GEORGE HERBERT (HERB) WALKER AND MARY FRANCES (MAME) MCKAY WALKER

 

George Herbert “Herb” Walker was born in Sheffield, England in 1873. He was a volunteer military bandsman.  He also worked in a steel factory in Sheffield.  He was in some kind of an industrial accident which weakened one of his eyes.

            Herb and his father William immigrated to Canada in 1893. He worked first at the Patterson farm north of the Birtle station and later at the Cairncross farm (now owned by Gordon Boulton).

            Herb's wife, christened Mary Frances, but usually called "Mame" by her family and friends, was born on August 10, 1884.  She was the eldest child of Neil McKay and Frances Sarah Bartley who married on April 19, 1882.  Mame was one of the first white girls to be born in the Wattsview district.  She attended the first school which was built of logs.  It was located in the southeast corner of section 19 on land provided by Noah Bartley, Mrs. McKay's father.

            On August 9, 1905, the day before her 21st birthday, at the family farm about three miles north of Birtle, Mame married Herb Walker.

            It was to this farm just four miles south of the original McKay homestead that the newly married couple went to live. There they had three children:

 

            1.  William Walker (Bill), born June 27, 1906 (Rose Hill Farm)

            2.  Mary Frances (known as Frances), born May 13, 1908 (Rose Hill Farm)

            3.  Gertrude Alice (Allie), born June 11, 1910 (Braeside)

 

            Herb did a lot of custom wood sawing and feed crushing for his neighbours. He was away on one of these jobs in January, 1907 when their house caught fire from an overheated chimney. The house and contents were a total loss, but baby William was carried to refuge in the nearby stable.

            The next stroke of bad luck occurred a few years later when disease broke out among the horses. They had to be destroyed and the stables burned. A new outfit had to be purchased for spring work and new buildings erected to shelter them.

            Herb also bought the first gasoline tractor in the district.  He was the first farmer to use a tractor with the plow. In the fall of 1916, the crops failed and the farm had to be sold.

            In addition to raising their family, Herb and Mame also joined in the social and church life of the community. She played the piano for the Methodist services while Herb led the singing.  Before she was married, Mame bought an organ which she left at the McKay home for a number of years. One of the first acquisitions after the fire was a player piano. It provided great entertainment for the neighbours and the family and also instilled in the growing children a love of music and a desire to further their musical education.

Herb sang at many functions around Birtle, one of them being the opening of the Birtle Town Hall in 1909. His last appearance was at the Oxford School Christmas concert in 1916. He was the drummer in the original Birtle Band which was organized in the early 1890's shortly after he arrived.  In 1902, Herb was appointed Band Master for the Brass Band.

One of Frances' earliest memories of her father is that during the First World War men, who enlisted in the armed forces, would be piped up the ravine road (now filled in and overgrown) to the train station.  Herb would march at the head of these parades and drum them to the station. On March 14, 1917, Herb joined the army, serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  After completing basic training in Winnipeg for a short time, he was sent overseas to England and arrived in France in early 1918. .  Herb served as a stretcher bearer and also entertained the troops, often singing English vaudeville songs.  He was killed in action at the Battle of Amiens on August 9, 1918 while serving with the 8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. He is buried in the Manitoba Cemetery (Military) at Caix, France (near Amiens).

            Mame was very interested in church and community work in Birtle. She served in the United Church W. A. and Sunday school. She also worked for the Red Cross. She was a charter member and past president of the Women's Auxiliary British Empire Service League and served in that office for eight consecutive years.  She was also among the organizers of the Birtle Curling Club and she was a life member.

About 1948, Mame moved to Brandon where Allie was living. In 1957, Mame suffered a severe stroke and was ill for several years. She died in Brandon, Manitoba in October, 1962 at the age of seventy-eight.  She was buried in the Birtle Cemetery.

