I am trying to discover any information / stories
concerning a man called James Gibson, who was born and lived at 8 Surrey Street off Hawthorn road
with his parents, Abram and Caroline Gibson before their house was obliterated by a bombing raid 20 October 1941.
James's parents were both killed but he survived although badly wounded losing an arm.
Despite only having one arm james worked for the Limmer and Trinidad asphalt company and in this day and age it would
probably be unthinkable to hire a man working in such a dangerous enviroment as road tarmac laying .
thanks in advance for any help/info members might be able to share with me about this unique man.
Tarmac men
- ALAMO2008
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My Granddad worked for Limmer in 1910 when he got married and lived in Willard Street off Hawthorne Rd
Then he moved to 47 Elizabeth Rd higher up on Klondyke Estate where nearly all his Children were born after WW1 when he recommenced working and their Boys all joined Limmer after WW2
My Dad Sid Chapman his Elder Brother Bill Chapman and Sam Chapman and In Law Billy Brown they all worked for Limmer
till the 1970s when it sold out to new Company Tarmac.
So call them Asphalters or Men from the Blackstuff or Limmer Men
But never Insult them by referring them to as Tarmac Men.
They all started up again under Timmy Newton Surfacing Ltd as they all refused to sign a Contract for the new Company Tarmac for less Wages than their previous Contract with Limmer
I'm sure James was well known to them all at Hawthorne Depot.
Then he moved to 47 Elizabeth Rd higher up on Klondyke Estate where nearly all his Children were born after WW1 when he recommenced working and their Boys all joined Limmer after WW2
My Dad Sid Chapman his Elder Brother Bill Chapman and Sam Chapman and In Law Billy Brown they all worked for Limmer
till the 1970s when it sold out to new Company Tarmac.
So call them Asphalters or Men from the Blackstuff or Limmer Men
But never Insult them by referring them to as Tarmac Men.
They all started up again under Timmy Newton Surfacing Ltd as they all refused to sign a Contract for the new Company Tarmac for less Wages than their previous Contract with Limmer
I'm sure James was well known to them all at Hawthorne Depot.
- ALAMO2008
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- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:31 pm
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My Dad's elder Brother Bill Chapman who lived in Church Rd by the Welsh Chapel
Also in the Photo is my Cousin young Billy Chapman who after National Service in the King's joined Limmer
He died at work on M56 construction, he was Crushed by a reversing Lorry emptying his Asphalt load.
Last edited by ALAMO2008 on Tue Apr 26, 2022 1:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Sorry about the term "tarmac men" i should have known better, actually i do remember my dad James Gibson
being called an asphalter quite often.
Abram [ my grandfather ] was married to Caroline Morris 1902 and James my dad was born 1913.
I see you were able to locate the CWGC commonwealth war graves commission index for Abram and Caroline both killed in bombing raid 20/10/1941.
Their is a local obituary about Abram and Caroline that i have a copy of which states that he was in the employ of the Limmer and Trinidad company when he and caroline were killed at 8 Surrey Street off Hawthorn road
and i can only assume that he got my dad a job there.
I can only think that my dad James who lost an arm during WW2 was kept on as a worker with only one arm by Trinidad because he had
long service with the company or out of loyalty but i do know he became a general foreman and thats no mean feat for a man with only one arm.
Thanks for your photo history and contribution to this thread, i only wish i had more to tell you
and just like your family i agree they were proud hard working men worthy of our respect and admiration.
Regards Brian Gibson
being called an asphalter quite often.
Abram [ my grandfather ] was married to Caroline Morris 1902 and James my dad was born 1913.
I see you were able to locate the CWGC commonwealth war graves commission index for Abram and Caroline both killed in bombing raid 20/10/1941.
Their is a local obituary about Abram and Caroline that i have a copy of which states that he was in the employ of the Limmer and Trinidad company when he and caroline were killed at 8 Surrey Street off Hawthorn road
and i can only assume that he got my dad a job there.
I can only think that my dad James who lost an arm during WW2 was kept on as a worker with only one arm by Trinidad because he had
long service with the company or out of loyalty but i do know he became a general foreman and thats no mean feat for a man with only one arm.
Thanks for your photo history and contribution to this thread, i only wish i had more to tell you
and just like your family i agree they were proud hard working men worthy of our respect and admiration.
Regards Brian Gibson
- ALAMO2008
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- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:31 pm
- Location: Aberystwyth
Hi Brian
Sorry for the question regarding Abram Gibson Marriage to Jones as my first Research found that Marriage September 1929 to a Gertrude Jones yet James Born February 1913 so Confused me.
Your help has solved it All.
Abram Gibson Married March Quarter 1902 West Derby Vol 8b page 433 to Caroline Morris
They had 9 children :-
Abram Gibson March Quarter 1903 West Derby Vol 8b page 408 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Violet Gibson June Quarter 1904 West Derby Vol 8b page 273 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Robert Gibson March Quarter 1906 West Derby Vol 8b page 383 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Caroline Gibson June Quarter 1908 West Derby Vol 8b page 283 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Winifred Gibson December Quarter 1910 West Derby Vol 8b page 341 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
James Gibson March Quarter 1913 West Derby Vol 8b page 724 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Alfred Gibson December Quarter 1915 West Derby Vol 8b page 592 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Stanley Gibson September Quarter 1918 West Derby Vol 8b page 605 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Muriel M Gibson March Quarter 1922 West Derby Vol 8b page 737 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Not sure about 10th Child in December Quarter 1928 named Sheila
Possibly Abram Jnr Married September Quarter 1929 to Gertrude Jones
Sorry for the question regarding Abram Gibson Marriage to Jones as my first Research found that Marriage September 1929 to a Gertrude Jones yet James Born February 1913 so Confused me.
Your help has solved it All.
Abram Gibson Married March Quarter 1902 West Derby Vol 8b page 433 to Caroline Morris
They had 9 children :-
Abram Gibson March Quarter 1903 West Derby Vol 8b page 408 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Violet Gibson June Quarter 1904 West Derby Vol 8b page 273 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Robert Gibson March Quarter 1906 West Derby Vol 8b page 383 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Caroline Gibson June Quarter 1908 West Derby Vol 8b page 283 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Winifred Gibson December Quarter 1910 West Derby Vol 8b page 341 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
James Gibson March Quarter 1913 West Derby Vol 8b page 724 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Alfred Gibson December Quarter 1915 West Derby Vol 8b page 592 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Stanley Gibson September Quarter 1918 West Derby Vol 8b page 605 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Muriel M Gibson March Quarter 1922 West Derby Vol 8b page 737 Mother's Maiden Name = Morris
Not sure about 10th Child in December Quarter 1928 named Sheila
Possibly Abram Jnr Married September Quarter 1929 to Gertrude Jones
Last edited by ALAMO2008 on Tue Apr 26, 2022 4:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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