteadSon - George Dixie Ford Age 24 years Occupation Railway Engine Stoker Birth Place Luton
Son - Stanley James Ford Age 20 years Brass Polisher at Plumbing Works Birth Place LutonDau - Ella Ford Age 18 years Servant (daily) Birth Place Luton
Son - Herbert Ford Age 14 years Birth Place Wood Green
Sarah Jane West - Her Story
Sarah Jane West was the grand-mother I never knew. She died in 1941, four years before my entry into the world. Therefore my understanding of her has only been gleaned from my research, from knowing Sarah's sister, Clara Hewitt, nee West, and from my mother, Iris Ella Warren, nee Ford, and her reminiscences.
My mother, Iris Ella, was Sarah's eldest daughter - she described Sarah as being a wonderfully Christian woman who faced difficult situations and people with kindness and understanding. She had a gentle nature, was kind and inoffensive and was devoted to her husband, George Dixie Ford, and her two girls.
The very few photographs I have of her show a gentle personality in her lovely smile and kindly brown eyes.
About 1928 : George and Sarah Ford
About 1935 : Sarah Jane Ford, nee West, with George Dixie Ford and their two daughters, (left ) Iris and Rene
About 1939 : Baby Bernie with Grandfather, George Ford. Sarah is laying down on the right.
Watching on is Iris Warren, beside her is Rene Ford and Robbie Warren
1891 - Census, Luton, Bedfordshire
Prior to Sarah Jane's birth, her parents, Arthur Cornelius West, an agricultural labourer, and her mother Annie Eliza, nee Devonshire, were living at 67 Admiral Square in Luton, Bedfordshire.
Transcript of 1891 census for Luton, Bedfordshire -
Many generations of the West family were born, lived and died in Clifton and more details can be found in the page for Cornelius Arthur West and his wife, Annie Eliza Devonshire as well as other members of the West family.Address - 67 Admiral SquareName Description Status Age Occupation Birth PlaceArthur C. West Head M 25 Agricultural Labourer Clifton BedfordshireAnne E. West Wife M 27 Clifton BedfordshireAlfred J. West Son S 7 Scholar Clifton BedfordshireHarriet West Dau S 3 Clifton Bedfordshire
1893 - Birth
Sarah Jane West entered this world on February 4, 1893 in Clifton. Clifton is a small town located in the parish of Biggleswade in Bedfordshire. It is an ancient town and the first recorded reference to Clifton is in 944 when it was referred to as "Cliftune".
In spite of growing up with many family members surrounding her, Sarah would have known little of her paternal grandfather, William West, who died in early 1895, just two years after Sarah's birth. Her Granny West, Lucretia West, nee Webb, died in 1899 when Sarah was six years old but Lucretia was blind for the last fifteen years of her life, so would never have 'seen' her grand-daughter, Sarah.
1901 - Census, Clifton, Bedfordshire
By the time Sarah was 8 years old, the family were living at 54 Henlow Road, Shefford, Clifton, Biggleswade in Bedfordshire. This is the detail from the 1901 census -
Address - 54 Henlow RoadName Description Status Age Occupation Birth PlaceArthur C. West Head M 35 Labourer in Brickyard Clifton BedfordshireAnne E. West Wife M 37 Clifton BedfordshireAlfred J. West Son S 17 Labourer on Farm Clifton BedfordshireHarriet West Dau S 13 Clifton BedfordshireSarah West Dau S 8 Clifton BedfordshireEmily West Dau S 4 Clifton BedfordshireClara May West Dau S 2 Clifton Bedfordshire
We can see that two more sisters have joined Sarah - Emily and Clara May. The children of the family most likely attended the All Saints School in Clifton.
L : All Saints School in Clifton, C 1866 R : Boys' Class at All Saints School, Clifton, 1890
Above is a photo of a boys' class at the All Saints School in Clifton, taken in 1890. Perhaps Sarah's older sibling, Alfred, was amongst these pupils. Alfred would have been aged about 6 years old at the time.
Life must have been tough by our standards. Sarah's father, Arthur Cornelius had found work as a labourer in a brickyard, but was to suffer a terrible accident at work which left him with only one leg and there was no workers' compensation. This might account for his eldest son, Alfred John West, remaining single and still living at home to contribute to the family income.
