Original C.I.A. Staff 1914

 

One of the people appearing in these photos is my grandfather Albert Charles Mackie. I have zoomed in on him in the smaller pic. I recently stumbled upon this site Royal Arsenal History - Royal Arsenal Departments which informs me that C.I.A. stood for Chief Inspector Of Armaments Inspection Dept. As detailed elsewhere in this blog, Albert was Chief Clerk with the Ministry of Supply During World War II.

The Mackie family and their wives - revisited

Now I have found out a bit more about the family, I believe I can correct some wrong assumptions made when I first posted this picture in February 2008 and also put names to all the faces.

Adam Mackie (1846-1930 from Udny, Aberdeenshire) married Mary Thomas (1847-1929 from Stackpole Elidor, Pembroke) in 1870.  They had six sons: William George (1876-1936), John Alexander (1880-1914), Albert Charles (1883-1950), Adam James (1885-1961), Edmund Harry (1888-1980) and Archibald Sheridan (1896-1966).  The entry in the 1911 census shows there was a seventh child, no longer living.  The best fit in the births and deaths register would be Margaret Ellen (1878-1880).

I had identified John Alexander by his military uniform and from this put the date at around 1902, the year he left the army.  But now I would revise that to the latter part of 1908 or the earlier part of 1909.  By this time, three of the brothers had married, but only one had a child.  William married Kate Morgan (1873-1955) in 1902 and they had a daughter Winifred in 1903.  John married Edith Bullus (1878-1968) in 1906 and their son was born in 1914.  Adam married Kate Swearer (1885-?) in 1908 and their first daughter Margaret was born in the third quarter of 1909.

I believe the men, left to right, are John, Albert, William, Adam Sr behind Archibald, Edmund and Adam Jr.  I won't repeat all the arguments here, but first time round I believe I mixed up Adam Jr and William.  William was an armature winder in Edinburgh in the early 1900s and I think the chap with the moustache in this picture is the same as the one just right of centre, front row in the Bruce Peebles picture.  (See posting W. Mackie, 6 February 2008).  The little girl at the front must be Winifred.  Presuming that the ladies are sitting directly in front of their husbands, they must be, leftto right, Edith, Kate (Morgan), Mary and Kate (Swearer).

I am inclined to speculate about the occasion that brought the family together and where the picture was taken.  Adam Sr, Mary and Archibald were in Woolwich in 1901 and Edinburgh in 1911.  In 1908/9 William was in Edinburgh and John was in Portsmouth.  Adam Jr's first child was born in Ramsey, Huntingdon (Kate's home town), so he may have been there.  Albert and Edmund lived and died around SE London.  Perhaps it was some sort of farewell celebration before Adam and Mary left Woolwich for Edinburgh.

Bert's gongs - part two

This is inscribed A.C. MACKIE 1925 on the reverse. The box is now a little tatty but it shows that the medal came from Mappin & Webb.

A search on Google reveal that A.C.C. stands for Association of Conservative Clubs. Here are a couple of results:

'The Medal you describe is the "Association Of Conservative Clubs~Distinguished Service Medal"'
'I took it to mappin & webb in London who made the medal and they confirmed it is for the con club'
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=25053

There is a picture of an almost identical medal on Flickr
'I believe the ACC may represent the Association of Conservative Clubs. Members of the ACC were sometimes affiliated to The Primrose League.'
http://flickr.com/photos/daviddb/2199897514/

Bert's Gongs - part one

As far as I know, Albert Charles Mackie never undertook military service. We know he was with the Ministry of Supply in Chislehurst during WWII and it is possible he was in a similar civilian occupation during WWI. But he does have some medals. Those illustrated here were for gymnastic achievements - something that has certainly not continued in my side of the family. Neither my father nor I ever had much interest in sport.

The motto "Vis Unita Fortior" translates as "United Strength is Stronger". The later medal has the holder's name and year on the reverse. It is also inscribed INTER-POLYTECHNIC DRILL COMPETITION around the rim.

Inside the lid is endorsed the makers details:

P. VAUGHTON & SONS

GOTHIC WORKS

BIRMINGHAM

Vaughton was a well known maker of medals and badges. The Gothic Works, which still stands, is at 95 Livery Street. For more about Vaughton, see

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewfield/3598812962/

Photo of the frontage

http://www.jewelleryquarter.net/about/sub-page/historic-trails/buildings-trail/

Tells us that the FA Cup was made here

http://www.badgecollectorscircle.co.uk/manufacturers.htm

A collectors website

Here is a detail from the 1902 medal. It shows the letters V&S and VAUGHTON

Some old postcards of Chislehurst

From top to bottom:

The water tower in Summer Hill, demolished in 1963. The village sign in Royal Parade, which still stands.

Two of St. Mary's church. Ada and Bill Warden were married here. Albert Mackie, Ada Warden (Mackie) and William Warden are buried here.

Red Hill. Albert and Ada Mackie lived at No 10. This is on the left, near the bottom but before the church.

Bermuda Onion Packers

A postcard to Bert from Bermuda. Another one from the archive that has been torn in two, but fortunately both halves survive. The postmark date looks like 21 AUG 07 (i.e. 1907) which seems about right. I had to whack up the brightness when scanning this one in, as the image was very dark. From the manuscript entries, it is apparent that the sender has been in Bermuda for some time.

Above the picture - "I don't believe I sent you this one before".

Below the picture - "This is quite a familiar sight with everyone here when the crops are fit to reap. I guess a great many crates of Bda onions find their way to England."

