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Post by debbiewill on Mar 18, 2015 21:16:54 GMT
Joseph Lister's widowed youngest sister Florrie Lister-Smith married my grandfather, Sam Walker, after his wife, my grandmother had died. The two couples, lived in Reddish and had become a regular 'foursome' and very close friends. I grew up in Reddish living in Higginson Road, 100yds from mum's Uncle Joe and Aunt Harriet, often calling in to their Prenton View/David Street home, at the bottom end of Bedford Street, for biscuits and a cup of tea. Granddad and Auntie Florrie lived about 100yds from us, in the opposite direction to Joe, at the top end of Bedford Street. Joe's oldest sister Esther, married to Herbert Hodson a plumbing supplier, lived on Broadstone Road very close to Bedford Street where Joe and his two unmarried sisters were also living in 1911 before he married Harriet Macauley later that year. I remember vaguely that mum mentioned a son and a daughter of Joe's but I can't recall names? I wish to make contact with any descendants of Joe as I have begun a project in Flanders where I live quite close to Langemark-Poelcapelle which is where Joe's act of bravery took place. I have located and visited the farm and the site of the pill-boxes which was named by the British Army as Olga Houses during WWI. If you are related to Joseph Lister then please let me know your relationship and how best to contact you. Kind regards, Michael Handley Hello Michael, I am Joseph Lister's great granddaughter, my Mother (Joan) is the daughter of Mary, one of Joseph Lister's children. Joseph and Harriet had 7 children, one of whom, Victor died as a child. The other 6 children were Eva, Neil, Mary (my Grandmother), Esther, Joan and Jack, all of whom are now deceased. My mother fondly remembers her Grandad Joseph as being a "lollipop man" for the local school. She also remembers their house, number 25 David Street, Reddish. My grandmother Mary (Joseph's daughter) had two children, Eric (now deceased), and Joan. My mother Joan and I would dearly love to contact any other relatives of Joseph Lister, and learn more about this very brave man. Mark Ellis, you posted earlier in this thread, if you are reading this, my Mother remembers you and your two sisters. Your grandmother Eva was Mary's sister. Best Regards Debbie Williamson
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Post by stoconian on Mar 19, 2015 17:05:42 GMT
Hello Debbie, I remember very clearly Uncle Joe walking past our house each weekday wearing his long white coat and flat military-style hat on his way to Broadstone Hall Road Junior School where he supervised the zebra crossing for the children. He had such a loud voice that he used to step out in the road and just plonk down his 'lollypop stick', raise his other hand and shout at any cars that did not show signs of stopping ... they soon stopped. My father and mother were the Steward and Stewardess of the Houldsworth WMC for about 2 yrs and we lived on Bedford St about 200yds from Joe's house. Several times a week Joe came into the club for his pint(s) of Threlfall's Bitter and would often recall in a vivid way his advance with an action replay including his script. As a boy this was how I first learned about Passchendaele and Langemark in particular. I have located the exact site of the pillboxes and the farm which was Olga Houses to the British. My aim is to get a memorial erected to Joe on the centenary at the site of his action. This gives me over 2 yrs to arrange everything if it is possible. I have already gained the support of the local burgemaster and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. There is a small memorial about 1 mile away to Fred Dancox VC of the Worcester Regiment which I would use as my 'model' for Sgt Joseph Lister VC. I am obtaining a quote for the cost of the memorial to which his regiment and myself will contribute. Today I have written to Stockport MBC asking for their support, I will approach the Western Front Association. Could you co-ordinate other family members perhaps some of you would wish to donate and attend a memorial ceremony at Olga Houses in October 2017 if I can succeed? Another idea is to get an official plaque placed on his David St house if both the owner and the Council will agree but I cannot lead that as I live in Belgium. Stockport has only had 2 VC residents so thay might agree. Who could lead that centenary project? Some of Joe's childrens' names ring bells but as I was born in 1946 I only met Joe in his last 16 years. My mother, however, was born in 1918 and knew him all her life, she died in 1971 and her maiden name was Gertrude Walker. Perhaps your mother or grandmother remembers her? Please let me know either way if you want to help? Best regards, Michael Handley
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Post by debbiewill on Mar 23, 2015 21:06:44 GMT
Hello Michael,
Thank you for your reply, and for all the information. You have certainly got some wonderful plans/ideas in the making, and I couldn't think of a better way to mark the centenary, I would certainly be interested in attending. My sister and I live in Ireland, and my parents live in Northern Ireland, but I would be happy to assist you where I can. We have lost touch with many of my mother's family in the UK however, but perhaps this forum might spread the word - there's still time.
Best Regards Debbie
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Post by shred on Mar 24, 2015 20:46:30 GMT
Michael and Debbie, It is great to see you communicating about Joseph. I do not know if Stockport have any plans to commemorate Joseph's heroic deed, but Salford Council will be organising a ceremony to unveil/install Joseph's commemorative paving stone in 2017 and I am sure that they would be more than happy to hear from you both. I will PM (private message) you both presently with contact details. You can read a little about the paving stones hereBest wishes with your own commemoration plans. Garry
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Post by debbiewill on Mar 25, 2015 22:11:09 GMT
Thank you for the information Garry.