1911 - Census, Clifton, Bedfordshire
The census for 1911 shows a much reduced family -
Address - Clifton, BedfordshireName Description Status Age Occupation Birth PlaceArthur C. West Head M 45 Permanently Injured, Clifton Bedfordshireformerly Brickyard LabourerAnne E. West Wife M 48 Clifton BedfordshireAlfred J. West Son S 27 Bricklayer's Labourer Clifton BedfordshireClara May West Dau S 12 School Clifton Bedfordshire
Arthur Cornelius' incapacity may well have required the older girls of the family to leave home in search of work as domestics. A search of the census returns for 1911 found Harriet Ada West, aged 23 years "in service" employed as a domestic at the home of Thomas Scammell, a retired greengrocer at Holy Cottage, Green House, Palmer Green in Middlesex.
Sarah Jane West, aged 19 years, was also working as a general domestic servant for the family of Frederick George Sherren, a retired civil servant at 64 South Eastern Road, Ramsgate in Kent.
George Dixie Ford and Sarah Jane West - Their Story
1914 - Marriage - November 14
I asked my Grandfather, George Dixie Ford, how he had met his wife, Sarah Jane West and he told me they were both visiting The Crystal Palace. That was a far as his information went.
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and plate-glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. The building was 564 metres long with an interior height of 39 metres. The recent invention of plate glass in 1848 allowed for the use of large sheets of cheap but strong glass - it was at the time the largest amount of glass ever seen in a building and astonished visitors with its clear walls and ceilings that did not require interior lights.
After the exhibition, the building was rebuilt in an enlarged form on Penge Common, at the top of Penge Peak, next to Sydneham Hill, an affluent South London suburb full of large villas. It stood there from 1854 until its destruction by fire in 1936.
It was here that Sarah and George met and fell in love. They were married on November 14, 1914. It may be that because Sarah was carrying their first child, she was compelled to resign her situation as a domestic as both George and Sarah gave their address on the marriage certificate as 33 Peham Road, Wood Green, just a few houses down from where George had lived with his family since just prior to 1901. It was also likely that as their marriage was little hurried they didn't return to Clifton to marry in Sarah's home town in the family church, but chose to marry in the Registry Office in Edmonton, Middlesex in London instead.
According to the marriage certificate, George was 27 years old, a bachelor and a Locomotive Fireman. Sarah was 22 years, a spinster, and gave no occupation. Both George & Sarah gave their addresses as 33 Pelham Road, Wood Green. George's father's name was Joseph Samuel Ford. a brass polisher and Sarah's father was Arthur Cornelius West, a brick maker. Witnesses were H.A. West (Harriett Ada West, Sarah's older sister) and S.J. Ford (Stanley James Ford), George's younger brother.
1915 - Westbury Avenue, Wood Green
By 1915, George and Sarah were living at 84 Westbury Avenue, Wood Green in London.
84 Westbury Avenue, Wood Green
1915 - Birth of Iris Ella Ford - 1915, May 22
It was at 84 Westbury Avenue, Wood Green, that Sarah gave birth to their first daughter, Iris Ella. It was here in an upstairs bedroom on May 22, 1915 that Iris was born during one of the first air raids on London of World War 1. My mother, Iris Ella Ford, told me that the sounds of the near-by bombing accompanied her birth. How terrifying it must have been for a first time mother giving birth at home with the war going on around her!
London was a dangerous place during the war. George later told his daughters that when he went to work in the morning, he walked past houses that had somehow escaped destruction or damage from previous German air-raids. But on his return trip home that evening, many of these houses had been reduced to smoking piles of rubble as a result of another air-raid during that day.
It was therefor not surprising that eighteen months after their first daughter's birth when Sarah was due to give birth to her second child, George and Sarah decided Sarah should return to her mother's house in Clifton to await the birth of her baby.
1916 - Birth of Muriel Irene Ford
Shortly after the birth of baby Rene on December 3, 1916, the family returned to their home at Westbury Avenue, Wood Green, where they lived for another seven years. During this time, Iris and her sister Rene started school. Iris recalled that on some days the fog was so thick that when the girls left for school they had to feel their way along the front fences of the houses, but then when they turned the corner of the street, there was nothing to see but thick black fog.
Granny West's House in Clifton
Sarah often took her children to visit her mother in Clifton. Iris had many vivid memories of these times - the train trip to Clifton from London - being collected by a horse-drawn trap at the station - clattering along the quiet country lanes on the way to Granny West's house - the fields where the gypsies were camped. Sarah told the children that the gypsies lived a nomadic life, travelling about the country-side in their colourful caravans, camping wherever they found a vacant field or on the grassy verge beside the road. They were generally dark-skinned with black hair and were feared by the fair-skinned English who thought of the gypsies as thieves and vagabonds. The two little girls, Iris and Rene, were always warned to stay well away from the gypsies or the tinkers as they were also known.
