"I Am Called Helen Now" - Helen Forrest McDougall

I called both my grandmother's, Nan or Nanna. 

My maternal grandmother was born Helen, but was known by everyone as Nell or Nelly. So I was amused to read in a letter she wrote aged 14 to her cousin Martha, in America, that "I am called Helen now, but I will still call you Bunty".  Unfortunately for Helen, Nelly had stuck, as I don't think I ever heard anyone call her Helen! 

This blog is written in memory of my nan, Helen, who was born 106 years ago.

Helen Forrest McDougall was born at 8:20 on the morning of 6 Jul 1915 in the Folly Building, High Rd, Stevenson. Stevenston is a seaside town and parish on the North Ayrshire coast. Along with Ardrossan and Saltcoats it is one of the "Three Towns" and the locals often referred to as Threetowners.

The Folly, High Rd, Stevenston, Ayrshire

Helen was the second child born to Alexander Murray McDougall and Caroline Anstey Garrett who had married on 29 Dec 1911 at High Rd, after banns by the forms of the Church of Scotland. At the time of their marriage both Alexander and Caroline were working as Dynamite Workers at the nearby Nobel Explosives plant, known locally as "The Dynamite".

Helen, had an older sister, Elizabeth Garrett McDougall who was born in 1913 who was known as Cissie and a younger sister, Caroline born in 1921 known as Carrie. While the family didn't follow strict Scottish naming patterns as such, Helen Forrest was the name of their father's sister and was also the name of his paternal grandmother. Elizabeth Garrett is mostly likely named after their mother's sister, Elizabeth Scotland Ronald Garrett, who was known as Lizzie. 

Helen (Nelly) and Elizabeth (Cissie) c1916 

When Helen was just 3 weeks old, there was an incident at the Nobel Explosives factory which caused much panic. The following is a report from the Glasgow Herald of 31 Jul 1915:

DISASTER AT NOBEL’S WORKS

MUCH DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

Nobel’s Explosive Works at Ardeer were the scene last night of a terrific explosion, or rather series of explosions, which have involved much damage in the central establishment and caused a panic in the surrounding district.

Eight injured men were conveyed to Kilmarnock Infirmary, several were brought to Glasgow, and two were treated at their homes in Irvine.

HUGE FLASHES

About a quarter to twelve o’clock (midnight) two huge flashes, our Irvine correspondent says, were seen rising from Ardeer. These were accompanied by a terrific explosion, which shook the houses of Irvine to their foundations and created a panic over the whole district.

A motor driver on the Ayr Road describes how the flashes lit up the whole countryside as if it were bright sunshine.

A huge crowd soon gathered on Irvine Moor and at other points of vantage from which the works could be seen.

The whole centre of the works appeared to be in a blaze.

While the crowds were watching another terrific explosion took place, followed by others.

In all about 20 flashes of light arose afterwards from the works without any detonation being audible.

THREE GREAT EXPLOSIONS

About one o’clock in this morning three great explosions shook all the buildings of the town. The inhabitants have betaken themselves to the open, scantily attired. So far as can be learned at the moment there is no great damage to property in Irvine.

MANY INJURIES

It is reported from Stevenston that there are a good many injured.

A special train has conveyed the injured to Glasgow for treatment in the infirmaries.

We can only imagine how frightening this must have been for Alexander and Caroline with two young children. Flora Corbett, a 17 year old girl from nearby Saltcoats, who had applied for a job at the  dynamite factory and is staying with her aunt in Stevenston, recounts the incident in this short video titled Terror in the Night - Flora's story (approx. 12 minutes).

Shifting Sands, a digital theatre project have put together this wonderful video Shifting Sands - 150 years of Novel Explosives on the Ardeer Peninsula which examines the past, present and future of the Ardeer Peninsula (approx. 47 minutes). 

Both Helen's parents were originally from Glasgow and the family returned there after in war and lived at 117 Albert St (later McAslin St), Townhead.  Alexander worked as a stationery packer and Caroline's father, Albert Garrett also came to live with them at some time during the 1920's and remained until his death in 1939. 

