Person Page - 42

     Edwin Birks was born on 17 January 1856 in Scrooby, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.² He was the son of Jonathan Roberts Birks and Charlotte Hutton. In the census of 7 April 1861 in 56 Cottage Road, Kimberworth, Yorkshire, England, he was listed as the son of Jonathan Roberts Birks Edwin was a scholar.³ In the census of 2 April 1871 in Garbut Street, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, he was listed as the servant and general servant of Amos Hinton.⁴ He married Eliza Hallifield, daughter of William Hallifield and Sarah Marsden, in 1880 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.⁵ Edwin was listed as the head of the family of on the census of 3 April 1881 in 15 Granville Road, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, Edwin was a grocer.⁶ Edwin was listed as the head of the family of on the census of 31 March 1891 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, Edwin was a grocer.⁷ Edwin, Eliza and their five older children all signed the Wesley Register as paying their Guinea in 1898 towards the Methodist Million Guinea Fund. They gave their address as Melbourne Lodge in West Hartlepool.⁸ Edwin was listed as head of household in the census of 31 March 1901 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, Edwin was a grocer.⁹ An article appeared in the Northern Daily Mail, West Hartlepool on 17 June 1910 which talks about an alleged theft of sacks of flour from Edwin's warehouse by four men and a woman. It would appear that some of the accused had been recently dismissed employees of Edwin. The woman was bound over for six months, two men released and the other two were sent to Durham for two months with hard labour.^10,11 Edwin was listed as head of household in the census of 2 April 1911 in The Oaks, Westbourne Road, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, Edwin was a grocer living with his wife and five of his children in their 14 roomed home. They had two servants.¹² Edwin died on 11 January 1925 in 87 Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, Durham, England, aged 68 It is believed he died from influenza.^13,14,15 There was striking evidence of the esteem in which the late Mr. Edwin Birks J.P. was held when he was laid to rest on 14 January 1925 at Stranton Grange Cemeterv, West Hartlepool. Edwin was buried with his wife and her sister Annie. The inscription on their headstone reads: Sacred memory of Edwin Birks JP who died 11 January 1925 aged 69 years, also Eliza his wife who died 20 January 1925 aged 71 years, also Annie Crookes who died 15 January 1925 aged 72 years. The burial followed a funeral service to be remembered.
The first portico of the funeral service was held in Wesley Church, of which the deceased was an officer and the church was filled by a large congregation representative of the public, religious commercial and social organizations with which Mr. Birks had been identified. Outside the sacred edifice also there assembled several hundreds of townspeople to pay a last silent tribute of respect as the cortege passed, whilst on the route of procession the blinds of houses and shops were drawn. The cortege was headed by a number of the West Hartlepool Division of the Durham County Constabulary, under Supt. Thomas, and also by members of the Harbour of Refuge Lodge of Freemasons, of which deceased was a Past Master. The officiating ministers at the Church were the Rev. G. E. Scott, the Rev. N. D. Thorpe, and the Rev. A F Shields. Before the service, the organist Mr. Jos. Bell, A.R.C.O. played appropriate music which included Handel’s Largo (a favourite of the deceased gentleman) and ‘But the Lord is mindful of His own’. After the opening sentenced read to the coffin was carried down the aisle to the front of the rostrum. The hymn ‘The God of love my shepherd is’ was sung and later the hymn ‘Fight the Good Fight’ both those being favourites of Mr Birks.