53 Broad Street, Clifton, Bedfordshire
This photograph was taken when George and Sarah Ford's daughter, Muriel Irene Ford (aka Rene) and her husband, Robert Leslie James Warren visited England in 1988. Rene and Robbie posed at the front gate of the house where Rene was born.
1919 - Barber,Wilsons & Co Pty Ltd
After his marriage George's resignation from the Great Northern Railway, George joined by Barber, Wilsons & Co. Ltd. of Boundary Road, Westbury Avenue, Wood Green, London as a fitter.
Economic Conditions in England after World War 1
Funding the war had inflicted a severe economic cost on England and from being the world's largest overseas investor, it became one of its biggest debtors with interest payments forming about 40% of all government spending. Inflation more than doubled between 1914 and its peak in 1920 whilst the value of the Pound Sterling (consumer spending) fell by 61,2%.
Unemployment jumped from just 4% in 1920 to 17% in 1921. People who were unemployed or earning less than 250 Pounds per year were issued with an Employment Exchange Card which entitled them to some government assistance until they found suitable employment.
Some time after George's resignation from the Railway Company, it is likely that he undertook casual work wherever he could find it. At some stage he joined the firm of Barber, Wilsons & Co., of Boundary Road, Westbury Avenue, Wood Green in London as a fitter. His employment was likely either intermittent or part time because he was issued with an Employment Exchange Card dated October 17, 1922.
1922 - Employment Exchange Card
Employment Exchange Card issued to George Dixie Ford dated October 17, 1922 - George was unemployed at this date.
1923 - Emigration to Australia
By 1923, George and his family were eager to escape the depression that wad crippling Britain and buoyed by news that his brother Algernon Percy Ford had sent from Australia, they made the decision to immigrate to Australia. George and Sarah decided to take their two little daughters and emigrate to Australia.
George made application to Australia House, London for permission to emigrate, sponsored by his older brother, Algernon who had moved to Australia in 1920 and who at that time lived at 76 Andrew Street, Windsor, Melbourne.
George made application to Australia House, London for permission to emigrate, sponsored by his older brother, Algernon who had moved to Australia in 1920 and who at that time lived at 76 Andrew Street, Windsor, Melbourne.
TRANSCRIPTIONTo whom it may concern -Mr. George Ford has been employed by us as a Fitter from January 1919 to July 1923.We have found him honest and straight-forward, a good time-keeper, and in every way a satisfactory workman.Signed For and On Behalf of BARBER, WILSONS & CO. LTD.26th July, 1923.
In anticipation of their move to Australia, George resigned from Barber, Wilson & Co. Ltd. in July, 1923 and he received the following reference dated July 26, 1923 -
1923 - Certificate of Employment, London & North Eastern Railway
George was also issued with a certificate of employment from the London & North Eastern Railway on July 11, 1923.
However, as the family did not leave England until October that year, George may have been out of work for the period between his resignation from Barber Wilsons and the time of his departure from England. Perhaps George was able to secure some casual work and therefore had some income by continuing to work at Barber Wilson after his resignation in July. Consequently, a further reference was provided to cover the last few months -
TRANSCRIPTION17th October, 1923 To Whom it may ConcernMr. George D. Ford has been employed here continuously from July 1919 to date as a Fitter and Bench-hand. We have always found him a thorough, good workman, good timekeeper, honest and industrious, and have no hesitation in recommending him for a similar position or situation in Australia.Signed For and On Behalf of BARBER, WILSONS & CO. LTD. SECRETARY
1923 - On Board "Borda" to Australia
George and Sarah were provided with a Certificate of Identity issued by Australia House in The Strand, London. Then on October 13, George and Sarah and family boarded the ship “Borda” and sailed from Tilbury, London for Australia. Their travel documents describe George as 36 years old, 5 feet 7 3/4 inches tall with blue eyes. Sarah was described as 30 years old, 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall and the colour of her eyes as brown.
The sailing ship "S.S. Borda" was a fairly small ship with a total length of just 500 feet and breath of 62 feet. It was propelled by two steam engines with twin propellers. Its top speed was 14 knots and it could accommodate 350 third class passengers. It was ten years old when George and Sarah embarked for their trip. The ship ended its life in 1930, being demolished in Japan for scrap.
