ALBERT Braithwaite spent a number of years during his working career driving lorries for Wath UDC.

Born in June 1896 at Winterwell Road, West Melton, his first job was at Manvers Colliery.

Albert was 19 when he was conscripted to serve in the First World War in 1915. After demob he returned to work at Manvers Pit in 1917 but later left the miniing industry to go into a completely new line of work - driving lorries for Wath council.

Albert married Irene Hickling in 1926 and the couple moved to Rawmarsh. Albert’s daughter Hilary Jackson, who lives in the Rotherham area, has submitted several interesting photographs of the Braithwaite family, one of which shows her father with his Wath UDC lorry.

Albert’s father and Hilary’s grandfather, Josiah Braithwaite, was born at Greenmoor in 1859. The family later moved to Haywoods, near Stocksbridge, and he worked as a pit boy when he was only 11 years old. He later moved to Brampton Bierlow to live with his brother Thomas.

In May 1881 Josiah married Hannah Cupit and they set up home at West Melton. They moved briefly to Rotherham and later returned to West Melton living in York Street and Winterwell Road. They had 11 children, five of them boys. The eldest boy, Jim Braithwaite, was a chairman of Wath UDC. Hilary’s dad was the youngest of the five boys.

Hilary has supplied a photograph of a group of men and women which was found among her father’s possessions, but it is not known what the occasion was. Albert is fourth from the left on the back row.

The only other person Hilary recognises is Horace Buncall who, for a time, kept the post office at Wath-upon-Dearne. Horace is on the extreme right of the middle row. There is another photograph which shows a group of five men. Research has confirmed that these men, who it’s believed could have been local, were wearing civvy suits and badges given to them on their demob from the army during the First World War. This practise was followed to show they had served their time in the war.

We do not know the identity of any of the men but, perhaps, some of our readers may recognise one or more of them.

Another photograph found among Albert Braithwaite’s possessions shows what could be a father and his two sons with a pony and trap. The photograph was taken outside a row of old cottages and we understand they are members of the Braithwaite family. But, once again, our readers may be able to help in identifying them. They all feature in this week's Chronicle (July 9)

Any information about the Braithwaites, please, to Kath Parkin, Barnsley Chronicle, 47, Church Street, Barnsley, or to hilary.