Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Fred Park
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 14th November 1895, Cumwhinton, Carlisle
Date and Place of Death: October 1979, Bromsgrove
Nationality: English
Childhood: Eldest  of 7 children born, 5 surviving.
Parents: Joseph Park and Frances nee Harrison
Parents occupations : Asylum attendant ( male nurse 1939 register)
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance:  None known
Occupation: Domestic service/ cleaner for L and N W railway /Police at Gretna/ Publican
Place of residence at Gretna: Police Barracks, Eastriggs
Marital status: Married
Children: None known
Travels: None known
Awards/recognitions:  None known
Positions held: None known
Trivia / any other information: Yes
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Biography 

Fred Park 1895-1979 

Fred Park was born in Cumwhinton, Carlisle on 14th November 1895 to Joseph , an asylum attendant and Frances nee Harrison. He was the eldest of 7 children although we learn in 1911 that only 5 survived.  

Joseph, born at Kirklinton , just North of Carlisle was the son of a shepherd and later general labourer. At the time of the 1891 census , he was a 23 year old “ attendant on insane”  for the census return for “ The Joint Counties Lunatic Asylum” which indicates that he lived on site which was at Garlands. ( now closed). Garlands Hospital, Carleton – County Asylums 

Frances was the youngest of at least 12 children born at Cummersdale ( just south of Carlisle ) to a mason-builder. 

Joseph and Frances married in the third quarter of 1892 in the Wigton Registration District so probably at Cummersdale.  

Fred, their first surviving child was born on 14th November 1895. He was followed in 1897 by Anne E, Mary A on 29th August 1900, Margaret Elizabeth in 1902, John Harrison in 1904 and finally Frances in 1907. It seems that Anne did not survive beyond infancy and there was possibly a child born before Fred.  

The 1901 census places the Park family at 42, Cottage, Cote Hill, Wetheral. Joseph 33 a Garlands Asylum inmate/insanity attendant. Frances is 30. Fred now 5, Anne E 3, and Mary E 7 months all born at Cumwhinton.  

By 1911 the family address was Upperby , later we learn that this was Church Street, Upperby. At 42, Joseph is still an asylum attendant. They have been married for 18 years, have had 7 children , 2 of whom have died. Fred at 15 is a domestic servant, Mary 10, Margaret 9 and John H 7 are at school and Frances is 3.  

Fred moved from domestic service in 1911 to a job as a cleaner for L& NW railway based in Carlisle. He is listed in the register of the Amalgamated  Society of Railway Servants. The register indicates that he joined the union on 25th June 1912 at the age of 16.  

We have to assume that he stayed in railway employment until 22nd May  1915 when his service record tells us that he attested at Carlisle, initially to the West Cumberland Yeomanry  and very quickly transferred to the Border Regiment. A further transfer sees him with the RASC ( Royal Army Service Corps). He was deemed “fit for territorial service”. 

Fred was 5’9” tall with afresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and a mole on the right side of his nose. He was posted to France between 4th December 1915 and 22nd December 1917. In December 1917 to January 1918 his WW1 service record has an entry for the First Scottish General Hospital, Aberdeen. 

A further entry in his record  for 20th November 1918 simply states R.T. Depot, awaiting position  

Fred’s discharge from the army came at Woolwich on 24th February 1919. A public member tree mentions that he may have had hepatitis. His service record indicates nephritis which is a disease of the kidneys and VDH ( Vascular disease of the heart). On 25th February 1919 his weekly pension was recorded as 5/6 per week to be reviewed in 39 weeks. The address given was Church Lane, Upperby.  

 Later Birmingham City Police Records tell  us that Fred served for 1 year from March 1919 with Gretna Factory Police and also his address as Police Barracks , Eastriggs -soldier . This would place Fred at Gretna as the Factory was winding down following  the end of the war.  

On 11th February 1920 Fred applied to join Birmingham City Police. There is no indication as to why he chose Birmingham. He was appointed on 28th January 1921 ( Birmingham City Police Records ) He was employed by the City Police until 25th March 1923 when he was discharged “ at his own request.” 

It is unclear what Fred did following his stint at a police constable but it is clear that he remained in the Birmingham area because at the age of 33  he married Amy Violet Sheargold of West Bromwich in 1928.   

Amy was born in West Bromwich on 28th January 1901. She was the 8th child of a ‘gun action filer’. One sister was a  chandelier fittings caser and another sister was a stamp pattern maker. The 1911 census tells us that Amy’s parents had 12 children , had been married for 35 years which made her mother 17 at her marriage. Only 9 children had survived.  

The electoral register of 1930 gives an address of 52 New Summer Street, Birmingham but there is no indication of occupation.  

By 1935 , the electoral register gives us a clue as the address for Fred and Amy V is a Public House –  The Wellington, 35 Hick Street, Birmingham. 

The 1939 register shows that they have moved to The Prince of Wales , Bromsgrove and that Fred is a retailer of beer, wines and spirits. There is no indication that Fred and Amy had  any children. 

An article discovered on a public member tree , Ancestry included a report of an interview with an elderly lady remembering the Prince of Wales around the turn of the century ( 1905). It indicates the type of hostelry Fred and Amy kept.  

“ Probably it would not be wrong to say that the Prince of Wales at Hagley is one of the most noted excursion centres and pleasure resorts in the district.. During the season every fine day brings loaded conveyances here-coaches, breaks, waggonettes etc from Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Kidderminster etc to view the charming scenery of the Clent Hills and Hagley Park and to partake of the noted hospitality of host Everton of the Prince of Wales” 

The 1939 register listed Fred’s sister Mary Ann as a single nurse living in Millom, South Cumberland. Brother John Harrison was a wood sawyer heavy worker in Carlisle and his parents are living at Petteril Rd, Carlisle. His father, Joseph now a Male nurse, retired.  

Fred died in Bromsgrove in October 1979 aged 84 . He was survived by Amy for 4 years. She died “ usual address 7 Bartlett Close , Princefield Farm, Penkridge, Staffs. “ Probate was not exceeding £40,000.