In the course of the service, the Reverend E. Scott paid an eloquent tribute to the life and work of deceased, remarking that the large gathering at the church was a spontaneous testimony to the esteem in which he was held. Those who knew him best were best able to appreciate the sterling worth of his character. Those permitted to know him intimately regarded him with sincere and deep affection. He was, said the speaker, a good man and one who would look you straight the face. He often went out of his way to make all act of personal sacrifice. He was a true Christian gentleman but was one who never put on “side”. Mr. Birks had a heart as tender as a little child and those who had never seen his eye glisten or heard the tremor in his voice did not know Edwin Birks. Speaking of his long valuable services as an officer of that Church, the speaker said that Mr. Birks was a Methodist by conviction. The chief mourners were Mrs Gilbert (London), daughter; Mr. and Mrs A. E. Leask, son-in-law and daughter; Mrs. Hugh Birks, daughter-in-law; Mr. Herbert Birks, brother; Mr. & Mrs. F. Mayson (Newcastle), brother-in-law and sister; Miss Hilda Birks (Middlesbrough), niece; and Mr. Hikely (Yorks). The bearers were :—Messrs. Toole. Ridley, Arnold Branson, Robt. Clark, Hays, and Jobson.^16,17,13 The will of Edwin was proved on 18 February 1925 in Durham to his daughter Marion Birks, his son in law Alfred Ernest Leask and Matthew Henry Groves an incorporated accountant. His effects were valued at £16479 11s10d.¹⁵

     Eliza Hallifield was born in 1853 in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England.² She was the daughter of William Hallifield and Sarah Marsden. In the census of 7 April 1861 in Misson, Nottinghamshire, England, she was listed as the daughter of William Hallifield.³ She married Edwin Birks, son of Jonathan Roberts Birks and Charlotte Hutton, in 1880 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.⁴ In the census of 3 April 1881 in 15 Granville Road, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, she was listed as the wife of Edwin Birks.⁵ In the census of 31 March 1891 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the wife of Edwin Birks.⁶ Edwin, Eliza and their five older children all signed the Wesley Register as paying their Guinea in 1898 towards the Methodist Million Guinea Fund. They gave their address as Melbourne Lodge in West Hartlepool.⁷ In the census of 31 March 1901 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the wife of Edwin Birks.⁸ In the census of 2 April 1911 in The Oaks, Westbourne Road, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the wife of Edwin Birks.⁹ Her husband Edwin died on 11 January 1925 in 87 Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, Durham, England, aged 68 It is believed he died from influenza.^10,11,12 Eliza died on 20 January 1925 in Hartlepool, Durham, England, It is believed she died from influenza. Her death appeared in the Northern Daily Mail and read: The death occurred in the early hours of this morning of Mrs Edwin Birks, widow of the late Mr Edwin Birks, J.P.., of 87 Hutton Avenue. Mrs Birks, who was 71 years of age, had been ill for a considerable time. her death, is, however, all the more sad in view of the fact that it follows so closely upon the deaths of her husband and sister.^10,13,14,15 Eliza was buried on 22 January 1925 in Stranton Grange Cemetary, Tanfield Road, Hartlepool, Durham, England, Eliza was buried with her husband and her sister Annie. The inscription on their headstone reads: Sacred memory of Edwin Birks JP who died January 11th 1925 aged 69 years, also Eliza his wife who died January 20th 1925 aged 71 years, also Annie Crookes who died January 15th 1925 aged 72 years.^16,10

     Gweneth R Wilson married Derek Edmund Davies in April 1989 in Taunton, Somerset, England.¹ Her husband Derek died on November 2006 in Yorkshire, England, aged 89 His funeral was very impressive and touching. The RAF supplied pallbearers and held his coffin over the grave while a jet fighter screamed over above the treetops. It was apparently a spine tingling sight and send off.^2,3 Gweneth died in December 2006 in Yorkshire, England, six weeks after her husband Derek.²