It is wonderful how Joseph is going to be remembered in this way (together with all the other VC recipients). I would certainly be interested in contacting the organisers.
Many thanks Debbie
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Post by shred on Mar 28, 2015 11:42:25 GMT
Debbie and Michael,
I have sent the contact information by PM.
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Post by shred on Mar 30, 2015 14:26:08 GMT
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Post by shred on Mar 30, 2015 14:28:07 GMT
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Post by shred on Mar 30, 2015 14:28:39 GMT
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Post by shred on Mar 30, 2015 14:29:08 GMT
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Post by shred on Mar 30, 2015 14:29:39 GMT
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Post by debbiewill on Mar 30, 2015 14:54:08 GMT
Thank you for posting the newspaper articles, very interesting reading.
Best Regards Debbie
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Post by chris on Sept 26, 2015 17:20:45 GMT
Hello Debbie, I remember very clearly Uncle Joe walking past our house each weekday wearing his long white coat and flat military-style hat on his way to Broadstone Hall Road Junior School where he supervised the zebra crossing for the children. He had such a loud voice that he used to step out in the road and just plonk down his 'lollypop stick', raise his other hand and shout at any cars that did not show signs of stopping ... they soon stopped. My father and mother were the Steward and Stewardess of the Houldsworth WMC for about 2 yrs and we lived on Bedford St about 200yds from Joe's house. Several times a week Joe came into the club for his pint(s) of Threlfall's Bitter and would often recall in a vivid way his advance with an action replay including his script. As a boy this was how I first learned about Passchendaele and Langemark in particular. I have located the exact site of the pillboxes and the farm which was Olga Houses to the British. My aim is to get a memorial erected to Joe on the centenary at the site of his action. This gives me over 2 yrs to arrange everything if it is possible. I have already gained the support of the local burgemaster and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. There is a small memorial about 1 mile away to Fred Dancox VC of the Worcester Regiment which I would use as my 'model' for Sgt Joseph Lister VC. I am obtaining a quote for the cost of the memorial to which his regiment and myself will contribute. Today I have written to Stockport MBC asking for their support, I will approach the Western Front Association. Could you co-ordinate other family members perhaps some of you would wish to donate and attend a memorial ceremony at Olga Houses in October 2017 if I can succeed? Another idea is to get an official plaque placed on his David St house if both the owner and the Council will agree but I cannot lead that as I live in Belgium. Stockport has only had 2 VC residents so thay might agree. Who could lead that centenary project? Some of Joe's childrens' names ring bells but as I was born in 1946 I only met Joe in his last 16 years. My mother, however, was born in 1918 and knew him all her life, she died in 1971 and her maiden name was Gertrude Walker. Perhaps your mother or grandmother remembers her? Please let me know either way if you want to help? Best regards, Michael Handley
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Post by chris on Sept 26, 2015 17:28:02 GMT
Hello Debbie, I remember very clearly Uncle Joe walking past our house each weekday wearing his long white coat and flat military-style hat on his way to Broadstone Hall Road Junior School where he supervised the zebra crossing for the children. He had such a loud voice that he used to step out in the road and just plonk down his 'lollypop stick', raise his other hand and shout at any cars that did not show signs of stopping ... they soon stopped. My father and mother were the Steward and Stewardess of the Houldsworth WMC for about 2 yrs and we lived on Bedford St about 200yds from Joe's house. Several times a week Joe came into the club for his pint(s) of Threlfall's Bitter and would often recall in a vivid way his advance with an action replay including his script. As a boy this was how I first learned about Passchendaele and Langemark in particular. I have located the exact site of the pillboxes and the farm which was Olga Houses to the British. My aim is to get a memorial erected to Joe on the centenary at the site of his action. This gives me over 2 yrs to arrange everything if it is possible. I have already gained the support of the local burgemaster and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. There is a small memorial about 1 mile away to Fred Dancox VC of the Worcester Regiment which I would use as my 'model' for Sgt Joseph Lister VC. I am obtaining a quote for the cost of the memorial to which his regiment and myself will contribute. Today I have written to Stockport MBC asking for their support, I will approach the Western Front Association. Could you co-ordinate other family members perhaps some of you would wish to donate and attend a memorial ceremony at Olga Houses in October 2017 if I can succeed? Another idea is to get an official plaque placed on his David St house if both the owner and the Council will agree but I cannot lead that as I live in Belgium. Stockport has only had 2 VC residents so thay might agree. Who could lead that centenary project? Some of Joe's childrens' names ring bells but as I was born in 1946 I only met Joe in his last 16 years. My mother, however, was born in 1918 and knew him all her life, she died in 1971 and her maiden name was Gertrude Walker. Perhaps your mother or grandmother remembers her? Please let me know either way if you want to help? Best regards, Michael Handley
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Post by chris on Sept 26, 2015 17:29:38 GMT
[quote source="/post/25623/thread" timestamp="1443288045" author=" chris"] [/quote]
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