William George James Rees (1916 - 1982)

Born 1916 in Camrose, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1982 at about age 66 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Keith Rees [send private message] and Elaine Shore [send private message]

Biography

William (Bill) George James Rees 1916 Married Mabel Williams

William George James Rees or Bill as he was known as, was born in 1916. His birth is recorded in the Haverfordwest District of Pembrokeshire. He was the first son of Benjamin Stewart Rees and his wife Myfanwy Ann Williams. Bills Childhood was spent in the Camrose and Roch area of Pembrokeshire. And lived at Dirty Gate Roch in 1922. I know this fact because his brother (my father) was born at that address in 1922.

According to family anecdotes Bill worked on the construction of the Trecwn Armament depot, near Fishguard. I know from his own recollections that he was a builder’s labourer, and told me of the hard work involved in making the mortar by hand. No cement mixers in those days, and besides humans were cheaper. The process involved measuring the Sand, cement and lime out dry, either in an old tin bath tub or on a flat surface on the ground. Then gradually adding water to the mixture and turning it over and over again until it has reached the correct constituency. And then when it was mixed it had to be transported to where it was needed, usually fast. He went on to add that during the depression he was expected to work harder and faster, as one by one his coworkers were reduced to the fittest and fastest workers. He remarked that things got better just before the outbreak of the second world war. But he added that the economy in the UK was on an upturn at that point, regardless of the many government and military contracts. The mine depot at Trecwn was a major project, and the rush was on to get it finished before hostilities broke out.

Like so many of that age, they knew war was coming and that it was only a matter of time before it broke out. And he like my father heeded the advice of the older generation. In that it was better to join the TA (Territorial Army/ Militia) and get posted to a unit that you wanted to be in.

Bill married Mabel Williams in 1937. The couple set up home and are recorded as living at number ten Shipmans Lane in Haverfordwest. Bill and Mabel had three children, Mike, Jenifer and Susan. Their dates of birth are private, and were born after their parents wedding in 1937 through to the late 1940’s

During the war Bill was stationed in North Africa, and then took part in the invasion of Italy. Regardless of the horrors of the war he admitted that Italy was the best posting ever, the people were so friendly and helpful. It was his ambition to go back after the war, but one thing led to another and sadly he never returned.

After the war Bill worked as a mechanic, and was an active member of the TA, until the late 1960’s. He often doubled as the doorman at the drill hall on a Saturday night when it held dances, for public. If the building still existed his ghost would be haunting the garages at the rear, and taking the entrance fee at the main door. But sadly the building was demolished in the 1970’s and has now been turned into a multi-story carpark, as is always the way.

After the war Bill and his family lived in the council estate known as the Priory, in the parish of St Thomas Haverfordwest. He lived there until his death in 1982

Bill was one of those people who knew everyone and everyone knew him.

His main passion in life was tanker spotting, and would often take, my parents, and siblings, or any known relative out tanker spotting. We all had to endure it. He never expected us to take up the hobby, but it was a day out and a day away from the usual surroundings. He often took us to non-tanker spotting locations, and we gained a knowledge of all the interesting locations that tourist flock to see now. He was also our taxi to anywhere we needed to go, and a mentor with regards to financial affairs, and who to see about getting the best deal etc. and was often the witness to many an official family document. When he drove us from Broad Haven to my mother’s home town of Bridgend we always stopped off at various locations, and us kids were let lose to run wild. It never occurred to me that the people we visited was our extended family. He was the only one who kept tabs on them all. I would have done the family tree in weeks instead of the 30 odd years I have spent researching it had I spoke to him first, or shown any inclination in doing the family tree. I did buy him a car when he was a pensioner, and didn’t have the money to buy it himself, he said he would pay me back, but I said that I didn’t want it back, and besides that was I gratitude for the taxi service he provided to us in my youth.

Shortly before he died, my wife (Megan) and I were on our way from London, where we lived. We intended to visit in person and tell everyone that Meg was expecting our daughter. We got as far as Newport and the car broke down. Sometime later he died, it was my intention of seeing him in person. The spooky thing is that when our son Jim was born some years later I couldn’t help notice how he (Jim) looked like Bill, I never saw Jim as a baby, but more as an old man in a child’s body. Jim had that attitude, that he’s been her before and knows the ropes, and desperately trying to get on with things. I short I was convinced that Jim was a reincarnation of Bill.

Written by Keith Rees 4th April 2017

1916 Birth record Haverfordwest District Pembs UK 1937 Marriage Record Haverfordwest District Pembs 1982 Death Record Haverfordwest District Pembs UK Personal memories by myself and other family members

William was born in 1916. He passed away before 1982. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Personal recollection of events witnessed by Elaine (Williams) Shore as remembered 17 May 2019.