www.whitehaven-news.co.uk September 24, 2009 5or Crack
last `military funerals'
banks and Alfred Higgin
Eileen's postcard the day
England declared war
w himself down to
comrades from in-
a brave man and
courageous deed.
the war, George
had been a Sunday
eacher and organ
Cleator Moor Pres-
Church, which was
ed on Ennerdale
NG Aircraftman Al-
gin: Leading Air-
Alfred Higgin (Ser-
032028), RAFVR, a
n-law of Sergeant
also lost his life
ving in the Forces.
Aircraftman Higgin
husband of Mona
ggin and the son of
Higgin and Mar-
ggin of Ennerdale
ator Moor.
28 years old, and
ugust 28, 1945: after
the VE Day and VJ Day cel-
ebrations.
The headstone marking
their grave has a badge of the
Border Regiment entwined
with a badge of the Royal Air
Force. The motto chose by the
family to be engraved on the
base of the headstone reads,
"Worthy of Remembrance".
Some months ago the WW2
memorial from the Cleator
Moor Presbyterian Church
on Ennerdale Road was do-
nated by Mrs Mary Hodgson
(sister of Sergeant Gillbanks)
to the Cleator Moor
Methodist Church.
There are only two names
on this memorial - Sergeant
Gillbanks and Captain
William Walker (a dentist),
who was killed when the
Japanese invaded Singapore.
Captain Walker's parents (Al-
derman and Mrs James
Walker) had paid for the
memorial after the war.
k's (Sept 24) Whitehaven News
SGT:
George
Gillbanks
LANDSCAPES: Views of Cleator Moor on the front of the postcard sent September 3 1939
POSTCARD FROM EILEEN: Eileen's message to Uncle Jim
ANOTHER local historian,
Tom Duffy, sent in this post-
card to Cleator Crack.
It is interesting to note
the card was posted on the
day England declared war
on Germany, September 3
1939.
It was sent by Eileen, who
was staying at Cleator
Moor, to her Uncle Jim at
Benwell, Newcastle.
The text reads: "Dear Un-
cle Jim, This is the place I
am staying at on Saturday. I
was at the River Ehen or
Hen Beck at the foot of the
Cumbrian Mountains. I am
Very Happy."
We wonder what hap-
pened to Eileen and Uncle
Jim, how they managed
through the war and what
became of them.

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8 Produced by PageSuite