Okey dokes. 
Steve.
Steve.
sorry for not getting back earlier, its been a very tough week at work, sleeping and resting was all I could do.
Back to Frederick Charles Ives. Yes he was born on 22nd July, 1906 at Curragh Camp, Ireland (A.S.C.C.&T. - Vol 628/page 283) he baptism was on the 26th August, 1906 at Garrison Church, Curragh Camp, County of Kildara, Ireland.
The story of Fred goes something like this (where the truth lays I am still not sure, I can't find evidence to support Fred's stories!)
Fred want to join the Military in England and be a solider like his father, but apparently around that time the military weren't taking any new recruits as the war was coming to an end. So he decide to move to Australia as a Barwell's Boy. You are correct on the ship the Balranald and he arrived on the 18th December 1922 at the Port Adelaide Dock. this is from a book called "Cleve Senior Citizens Club - Memories"
My father was a soldier in the general army and moved to Woolwich, England. I started school there at three and a half years; two years later moved to India (can't find anything to support this), then back to Scotland and from there to Portsmouth. On the day before the declaration of World War I, my parents, my sister and myself were in the English Channel on Nelson's Ship the Victory (once again can't find evidence to support this).During the war we moved inland to Buckinghamshire to my mother's place of birth, and stayed with her parents and her crippled sister. It was so lovely and peaceful there. After the war I joined the mechanical transport army and was discharged at the age of sixteen.
World War I was supposed to have ended all wars – it was said they wouldn’t require many men in the future, so I applied to join the Barwell Scheme and landed in Australia late in 1922, working on farms at Bowman, Pinnaroo, and then Cleve. Worked for old man Hannemann’s (fine old fellow) on Walter Hannemann’s farm. Also on the same place was Reg Levett, his wife and two girls, Beryl and Mavis. From there I worked for Len Cowley driving the big solid tyred trucks, and share-farmed for him.
It was there that I met my wife Merle Hamilton – that was in the drought and sand storm era. I learned to shear and to blacksmith and any other type of work that would earn a crust, including tractor and machinery repairs, and started a small repairs shop. Unfortunately it got burnt out and there had been no insurance.
In 1939 the second World War had broken out. The war created a lot of bad feelings – even among neighbours and friends. I took over my mate’s truck and went carrying; things were very tough. Merle would help me with all the heavy lifting and tough jobs. She is still a marvel now in 1988. We eventually went back to motor repairs work, and built a big shed in Third Street, Cleve, gradually improving our plant. From that time on my wife was my chief mechanic, office girl, housemaid, general rouseabout, mother of four children (they had 5 children, 1 died at 3 months) and the “super brains” about the place. Our neighbour in the wheelchair, Mr Hans Serotzki, would keep us informed of all the news. He was a man with a wonderful mind and memory and never forgot anything.
We carried on in the garage, until I was told by the doctor to give it away. So in 1967 we closed the business and did our tour to various parts of the world. We went to England to see my relatives and spent four and a half months overseas, settling in Whyalla on our return. In Whyalla I got tangled up with the veteran Car Club, and still play with the old models when I am able to do so. Merle still helps me in all my pursuits. (1988).
That's it
So other facts. They had 5 children, 4 are still alive and Douglas Vernon Ives was their 2nd child. Douglas I am still working on, as there is lots of mystery or strange facts. They are - born on the 2nd October, 1939 at I believe Cleve Hospital. He was very sick and Merle's Father took Douglas to Adelaide and put him in the Mareenba Hospital - it was a babies hospital of the time. It is closed and the records are available but there is also a 100 year exemption on them, so I am trying to find the right department to allow me to access them. It is said that Douglas suffered from Osteogenesis Imperfecta - Brittle bone disease and he died on the 27th January, 1940 only 16 weeks old. I can't find a burial site for him, it is said again that is body was donated to science and it was in a jar at one of the teaching hospitals, but on contacting them, they knew nothing. Merle never saw her baby again after a few days old and never spoke about him.
back to Fred.
In Whyalla Fred had a mechanic shop in his back yard, but he eventually gave it away. Fred died on the 19th June 1995 at Whyalla from Bronchopneumonia 5 days(on his death certificate) and Cerebro Vascular accident - 5 months. Fred was cremated and his ashes are at the Cleve Cemetery.
Merle was Elsie Merle Hamilton. Born on the 17th February, 1912 at Cleve, South australia. She died on the 8th July, 2003 at the Hahndorf Nursing Home (a Hills suburb of Adelaide) at the age of 91 years. she too was cremated and her Ashes are at the Cleve Cemetery.
His Father - Frederick William Ives. You gave me something new. I had been trying to find his early records, I was told that they had been burnt, so you gave me fresh hope. Thank you.
Fred was born on 4th October, 1875 at High Wycombe, Buck and died on the 30th September, 1939 at High Wycombe, aged 63 years. He was buried on the 3rd October 1939 at the Wycombe Cemetery, where I believe only the men attended as it was a wet and muddy day, and the women stayed back at home, while the men attended. Not sure if that is true!
1881 census - Fred was at 255 Totteridge Road, High Wycombe - Parents - Chair makers
1891 census - 72 Totteridge Road, High Wycombe
1895 - Joined Army - Service No. - T/12144 - 6th May 1895
1902 - married - Woolwich
1903 - William Ives born - Woolwich
1904 - Doris Elizabeth Ives Born - Curragh Camp, Ireland
1906 - Frederick Charles Ives born - Curragh, Camp, Ireland
1909 - Francis Ives Born - Woolwich
this period - meant to be in India - Military Diplomat - Red Ford Delhi
1911 - Eileen Ives born - Woolwich
1912 - Stationed at West Kensington, London
1913 - Leonard Ives born - Woolwich
1915 - Discharged from Army - 20 years - many war wounds
1918 - Margaret Ives born - Holmer Green
1921 - Phyllis Ives born - Wycombe (Phyllis passed away only I think last year of 2017)
Esther Leech daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Leech nee Rickard, born 2nd January, 1879 Little Missenden, Bucks, baptism - 22nd May 1883, died 12th January 1960 at High Wycombe aged 81 years. buried on the 15th January, 1960 at the Wycombe Cemetery.
So Steve - who were your Grand parents?
