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BRADE William

Willian Brade was born on 1st January 1860, the son of Esther Stringfellow and William Brade. He married Annie Draper (born 1st January 1868, Lathom, Lancashire) in 1885 at Burscough or Ormskirk, Lancashire. They had four children:- Albert (9/9/1896), Millie (1/10/1897), Ernest (26/I/1900) and Wilfred (died in infancy).

William Brade served in the Royal North Lancashire Regiment from about he age of fourteen untll his discharge (circa 1903/1904), serving in India and South Africa. He was employed from 1904 to 1911 by S. Graham, J.P. Chairman, Parbold Parish Council, first as a groom then as a manager of a small farm (Scarisbrook Farm). His employer recorded that as well as being honest, sober, reliable and capable he had particu]ar skills in carpentry and machinery.

His interests as a young man included athletics,cricket,rowing, gymnastics, bowling, drawing, escapology (he studied Houdini), politics, human biology, first aid and history of commerce. He was also keenly interested in the development of radio communication and theories off light.He was fiercely loyal to the Crown and the British Empire and remained so until he died.

 

 

WILIAM BRADE               #1
 

EANNIE DRAPER              #2
 

 WILLIAM & ANNIE BRADE             #3
 

On 9/12/1909 he was warranted as leader of the lst Parbold Scout troup, which he began. (The Boy Scout movement was founded in 1907 by Robert Baden Powell, hero of Mafekjng, following his discharge from the British Army and many ex South Affica campaigners took up his appeal to become Scout leaders).

On 14/4/1911 William left England for Australia on the Orient Line, S.S.Orontes. Annie, Albert, Millie and Ernest arrived in Fremantle in January 1913 and proceeded to Wickepin where William had employment with W.M. Butler, agent for Sunshine Machinery.
Also at Wickepin at that time was Walter Alfred Bearman, who was working on the Wagin-Bowelling section of the railway line as a blacksmith. The two became friends. In 1914 W.A. Bearman enlisted in the 10th Light Horse as a farrier .

In 1915 the Brades moved to Gwalia where William was employed by the Sons of Gwalia goldmine as a driver and mechanic. Bert also worked for the mine. Millie commenced work at the drapery store. Bert enlisted in 1917.
Millie had begun training as a nursery school teacher before leaving England and although there was no opportunity to continue in that profession on the goldfields, she always loved children and involved herself with Sunday School and children's concerts etc. throughout the War years. She also helped at the hospital during an outbreak of pneumonic fever after the war.

 


    SONS OF GWALIA CAR LENT FOR WEDDING      #4
 

 WALTER BEARMAN  & MILLIE BRADE'S WEDDING  1919         #5
 

WALTER BEARMAN  & MILLIE BRADE'S WEDDING  1919         #6
 

On 3rd December 1919 Millie married Walter Bearman. He was discharged from the 10th Light Horse on 4th December 1919. The mine motor car  was decorated with black and gold regimental colours, ribbons and paper flowers, and two little girls from Millie's Sunday School class carried baskets of flowers and held her long white train.

The following day Walter was discharged from the Australian Imperial Forces after being a soldier for five years and fourty five days. He had spent four years, two hundred and seventy days abroad. At last he was home.

They moved to Albany where they bought a Blacksmith and Farrier business from L. Powell and a house in Aberdeen Street. Wally began business in January 1920. The same year William and Annie also moved to Albany where William opened the Globe Garage. Bert and his wife, Mary and their son, Gordon may have also moved to Albany at this time. (Bert had married Mary Fagin in Wigan, Lancashire while awaiting demobilisation. They had known each other as children before the Brades moved to Australia).

 
 

William bought a house in McDonald Street, Gnowangerup and commenced business as the Globe Garage in Auardyce Street. He built the first hearse out of a model T Ford. The first time they tried it out, it took off and went through the side of a building. Two of his first jobs were for Robert Marshall's grandfather, James Marshall and Rob's mother, Lilliot Marshall.
William was a very civic minded person. He donated a croquet set to the  school so the children could lean to play the game.
They rented the house in Mcdonald Street for many years then eventually bought it for eight hundred pounds  ($1,600) (after paying seven hundred pounds ($1,400) in rent over the years).

 

   THE GLOBE GARAGE  1920s        #7
 

  THE GLOBE GARAGE  1925        #8
 

THE GLOBE GARAGE  1920s          #9
BASIL HARRIS' BLACKSMIT H SHOP IN THE LEFT BACKGROUND
GN.75 Car owned by F.M.House, GN.6 Harley Davidson owned by R.J.White
 

 W. BRADE & SON ADVERT  November 1933         #10
 

 Millie Bearman came to live in Gnowangerup after the death of her husband, at Wyalkatchem in May 1927. William and Annie motored there to collect her family. Six weeks later Millie went to work at the Economic Cash Stores for Dobson and later Tom Wilkinson. Emie, after working for the Roads Board for some time joined William in the business (Brade and Son) and later Millie also became a partner.
Millie was captain in the Gnowangerup Girl's Club and she was always involved with children through school concerts and fancy dress balls. Trips were organised by the G.G.C. and Toc H. to take children to the seaside.
William patented two inventions while he was in Gnowangerup; Brade's Improved Petrol Drainer and Brade's Flame Thrower and Fire Fighter.

 
 

WILIAM BRADE WITH HIS INVENTION _ "BRADE"S FLAME THROWER & FIRE FIGHTER" 1936          #11
 

CHILDRENS SWING BUILT BY WILLIAM BRADE          #12
 
 William Brade erected this large children's swing on the verge in front of his house for the benefit of local children.
It was very popular.

CHILDRENS SWING BUILT BY WILLIAM BRADE            #13
On Swing Left – Right:   Bennetts Sisters, Venning Sisters, Ruby Bell, Myrtle Bell, Grace Bell in front of MyrtleStanding:       ?      , Clarence Bell (white shirt),     ?     ,    ?     ,Lloyd Bell.Behind Swing:  Arthur Bell?, William Brade, Mrs. Millie Bearman holding Dulcie Bell, Mrs. Annie Brade (nee Draper).
 
At home he was always wrapped up in building his wireless sets and listening to short wave radio (particularly when England and Australia were playing for the Ashes), as well as reading his books or making notes and sketches. He was a member of a model aeroplane club and built model aeroplanes.
He liked designing and making all kinds of things, such as props' and stage scenery for the Girl's Club Concerts, and playground equipment for the school and the swimming pool. He designed the black and gold G.G.C. badges.
He was also a member of Toc H and member of the vestry at the time St. Margaret's Anglican Church was built. He went to church often and made the kneelers for the church and a special fat one for his wife, Annie.
Annie died in 1936 of a stroke and William died a year later of cancer. The business and house were sold to Skewes, and Emie went to work for him. Millie and her family left Gnowangerup early in 1939..

 

 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:      "Gnowangerup the Town" My Story by Pearl Marshall

                                  Image:     1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13
                                                10        Gnowangerup Star Newspaper

 


Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024