William Speirs with his wife, Helen Heatlie and daughter Janet. ca.early 1900`s.

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DescriptionThe first photo is my Grandfather, William Speirs with his wife, Helen Heatlie and my Auntie Janet taken in south Africa very early 1900s. William had moved from Scotland to south Africa to mine gold and ended up fighting in the Boer war. After the war William had both his eyes blown out in an explosives mishap in the mine. The story I have been told is he somehow managed to walk out of the mine for help even though he lost both eyes. The family had to return to Scotland where William became a Drapery salesman. My Aunty Janet Married Archie Mclean and their family emigrated to NZ and ended up living in Doyle St in Blaketown Greymouth, where our family followed sometime later.
Second Photo back in Scotland. My mother had never known my Grandfather with eyes he always wore his dark glasses.Date of Photoearly 1900`sMap^[1]ContributorKen Campbell

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Location (city or town)South AfricaPersonWilliam SpeirsJanet SpeirsHelen Heatlie

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Date Created4th December 2020CommentsSusan Barlow
Great story; thanks for sharing

Ken Campbell
Susan Barlow your welcome
Glen Campbell
Ken Campbell great stuff Ken
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Well Ken, as soon as I saw this, I wondered, now guess it s true, where your brother, Billy s 2nd name name William Speirs Campbell came from(friends for years )
Ken Campbell
Glenys Elizabeth Martin yes our family followed the Scottish naming pattern. My son is called Shaun William Speirs Campbell. So the name lives on

Tony Shirley Watters
Janet and i biked around the aerodrome to High School together .Shirley Gordon
Ken Campbell
Tony Shirley Watters Janet went to high school? Is this the same Janet

Percy Billett
Lived three doors down from the McCleans Archie was our shot firmer up Rewanui
Yvonne John Mckenzie
Janet the daughter married a school teacher he thought at Blaketown school

Percy Billett
Helen married Eddie Markland Betty married Bob White Mina married Noal McMilan
· Reply · 19h · Edited
Ken Campbell
Percy Billett I think you would find that was Betty (Elizabeth) that married Bob and I thought the last name was White . I remember him at Blaketown school and sure he smoked a pipe
Yvonne John Mckenzie
It was Janet that married Bob White he thought me at Blaketown school
Percy Billett
Ken Campbell your right Ken
Percy Billett
Ken Campbell Me & Roy Markland use to go with Jenny & Helen to clean the courthouse after tea. all ways went by taxis

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William Speirs with his wife, Helen Heatlie and daughter Janet. ca.early 1900`s.

Editing is temporarily disabled