Below is a copy of the passenger list for "S.S. Borda." There were only 41 passengers in total for the voyage. The arrow indicates the Ford family, including Iris, aged 8 years and Rene (Muriel Irene), aged 5 years.
The trip took 6 weeks during which time Sarah was very badly sea-sick and spent most of the time below decks in their cabin. Their girls, Iris and Rene (Muriel) had a wonderful time exploring the ship - as my mother, Iris, described it to me years later "they had a whale of a time!"
Towards the final two weeks of the trip both children came down with chicken-pox. By the time the ship reached Perth on its way to Melbourne, Iris was fairly well recovered, but Rene was still suffering the symptoms of the disease. In order to avoid spending additional time in quarantine as the end of the voyage, George hurried his family off the ship without reporting to the medical authorities as was required as soon as the ship reached Melbourne - with Rene still covered in the tell-tale red blisters!
Australia - Percy Ford, Andrews Street, Windsor
On arrival in Melbourne, the family were greeted by George's brother, Algernon and his wife, Ethel (nee Wyatt). For their first weeks in Australia, George and his family lived with Algernon at 76 Andrews Street. Windsor. The children called them Uncle Percy and Auntie May. George's brother, Percy was sick at the time and continued to worsen until he was eventually admitted to a sanatorium with tuberculosis where he died in May 1926 at the age of 41 years.
On arrival in Melbourne, the family were greeted by George's brother, Algernon and his wife, Ethel (nee Wyatt). For their first weeks in Australia, George and his family lived with Algernon at 76 Andrews Street. Windsor. The children called them Uncle Percy and Auntie May. George's brother, Percy was sick at the time and continued to worsen until he was eventually admitted to a sanatorium with tuberculosis where he died in May 1926 at the age of 41 years.
This is a recent photograph of the house in which George's brother, Algernon Percival Ford lived.
1923 - Friend's Personal Reference - 1923, September 4
His friend, neighbour and fellow workman, Charles Hillier, wrote a personal reference for George. He wrote in response “to a request on behalf of Mr. George Dixie Ford, C/- Mrs Franklin, 108 Westbury Avenue, Wood Green”.
1924 - Reference from London & North Eastern Railway - 1924, March 17
A letter addressed to George at 76 Andrew Street, Windsor, Melbourne from London & Northern Eastern Railway re his employment record.
1925 - First Residence in Australia - Argo Street Dairy
After living with brother Percy for a short time, George and Sarah moved to a two-story solid brick house on the corner of Argo and Tyrone Streets in South Yarra, which they rented.
The down-stairs part was used as a dairy and there were stables in the back-yard. Sarah ran the dairy from a small shop on the ground floor and customers entered the shop through a door-way in the Argo street facade, which has since been bricked up. The shop floor was slightly lower than the rest of the ground floor which was used by the family as their kitchen and living area. The milk for the dairy was delivered to them from Bretherton's Dairy in Charles Street, Prahran.
But even though they lived in a dairy, the girls almost never tasted butter or cream or full-cream milk Their staple fare was bread spread with lard or dripping and their milk was the watery stuff they called skimmed milk - quite different from the skim milk we enjoy today.
A 1986 newspaper advertisement appeared for the sale of the former dairy -
Sarah Employed at Australian Jam Company
Sometime after the family moved out of the dairy, Sarah was able to get work at The Jam Factory, which was then run by A.J.C. (The Australian Jam Company.) The building in South Yarra has since been transformed into an up-market shopping complex which kept the name of The Jam Factory.
Sarah's job was to peel the peaches and skim the ladybird bugs off the top of the jam whilst it was cooking.
It was during this time that Sarah developed sever asthma,. Sarah used to think that it was from the fur from the peaches with which she worked that had caused her asthma, but no doubt it was also aggravated by the dust from the coal fires with which the family heated their home, cooked and heated water, etc.
Sarah's mother, Annie Eliza Devonshire, also suffered from asthma. In fact, it appears to be genetic as it has surfaced in many members of our family both before and since.
During this time, there were many house moves for the family just to stay one step ahead of the rent-collector. Another short stay in 1931 was at 65 High Street, St. Kilda. Other addresses during this time included Argyle Street, St. Kilda where Sarah and George rented a couple of rooms at the back of the house, and also at Andrew Street, Windsor.
