FAMILY’S WAR RECORD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5365, 17 December 1928, Page 2

FAMILY’S WAR RECORD.

FATHER AND EIGHT SONS. Although it is now ten years since the Armistice brought the greatest war in history to an end, its .stories and recollections are ever coming tq light. Peace brought a sigh of relief to many an aching hnd saddened heart, says the “Newcastle Weekly Chronicle,” but it could not have c.ome as a greater boon tq anyone than to a North Shields couple, who gave all that they had of a family of eight song to respond patriotically tq their country’s call In 1914. They are ExInspector and Mi’s Henry Mc.Queen of North Shields. No fewer, than twenty-three medals for war service and gallantry display-, ed in attempts to save life at hqme are 'held by father and sons. The four long years were packed with anxious moments, sorrows and joys, but happily the angel of death did not spread his wings over the hqme of the McQueens’. Ex-Inspector McQueen completed 44 years’ service with the Tynemouth County Borough Constabulary, half of which period he held in his last office. Wit his sqn Captain Gordon McQueen he shared the honours in being presented: by the Tynemouth Trust Committee with medals for gallantry displayed in attempted rescue of life from drowning at the Long Sands, Tynemouth. Sergeant Henry McQueen, the eldest son, served in France and Germany with the Northumberland Fusiliers, and hold the 1914-19 war Service Medal, also the South African War medal for service at Laing,’s Nek, Tranvaal,' Orange Free State and Cape Colony in 1901. The only son to suffer to any extent from the effects of wounds was Corporal William McQueen, w*ho served with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment from 1914 to 1919. Being, an excellent marksman, he gained many awards fqr shooting, but unfortunately received injuries tq his hand, and was shot through the groin, which deprived him from following, his trade as a picture framer and gilder. He is now in the employ of a garage firm.

Gunner Frederick McQueen, qf the Royal Field Artillery , served in France, Belgium, and Italy, and was awarded the 1914 Star. He is. now following his trade as a farrier in Toronto, Canada. His younger, brother, Abie-Seaman Stanley McQueen, now a sear-going engineer, was fqrtunate to escape being on a ship, which left the Tyne and was never heard of again. Dental trouble prevented him joining the vessel. During the war he was attached to naval convoys and was aboard one which was torpedqed.

Adventure befel the lot of Seaman Frank McQueen, who was in the mercantile marine during the war. He was stranded on the Moroceean Coast and held to rajisom by natives until the steamer Welford went to his assistance . The Richard Welford sank in the Tine shortlj- afterwards during unloading operations. The second youngest son, John, did service with Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves, and was called upon at the outbeark of war; while the youngest son, Leqnard, had only celebrated his seventeenth birthday wh e n ! he entered the Navy and saw active service in the Dardanelles, where his ship was blown up by tqrpedo destroyers. Both have gone to occupations abroad, the fqrmer being at Detroit, and the latter at Toronto.