 

Wedding of Herb Walker to Mary Frances McKay - August 9, 1905e

 

 

       Herb Walker age 16                   

George Herbert Walker, ca 1917                                                              about 1890         

               

 

                                                       

Bill, Mary “Mame”, Alice and Frances Walker                                      Herb, Mame, Bill, Frances and Allie Walker, about 1916

 

                                            

                                                                       Wade and Jared Redekopp at their great grandfather’s grave, Caix, France

Herb Walker’s grave in the Manitoba

Cemetery at Caix France

 

 

 

WILLIAM AND ANNABELL WALKER

 

William Walker, known as Bill, was born June 27, 1906 on the Wattsview farm known as Rose Hill. His parents were Mary Frances “Mame” McKay, daughter of Neil and Frances McKay and George Herbert (Herb) Walker. Bill was named after his grandfather William Walker.

            Bill took his teacher training at the Yorkton Normal School in 1923. He spent the better part of three years in Saskatchewan teaching school in Canora and Lintlaw.

worked in Winnipeg in a painting and decorating business, but Bill returned to Birtle in the fall of 1930 and started developing a decorating business of his own.  He also qualified as a projectionist at the old Savoy Theatre and in the 1960’s Bill did some relief work in the new Capri Theatre under Evans Parobec.

            In 1936, Bill became involved with Oscar Barke's Funeral Service, later, Braendle-Bruce. Bill began acting as their Birtle agent and continued until 1990. In April, 1987, the firm now called Braendle-Bruce, gave a community tea and family dinner in honour of Bill's fifty years with the business. The firm also donated a music stand and altar cloths to the Birtle United Church in Bill's honour. On October 9, 1988 these items were officially dedicated and blessed at the Thanksgiving service. In 1987, Bill was also recognized by the Birtle Chamber of Commerce for 50 years of service to Birtle. Bill also acted as the Remco Agent from 1967-1992.

On July 20, 1942, Bill married Annabell McLennan, originally from Basswood. They were married for forty-years, celebrating their fortieth anniversary in 1982

Annabell Walker (nee McLennan) was born on September 26, 1903 in Glengarry County, Ontario (near Lancaster) in 1903.  She was the oldest daughter of Donald and Anna Bell McLennan (nee Meadows). Around 1904, Mr. and Mrs. McLennan, Annabell and her brother Neil moved to Manitoba where her parents farmed near Basswood. Later they moved into Basswood where Donald operated various hardware stores until his death in 1932. Brothers Jack and Donald and sister Hildred were born in Basswood.

After completing high school, Annabell, known as Bell, took her teacher training at Brandon Normal in 1921-1922. She taught at Birtle Indian School around 1923 and also taught in Newdale, Yorkton, Kindersley, Kenton (about 1933-1936) and at the elementary school in Birtle (1939-1942) where her mother had moved after her husband’s death. In 1929 she took a year off from teaching and took her Grade 12 in Brandon.

            Whenever the McLennan family got together, they inevitably gathered around the piano for a singsong. Annabell became the organist at the United Church in 1961and played until 1973. Bell often accompanied Bill when he sang. Annabell and Bill joined the New Horizons. Besides singing in the alto section, Bell also took over the piano when the regular pianist was away. Annabell and Bill also sang in the Northwest Centennial Choir in 1970. The choir performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Erickson, Manitoba.

            Annabell was very involved with her family. She was the one who kept track of family happenings and corresponded with cousins and friends. She loved to have people drop in for a cookie and a cup of tea. At Christmas time she sent a teabag with her Christmas letter so that her friends could have a cup of tea in absentia. She also enjoyed knitting mitts and afghans for family and friends.

            She loved to putter and was never happier than when working on some project be it taking a gramophone apart to make an easier chair, making a sundial or scraping a headboard so she could paint it. Some of her happiest times were spent in her garden. She had a green thumb and could grow almost anything. She also loved geraniums and in summer her window boxes flourished with red geraniums while in winter they took up every available spot in the house.

Music was a big part of Bill’s and Annabell’s lives. Annabell became the organist at the United Church in 1961 and played until 1973. Annabell and Bill also sang in the Northwest Centennial Choir in 1970. The choir performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Erickson, Manitoba.