Sadly, on 9 Sep 1919, her sister, Cissie died shortly before her 6th birthday of diphtheria and is buried in Lair No. 616 at Lambhill Cemetery along with her grandparents, Martha and George McDougall and several other family members.

Funeral Card for Wee Cissie

Helen's younger sister, Caroline, who was known as Carrie was born on 11 Sep 1921 in the family home at 117 Albert St, Glasgow.

In 1923, Helen's aunt, Mary McLelland Garrett and her husband, John Campbell immigrated to the USA with their children, Alexander, Martha and Elizabeth. They arrived in New York on 1 Nov 1923 on board the Columbia, John paying $50 for their passage, but settled in Evanston, Illinois.  

Cousins - Bunty and Nelly c1920

Helen was close to her cousin, Martha, who was known as Bunty and they corresponded over the years. Below is a letter sent by Helen just before Christmas 1929 when she was 14 years old. Although she signed the letter as Nelly, she writes a post script "I am called Helen now, but I will always call you Bunty". As much as I think she'd liked to have been called Helen, we all know that Nelly had stuck!  

Letter from Helen to cousin, Martha Campbell in the USA dated 14 Dec 1929

When Helen was 24 years old, she married Robert "Bob" Conway Martin on Christmas Eve 1938 at the Registry Office in Glasgow. The witnesses to their marriage were Bob's brother, William and Helen's sister, Caroline. At the time of their marriage, Helen was living with her parents in McAslin St, Glasgow and was working as a Drapery Saleswoman. Robert was from Stevenston, and like many from the town, was working as a Dynamite Worker and had recently returned from the Spanish Civil War. 

Following their marriage, Robert and Helen lived with Robert's family at "Seaview" in Glencairn St, Stevenston and they both worked as Dynamite Workers during the war. During this time, their two eldest daughters, June and Caroline were born.  On the birth of Caroline, Helen's father, Alexander, sent her this very touching letter.  

Letter from Alexander McDougall to his daughter, Helen dated 3 April 1941

The following images of the family homes were taken when June and Caroline visited their birthplace in 2016.

"Seaview" Glencairn St (left) and Carol and June outside Kilwinning Rd (right) taken in 2016

The family moved to Kilwinning Rd in the 1940's and later Robert and Helen had their own home at 6 Ashgrove Ave, Stevenston.

June, Helen and Carol outside Ashgrove Ave, Stevenston c1944

Further strengthening their ties with their US family, in 1947 Helen's sister, Carrie married her cousin, Alex Campbell, whilst he was on service in the UK.  The witnesses at their marriage were their cousins, James Stewart and Hannah "Nan" Garrett. After their marriage, Carrie and Alex lived in Germany and Japan and ultimately settled in Chicago, Illinois.  

Alex and Carrie with their witnesses, James Stewart and Hannah Garrett on their wedding day.

Robert and Helen welcomed another daughter, Irene, in 1948. 

On the 2 Mar 1949 Helen's father, Alexander died at 63 years of age at the family home in McAslin St, and is buried in Lair No. 1531 at Riddrie Park Cemetery in Glasgow, together with his father-in-law, Albert Garrett. This would have been a very sad time for Helen, and I'm fortunate to have copies of several lovely letters between Helen and her pop, which I'll include in a separate blog.

In a rare photo, all the family are pictured six months later at the wedding of Helen's cousin, Martha "Mattie" Garrett taken on 7 Oct 1949. 

Hugh Simpson, Lizzie Simpson (nee Garrett), George Simpson, Sadie Catt (nee Martin), Nan Gunn (nee Garrett), Mattie Garrett with June and Carol Martin, Caroline McDougall (nee Garrett) Bob Martin, Helen Martin (nee McDougall) with Irene, Rita Oliver (nee Martin).

