Robert Thornton Bolt 1908 - 1963
1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star 1939-1945, France & Germany Star 1944-45, War Medal 1939-1945
Robert was born on 30 April 1908, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. Robert was the eldest of five children and came from a well-to-do and respected Newcastle family.
Education; between September 1921 and April 1924 Robert was educated at The Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne (House A; Middle School).
First job after leaving school; I have, (the author), a type written page that briefly explains the terms of employment; for example what time he would start and finish, his wage, to commence being 7 shillings and 6 pennies per week, his responsibilities whilst on the job and that was about it. No name of an employer, no address. Other than a date, hand written in pencil (commence 27 July 1924) and a telephone number; (Jes 633), that was all I had.
Well, that was all I required, over the following few days I searched trade directories, census documents, birth records and marrage records. I found that Robert was employed by a Mr. William Ephraim Darney, Pharmacist at 132 Manor House Road, Jesmond. (Telephone Jesmond 633). Mr Darney was married with a teenage daughter Alice from his first marriage also born in 1908. The family lived above the shop at 130 Manor House Road.
I curently have records for the Pharmacy as beeing at the same address from 1910 to 1936, research continues.
1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star 1939-1945, France & Germany Star 1944-45, War Medal 1939-1945
Robert was born on 30 April 1908, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. Robert was the eldest of five children and came from a well-to-do and respected Newcastle family.
Education; between September 1921 and April 1924 Robert was educated at The Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne (House A; Middle School).
First job after leaving school; I have, (the author), a type written page that briefly explains the terms of employment; for example what time he would start and finish, his wage, to commence being 7 shillings and 6 pennies per week, his responsibilities whilst on the job and that was about it. No name of an employer, no address. Other than a date, hand written in pencil (commence 27 July 1924) and a telephone number; (Jes 633), that was all I had.
Well, that was all I required, over the following few days I searched trade directories, census documents, birth records and marrage records. I found that Robert was employed by a Mr. William Ephraim Darney, Pharmacist at 132 Manor House Road, Jesmond. (Telephone Jesmond 633). Mr Darney was married with a teenage daughter Alice from his first marriage also born in 1908. The family lived above the shop at 130 Manor House Road.
I curently have records for the Pharmacy as beeing at the same address from 1910 to 1936, research continues.
The photograph above was taken on 23 June 1957 just before Roberts departure from South Shields to represent the British Merchant Navy at Dunkirk in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother as she unveiled the Dunkirk Memorial.
1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted nine days, from 4 to 12 May 1926. It was called by the General Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reductions and worsening conditions for 1.2 million locked-out coal miners. Some 1.7 million workers went out, especially in transport and heavy industry. The government was well prepared, and enlisted middle class volunteers to maintain essential services. There was little violence and the TUC gave up in defeat.
And so, a new chapter begins; At some point, Robert decided that employment as a Chemist's Apprentice was not the life for him, and that he longed to follow his great grandfather's example and signed up with the Merchant Navy, that he did and joined his first ship S S Sheaf Field, on Monday the 11 July 1927 at South Shields, a major port on the River Tyne in County Durham.
He continued in active service until his premature death in 1963 aged 55. This, and subsequent pages will, I hope illustrate his full and active life.
Research is ongoing with further information being sought from various sources including: The Public Record's Office, The National Maritime Museum, Tyne and Wear Archives, Newcastle Central Library, the Internet and the South Shields local history group.
Further reading
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Acknowledgements
My special thanks to Billy McGee; Merchant Navy Historian; Ron French and Dick Keys; Maritime Historians. Roger Griffiths; Naval Researcher; www.convoyweb.org.uk; www.mercantilemarine.org; www.shipsnostalgia.com; Louise Piffero, Archivist Newcastle Royal Grammar School
My special thanks to Billy McGee; Merchant Navy Historian; Ron French and Dick Keys; Maritime Historians. Roger Griffiths; Naval Researcher; www.convoyweb.org.uk; www.mercantilemarine.org; www.shipsnostalgia.com; Louise Piffero, Archivist Newcastle Royal Grammar School
Copyright ©David Thornton Bolt 2023