Gladys Hilda Wakefield: 1893-1983

 

Gladys Hilda Wakefield was born 10 July 1893, in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, England, the first of six children born to William Wakefield and Eliza Stubbings Chapman. At 17 she is listed in the 1911 England census as a domestic in London, England. 

Gladys married Ernest Reynolds Gimson on 30 September 1915 in Sawston, and settled in Linton, Cambridgeshire, England. An opportunity for a land grant brought Gladys, Ernest and their five children to settle in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1927, on the ship "Berrima". They carved a life for themselves, and built a general store. 

After their son, Ernest William Gimson, was reported Missing in Action off Malta in 1941, they eventually sold the store in 1944 and moved to Pendle Hills, New South Wales (NSW) where they shared poultry farming with Robert Gimson, his brother until 1958 when they purchased their own home in Guildford, NSW. Her husband passed away on 2 August 1961. She moved to the Mayflower Village in Westmead in 1980, and lived there till her passing on 3 December 1983 at the age of 90. 

She celebrated her 90th birthday, 10 July 1983, at this authors' home, in Tregear, NSW and blew out all 90 candles! She shared her contentment with her life. While there were some deep sorrows over the loss of two children, resettling in Western Australia and then in NSW, she stated she had a wonderful husband and a great family. We all miss her charm, wit, experience, and her love for the little ones as they were born. As of 2020, she has many direct descendants living in Australia and the U.S., an amazing legacy. This author married her first grandson. Her remains are located in Rookwood Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Rookwood, NSW. 

Gladys Hilda [Wakefield] Gimson: 10 July 1893-3 December 1983

Claire (*)

www.clairebrissonbanks.com

Timeless Genealogies

www.timelessgen.com

We're Your Family is "No. 1"

Blogs

http://gen-reflections.blogspot.com

http://buddinggenealogist.blogspot.com/

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/TimelessGenealogies

http://www.linkedin.com/in/clairebrissonbanks

Twitter@TimelessGen

claire@timelessgen.com

 (c) 2005-2020, Timeless Genealogies, All Rights Reserved

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
We're Your Family is "No. 1"

Blogs
http://gen-reflections.blogspot.com
http://buddinggenealogist.blogspot.com/

Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/TimelessGenealogies
http://www.linkedin.com/in/clairebrissonbanks

Twitter@TimelessGen
claire@timelessgen.com


 (c) 2005-2016, Timeless Genealogies, All Rights Reserved
  

Ernest William Gimson

Ernest William Gimson was born on 20 Dec 1916 at home at Claremont, 44 London Road in Sawston, Cambridge, England during World War 1. He was the first born child of Ernest Reynolds Gimson and Gladys Hilda Wakefield. Their next child, Roy Gimson, only lived a day. Over the next few years, three girls completed this tight knit family.

In February, 1927, when Ernest (Ernie) was 11 years old, their family immigrated to Australia. They sailed there on the S.S. Berrima and landed in Fremantle. After World War 1, the Australian government looked to Great Britain for immigrants and encouraged those willing to consider resettlement in Australia by offering them assisted passage. Additionally, British immigrants were also eligible to receive land grants and encouraged to settled in rural areas. Their family settled in Babakin, Western Australia as his father purchased land with a store and a home on it.

Everyone in the family helped with the store and Ernie was a great help to his father in running a grocery story and maintain a farm in Western Australia. At 19 years of age, he joined the Royal Air Force in England in 1935 and was just finishing his education when World War II broke out.

Even though Ernie was away from home, he would always remember his sisters and mother at Christmas time and send them jewelry from England. Once World War II started in 1939 he was only able to continue that tradition for a couple more years. While in the Air Force he developed a love for soccer and was able to stay in touch and visit the many relatives still living in England.

Unfortunately, Ernie was reported missing off the coast of Sicily on 25th June, 1941. The family was notified by letter which stated they were part of an attack on a ship and the plane that Ernie was in didn't return from the raid. Various reports state there was a flash from the ship that may have hit the plane causing it to crash. The end result is that he was never seen again and presumed to have met with disaster. To this day he is still listed as "Missing in Action". In the News & Reviews, Cambridge, Sawston 1940-45 Newspaper Cuttings, the following statements were made:

"29^th October 1940   Gallant Sawston Man. A bar to his D.F.M. has been awarded to Sergeant Ernest Gimson of 107 Squadron RAF. Sert. Gimson was born at Sawston, but his home is at Babakin Western Australia.  Before joining the RAF he was a shop keeper’s assistant.  He was awarded his DFM in February of this year in Air Operations.”

     The Malta Family History has a "Commonwealth Air Force Memorial" on their website dedicated to the airmen of the Commonwealth who died during World War II in the Mediterranean area but have no known grave. Their entry states:

The actual Malta Memorial is situated in the area of Floriana and is easily identified by the Golden Eagle which surmounts the column and stands outside the main entrance to Valletta. Ther memorial honors almost 2,300 airmen who lost their lives during this war. He was a member of the 69th squardron whose motto is "With Vigilance We Serve", this he did with his life for his country.

Those who knew him miss him and those who have come to know of him also wish they could have enjoyed the company of Ernest William Gimson, a hero to his family, friends and his country.

Ernest William Gimson, 541685, Flight Sergeant, D.F.M. and Bar, Royal Air Force, 69 Squadron, died 26^th June 1941, aged 25 years.  Son of Ernest R. and Gladys H. Gimson, of Pendle Hill, New South Wales, Australia.

Ernest Reynolds Gimson

Ernest Reynolds Gimson was born 23 May 1888 in Linton, Cambridge, England to Joseph William Stallabrass Gimson and Elizabeth Ann Reynolds. He was the youngest member of their precious family. His story is truely an amazing one as he was a remarkable man who not only served his country in World War 1 but was a dedicate father and grandfather who would do anything to help anyone in need, he truely exemplified service to ones fellow men.

He married Gladys Hilda Wakefield on 30 September 1915 in the Congregational Church of Sawston, Cambridge, England. Soon after their marriage World War 1 began and he was part of the Gun Section, 1st Cambridgeshire Regiment. He was wounded in this war and received two war medals, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. These have been passed down to his descendants and are a reminder of his dedicated service.

Together with Gladys they had five children, two boys and three girls, unfortunately, their 2nd son, Roy only lived a few hours. They stayed in England for awhile after the war but eventually immigrated to Western Australia in 1927 and settled in Babakin where Ernest purchased a piece of land that had a general store on it. This store was their lively hood for many years and is still standing today. Ernest's talents were many and he was handy at just about everything he needed to know to run the general store and raise his family, he was a man of many talents and a well respected member of his community.

They stayed in Western Australia until 1944 when their 1st son Ernest William Gimson was listed as Missing in Action off Malta in 1941. Ernest sold his property and joined his brother Robert in Pendle Hills, New South Wales and lived on the property next to his brother. Together with his brother they managed a poultry farm for a number of years. In 1959 he bought property and settled in Guildford, New South Wales. He loved gardening and had a rockery and built a shed on the property. Unfortunately, he only lived for a couple of years on this property and died on 2 August 1961 leaving a wife, three children and three grandchildren. His love for life and dedication to serving others lives on today through his descendants which are many.

He is remembered with deep reverance and precious memories. 

In addition, Memorial Day is tradionally celebrated in the United States on May 31st. It is a day set aside to honor all those who have died serving their country. Consequently, we think of Ernest's service to his country in World War 1 and his son, Ernest, who died while serving his country in World War 2. May we never forget them.

Ernest Reynolds Gimson: 23 May 1888 - 2 August 1961