            Bill joined the United Church choir in 1925 and sang in it until 1996. He also served as choir leader for twenty years. After a few years, Annabell and Bill joined the New Horizons choir which was made up of mostly seniors from the New Horizons Organization and Bill became the conductor. Besides singing in the alto section, Bell also took over the piano when the regular pianist was away.

            Bill also played in several bands, notably the Excelsior Dance Band.  He formed the Birtle Trio in 1983 with Bill on sax, Mary Edmondson on piano and Marj Barteaux on accordion. They played at various seniors’ gatherings in Birtle. One of Bill's big thrills came when he played the sax at the United Church for his 85th birthday fell on a Sunday.

Annabell Walker suffered a stroke in December, 1983. She died on January 12, 1984 and is buried in the Birtle Cemetery. Bill died of cancer on August 13, 1996 and is buried in the Birtle Cemetery.

            Bill and Annabell had one son and two daughters:  

            1. Donald Herbert, stillborn, June 15, 1943

            2. Marilyn Anne Walker, born August 11, 1945

            3. Glenda Jean, born May 12, 1947

            Marilyn took her nursing training at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1967. While working there, she met and married Doctor Paul Potoski in 1969. In 1971, Marilyn and Paul moved to Treherne, MB and in 1973 to Dauphin, where Paul now operates the Potoski Medical Clinic. Marilyn is business manager for the practice.  She also does relief nursing at the Dauphin Hospital.

            Marilyn and Paul have two children:

            1.  Mark Ryan

2.     Rachelle Lynne

            Glenda Jean Walker-Hobbs graduated as a Library Technician in 1966. In 1973, she moved to Winnipeg. While employed in the Audio Visual Department of Winnipeg School Division No. 1. she met and married Henry (Harry) Carl Hobbs at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Winnipeg on August 3, 1974.  In 1976, Harry and Glenda moved to Flin Flon. Glenda became a library technician at McIsaac School and Harry worked as a teacher-librarian at Hapnot Collegiate. Glenda and Harry retired in June, 1999. Since retiring, Glenda has published five books of poetry including one on Birtle, Drums Follow the Sun. She and Harry co-authored a book on Flin Flon called Rocks and Rumours.

 

              Annabell and Bill on their honeymoon

Wedding of Annabell McLennan and William (Bill) Walker

July 20, 1942

           

     Harry and Glenda at their book reading

 

 

                                                                                                                     

 

                                                                                                                          

 

                       Mark Potoski

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

Walker Park – the site where the Walker home stood. The house was demolished in 1997. The land was donated to the town of Birtle for use as a park. The Birtle spring, which was the stopping place on the Edmonton Trail and which was the reason for the development of the Birtle town site originates on this site.

 

FRANCES AND HAROLD WILCOX

 

            Harold Wilcox was born in 1904. His family moved from Franklin to Birtle in 1920 and the children took their schooling in Birtle. The family farmed on the Patterson farm just north of the station. After their father’s death in 1920, Harold and his brothers Marshall and Calvin carried on the farm with the help of their mother.

            In 1942 Harold married Mary Frances Walker, daughter of Herb and Mame Walker.

            Frances, usually called Fan or Fran was named after her grandmother, Frances McKay.  While still attending high school, Frances joined the senior choir of the then Union Church before it became the United Church of Canada.  She worked her way up to become the mainstay of the alto section.  Besides doing solos, duets and mixed quartets she sang at many concerts and entertainments and also took part in a number of music festivals when they were introduced during the thirties.  She also played the saxophone in the band when it was re-organized in 1932.

Frances worked in the office of the Birtle Eye Witness for a number of years.

The Wilcox family had moved to the Will Dodge farm in the Wattsview District, only half a mile north of the original McKay homestead. It was here that Frances and Harold began their married life.

            They did not farm very long. Their next move was to Birtle where Harold took employment in the T. E. Morris general store that was located in the ground floor of the former Mainwaring Block.  (This building has since been demolished and the site serves as the parking lot of the G. M. dealer.)

