Thomas Hector Davies

  Noted events in his life were:

• source. Peter Wallace who writes:
The eldest son of Harry Davies and Janet Munro, Hector was born in Rochester on 3rd March 1884. He obtained a position with a Stock and Station Agent and eventually worked as a buyer for Angliss Pty. Ltd. butchers of Footseray. Part of his work involved spending some time in Adelaide at regular intervals.
He married Beatrice Helen Ritchie and they had a daughter Gwendoline Loulsa (Gwen). Unfortunately Beatrice developed kidney trouble and died, about 1910 or 1911, either during her second pregnancy or at childbirth. In the latter event the baby died also. Hec's sister, Ruby, was living at home in Rochester at that time, so she was sent to Melbourne to look after Gwen. Ruby had attracted the attentions of Diggora farmer, Jack Coughlin, and the family did not approve of the match, so it was a good excuse to remove Ruby out of the immediate area for some time. (It did not work as they married 19 Nov 1913 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo.)
It was during the time spent in Adelaide that Hec met his second wife, Florence Annie Chaplin (Nance). They were married in Adelaide on 15th December 1915 and settled in Footscray, where the first two of the children were born, Dorse Riva on 12.9.1916 and Bruce George on 31.3.1918.
When Bruce was three weeks old they moved to Denhiliquin and lived in Harfleur Street . In Denhiliquin, Hector worked for Pearce & Rowe, Smith and Co.,Stock & Station Agents, at the same time doing some contract buying for Angliss.
Two more boys were born in Denhiliquin, Hector Leigh (Leigh) on 8.6.1923 and Colin Harry on 23.1.1925. Hector Leigh was supposed to be Leigh Hector, but when his father went to register his birth he decided that Hector was a good old name and should come first. However he became known as Leigh.
During the Great Depression of the 1930's, when Bruce was 14, the family returned to Melbourne and Hector went back to work for Angliss, alternating once more between Melbourne and Adelaide.
Hector died on 29th July 1956 and his widow, Nance, survived until 1978.
Author:
Patricia Jean Connolly wife of John Michael Coughlin
Elmore, Victoria , Australia
4 Nov 2001
*Following the moved back to Melbourne Gwen found work in a clothing factory and Dorse as a salesgirl in a shop in the city. Bruce first with angliss during the busy times, then with Kinnears Rope works, but this affected his health. Later with Angless again.
At first the family stayed with a friend in Footscray, then found a house to rent in Monash Steet Ascot Vales where they lived until a block of land was bought and a house built in the next street, Elliot Street.
Hector worked part time in Adelaide and and part time Sydney until about 1944 when he was stationed full time in Sydney and Later Forbes.
At this time Nance went with him as the children had grown up some married. The youngest Colin was 18 or 19 years old. Colin boarded with friends and the house was leased.
In 1950 Hector retired. Leaving Forbes they travelled in their car, a Prefect, to Deniliquin staying with Nance's brother Lance and His wife Maie on their farm for about a month.
They returned to Melbourne to stay with their son Bruce and family in Ascot Vale until the tenants in their home moved out. But it was 7 months before this happened. During the War years a law was passed that tenants could not be put out of the house at the request of the owners until they found accomodation siutable to them, which swung completely the opposite way from what people could do before the War, which was to put people out in the street.
Back in their own home Hector settled to making a vegetable garden, going for walks chatting to old friends and nieghbours and visiting with Nance playing cards. Six year later his health failed rapidly passing away aged 72 years.
Submitted by Pam Clarke daughter of Bruce Davies
Horsham Victoria .*

Thomas married Florence Annie (Nance) Chaplin, daughter of James Robert Chaplin and Elizabeth Dickie Warren, on 17 Dec 1915 in Adelaide, South Australia. (Florence Annie (Nance) Chaplin was born on 7 Dec 1893 in Avenel, Victoria Australia and died on 24 Jun 1978 in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria Australia.)