Employment at Glover & Michell's
Whilst Sarah ran the dairy, George worked at Glover & Michell’s in High Street, St. Kilda as a brass-finisher.
In the photograph, George can be seen seated second from the right in the middle row He is wearing a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, with a vest and tie - he was always very well dressed!
1925 - Sponsorship of Sarah's Sister to Australia
In 1925, George and Sarah sponsored Sarah's younger sister, Clara, and her husband, Harold Hewitt and their two young children, Unis Marguerite and Arthur Edward, to allow them to immigrate to Australia. The two families shared George and Sarah's house for a short time after Clara and Harold's arrival and the families remained very close. The family is indicated by the arrow.
1926 - Residence - 21 Peel Street, Prahran (Windsor)
George used to take his daughters down to Brooks Jetty which was not far from Luna Park for a paddle. Iris was about 10 years old when George decided it was time she and
Rene learnt to swim. So he took each girl by the hand, marched them to the end of the jetty and chucked them in with the parting words - "Now you'd better learn to swim in a hurry!" And swim they did! Then during summer the two girls would go to the jetty every day after school.
Rene learnt to swim. So he took each girl by the hand, marched them to the end of the jetty and chucked them in with the parting words - "Now you'd better learn to swim in a hurry!" And swim they did! Then during summer the two girls would go to the jetty every day after school.
It was also about this time that George wanted a golden tan like the other Aussies,. So be exposed his milky white English skin to the blazing midday sun and baked! He never did get a suntan, but he did get sun-stroke!
In spite of George's swimming lesson for his girls, he was extremely protective of his daughters. Corporal punishment was quite normal at schools in those days, but when Rene arrived hom from school for lunch one day with whip marks on her legs, George saw red. George, usually quiet and gentle, marched down to the school to confront the teacher responsible for Rene's injuries. However, when George caught up with Rene's teacher and found it to be a woman, his intentions had to be curtailed. He had to content himself with growling "If you were a man, I'd do the same to you!"
Schools for the girls included Punt Road State School, and when the family moved to Peel Street, Windsor, they were transferred to Brighton Road State chool which was situated at the back of the St. Kilda Town Hall.
1927 - 28 - Residence - 39 Waterloo Street, South Yarra (or St. Kilda)
Another move and the family were at Waterloo Street, South Yarra. It was here that Sarah nearly burnt their house down. One day whilst George was at work and Iris and Rene were at school, Sarah and Clara and Clara's two children, Unis and Arthur, decided to go to the beach.,
Sarah was a particularly well organised and fussy house-keeper, having served as a domestic in London before her marriage,. So, before they left for the beach, Sarah set about getting some of her daily chores done. She lit the fire under the wood copper, did the washing in the copper, hung the washing out to dry, emptied the water from the copper, then raked out the hot coals from under the copper and put the ashes in the garden. That done, they set off to the beach.
It was a hot day and a wind sprang up whilst they were out. Sarah had put the hot coals too close to the back wall of the weather-board house and it didn't take long before a good-sized fire had started and engulfed the rear of their house
Iris and Rene, walking home from school that afternoon, met a woman from Morgan's Pub who knew the sisters (their father, George, was apparently a god customer) who told them "Your house is on fire!"
Iris and Rene just laughed at her but soon wondered if she could be right. So they ran the full length of High Street to get home. By the time they arrived, the firemen and fire trucks were still on the scene mopping up.,
The family dog, Bob had been in the back yard and must have terrified by the fire and firemen pushing down the half-burnt trellis gate at the side of the house. Their poor dog escaped and they never saw him again.
Iris, father George, Rene and their dog, Bob, at Waterloo Street before the fire.
1933 - The Depression
Life was very hard for the family. There was a depression in Australia in the 1930's and although George worked full-time at Glover & Michell's, he received almost no pay for that entire time. His employer would promise George and the other workers that they would be paid 'next week' but next week never came. There were few jobs available in Melbourne at the time and no unemployment benefits as we know them today, so George kept working at the factory hoping that I'next week' would eventually arrive.
1933, June 30
On June 30 in 1933, George, employed by Glover & Michell Pty Ltd. as a fitter and bench hand, was stood down. He had worked there for nearly 10 years and was 47 years old. Of course, no severance pay or superannuation in those days - but he did get a splendid reference!
Out of work, George and Sarah struggled to find enough money to pay rent and feed themselves and their girls. Iris remembered many times when neither of her parents could get paid work.
