Family of John Leslie Calkin

John and Molly Calkin 1987

Calkin, John Leslie
Sixth of 12 children born to Ernest Alfred and Eveline May
John signed up to the Merchant Navy and went to sea aged 18 taking supplies to Russia.
The S.S. Empire Beaumont, a brand new ship, sailed from Loch Ewe (Scotland) for Archangel on the 2nd September 1942.
They were torpedoed near Barents Sea (located off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia) by the Germans trying to cut them off on the 13th September 1942.
There were 40 ships in the convoy known as PQ18.
The Beaumont was carrying a cargo of high explosives and munitions.
Fortunately the torpedo which hit them struck directly amidships in the engine room and not in the cargo holds.
While the ship caught fire and sank, John’s watched all his belongings go down with the ship too.
Fortunately, John was able to jump onto a "scramble net" hanging over the side of another ship (S.S. Copeland), which had come in to rescue them.
Considering he couldn’t swim, it was a lucky day for John, being one of the fortunate men who survived.
Because it happened on the 13th, this became John’s lucky number from there on in.
You can read the entire newspaper article from 1987, right here.
John emigrated to New Zealand to Lower Hutt. He then moved to the Wairarapa (Martinborough and Masterton).
John wanted to grow grapes in Martinborough.
He got books out of the library and studied it but he was discouraged to do so – he was told:
"You can’t grow grapes in Martinborough, they won’t grow !" (Currently a prime wine growing region in New Zealand).
John studied School Certificate English and got a job at the Post Office as a postie and
also helped to build houses in his spare time, initially learning on the job with experienced builders.
He spent his retirement living in Himatangi, remarried at that stage to Molly Hansen.

         Born: 05.08.1924 registered in Barnet

         Married: 19.01.1952 to Joan Frances Mellor, registered in ?

         Married: ? to Molly Hansen, registered in ?

         Died: 13.02.1996 Aged 71, a plaque to mark his death can be found in Foxton.

Calkin (nee Mellor), Joan Frances

         Born: 14.04.1933 at ?

Calkin (nee Hansen), Molly

         Born: ? at ?

Five Children

Joy Lesley

         Born: c. 02.1953 in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, NZ.

         Married: c. ? to David Goodin, in New Zealand.

         Married: c. ? to Robert Lamb, in New Zealand.

Two Children
      Jody Lamb (b. 12.1976)
      Leila Lamb (b. 06.1979)

         Married: c. ? to Stephen Bain, in New Zealand.

Bruce

         Born: c. 04.1956 in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, NZ.

         Married: c. ? to Carron Rimene, in New Zealand.

Michael

         Born: c. 02.1958 in Martinborough, Wairarapa, NZ.

         Married: c. ? to Julie Evans, in New Zealand.

Three Children
      Ashley (b. 12.1986)
      Kendyll (b. 11.1988) - Married James Rickit
      Leighton (b. 10.1991)

Mary

         Born: c. 02.1960 in Martinborough, Wairarapa, NZ.

         Married: c. ? to Graham Ball, in New Zealand.

Two Children
      Nathan Ball (b. 06.1994)
      Lesley Ball (b. 04.1997)

Barbara

         Born: c. 09.1961 in Martinborough, Wairarapa, NZ.

         Married: c. ? to Sandy (alexander) Allan, in New Zealand.

Two Children
      Laura Allan (b. 03.1993)
      Murdoch Allan (b. 03.1996)

Calkin, John Leslie Sixth of 12 children born to Ernest Alfred and Eveline May John signed up to the Merchant Navy and went to sea aged 18 taking supplies to Russia. The S.S. Empire Beaumont, a brand new ship, sailed from Loch Ewe (Scotland) for Archangel on the 2nd September 1942. They were torpedoed near Barents Sea (located off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia) by the Germans trying to cut them off on the 13th September 1942. There were 40 ships in the convoy known as PQ18. The Beaumont was carrying a cargo of high explosives and munitions. Fortunately the torpedo which hit them struck directly amidships in the engine room and not in the cargo holds. While the ship caught fire and sank, John’s watched all his belongings go down with the ship too. Fortunately, John was able to jump onto a "scramble net" hanging over the side of another ship (S.S. Copeland), which had come in to rescue them. Considering he couldn’t swim, it was a lucky day for John, being one of the fortunate men who survived. Because it happened on the 13th, this became John’s lucky number from there on in. You can read the entire newspaper article from 1987, right here. John emigrated to New Zealand to Lower Hutt. He then moved to the Wairarapa (Martinborough and Masterton). John wanted to grow grapes in Martinborough. He got books out of the library and studied it but he was discouraged to do so – he was told: "You can’t grow grapes in Martinborough, they won’t grow !" (Currently a prime wine growing region in New Zealand). John studied School Certificate English and got a job at the Post Office as a postie and also helped to build houses in his spare time, initially learning on the job with experienced builders. He spent his retirement living in Himatangi, remarried at that stage to Molly Hansen.
	Born:	05.08.1924	registered in Barnet
	Married:	19.01.1952	to Joan Frances Mellor, registered in ?
	Married:	?	to Molly Hansen, registered in ?
	Died:	13.02.1996	Aged 71, a plaque to mark his death can be found in Foxton.
Calkin (nee Mellor), Joan Frances
	Born:	14.04.1933	at ?
Calkin (nee Hansen), Molly
	Born:	?	at ?

Five Children
Joy Lesley
	Born:	c. 02.1953	in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, NZ.
	Married:	c. ?	to David Goodin, in New Zealand.
	Married:	c. ?	to Robert Lamb, in New Zealand. Two Children Jody Lamb (b. 12.1976) Leila Lamb (b. 06.1979)
	Married:	c. ?	to Stephen Bain, in New Zealand.
Bruce
	Born:	c. 04.1956	in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, NZ.
	Married:	c. ?	to Carron Rimene, in New Zealand.
Michael
	Born:	c. 02.1958	in Martinborough, Wairarapa, NZ.
	Married:	c. ?	to Julie Evans, in New Zealand. Three Children Ashley (b. 12.1986) Kendyll (b. 11.1988) - Married James Rickit Leighton (b. 10.1991)
Mary
	Born:	c. 02.1960	in Martinborough, Wairarapa, NZ.
	Married:	c. ?	to Graham Ball, in New Zealand. Two Children Nathan Ball (b. 06.1994) Lesley Ball (b. 04.1997)
Barbara
	Born:	c. 09.1961	in Martinborough, Wairarapa, NZ.
	Married:	c. ?	to Sandy (alexander) Allan, in New Zealand. Two Children Laura Allan (b. 03.1993) Murdoch Allan (b. 03.1996)