On the back - "Your two cards were grand thanks ever so much. I suppose I should not say so but you know I expected that you would send me a view of 'Henley Regatta'. I read an account of it in our local papers. I am awfully glad you sent it, I did not like to ask for one. You do certainly send some lovely ones. Sincerely, E. Inglau" (I think that is what the signature is but I stand to be corrected.)

Without seeing the names, you could tell this is a card from one bloke to another. It is basically just one postcard in response to another.

Albert & Donald on the beach

Note that even on holiday, Bert is wearing a collar and tie. Donald cannot be more than five in this picture, dating it no later than 1925. I do not know the location, but it is most likely somewhere on the Kent coast.

A Christmas card - 1911 style

From Bert to Ada. Note the red ribbon holding the card together.

Bert's Grave

St. Mary's Church, Chislehurst. I visited recently and found the stonework is now in a rather sorry state. Once the weather improves, I shall return with a bucket and scrubbing brush to clean it up.

Bought of Frank Tyler & Co Ltd

This is an invoice for a substantial quantity of furniture and fittings. It is dated 21 August 1946, a month before Ada and Bert moved into 10 Red Hill, Chislehurst. Their house at Basildon Road was bombed during WWII so they would have lost most of their furniture then. During and shortly after the war, they were living in a variety of furnished accommodation. But now they are setting up home at Red Hill, they need their own furniture.

Bert and Ada and another torn photo from Seaforth

I have previously posted a picture of Jack, Celia and Peter at Seaforth. It had been torn along one side. Now here we have Bert and Ada at the same address, but this time the photo has been torn horizontally and the bottom half is missing. I imagine Seaforth is a holiday cottage somewhere as I have no other record of this address, but I do not know where.

Father Firderer

Father Firderer plays a small role in my family history. Bulley & Sons invoice tells us that he officiated at Albert's funeral, so he must have been parish priest of St. Mary's, Chislehurst at the time. In his note to Ada we see he is an old man, tired of life, when he writes "I am still awaiting with much patience the final call which is long overdue." I do not recognise the setting.

Albert Mackie - Memorial: Thomas Martin

138 Main Road, Sidcup is now occupied by Playle & Partners, Surveyors.

Albert Mackie - Funeral Account: C.A. Bulley & Sons

26 High Street, Chislehurst is now occupied by Bela Fashion

Albert Mackie - Obituary

Albert Mackie - Death Certificate

Albert Mackie - Birth Certificate

Walsingham Lodge - history & recent photos

During WWII, Bert and Ada Mackie lived at Walsingham Lodge, Manor Park, Chislehurst. This address is shown on Bert's will dated 6th June 1943. They were living at Basildon Road, Abbey Wood (of which more later) before the war and returned there afterwards. It is very likely that they were at Walsingham Lodge in connection with Bert's work for the government. (His death certificate describes him as retired chief clerk with the Ministry of Supply.) Amongst the archives, I have an "On His Majesty's Service" envelope addressed to "Mr Mackie, I.M.T. Walsingham." It carries no postage, implying it was sent by some form of internal mail. It contains a number of passport-type photographs, some of which are stamped "Chief Inspector of Mechanization, Photographic Section, Chislehurst, 13 FEB 1941". The pictures are all head & shoulders portraits identified by surnames only in pencil on the back. I presume these were Bert's colleagues. (I wasn't intending to post these photos here as they are not actually of relatives and I imagine they will be of little interest. But if anybody would like to see them, let me know.)

Walsingham Lodge is still extant. Thanks to John Stiles for providing these two recent photos and also the following notes from Discover Chislehurst (D. Spurgeon, 2007):

'Walsingham' Manor Park. A 'Queen Anne' style house built c.1880 (architect - George Somers Leigh Clarke). Also part of property 'Walsingham Lodge' and 'Walsingham Cottage'.

Walsingham Cottage is to the right of Walsingham Lodge, but hidden behind hoardings at present owing to building work. Walsingham Lodge now has a dormer loft conversion in the roof.

I think this is Bert

Comparing with the "Mackies and their wives" picture, this chap is dressed identically to the one second from the left. It reached me via Ada, so I think it must be Albert. It is faded on the right, possibly from being in a frame and exposed to sunlight.

The Mackie family and their wives

... it says on the back (in ballpoint, so added much later.) From what I know so far, my great grandfather Adam had six sons and I think that is who we see here. I am assuming that is John on the left, as we know he served in the Imperial Yeomanry. That would probably date the picture as 1902. By then, everybody's ages (to within a year) would be Adam 55, Mary (his wife) 54, William 26, John 21, Albert 19, Adam junior 17, Edmund 13 and Archibald 9. I think that is Albert on John's immediate right, though at the moment I can only compare it with pictures taken when he was a lot older. (Somewhere I know we have a photo album with pictures taken in the 1920s, but it has not come to light yet.) Archibald is obviously the young lad. The one on the extreme right is clearly not a teenager, so I guess he must be William. Of the remaining two males, the one to the right of Bert looks older (he appears to be sporting a moustache) so I am guessing that he is Adam junior, leaving the other one as Edmund.

The wives are not so easy. Mary is presumably the much older lady, but who were the rest? So far I know very little about William, but it is quite possible that one of the ladies here is his wife and the young girl could be his daughter. John did not marry until 1906 and Bert until 1912 (and none of the ladies here looks at all like Ada.) At 17, Adam junior was unlikely to be married and Edmund and Archibald were well below marriageable age. As I have said, the caption on the back was added much later so I don't think the term "wives" can be taken too literally.

SEE UPDATE 19 APRIL 2011.  I THINK I HAVE MIXED UP TWO OF THE BROTHERS HERE AND I CAN NOW NAME ALL THE LADIES IN THE PICTURE.