She remembered her father taking any sort of work he could get just to get some money coming into the household. He often walked streets putting junk mail into letter boxes for a few shillings. Although George worked many different jobs during this time, he was not always paid for his labours.
She remembered her father taking any sort of work he could get just to get some money coming into the household. He often walked streets putting junk mail into letter boxes for a few shillings. Although George worked many different jobs during this time, he was not always paid for his labours.
The family also received government hand-outs called "sustenance" of meat and vegetables which were distributed from the St. Kilda Town Hall and which George collected each week in a hessian bag. There were also occasional orders given to them from the grocer Moran & Cato for hand-outs of groceries
1933 - Employment at McIlwraith's Ltd.
Towards the end of 1933, George found work as a bench hand and brass finisher at the plumbing supplies firm, McIlwraith's Ltd. which was at 34 York Street, Richmond.
1934-41 - Residence - 22 Stewart Street, Windsor
By 1934, the family were living at 22 Stewart Street, Prahran (Windsor). George struggled hard to keep the family fed and educated. But in spite of life's hardships and deprivations, there was an atmosphere of love and family spirit as many old photographs show that capture some of the fun times. The Ford and Hewitt families remained very close and shared many outings and holidays together.
Iris remembered her mother as a wonderfully kind woman. Sarah made most of her girls' clothes and kept an immaculate house. She often dressed young Iris and Rene in identical outfits, one such being dresses and berets for each girl in maroon velvet.
1930's - Family Holidays
L to R: George Ford, Clara Hewitt nee West, Harold Hewitt, Unis Hewitt, Sarah Ford, nee West, Rene Ford
L to R: Baby Bernie, George Ford, Iris Warren nee Ford, Rene Ford, Robbie Warren, Sarah Ford nee West
About 1938 - A Happy Snap of George and Sarah Ford
L to R: Harold Hewitt, Rene Ford, May (next door neighbour at Stewart Street
Windsor), Iris Warren, nee Ford, Sarah Ford nee West, Unis Hewitt,
George Ford, Clara Hewitt nee West, Pauline Unknown, Mrs. Da Vinca (another
neighbour), Robbie Warren and in front, George Warren with baby Bernie.
About 1936 George Ford rifle shooting at Warburton
1937 - Marriage of Two Daughters to Two Brothers
Sarah and Georges' first born daughter, Iris Ella Ford married George Ernest Edward Warren (my parents) at St. Mathews Church in Prahran on January 27.
Later that same year, their second born daughter, Muriel Irene Ford (aka Rene) married George Warren's brother, Robert Leslie James Warren, also at the St. Mathew's Church.
Left: George and Iris Warren Right : Robbie and Rene Warren
1938 - Holidays - Greeting Card
Sarah and George went on holidays to White's Camping Park, Lakes Entrance, and sent a postcard to George & Iris Warren, nee Ford to 97 Flinders Street, Thornbury.
Sarah was also a devoted and loving grandmother - this is one of the birthday cards she sent to Bernie Warren, her first grandson, on his first birthday in 1939. The inscription on the back of the card, written by Sarah, reads "To Baby Bernie, From Nana and Papa, Wishing you a Happy Birthday."
And a Christmas card from Sarah and George to Iris and her husband, George, survives from 1938 -
And another birthday card to Bernie for his 2nd birthday in 1940 -
1939 - Family Outing
L to R standing : Harold Hewitt, Rene Ford, May (next door neighbour at Stewart St., Windsor), Iris Warren, Sarah Ford, Unit Hewitt,
George Ford, Clara Hewitt, Unknown, Mrs. Da Vinca (another neighbour), Robbie Warren.
In front : Baby Da Vinca, Bernard Warren and George Warren
1940 - Sarah sick with Asthma
Prior to Sarah developing asthma, she had a nicely rounded figure, bordering on plump. Iris remembers her mother used to wear a gold bangle on her wrist, but it had to be cut off because it became too tight.
At the time, Sarah had three pet dogs - a Pomeranian she called "Nibby" and two cross-bred Pomeranian/Australian Terriers, one of which she called "Teddy". But new homes had to be found for her pets as they were thought to aggravate her asthma.
Sarah had long black hair which she wore in the fashion of the day in a bun at the nape of her neck. As a result of the medications she had to take to help control her asthma, her hair lost its sheen and health so she decided to have it cut short and permed. When Sarah arrived home that evening the family all agreed she looked very lovely with her new curly hair style. Bu but the next morning, her lovely curls had disappeared and her hair was perfectly straight again.
