Aitken

DESCRIPTION

NameAitkenDescriptionJames Liddell Aitken was born in Scotland in 1896 to James Aitken and Margaret Bell Liddell.

He came to Australia on the ship ' Commonwealth 'with his brother Archibald arriving in 1910.

James enlisted for active service at Wollongong in 1915, when he was 19 years old and he listed his uncle William Aitken, living at Mt. Kembla, as his next of kin. A telegram was sent giving permission by his" Uncle Willie and self" and signed Annie Aitken.

James was wounded in action, receiving a shell wound to his left thigh, and was medically discharged in 1917.

James' brother, Archibald Aitken also enlisted for service in 1915 and sadly, he didn't return. Archibald was Killed in Action in 1916 at Pozieres, Somme, France when he was 23 years old.

On his return from WWI, James Aitken married Bessie Sawtell, daughter of Alfred Edward and Margaret Sawtell (Falloon) of 'Riversford' Tullimbar.

James and Bessie lived at the Tullimbah (Tullimbar) Inn on the Illawarra Highway at Tullimbar.

On 12th of May 1922 James wrote a letter to Shellharbour Council informing them that a branch of Returned Soldiers Association had commenced in Albion Park.

James and Bessie's children were:
Margaret b.1918 (married Everett Relf, died 2016, Carey Bay)
Alfred James b.1920 (married Evelyn Hayward, died 2015, Albion Park)
Leslie Archibald b.1923 (married Myrle Young, died 1988, Tamworth)
Eric Douglas b.1926 (married Joan Mary Griffiths & Jean Minnie Fenwick, died 2007, Kiama)
Lillian b.1929 (married Barclay J Wilson , died 1970 Byron Bay)

Bessie Aitken died in 1960 and was buried at Albion Park Anglican Cemetery. James Liddell died 1973.

External LinkFarewell at Mt. Kembla 1915 Last edited by: June Hockey

Death of Archibald 1916 Last edited by: June Hockey

Wedding 1917 Last edited by: June Hockey

Letter to Council 1922 Last edited by: June Hockey

Death Notice of Aunt 1945 Last edited by: June Hockey

Weddings Aitken-Young 1945Death Alfred Edmund Sawtell 1941Back to Tullimbar School Day at A.Park 1954Wedding Aitken-Barclay 1948Obituary Rev L Sawtell 1948Tullimbar P&C 1951

Place

Photograph

Object

Person

Tullimbah (Tullimbar) Inn, former home of James and Bessie Aitken.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesFamilySawtellLocalityTullimbarPlaceTullimbah InnRiversfordRelated ItemIllawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Society staff 1947Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy factory employeesL A Aitken, Director Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Society 1958-1973

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Aitken