     Jonathan Roberts Birks was born in 1823 in Water Hall, Penistone, Yorkshire, England.² He was the son of Richard Birks and Mary Bowes. In the census of 6 June 1841 in Upper bridge, Cartworth, Kirk Burton, Yorkshire, England, he was listed as the son of Richard Birks.³ He married Mary Elizabeth Skelton in 1849 in East Retford, Nottinghamshire, England.⁴ His wife Mary died on 1849 in East Retford, Nottinghamshire, England.⁵ He married Charlotte Hutton, daughter of William Hutton and Mary Moorhouse, in 1852 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.^1,6 Jonathan was listed as the head of the family of on the census of 7 April 1861 in 56 Cottage Road, Kimberworth, Yorkshire, England, Jonathan was a commission agent.⁷ His wife Charlotte died on 6 October 1866 in 28 Albert Road, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, from Typhoid fever; The informant was Maria Hart from Bolekow Street, Middlesborough.⁸ He married Rebecca Carrington Blackburn, daughter of James Blackburn, on 23 March 1870 in St Philips, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, 2nd wife - Married by licence by H H Wright. Witnessed by Joseph Leslie and Benjamin Carrington Blackburn.^9,1 Jonathan was listed as head of household in the census of 2 April 1871 at Chapel Street, Bilton with Harrogate, Yorkshire, England, Jonathan was an Assurance agent.¹⁰ His wife Rebecca died on 30 May 1876 in York, Yorkshire, England.^11,12 Jonathan was listed as the head of the family of on the census of 3 April 1881 in 51 St John Street, York, Yorkshire, England, Jonathan was an auctioneer and valuer and a Methodist Lay preacher.¹³ Jonathan died on 9 June 1887 in Bakewell, Derbyshire, England.^4,14

     Charlotte Hutton was born about 1829 in Cautley, Yorkshire, England.² She was the daughter of William Hutton and Mary Moorhouse. She married Jonathan Roberts Birks, son of Richard Birks and Mary Bowes, in 1852 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.^1,3 In the census of 7 April 1861 in 56 Cottage Road, Kimberworth, Yorkshire, England, she was listed as the wife of Jonathan Roberts Birks.⁴ She died on 6 October 1866 in 28 Albert Road, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, from Typhoid fever; The informant was Maria Hart from Bolekow Street, Middlesborough.⁵

     Edith May Birks was born on 19 May 1883 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.^1,2 She was the daughter of Edwin Birks and Eliza Hallifield. She was baptised on 12 July 1883 in Musgrave Street Wesleyan Methodists, West Hartlepool, Durham, England.¹ In the census of 31 March 1891 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks Edith was a scholar.³ In the census of 31 March 1901 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks.⁴ She married Philip Holland Gilbert in 1915 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.⁵ Edith's address on her brother Arthurs army records was recorded as living in 17 Sugden Road, Lavender Hill, London, England.⁶ Edith died on 23 October 1946 in 27 Elm Close, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, aged 63.^7,8 Her estate was probated on 8 July 1947 Administration papers were issued to her son Geoffrey Holland Gilbert a veterinary student. Her effects were valued at £2,858 1s 7d.⁸

     Marion Birks was born on 21 October 1887 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England.^1,2 She was the daughter of Edwin Birks and Eliza Hallifield. She was baptised on 23 November 1887 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England.¹ In the census of 31 March 1891 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks.³ Edwin, Eliza and their five older children all signed the Wesley Register as paying their Guinea in 1898 towards the Methodist Million Guinea Fund. They gave their address as Melbourne Lodge in West Hartlepool.⁴ In the census of 31 March 1901 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks.⁵ In the census of 2 April 1911 in The Oaks, Westbourne Road, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks.⁶ She married John Sowden in 1926 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.^7,8 Marion died on 17 October 1987 in Reeth, Richmond, Yorkshire, England, aged 99 four days short of her 100th birthday. I understand she enjoyed a game of scrabble two weeks before her death.^9,7

     Ida Annie Birks was born on 10 July 1889 in Albourn Terrace, Hartlepool, Durham, England.^1,2 She was the daughter of Edwin Birks and Eliza Hallifield. She was baptised on 4 September 1889 in Weslyan Methodists Church, Musgrave Street, Hartlepool, Durham, England.¹ In the census of 31 March 1891 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks.³ Edwin, Eliza and their five older children all signed the Wesley Register as paying their Guinea in 1898 towards the Methodist Million Guinea Fund. They gave their address as Melbourne Lodge in West Hartlepool.⁴ In the census of 31 March 1901 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks.⁵ In the census of 2 April 1911 in The Oaks, Westbourne Road, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks Ida was a science student.⁶ She married George Crane Knightly Ingle on 19 October 1920 in Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa.^7,8,9 Her husband George died on 17 September 1947 in Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa, aged 58.¹⁰ Ida died on 20 June 1978 in Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa, aged 88 from natural causes - whatever that means!!!!^11,8,12

