Harold Ireland was born 1888 to Thomas and Evelyn (nee Appleton), in Widnes. He had one younger brother: Jack. Their father, Thomas, died when Harold was 5, and he was raised by his (? uncle), Samuel Appleton, of the builders yard in Northwich.
He won a scholarship to Witton Grammer but left about 1903 (there is an existing school report of that year) for an engineering apprenticeship at Widnes Foundary:- then he 'ran away to sea'.
Having worked for a time as an engineer on the refrigeration ships around South America, he returned home eventually on receiving news that his mother was not well.
Sometime after his return he moved into a lodging house run by the Meachin family, and married a daughter of that house. Her brother, Thomas Meachin, worked at Harold's uncles building yard: Samuel Appleton & Co., and eventually became managing director. Harold and his wife were married in 1927 and their son Thomas Ireland, was born in 1936 (father of the provider of this small but welcome tale). |
