The Laconia survivors story.

The story of the sinking of the Laconia, as told by the survivors including Ted Johnson the son of Martha.

Lynn Veronica Vera Jennifer Kate Pat Sue and Helen get together for a reunion during a vist from Vera from Australia September 2012

Jennifer Lynn Sue on a walk with Maghull Ramblers

The Visit

Kate, Sue, & Helen pay a visit to Teds and met up with cousins Barry, Paul & Ray. A great afternoon was had by all, and the girls went home after having a cooking lesson off Ted on how to cook roast potatoes. Thank you to all for taking time out to see dad as I know he appreciates it. xxx

Ted's Birthday

A great night was had by all when all of the Johnson family got together for dads 89th birthday at the British legion club in wallasey.

Surrounded by his family & grand children dad danced the night away until about 12 midnight. Picture shows dad with one of his grandchildren Michelle who was up from London to join in with the celebrations. 

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD.

Ted will be 89 on 6th of October and still looking good, surrounded by all his family. Brian home from New Zealand and Ian over from Amsterdam, All of us standing according to age.Ted,Barry, Paul, Ray,Brian, Les, Carol, and Ian.

Vera and Martha

A lovely photo of my mum Vera and Martha 1960's?

I have just got a slide scanner on the computer so will try and post more as my brother David and Bill had loads of them, and I have now got them.
(PS Look at the state of the window ledge :) also I remember some of those ornaments!!

Breithaupts 1955-56 ish

Breithaupts
L-R
Jim,Vera,Stephen, Jenny with me on her knee!!

Gerry Whitehead

Our dear brother, Gegs, passed away on February 27th after a long battle with cancer. As short as his life was, he accomplished much as he sailed around the world making so many great friends. He will always be remembered for his extreme generosity, his engrossing stories and great sense of humor and will be sadly missed by us all.

Marthas Husband.

Hi everyone
Dad [Ted Johnson] has asked me to inquire if anyone has a picture of his dad who had the butchers shop in Westminster Road, if so can you post it on this blog or maybe let Kate Or Helen know as they have my email address.
The other question is, why wasn't Martha [dads mum] at his wedding. He seems to think there was some kind of a fall out, but he tells me that Martha's second husband was there and a number of his sisters. I wish we had asked Renee who I am sure would have known the answer. If anyone knows can you let me know.
Thank You
Ray

Hi Everyone,

Been awhile since I've been on here... been going through some old pics and thought I would post a few. Please feel free to help identify people in the photos! I know some of the names, but not all! Hope everyone is doing well!

Derek

Eileen and Ida

My nan was 9 months here

Ida Johnson and William Taylor

My great grandparents

MY DAUGHTER MOLLY WITH HER GREAT NANNY EILEEN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY 

Well hello everyone, my name is Nicola and I am Martha's great, great granddaughter.  My nan is Eileen Taylor daughter of Martha Elizabeth Ida Johnson (known as Ida)...Me and my nan are so pleased to have come across this page as we have been doing our family tree on ancestry and we found Derek (Marjorie's son in the USA), it was him that told me of this page.  Although we live in Liverpool their has been no contact with the family for many years.  My nan's sister Mavis died at only 15 from leukemia leaving my nan as an only child.
She went on to marry my Granddad Stan Gilroy and have four girls but Karen  their second girl born sadly died at only one years of age. My mum Norma Ida is her oldest and I am Eileen's oldest granddaughter, I also have a brother called Josh(22) and a little girl called Molly who is 11.  Molly has downs syndrome but is in perfect health and is a little madame. My aunty Julie and aunty Lynn are nan Eileen's other two daughters.  Lynn has no kids but Julie has a girl called Hayley(25) and a boy called shaun(17).

Me and my mum live in Formby but my nan Eileen and the rest all live in Maghull.  My nan has been reminiscing today looking at all the pictures on here and has wrote a few memories down that she wants me to put on here to see if others remember.  I will also get any pictures I have on here soon as possible.

Hope to hear from you all soon

Nicola x

Kate & Andy visit Ted

Kate & Andy spend an afternoon with Ted and Family 15/11/11. So nice of them to keep in touch, Dad was made up. Pictures shows Kate,Ted,Barry [ Teds eldest son] & Andy

Looking for Captain Hartenstein !

Ted Johnson still looking for Werner Hartenstein. Pictures taken 31/10/2011, as you can see dad who is now 88 is still in great shape.

5 of Martha's Grand Daughters Aug 2011

Taken at a family party recently!!!
L-R
Sally + Veronica ( nee Whitehead), Sue Doran (nee O'Donnell) Helen Jones (nee Breithaupt)
Patricia (nee O'Donnell)

new relative

Hi again, My Aunty Joyce from Northern Ireland would like to participate on this blog. She is my mothers younger sister and is Martha's neice ,and she has lots of interesting things to add to the blog. Could you please invite her to be involved? Her email is joyce.bunting@btinternet.com . Thanks so much! ~ Margaret

The Sinking Of The Laconia

Laconia Newspaper Article

RMS Laconia survivor says he would shake hand of U-Boat captain who saved him

Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/01/07/rms-laconia-survivor-says-he-would-shake-hand-of-u-boat-captain-who-saved-him-92534-27945945/#ixzz1AKoYhHJS

Liverpool Daily Post

Just saw this in the paper!!