     Dorothy Charlotte Birks was born on 8 September 1892 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.^1,2 She was the daughter of Edwin Birks and Eliza Hallifield. Edwin, Eliza and their five older children all signed the Wesley Register as paying their Guinea in 1898 towards the Methodist Million Guinea Fund. They gave their address as Melbourne Lodge in West Hartlepool.³ In the census of 31 March 1901 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks.⁴ In the census of 2 April 1911 in The Oaks, Westbourne Road, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, she was listed as the daughter of Edwin Birks.⁵ She married Alfred Ernest Leask in 1917 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.^6,7 Her husband Alfred died on 1961 in Darlington, Durham, England.⁸ Dorothy died in 1981 in Richmond, Yorkshire, England.⁹

     Arthur Reginald Birks was born on 25 February 1896 in West Hartlepool, Durham, England.^1,2 He was the son of Edwin Birks and Eliza Hallifield. Edwin, Eliza and their five older children all signed the Wesley Register as paying their Guinea in 1898 towards the Methodist Million Guinea Fund. They gave their address as Melbourne Lodge in West Hartlepool.³ In the census of 31 March 1901 in Melbourne Lodge, Stockton Road, Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, he was listed as the son of Edwin Birks.⁴ In the census of 2 April 1911 in The Oaks, Westbourne Road, West Hartlepool, Durham, England, he was listed as the son of Edwin Birks Arthur was at school.⁵ Arthur enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry on 18 September 1914. he was in 18th Battalion and saw service i Egypt and France. He rose to Lt Corporal 18/633. He was declared as six feet tall weighed 158 pounds, had a 37 inch chest measurement and was vacinated in infancy.⁶ He died on 1 July 1916 in Somme, Picardy, France, aged 20 at the Battle of Somme. There is a chapel in Durham Cathedral dedicated to the Durham Light Infantry and there is a book of commemoration there with his name and the names of all those who died that day. At the time regiments were very localized insofar as to who joined, so these boys may all have grown up together. This becomes very poignant when one discovers that two hundred of them died that one day. Oddly there was a Harold V Birks who was also killed that day with Reginald from that Regiment but no one seems to know whether he was a relative.^7,1 On 1 July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. At the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The village had been an original objective of 1 July. Attacks north and east continued throughout October and into November in increasingly difficult weather conditions. The Battle of the Somme finally ended on 18 November with the onset of winter. In the spring of 1917, the German forces fell back to their newly prepared defences, the Hindenburg Line, and there were no further significant engagements in the Somme sector until the Germans mounted their major offensive in March 1918. The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. The memorial also serves as an Anglo-French Battle Memorial in recognition of the joint nature of the 1916 offensive and a small cemetery containing equal numbers of Commonwealth and French graves lies at the foot of the memorial. The memorial, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, was built between 1928 and 1932 and unveiled by the Prince of Wales, in the presence of the President of France, on 31 July 1932. The dead of other Commonwealth countries who died on the Somme and have no known graves are commemorated on national memorials elsewhere. Arthur was buried in Thiepval Memorial, Somme, Picardy, France, his name appears on Pier and Face 14A and 15C. The Thiepval Memorial will be found on the D73, off the main Bapaume to Albert Road (D929). Each year a major ceremony is held at the memorial on 1 July.⁷

     Philip Holland Gilbert was born in 1882 in Wandsworth, London, England.¹ He married Edith May Birks, daughter of Edwin Birks and Eliza Hallifield, in 1915 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.² His wife Edith died on 23 October 1946 in 27 Elm Close, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, aged 63.^3,4 Philip died on 4 May 1947 in Westminster Hospital, Westminster, London, England, his usual address was 27 Elm Close in Amersham.^5,4 His estate was probated on 12 August 1947 to Thomas Randolph Hart Turner a solicitor. His effects were valued at £3,951 17s 2d.⁴

