Tim Binns
Convoy Work and Hospital Duties
Early life
Tim was born on 30th July 1880 and baptised on 23rd July 1883 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Bradford. His parents were Abraham Binns from Cullingworth and Ann Binns nee Fletcher from Methley, who lived in Saltaire at the time.
Tim's baptism record
In 1881 they lived at 3 Herbert Street in Saltaire. Abraham worked as a combing machine overlooker. Tim was just eight months old, his sister Clarissa was a year old.
I have not been able to find any of the family in the 1891 census.
Abraham died some time between 1881 and 1901, as on the 1901 census Ann was described as a widow. They lived at 108 Hill Street in Bigley. Clarissa was 21 and working as a mohair weaver, Tim a mill mechanic's labourer. Two further siblings were Nellie (17) who was a mohair yarn winder and Walter (14), a worsted wool bobbin pegger.
The Binns family on the 1901 census
On 26th December 1908 Tim married Elsie Benson from Oakworth at Mornington Road Wesleyan Church in Bingley. His occupation was iron miller. The marriage was witnessed by his brother Walter.
Tim and Elsie's marriage
At the time of the 1911 census Tim and Elsie lived at 22 North Street in Bingley. Tim was still an iron miller and Elsie a mohair twister. Sadly Elsie died in 1915 aged 32.
War service:
In July 1916 Tim began working at Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital and Morton Banks War Hospital undertaking hospital duties and convoy work, he completed 1200 hours of service. His brother Walter was also working as a VAD.
Later life:
Tim remarried on 26th July 1918 at Providence Chapel in North Bierley, to Merinda Firth, a worsted weaver. They went on to have a daughter, Barbara, in 1922.
Tim and Merinda's marriage
At the time of the 1939 Register Tim and Merinda lived at School House, Barran Street in Bingley and were both caretakers. I assume this would have been at Priestthorpe Primary School as it was next to this school. Barbara worked as a dress machinist.
Electoral registers show them later living at 15 Cullingworth Gate until 1951 when Tim died in the second quarter.
Information sources:
West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985
1881 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
1939 England and Wales Register
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
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