JAMES EDWARD - EUNICE AMIBA BOUTILES
(26 March 1874 - 19.. ) --- ( 1881 .... )
(Married in Halifax, Canada on 9 Nov. 1899)
EDNA (1900 - ....) not married *Worked for Reyrolle
ALFRED (1902 - ....) married?
EVELYN (1904 - 1984) married? Lived in Somerset
EDWARD (1905 -....) married?
RITA (1910 - ....) m. Robertson - Edwin, girl, girl?
*Edna was the first woman to work 50 years for Reyrolle
She was given a special scroll for the achievment.
Rita lived in Hebburn to a very old age and sent me all of this information. I knew her son Edwin Robinson (Terry)
JAMES
Born on 26 March 1874 at Leveston Street, Kentish Town, London.
His trade was given as an Electrical Engineer with a Second Class Certificate in Education. When he was nearly 19, he joined the Royal Artillery as a gunner on 22 December 1892. The recruiting award paid to agents for Royal Artillery soldiers except drivers and men employed as Tailors was 5 shillings.
He served in the army for over 18 years and at his request, was given a discharge in 1911. It was a time when Britain had troops stationed in many parts of its Empire and he served nearly 17 years abroad but took no part in any campaigns. Most of this service was in Halifax, Canada before he went to Madras in India.
His discharge papers show him to be an 'exemplary character while serving the colours'. He was employed as an Assistant Position Finder Artificer and noted as a 'hardworking trustworthy and strictly sober man'. He was recommended for the GC medal with gratuity. He was described as being 5 ft. 7 in. tall, medium complexion and dark brown hair and eyes with characteristic dots on his forearms.
EUNICE
It was in Canada that he met and married Eunice Boutiles. After his discharge from the Army in 1911 he must have gone to live and work in Hebburn on Tyne in the North-East because on 13 October 1924, when living in Aln Street, Hebburn, he applied for National Insurance Benefits.
Both James and Eunice were buried in Hebburn cemetery.
(Taken from items of memorabilia loaned by Rita. Terry )
Below is a transcript of a letter to James from Charles, his father. At the time James is serving in India with the prospect of going to Aden. Also included is a copy of the addressed envelope to illustrate the fine handwriting of Charles.
Evelyn and Edna
With Alfie and Edna. Halifax, Canada.
Edna retires from A Reyrolle & Co
The following letter from Charles to his son Jim, shows excellent penmanship and also, an educated use of English words (he was brought-up in France) although in parts the word arrangement is 'mixed'. He was aged 75 when it was written. His style does not make use of paragraphs so I have sectioned the script to make it more readable on screen. (Terry)
Letter address to Jim.
London July 6. 08
Dear Jim
Received your welcome letter last June 29. Hav'n't answered your previous one because lost your address which however I notice is the same that Will gave me when I paid him a visit last Xmas. Then I knew you lost one of your children, the youngest. Of course when I saw him and still corresponding with you I didn't omit to yourself dear Eunice and the children my best love and good wishes that which undoubtedly he must have done with pleasure. I have gone myself through a great deal of trouble financially speaking. Over two months had my rooms to let - not a penny coming in etc. Glad to say things are now a little brighter. Hopefully my health continues the same, that is, have been up to now enjoying a tolerably good one, although I feel more and more the weight of age coming on more rapidly than ever.
Still mustn't grumble as many younger people I knew have passed away before me. Glad to hear you're pretty well off as regards to health although you have to put up with such a changeable climate.
But according to Will, he thinks that Madras is one of the best stations you could possibly have come to.
Round the town are beautiful hills and cool etc. and I suppose that is where your dear wife and the children are staying at present.
I know there are many changes taking place in the army, navy etc. brought about by the Liberal Government now in office whose policy is reduction, economy at any cost even to the point of affecting seriously safety of British Empire. So long as things remain as they are, nations must protect themselves by all means at their disposal, it will always be so since the Great Powers refuse to considerably reduce their ruinous armaments. We hav'n't reached that period yet and not likely shall we see the times when nations shall live in peace and harmony with each other. Such being the case the keeping up of large armies is indispensable. It being your lot to live by it must put up with all consequences.
However bad things may be, one thing is certain, you'd be much worse off in civilian life. This age of keen competition is greatly pernicious to the working class - owing to the introduction of scientific machinery, hundreds nay thousands of skilled mechanics are displaced - hence this misery, poverty that surrounds us.
Never there has been in the history of England so many unemployed - even this great depression is acutely felt in all agricultural districts. The best days of the army are past. This is nothing compared to the lot of the workers - above all their security - too old to work at 40 is today the general cry!
All great firms absolutely refuse to employ men having reached that age and no wonder at it considering that most men are completely broken down having spent their best energies in competing unmercifully against each other in order to make bigger profits for their sweating employers! Wages are continuously reduced - at Newcastle more particularly at Hebburn in those big shipyards men have returned to work compelled after a long struggle to accept a reduction of 1 / 6d from their weekly earnings. Such misery Alice Joe's wife was telling me had never been witnessed before! Slackness everywhere. Reyrolles' firm where Joe and Fred are employed have discharged hundreds of hands etc. etc.
In conclusion almost regret that you are shifting to Aden in Arabia at the entrance of the Red Sea a well known unhealthy place, one of the hottest spots on surface of the globe and where you'll miss those cool Madras hills that you can't take away Will with you to your new station.
Nevertheless hope you'll preserve your health under those general disadvantages. With best love and good wishes for each and all of you.
Your affectionate father
Ch Nicod
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
lots of kisses for the little ones!
Joe has only just recovered from a severe attack of rheumatism for weeks has been away from workshop. Even mow hardly able to walk about.
Fred is all right. Slackness of work doesn't interfere with his wages beg pardon his salary! Lucky chap in one sense but what about that enormously large family to keep! Make bold to say you wouldn't like to exchange lots with him! Why! Tis blessing with a vengeance! 10 children (one he lost) it is rather a large order - well I suppose it can't be helped - luck is fate! The race of Nicods thereby likely not to be extinct so very soon.
If you have any information you could add then please let me know.
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