The Sinking of the Laconia= NEWSFLASH

Hi Cousins
Just to let you know, Alan Bleasdales 2 part drama " The Sinking of the Laconia" will be shown on the 6th & 7th of January at 9.0pm on BBC 2. The documentary with my dad in it will be shown on the 8th of January at 7.30 pm on BBC 2.

Thank You
Ray

Hi everyone,

I am not a descendant of Martha Dowling, but of her brother Henry Dowling (my granddad). I am happy to be included on this blog. I would be glad to help with any ancestry questions if I can. I would love to see some more old photos of the old folks.

Thanks!
Margaret Griffin Adams

Newsflash

Just letting everyone know that Margaret Adams(Henry Dowling's grand-daughter -he was Martha's brother)in America has added some comments and family history information to the first photo's posted.

The Laconia Incident

Hi Cousins
Just an update, Dad [Ted Johnson] has received a call from talkbackthames informing him the Alan Bleasdale drama and the documentary with Ted in it will be shown in January 2011, as and when I get any actual date I will let You know.
Dad has asked if anyone out there has got a photograph of his dad, if so can you post it on the blog and I will print it off.
Thank You
Ray

Renee & Kate + Johnsons

Taken about 2005, Ted with 2 of his sons Barry & Brian who called on Renee and met cousin Kate.

Ray,Just spent some time reading through it all-how great to see photo's of Henry Dowling's family in America.

Hi Everyone
I have now uploaded all the emails etc for the Dowling Clan, if you wish to print any off it may be better if you save to your own PC then you can mess about with them size wise.

Ancestry

Email

email

Email

email

One of many Emails, if you double click it You should be able to read it.This came og Margarets mum who I think was 91 at the time.

Our American Cousins.

Looks Like Margaret & Husband 5th 6th top row.

Margaret Husband & Daughter

Chauncey,Anne,Margaret.

4 Generations

The lady top right is Margaret with her mum Edna, Margarets son and maybe his 2 children.

The Dowling Family

The Dowling Family Picture, Sent over from America by Margaret. Looks like Henry Dowling top row 5th from left?

HELP!

About 4 years ago because my brother Barry had searched the site of the latter day saints he received a letter from Margaret Adams [nee dowling] she sent me a lot of pictures and the Dowling family tree in the form of a zip file which is very interestig and goes back to the 14th century. The Pictures above are Henry Dowling [Marthas Brother?] and his wife Margaret Dowling [nee Jenkins] The zip file is great and has a lot of names that I know, so it must be the right family tree.
Margaret tells me she had 3 older brothers John,Alan & Neil who was killed by a hit and run driver near Haydock 1964. I feel sure You will all know who Margaret is, but because there is so much to take in I am starting to loose the plot. I will put all the information I have on the blog and maybe you will be able to relate more to it all than me

The Laconia

The Laconia, sunk by a German submarine in 1942 in the south Atlantic, Ted was taken to a prison camp in Casablanca when he remained until the yanks came and set them free. Later seen in a bar talking to a pianist called Sam.

Letter to Martha

The letter received by Martha 1942, as the ship her son Ted was on The Laconia had been sunk by a German submarine.
Early next year [2011] a 2 part drama written by Alan Bleasdale will be shown on tv, I think it may be on channel 4. There will also be a documentary shown which Ted will be talking about his experience, as it became known as The Laconia Incident.
Last month a film crew from talkback thames came up to dads house to film him talking about his experiences at that time. when I get any information as to a positive date I will post it on this blog.

Hello cousin Ray,
Helen here. Vera's(your Dad's sister) youngest,
Great that you are in touch with us all, as Gerry says we are all Martha's family. It was an"epic," journey from Wallasey to Lydiate/Maghull, in those days a long way.I always remember when I was little Uncle Ted coming over to visit and knowing he had lots of sons and ONE daughter.I think I remember Barry coming with him.Glad to hear about your Dad,I think he actually came see me at this house once.What was the name of the band you were in?There is definitely music in our family,one of my sons plays guitar quite well, the other is into music tech and writes stuff and plays a bit of guitar/piano-I learnt the piano aged 40!!! My brother Jim's daughter's are very musical and all play piano to a high standard,one is in Ireland and plays fiddle in a music group(in pubs!!!).Love to see any other photos you have ,the ones you have posted are great.keep in touch -cousin Helen

Ted & Eileens Wedding

Ted & Eileen Johnson on there wedding day held at St Pauls Church Seacombe Wallasey, I think it was about 1944.