My daughter has been very interested in tracing our family tree today we came across something interesting my grandfather who was in the first world war and fought in france came back from the war and settled back in australia ,he had a tough life ,and became a bit of a drunk he would often bring home mates drinking and singing to all hours .one of his good friends who would always be there singing poetry an drinking was a chap by the name of Henry Lawson, in fact my grandmother chased him out one night with a straw broom.if we could only turn back time to see some of these things.
i found a book at my mothers place that was put together by a aunty of mine now past away which traces our family history back to the first fleet quiet amazing ,now my daughter is going to continue the book on its just amazing how much history is in it.
Here is some more trivia that will eventually be lost. It may even be a good subject for Cold Case.
My Cousin and Aunt did a lot of research on the family tree back to about 1820. Nothing really startling came to life however there was one bit of "father son information" that that did not get into the history because it is hearsay.
My great great grandfather got a free passage to Australia for biffing his commanding officer. He was pretty handy with his fists.
Any way the story goes (passed down by word of mouth through the male line) that in the early days prize fighting was a regular (but illegal) passtime and in one of these bouts my great great grandfather killed a man in the ring. Because this would have earned him a noose the whole incident was covered up so there is no official record. Just what my great grand father passed to his son etc. eventually comming to me and I have now passed it on to my son and grandson.
The well known Australian poet -- Henry Lawson was born in 1867 and died in 1922. After WW1 he would have been over 50 years old. He was rather deaf and, in later life, had a problem with his drinking habits and lack of income.
Incidentally, "Henry Lawson" was not a unique name at the time. Over 200 Lawson's served in WW1. There were at least 3 "Henry Lawson" that served in WW1. The "poet" would have been too old and unwell to serve.
Some 70 Meehan's (from all over Australia) also served in WW1. Their war records are available through searching our National Archives.
There would have been a big difference in ages between the "poet" and your grandfather.
The after effects of the horrors of WW1 in France were often dulled by drink and maybe your grandfather got some well earned relief by singing and drinking.
The hardships that faced your grandmother must have tested her patience. The women, too, fought a battle at home that is not well documented.
Family history can be another exciting hobby to add to your astronomy interests.
Just a bit to add my grandfather fought in world war 1,maybe not henry , when he died he was 55 almost the same age as myself my grandfather died in 1927 he spent 7 mths in france from 1917 to 1918 .drinking mates arenot always the same age .henry was buried in sydney in 1922 he had a problem drinking habit ah! he was just a aussie my granfather was 20 years younger than henry iam not 100% shore but he is most proberly buried in Rookwood cemertry where most of my family are buried.
A Patrick Meehan thought to have been born about 1883 in Mount Charles, Donegal, Ireland (son of Patrick and Bridget) died 1927 in the Liverpool NSW district.
Was that your grandfather?
Peter
Sorry Peter you misunderstood me my grandfather i was talking about is not a Meehan he is on my mothers side of the family his name was greenhalgh joseph , there were 2 of them in ww1 i have his papers as you suggested .dont no about pat meehan theres a lot of meehans about forshore that being irish and all .i have not traced our meehan name back as yet ,familys seem to split in so many directions.
Hi Alan,
In 1949 a John William Meehan married Josephine Doreen Greenhalgh in the district of Bankstown. That is the only Greenhalgh/Meehan marriage I can find by searching from 1920 to 1956.
Joseph Greenhalgh (Regimental Number 7248) married Eleanor Gertrude Evans in the district of Bankstown in 1903. He doesn't appear to have served in France during WW1. His illness kept him in England.
The other Joseph Greenhalgh (Regimental Number 4793) from Lismore NSW was "separated" from his wife Ida Jane. He served in France during WW1. A Joseph Greenhalgh died in Lismore in 1935.
I couldn't find any death registered in NSW in 1927 for a Joseph Greenhalgh.
Hope this helps.
Peter
. You want to try and trace your family history back even further. You may get some surprises!!!.