Robert and Helen decided to immigrate to Australia under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. The scheme was created in 1945 as part of the "Populate or Perish" policy. It was intended to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country's booming industries. In return for subsidising the cost of travelling to Australia the Government promised employment prospects, affordable housing and a generally more optimistic lifestyle. Adult migrants were charged only ten pounds sterling for the fare (hence the name Ten Pound Poms). Assisted migrants were generally obliged to remain in Australia for two years after arrival, or alternatively refund the cost of their assisted passage. 

Robert came ahead on the Cheshire and arrived in Sydney on 21 Aug 1950. He bought a house at 219 Elizabeth St, Zetland, an inner city suburb of Sydney and sent for Helen and the children, however, as Helen was now expecting their fourth child, they had to wait until after Robert's birth before sailing in 1951 on board the Ormande arriving in Sydney on 19 July. As Helen had a young baby they were given a cabin on the promenade deck and Carol who was 10 at the time, recalls the voyage as being wonderful adventure.

Passenger List - Ormonde - 1951 - National Archives of Australia

They rented rooms out to another family who Helen had met on the voyage out to Australia. Later when Robert's brother Jim migrated he and his family also lived with them. 

 219 Elizabeth St, Zetland

After 4 years in Australia, Helen was missing her family terribly and they decided to return to Scotland.  Helen and the children returned on the Seven Seas arriving in Southampton on 14 April 1955. Robert stayed on to sell the family home and returned a few months later. 

June, Carol, Robert, Caroline, Helen and Irene - Saltcoats - 1955

However, after several months in Scotland, they decided to make their home permanently in Australia and returned again in the same year.  Robert and June travelled a few months earlier on the Strathnaver and Helen, Carol, Irene and Bob on the Strathaird. 

On their return they lived at 15 Lillian St, Berala which is where their daughter, Carol, was to meet her future husband, Colin Hails whose family also resided in Berala. Just a few years later in 1957, Robert and Helen lost all their savings a land swindle.  They also lived for a time at the Housing Centre, Riverwood, where there youngest son, Richard was born. They moved into their own home at Merrylands in 1962, where many family get-togethers took place.

In 1963, Helen returned to Scotland for a holiday and took Richard with her. They travelled via the USA where she stayed with her sister, Carrie and her husband, Alex. Carrie travelled with them to Scotland. 

The following poem was written by her husband, Robert upon her return.

In 1972 Helen and Bob again visited Scotland and the US after her sister Carrie and her husband Alex had retired to Florida. 

During the late 1950s and into the 1970's, Helen's three daughters all married and she welcomed six grandchildren, Wendy, Julie, Vicki, Joanne, Mark, Hayley and Penny. 

Bob died suddenly in May 1977 and her Aunt Liz passed away in August the same year.  As Aunt Liz and Helen's mother had lived together for many years, Helen went to Scotland and brought her 90 year old mother back to live in Australia with her.  Her sister, Carrie also settled in Australia and lived with Helen following the death of her husband in 1981, but returned to the United States each winter.

Helen, her mum, Caroline and sister Carrie - front garden Merrylands c1980s

Shortly before her 100th birthday, Helen's mother, Caroline took ill and was admitted to hospital for the first time in her life.  Although discharged from hospital she was unable to return home and spent her last few months at Guildford Nursing Home, where she passed away on 17 Oct 1987. 

Helen died on 3 May 1997 at Westmead Hospital after suffering with lymphoma for several months. She was cremated at Rookwood Garden Crematorium and her ashes buried beside her husband's.  

Family Tree and DNA

I've been able to research Helen's family history back to many of her 3xgreat grandparents to the mid-late18th century and have also confirmed many of these branches through our shared DNA with other descendants. Her paternal lines are all very Scottish, primarily still in Ayrshire. The Forrest line is from Midlothian and the Campbell's were from Wigtownshire. The Garrett and Anstey's are English, from Somerset and Devon respectively.  While her maternal grandmother, Martha Stewart was born in Wigtownshire, both her parents appear to be Irish and rather difficult to trace. Hopefully DNA will ultimately help us take some of these lines further back.  

Helen's genetic pedigree chart