James Watt Robertson Banks: 1924-1998

 

James Watt Robertson Banks was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 15 January 1924 to Alexander Crombie Banks and Mary Isabella McEwen. He had an older brother William and his father was a painter. On 6 August 1925, the family sailed on the ship "S.S. Ballarat" and immigrated to Sydney, Australia. 

He attended Burnside Public School in North Parramatta, NSW and became an electrical fitter. He enlisted in the Australian Armed Services during WWII at the age of 18 in 1942 till 1946. He assisted in the defense of Darwin as a gunner. Darwin was bombed 59 times during the war. He was awarded the General Service Medal for being part of the defense to keep open the Australia's Northern gateway. He was awared the Commonwealth Service Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal and the Australian Active Service Medal. 

He returned home and worked as an electrical fitter, he also tested electrical appliances. He married Eva Irene Gimson on 4 June 1949 in Parramatta, NSW, Australia. Together they eventually settled in Guildford, NSW where they lived for many years. They had three children, their oldest, Les, is this authors' husband. 

After this author arrived in NSW to marry their son, he treated me as his own and was a wonderful grandfather to all of the children. When their home became too big, they moved to the Mayflower Villas. Jim was well known and an active member of the local Guildford and Merrylands Returned Service League, and his local church, he loved the Lord. He had the opportunity to visit James Simpson Lockhart Banks Taylor, a first cousin, in Queens, NY when visiting us in Rhode Island in 1993, it was an amazing visit. Hard to believe the resemblance.

His favorite saying when asked how he was feeling was "I feel with my hands" and a grin from ear to ear. While visiting in May, 1998, he passed away after a family get together. 

"Lest We Forget"

James Watt Robertson Banks: 15 January 1924-19 May 1998

Claire (*)

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Eva Irene Gimson: 1925-2015

When Eva Irene was born on 16 October 1925 in Linton, Cambridgeshire, England, the country was in recovery mode from World War 1, she was the last of five children in her family. Her father, Ernest Reynolds Gimson, was quite the entrepreneur and he tackled everything in life with a 'can do' philosophy which he passed onto all of his children. Her mother, Gladys Hilda Wakefield was also an amazing woman as she strived to create a loving home for her growing family.

When Eva was about 16 months old, her whole family sailed on the S.S. Berrima to Fremantle, Western Australia where they settled in Babakin. She went to school and helped her father out in the General Store. The shell of this building still stands today.

When World War II broke out, her oldest brother Ernie joined the Royal Air Force; unfortunately, he was reported "Missing in Action" shortly before the war ended. The strain of this loss in her family caused her father to leave Western Australia and join his brother, Robert who had a farm in Pendle Hill, NSW. They travelled by train as it was on the other side of Australia. 

It is in NSW where Eva met James Watt Robertson Banks and married on 4 June 1949 in a double wedding ceremony with her sister. Eventually, Eva and Jim had three children and lived in Guildford, NSW.

Once the children were married, they moved to a small community called Mayflower Villas, which later became known as Mayflower Village, where she spent the rest of her life. It was small but ample room for them and visiting family members. Her sister and her husband lived there too, and after the passing of both husbands they were a great support for one another.

I married one of her sons and found her to be the best possible mother-in-law, although she always considered me to be another daughter. Mum was supportive of all we did as a family and loved all the grandchildren and great grandchildren that came along. Mum was delighted in hearing about their lives and cherished the many pictures, phone calls and visits over the years and was so excited that a great great grandchild was due early in August, 2015.

Towards the end of last year, 2014, Eva became ill and slipped away on 13 April 2015, had she made it to today she would have been 90.

Mum is dearly missed by her family and descendants and left an amazing legacy of her love for the Lord, service to and always thinking of others, we look forward to the day when we will be reunited in eternity.

Eva Irene (Gimson) Banks: 16 October 1925-13 April 2015

Claire (*)

Timeless Genealogies
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Alexander Crombie Banks

Alexander Crombie Banks was born on 21 October 1891 to James Simpson Banks and Jane Neil Lockhart in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He was the 10th out of a total of 12 children born to this couple during their marriage. Alexander grew up in Coupar Angus, which stretches over two counties, Angus and Perthshire.

The 1901 Scotland Census shows him listed with his family and that his father was a plasterer, a trade he held all his life. In fact, his father was working as a plasterer when he died in January, 1916 and was not there when Alexander married later that year.

By the 1911 Scotland Census, Alexander is an apprentice painter and this is the trade he kept throughout his whole life, a trade that he passed on to one of his sons. The rest of his family is on the previous page of the 1911 census.

In 1916, he married Mary Isabella McEwen and together they had 2 children, William and James. In 1925, Alexander, sailed with his family to New South Wales, Australia where they settled in Parramatta, a suburb of Sydney and raised his family. Today Parramatta is a major city with many activities for all ages.

Alexander never forgot his Scottish roots as they belonged to the Sydney Highland Society and heavily participated in all their events. I had the pleasure of meeting him in 1976 and thoroughly enjoyed listening to his stories of Scotland.

When our children were little, he would sit them on his lap and sing Scottish songs to them, it was always a treat . He loved all the grandchildren very much.

Age has a way of catching up with people and he passed away on August 24, 1979, just a few months before another little one arrived. He was an amazing man, father and grandfather who always helped others whenever there was a need.

When researching in Scotland and having visited there two times now, I always think of him and the wonderful Scottish legacy he has left in his descendants.