For many years, Sarah, suffering from severe Asthma, her doctors sent her to many places around Victoria in an effort to relieve her symptoms. She spent time at the Alfred Hospital, at Maldon and Beechworth , and one such move was to Castlemaine where she spent some time there in the hospital. Doctors even removed her tonsils in an attempt to clear her breathing airway and improve her condition - however, little seemed to help.
Here shows Sarah in bed on the veranda of the hospital in an effort to gain as much fresh air as possible. A large vase of flowers has been brought to her bedside and her visitor is her husband, George.
Sarah became more and more incapacitated by her frequent bouts of asthma and eventually lost a great deal of weight.
Sarah's hair became white and she spent more and more time in hospital - this photo at Castlemaine with Bernie playing on the cane chair.
1941, February 11
His wife, Sarah, died of asthma at the Alfred Hospital in Prahran on February 11, 1941 at the age of 49 years as a result of a severe asthma attack. She was buried at the Cheltenham Cemetery, Melbourne.
1941 - FUNERAL NOTICE
The Friends of Mr. GEORGE DIXIE FORD are respectfully requested to follow THE REMAINS OF his dearly loved wife, Sarah Jane, to the Cheltenham Cemetery. Holloway road. The funeral will leave Bathurst and Decker 's chapel, corner Glenhuntly and Koonung Road THIS DAY (Wednesday, February 12 at 2 pm)
The Age (Melbourne) February 12, 1941
Keepsakes from Sarah Ford
My mother, Iris, gave me a few small pieces of jewellery that had belonged to Sarah and which I treasure.
GEORGE AFTER THE LOSS OF SARAH
After the death of his wife, George continued to live at the house at Stewart Street, Windsor until about 1946/47 when he rented accommodation at 5 Moore Street, South Yarra for a short time. He then moved in with George and Iris in their first house at 25 Showers Street, West Preston. He slept in the glassed-in front veranda, to which George ultimately set fire when he went to sleep with a lighted cigarette!
George was included in the many events and holidays which the Ford, Warren and Hewitt families shared.
1949 - Morang Road, Hawthorn
Another move followed for George around 1949 when he boarded with a lovely older lady named Mrs. Emma Cearns at 38 Morang Road in Hawthorn.
Mrs. Cearns occupied the front bedroom in the single fronted terrace house and George had the second bedroom down the hall. In the back yard, George had a lovely productive vegetable garden and he seemed to regain some of his earlier zest for life whilst living there.
I remember as a 5-year old visiting Grandpa Ford and Mrs. Cearns at this house. Grandpa showed me his little vegetable garden at which I over-enthused and stumbled into his plantings much to his annoyance. When Mum and Dad and Grandpa Ford went out for a drink at the local hotel, I was left with Mrs. Cearns for an hour or so. She was such a kindly old lady and she offered me milk to drink and gave me a lovely little book which she said I could keep. I still have that little book which I treasure as a gift from a dear lady..
Mrs. Cearns also joined George and the family on daily outings, one of which was to Stony Point, returning by ferry to Cowes in about 1950. It is not a good quality photograph but it shows George next to Mrs. Cearns. I am standing on the seat next to Mrs.Cearns and Bernie has the hat and short pants in front.
George seemed happy sharing the house with Mrs. Cearns and I believe he may have had hopes of one day asking her for her hand in marriage. Unfortunately, one morning in 1958, George took Mrs. Cearns her usual cup of tea only to find that she had died during the night George took Mrs. Cearns' death quite badly as he was very close to her and to top it all off he had to find new accommodation.
George after the Death of Emma Cearns
After this new tragedy in George's life, he moved in with Iris and George at 10 Henty Street, Reservoir where he lived until about 1963. His daughters, Iris and Rene, kept their father close after the death of Sarah and again after the death of Emma Cearns, and he went on many holidays and day outings with both daughters.
About 1949/1950 : George waits outside the Benalla Post Office
About 1949/1950 : George poses beside "Puffing Billy", Victoria's steam train, no doubt
remembering his days as a locomotive driver and fireman back in London.
About 1949/1950 : Taking a rest from driving, beside the Ford Prefect, Nola, Iris and George
Keepsakes from George Dixie Ford
Whilst working at McIwraith's, George managed to find time to turn his talents to making small decorative items like a pair of brass lion money boxes, one for each of his daughters. He also made this sweet stork with bell and gong - note the improvised 'washer' - and old green button.