            From there they moved across the street to the Birtle Hotel which they managed for a number of years.  Then they moved to Treherne, Manitoba where they ran the coffee shop in connection with the Central Hotel.

            While they were living in Treherne, Frances’ mother Mame (Mary) Walker had a major stroke. The Wilcoxes moved to Brandon so that Frances could help her sister Allie nurse their mother. Harold obtained employment with the Highways Branch in Winnipeg. After Mame's death, they moved to Winnipeg.  Unfortunately, Harold became ill while on the job at Arborg in 1967. In November, 1968, he died of cancer. He was buried in the Birtle Cemetery.

            Frances was an active curler and bowler. In 1967, she won the Manitoba Provincial Bowling Doubles title. Frances was regarded as a very special person by her nieces and their husbands. When they visited Winnipeg, they enjoyed visiting with her. Whether it was going out to dinner or going to Rainbow stage, she had a zest for life. One time her niece Glenda took her bowling along with some other friends. Frances promptly beat everyone at bowling. Glenda’s friend was astounded that a woman had beaten him at bowling and only then did Glenda reveal that Frances was a champion bowler.

            In October, 1992, Frances moved back to Birtle to live with Bill. In February, 1994, she fell and broke her hip and arm. She resided in the Birtle Hospital until she moved to Sunnyside Manor.      She took a special delight in watching the birds through her window, garden bouquets given her and going out for coffee with family members when they visited.

Frances died of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm on January 7, 2000 and is buried in the Birtle Cemetery.

                       

                           Frances and Harold Wilcox

 

ALICE AND DICK BARDSLEY

 

            Alice “Allie” Walker moved to Brandon where she worked as a practical nurse for a number of years. She had joined the United Church choir along with Fran and later continued in Brandon where she sang in St. Paul's Choir (now Central United). She married Dick Bardsley in 1946.

            For many years Dick worked in the Eaton's Store in Brandon.  He later worked at Camp Shilo. In December 1982, Allie died. This was followed by Dick's death in January, 1983.  They are buried in the Rosewood Cemetery in Brandon.

            They had two daughters

            1.  Lynn Bardsley, born February 10, 1947.

            2.  Beverly Bardsley, born December 19, 1949.

            Lynn married Dale Redekopp in September, 1966. Dale served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. They currently live in St. Albert, Alberta and have two sons:

            1.  Jared Bardsley Redekopp, born 1974

            2.  Peter Wade Redekopp, born 1976

            Wade married Marina Ross in 2004. They have one daughter April Lynn and one son Charles. Jared married Barbara Howell in 2007 and they have one daughter Caryss.

            Both Redekopp boys have also inherited their great grandfather's drumming ability. Jared has been drum major at both the Calgary Stampede and the Edmonton Klondike Days. In 2005, Jared was one of 25 Alberta citizens awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal by the government of Alberta for his work with the Edmonton R. C. M. P. band.

            Beverly Bardsley has lived in Port Alberni and Regina.  She is currently living in Toronto. 

            In 1990 Harry and Glenda joined an organization called International Pen Friends.  Through Harry's pen pal, Susan Simon of Montigny France, they were able to track down the exact location of the Manitoba Military Cemetery in Caix. Jean-Pierre Simon often travels in this area so he offered to look up the grave and take pictures of it.  In October, 1991, Jean-Pierre visited the grave and placed a bouquet of pink heather on it.  He also signed the guest book and thanked Herb for his help in freeing France. Susan and Jean-Pierre have since adopted this grave as one of their own.

            In 1991, when Dale were posted to Lahr, Germany, Lynn decided to see if she could locate Herb's grave.  With information sent to her by Glenda and with assistance from Susan, Lynn and her family visited the grave to pay their respects shortly before returning to Canada.

 

 

                                         

Beverley, Alice, Lynn and Dick Bardsley                          Alice (Allie) and Dick Bardsley

 

 

                                             

              Jared, Barb, Dale, Marina, Wade                   Barb, Jared and Caryss Redekopp                  Wade, Marina, April and Charles Redekopp

                  and Lynn (in front) Redekopp