     Esther Margaret Gilbert was born on 25 July 1916 in Wandsworth, London, England, she was possibly know as Peggy.^1,2 She was the daughter of Philip Holland Gilbert and Edith May Birks. She married Herbert Walter Schindler in 1948 in Watford, London, England.^1,3 Her husband Herbert died on September 1982 in Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, England, aged 62.⁴ Esther died in May 2005 in Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, England, aged 88.⁵

     Dorothy Mary Gilbert was born on 21 September 1917 in Wandsworth, London, England.^1,2 She was the daughter of Philip Holland Gilbert and Edith May Birks. She died on 28 July 1944 aged 26 in the blitz.¹

     John Sowden married Marion Birks, daughter of Edwin Birks and Eliza Hallifield, in 1926 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.^1,2

     John Reginald Ingle was born on 6 October 1931 in South Africa.¹ He was the son of George Crane Knightly Ingle and Ida Annie Birks. He married ... Foreman.¹ John died on 31 May 2016 in South Africa aged 84 John was a retired investment banker.²

     Denis Reginald Leask was born on 18 May 1918 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.^2,3 He was the son of Alfred Ernest Leask and Dorothy Charlotte Birks. He married Janet Milton Gilmour on 2 October 1943.⁴ Denis died on 11 May 1982 aged 63 from a heart attack.^2,4

     Alan Sutherland Leask was born on 7 May 1920 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.² He was the son of Alfred Ernest Leask and Dorothy Charlotte Birks. He married Margaret Hilary Thompson in 1945 in Lancaster, Lancashire, England.^3,4 He married Olive Lister on 8 June 1960 they later divorced.³ Alan was Director of Agriculture at St Helena and received (Order of British Empire) OBE in 1974.³ Alan died on 31 March 2004 in Ajaccio, Corse-du-Sud, France, aged 83.⁵

     John Raymond Leask was born on 17 November 1925 in Hartlepool, Durham, England.^2,1 He was the son of Alfred Ernest Leask and Dorothy Charlotte Birks. He married Annie Graham on 16 December 1952.¹

     Janet Gilmour Leask was born Janet studied at Edinburgh College of Art and Moray House, Edinburgh from 1965-1969 and had her first solo exhibition in the Everhart Museum, Scranton, Pennysylvania in 1973. After four years in America she moved to Ireland where she has since lived and worked, while keeping in touch with her native Scotland. Her first Solo exhibition in Ireland was in the Arts Council Gallery, Belfast in 1977 since when she has continued to exhibit in Solo and Group exhibitions in Ireland, U.K, India and in the U.SA. She was Regional Arts Officer, Fermanagh District Council from 1982-86 and in the following years was a guest artist at the Museum of Modern Art, Edinburgh; guest lecturer at Edinburgh University; Arts Officer, Scottish Arts Council, Edinburgh and part-time lecturer in Fine Art, Painting, NCAD Dublin and at DLCADT, Dunlaoighaire before becoming Education Officer at the Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin.
She became a full-time painter in 1995 and in 1998-1999 she collaborated with the traditional singers, Maighread and Triona Ní Dhomhnaill, in their CD 'Idir an Dá Sholas' (between the two lights), a collaboration which helped her realise her deep connection with landscape.³
She was born on 16 January 1947 in Edinburgh, Midloathian, Scotland.^3,4 She was the daughter of Denis Reginald Leask and Janet Milton Gilmour. She married Richard Pierce in 1969.² Janet and Richard were divorced in 1983.² She married Felim Egan.² Janet and Felim were divorced about 2009.²

     David Denis Leask was born on 16 March 1949 in Edinburgh, Midloathian, Scotland.² He was the son of Denis Reginald Leask and Janet Milton Gilmour. He married Jane Wyness on 5 September 1971 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, David and Jane lived and brought up their family in Vancouver.²