Harry & Hester Rix. c.1940s
Courtesy Elizabeth Neil
The Great Ellingham Invasion Committee Records of 1942 lists Henry Charles (aka Harry) Rix and his wife Hester living in Attleborough Road. At the time, Harry Rix is not far off his 50th birthday and Hester is a couple of years older.
Harry Rix’s Identity Card stamped 26 May 1943
Courtesy Elizabeth Neil
Undated photograph of Harry Rix Snr & wife Hester with son Harry Jnr at their home in Attleborough Road
Courtesy Elizabeth Neil
Well Known
Harry Rix was well-known in the village. He was a builder, but he was also a wheelwright and undertaker. Harry was a churchwarden and was also involved in the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. He often played bowls for the village.
Page from the Gt Ellingham Invasion Committee Records 1942
Courtesy Sue Fay
‘Nan’
Although the 1942 Gt Ellingham Invasion Committee Records lists Harry’s sister and his uncle as being part of the household, earlier during the war, Harry and Hester shared their home with Annie Olry known as ‘Nan’ Olry.
Annie’s husband, S/Sgt Alvah J Olry, ASN 15098337, was with the US Army and was based at Deopham Green. However, I do not know whether Scotland born Annie was married to Alvah at this time. Alvah was born in South Dakota in 1917. Annie (nèe Daly) was some 8/9 years his junior (born around 1926).
Alvah & ‘Nan’ Olry. Date unknown
Courtesy Elizabeth Neil
Close Connections
After the war, Alvah and ‘Nan’ kept in contact with Harry and Hester. Indeed, they corresponded for many years and, by all accounts, were as close as family.
Return to the US
In 1946, 20 year old Annie Olry boarded the ‘Queen Mary’ with her 3 month old son, Alvah J. Presumably she was heading for the USA.
The 1950 United States census finds the family living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 32 year old Alvah Olry is a proprietor of a sales and service garage. With him is his 24 year old wife Nan and their two children – Scotland born Alvah J aged 4 and one year old Anne who was born in Indiana.
Sources:
Gt Ellingham Invasion Committee Records 1942. Sue Fay.
UK & Ireland Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; BT27 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Outwards Passenger Lists; Reference Number: Series BT27-21175. Ancestry.com. UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
1950 United States Federal Census. National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 1980; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 95-63 Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022.
Thanks to Elizabeth Neil, granddaughter of Harry & Hester Rix