[Jim Mitchell]

Hello,
My name is Jim Mitchell of Melbourne Australia and I was wondering if you could give me some information about my mother and grand father who lived in Hexham between 1900 and 1945.
Mum was born in Hexham 1904, father Patrick Donnelly, mother Isabel (Ainsley) Donnelly.
I understand that mum and her father managed the Hexham British legion club around time of WW2 as my father William Mitchell came to England with the Australian Army Forestry Unit in 1940 and was stationed outside Hexham. He met mum at the legion club, courted her and they were married at St Mary’s on June 1 1941.
Mum lived for some time at 4 Jubilee Buildings Hexham before leaving England with my brother Gerald to join my dad in Australia in 1945.
Any information about my mother and her parents that you may be able unearth for me would be most appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Jim Mitchell

Sent from my iPad

[Jennifer Britton]

Jim, do you already have access via Ancestry or Findmypast to the censuses and the 1939 register?

If so, you presumably already know that in 1911 the family (Patrick, Isobel and two children, Ada and John) were living at 2, Hamilton Terrace, Hexham. Patrick was a General Labourer.

I see that Isobel died in March 1921, and she was buried on 30th March at Hexham Cemetery, Section A, Plot 359, Consecrated Section. Her place of death was 1 Orchard Place, Hexham.

In 1939 Patrick and Ada were living at 4 Jubilee Buildings, and Patrick has no occupation, he is ‘Incapacitated’. He died in June 1940 and is also buried on 20th June at Hexham Cemetery, Roman Catholic section E, plot 127. His place of death was 4 Jubilee Buildings.

If it is possible I will try to take a look in the Hexham Courant Archive at the library to see if I can glean any further information.

Jennifer Britton

[Jim Mitchell]

Thank you Jennifer,the information about the cemetery sites is most helpful. Anything further you may find would be great.
I visited Hexham in 2006 and at the legion club met an elderly lady who said she remembered my mother leaving for Australia with her “wee bubby”.

[Jennifer Britton]

I have been able to find an short but interesting obituary for Patrick in the Hexham Courant, 22nd June 1940

Former manager of the Hexham Ex-servicemans Club and the Hexham Farmers Club, Mr Patrick Donnelly, died at his home, 4 Jubilee Buildings Hexham, on Wednesday.

Mr Donnelly, who was 62 years of age, served as a pioneer sergeant with the Northumberland Fusiliers throughout the last war.

Requiem Mass at St Mary’s Church prior to interment at Hexham Cemetery on Thursday was conducted by the Rev. Father Cunningham.

Family mourners were: Miss A. Donnelly, daughter, Mr & Mrs E. Kirsopp, brother and sister in law, Mr and Mrs Young, sister and brother in law, Mrs W. Rourke, sister, Mr N. Kirson, Mr J. Young, Mr H. Young, Mr W. Young [illegible] 9New Ridley), Mrs Dodd, nephews and nieces, Mr K South, Mrs Watson, Mrs W. Rourke, cousins.

This is followed by a long list of others attending.

His Military papers are available on Findmypast.

The was an ‘In Memoriam’ entry in the Courant the following year.

21 June 1941
Donnelly, in loving memory of my dear father Patrick, who died June 19th 1940. In God’s good time we’ll meet again. Ever remembered by his loving mother, daughter, brothers and sisters.

I hope this is of help to you.

Jennifer

[Jim Mitchell]

Jennifer,
Thank you for that information. The names of the funeral attendees could lead me to more discoveries as will obtaining Patrick’s military records.
I thought there may have been some information from the ex serviceman’s club but perhaps it has ceased to exist.
Jim

[Pete Lee]

Jim:

The “Hexham ex-servicemen club” does still exist – at the top of Hallstile bank. If you google for that term you should get a link to the club’s Facebook page.

There are some photos in the HLHS’s Photo Archive on its website (e.g Hallstile Bank: https://www.rogerb129.sg-host.com//historic-hexham/photograph-archive/photo-archive-choices/hexham-choices/streets-choices/hallstile-bank-gallery/).

Regards,

Pete Lee (HLHS Webmaster)

[Jim Mitchell]

Thank you Peter, I actually visited the club on a visit in 2006.
I have viewed the Facebook page and messaged them for possible info.
Cheers,
Jim

[Philip Clark]

Hamilton Terrace is now Wilkinson Place onlyone house left now.

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