And further improvisation when he used the ends of tap handles for the feet of this beautifully transformed antique tile into a sweet trivet - and a very study decorate door security chain.
1958 - Retirement from McIlwraith's Ltd.
George retired from full-time work at McIlwraith's in 1958 and for his 25 years of long service was presented with an Omega gold watch. However, after retirement, George was somewhat at a loose end. He kept up his immaculate appearance - he always wore the most brightly polished brown shoes, but apart from sitting, thinking and dreaming or going on long walks, he had little else to occupy his time.
As a teenager, I knew him as an introverted, sad man who kept a silver hip flask handy and who lived in the house at Henty Street, Reservoir.
One very funny incident happened when Iris insisted that George take a bath as he disdained the modern innovation of the shower. He clearly felt that a bath was totally unnecessary at the time, but Iris was most insistent. So George went into the bathroom and shut the door. A short time later, Iris heard the water running into the bath, at which sound Iris was initially satisfied and retreated from the closed bathroom door,. But instinct told her all was not as it seemed. Perhaps the sound of the running water was all too quickly silenced? Suspicious, Iris peeped around the edge of the bathroom door to see her father perched on the edge of the bath, fully dressed with his trousers rolled up to his knees with just his feet in the couple of inches of water in the bottom of the bath. He was fully dressed, complete with short, tie, vest and suit-coat, all topped off with his hat on his head. It just goes to show that you can lead a man to eater, but you can't make him take a bath!
Sadness, and more House Moves
I am not aware of the reasons George moved out of Iris and George's home in Reservoir - I am sure it was nothing to do with taking a bath, but he then rented a room at the Council Club Hotel on the corner of Gower & High Streets, Preston, diagonally opposite the site of the old St. James Theatre in Preston. I suspect the families of Iris and Rene were uncomfortable with their elderly father living in rented rooms above a hotel, so arrangements were made for George to fund the building of a bungalow in the back garden of Rene and Robbie's house at 26 Sylvester Grove,
East Preston.
East Preston.
1965 - Death of George Dixie Ford
George had not long moved into the new bungalow, when he was admitted to hospital at the Preston and Northcote Community Hospital (P.A.N.C.H.) He died there on July 12, 1965.
The cause of death on his death certificate was given as "Cachexia - 1 week and Carcinoma of Stomach - 6 months' 'Cachexia' may also be referred to as 'Cancer Anorexia Cachexia'. This basically describes marked weight loss in patients with cancer that cannot be reversed by normal nutritional support. A defining feature of this condition is loss of muscle, but fat may be lost as well. The weight loss is involuntary, meaning that there is no attempt to actually lose weight. In addition to muscle wasting and loss of appetite, patients have a poor overall quality of life and may experience pain and fatigue which causes them difficulty in performing regular activities.
George was laid to rest beside his wife, Sarah at the Cheltenham Cemetery and the inscription of the headstone shows both their names.
1963 - Last Will and Testament
MORE PHOTOGRAPHS
About 1933 - Sarah with her Girls
Rene, Sarah, Iris
About 1935 - Lady's Day Out
L to R Front : Unknown, Clara Hewitt, nee West
L to R Standing : Sarah Jane Ford, nee West, Unknown, Unknown
About 1936 - Sarah Jane Ford, nee West
About 1949 on holidays at Cowes, Phillip Island
Taking a rest on the lawns across the road from the Cowes Hotel
L to F : Bernie, George, Mrs. Cearns, Nola and Iris
Christmas 1950 - Stony Point Road
George poses with a dead snake found on the road.
George was always dressed beautifully, in suits, vests, shirt, tie and a hat with a fine feather in the band.
He always had the shiniest brown shoes!
Watching from a safe dist ance are Iris and Nola - just visible at the left is Bernie
About 1951 - Back of the Bus
L to R : Arthur Hewitt, George Ford, Nola Warren, Carol Hewitt (Arthur's wife), Clara Hewitt, Harold Hewitt
About 1951 - "Don't Waste the Beer"
George pretends top pour the last drops of beer from a bucket into his glass.
About 1951 - Relaxing on Pub Verandah
George contemplates the world.
This photograph most clearly shows the grandfather I remember most.
Well dressed, sunglasses, flower in lapel ...... thinking ......
About 1952 - At the Surf Beach
Posing on rocks ovrerlooking the surf, George, Nola and Iris