Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Alexander DAVEY was born in Broken Hill NSW on 22 September 1894 to James Waters DAVEY and Elizabeth Matilda (nee JOHNSON). He had four siblings - older sister Ethel Elizabeth Pearl, older brother James Harrow, younger brother William Henry Francis, and half-brother Austin William. He also had a baby sister Edith May who died in infancy. Albert worked at many jobs, especially in the Depression years. He was a tally clerk in Orroroo SA when he met his wife Elsie Jean (nee STORY). They were married in Adelaide in 1921 at the home of Elsie's aunt Alice MCKAY. Their first child, my father, Clarrie (Clarence Albert) DAVEY, was born in December 1922 at Orroroo. Moving around to find work the family moved to Adelaide. Albert's daughter Constance Mary was born there in 1925 but died at the age of eleven months. In 1932 Albert and Elsie's family was complete with the arrival of their second son, Brian Charles. Albert and his mate obtained work repairing the railways near Norseman WA. Albert left his family in Adelaide. When the work on the railways dried up Albert's mate suggested that they stay in Norseman. He thought that it was going to go ahead due to the investment of a large mining company in roads and other infrastructure, including the water pipeline from Kalgoorlie. So they stayed in Norseman. Albert had saved enough for a block of land there. He used to ride his bike into the bush to collect saplings to use in the construction of his home. One day he was sitting at the front of his block when a rather dejected stranger walked past with his boots tied around his neck. Albert asked the stranger why he had his boots tied that way and why he looked so dejected. The stranger said that he had lost his job at one of the mines. Albert bought the strangers shoes, then slipped up to the mine and asked if they had any work. As it happens they did have a vacancy for a fitter and turner! In 1938 Albert had completed the house and sent for his family. The block was a large one and had two additional buildings on it. One was a room that was rented by Elsie's brother Charles Thomas (Chas) and his friend who worked with him at the Norseman salt mines. The other building contained a laundry and a bedroom which was let out to teachers at the local school. Clarrie had been a telegram boy in Norseman but eventually went to Kalgoorlie where he became a telegraphist. World War 2 came and Clarrie was eventually released from the PMG to enlist in the Army. While serving overseas his cousin Melva May STORY in Adelaide asked her friend Rita MARTYN to write to Clarrie as a pen pal. Clarrie called in to Adelaide on his return from active service in 1946 to visit relatives there and met Rita face to face. That was it! They were married in Norseman in November 1947 and lived in Perth where Clarrie worked for the PMG once again. Rita and Clarrie had one child - me, Lyn (Lynette Yvonne) - in 1954. Brian came down to Perth to work for the PMG and continue his draftsman and graphic design studies. Albert had contracted lung disease from the dust in the gold mines and so he and Elsie moved to Perth. Albert found work with the private railway company Midland Railway (which was later bought out by WA Government Railways). Unfortunately there was a six month strike and things were very tough for Albert and his fellow workers and their families. Brian married Terri (Alice Theresa) WILSON in 1953 and they had five children. Albert finally succumbed to the lung disease contracted in the gold mines and died in February 1957. He is buried in Karrakata Cemetery WA. Elsie died in 2002 aged 102. Clarrie died in February 1978, Rita in 2001, and Terri in 2005. In 2018 Albert has six grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and 7 great, great grandchildren. They live in WA, the ACT, NSW, and in the USA. Lyn DAVEY May 2018