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Robert William Lister [li.5.6.6]
Robert William Lister was the sixth child of Robert Henry Lister & Jane Ann Cradle born November 28th, 1894 at Rochester, Northumberland.
In 1901 Robert & his parents were living at 20 Harrison St, West Hartlepool, Co Durham where his father was a stonemason. Robert had 3 brothers & 1 sister at home at that time. His father died 4 years later in 1905.
By 1911 Robert’s mother Jane had remarried & he & his mother & step father, James O’Hara were living at 47 Fell St, Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Robert was working as an express delivery porter.
It appears that Robert had been in trouble with the law on a number of occasions and had also been sent to the Industrial School in 1904 & subsequently spent time in a borstal institution for committing a number of thefts. The Shields Daily News of March 29th, 1912 reported that whilst on bail for charges of theft Robert had stolen 2 bicycles in Newcastle, one of which belonged to a Wesleyan Minister. His mother Jane O’Hara was charged with receiving the minister’s bicycle knowing it to be stolen & sold it to a secondhand dealer for 15s. Robert pleaded guilty & was sentenced to 1 day in prison & Jane was released on bail.
The following information comes from Robert’s grandson, Gil James. Robert fought in WW1 in the Royal Horse Artillery & Royal Artillery. After being affected by gas he was sent to Broadwater Hospital, Ipswich where he met his future wife, nurse Ellen Kate Parker. Ellen was born Jan-March 1894 in Ipswich, the daughter of Ellen & Henry William Parker. Prior to their marriage at Newport Registry on the Isle of Wight on May 29th, 1923, they had 2 children, Joan & Margaret Jane. After the war Robert was a Black & Tan in Ireland & re-enlisted in the Army at the outbreak of WW2 but was declared medically unfit for active service. He later became a prison officer & finally a hotel chef. He was a magnificent musician & played the cornet & trumpet. He was a member of the Cowes Town band for many years. Robert died of bronchitis at his home in Cowes on February 16th, 1961.
Robert William & daughter Margaret Jane
[Photo courtesy of Gil James]
The children of Robert William Lister & Ellen Kate Parker were:
li.5.6.6.1 Joan Lister
li.5.6.6.2 Margaret Jane Lister