James Dunwoodie Whisson
 |
| James Dunwoodie Whisson (right) with a military colleague, serving in Gibraltar during the latter part of World War Two. |
|
The oldest of three siblings James ( Jimmy) was born in the Northumbrian coastal
town of Amble in 1906, the son of Arthur Dillon Whisson & his wife,
Lillian (nee Davison).
He soon found work, labouring for a while in a mobile laundry
service, where sometimes he would be required to drive as far a
field as Rowland's Gill, about 35 miles south west in northern
County Durham.
He also assisted his dad for a while in their family painting &
decorating business.
As a young man he was a choir boy at a local church, where he met
his wife-to-be, Mary
Olive Williamson, who was a member of the congregation.
Their eldest children, Eleanor (Elaine), Lillian & Lena were born
close to Amble.
Deciding to leave for new work & alternative pastures he uprooted
his young family to
first Seaton Sluice, then Blyth in south east Northumberland in
1935/6.
They settled for over over 40 years in the newly built Kings Gardens
of the Malvins Close Estate, their next child, Arthur John, being
the first boy born there in 1936.
It would be another 7 years before their 5th & final child, James
came into the world.
Work & family life had to take a back seat as Jimmy was called up to
arms between
1939 to 1945 to serve in the army during World War 2.
He was injured & rescued from Dunkirk in 1941, coming back to
England to convalesce
in Silloth on the Cumbrian coast.
Back in action he was promoted to the ranks of Tunnelling Sergeant,
his wife, Olive,
so proud & tearful would return to the local cinema on a daily basis
with her less enthusiastic children to see him barking out orders to
his charges at work on Pathe News.
Later in the war he served in Gibraltar & would return with tales of
the combat, the island's monkeys & his children's first taste of
white chocolate. After his release from military duties Jimmy became a resettlement officer for those being demobbed from the army in helping them to find new jobs & re-adapt to civilian life. His final post was that as a Pit Deputy at his
local Isabella Colliery in Blyth, south east Northumberland. He was instrumental in recalling his father's Whitby roots to pass on tales of cousins, aunts & uncles.
|