George Christopher was born in
East Pennard, Somerset and baptised at All Saints on 24 November 1856 under the
name of George Christopher COOK, the son of 19 year old Henrietta Jemima
Rebecca COOK. Five months previously
banns of marriage between George GANE and Henrietta COOK had been published in
East Pennard but for some reason the marriage had not taken place - perhaps her parents were not willing to give permission. Two years later on 5 May 1858 George was
granted a licence and the couple married in East Pennard the following
day. It appears that after the marriage George
Christopher took on the surname of GANE.
Over the next ten years George
and Henrietta had another five children.
George was 33 years older than Henrietta and when he died on 17 July
1871 she was left to raise the children on her own. She moved to Bristol where in 1874 she
married the widower John BERRIDGE.
Henrietta died two years later a few months after the birth of a son. By
1881 most of her elder children were in employment but Selina, her youngest daughter
by George GANE, was a “Blue Maid Orphan” in the Asylum for Poor Orphan Girls at
Ashley Hill in Bristol. No doubt one or
more of Selina’s elder sisters had also spent time in the orphanage prior to
finding employment in domestic service.
George Christopher GANE joined
the Bristol Constabulary on 17 July 1878 becoming Constable 108A. On recruitment his previous employment was
shown as “Labourer” and he was recorded as being 5ft. 9¼ inches in
height. The 1881 census shows George
serving at Bridewell Police Station in the city centre. He resigned a few days after the census on 20
April 1881 and married within a year.
His bride was Pamela Alma BROMFIELD.
 |
| Example of Bristol Police Uniform |
A couple of months after George's
marriage, Mr. HOGGE, the Recruiting Officer of the Hong Kong and Straits
Settlement Police visited Bristol on a recruiting campaign. The Hong Kong Police had been established
some 38 years earlier when an Inspector and 2 Sergeants from London’s
Metropolitan Police volunteered for duty in the very new Colony. Every few years recruiting campaigns were
held in the UK in order to build up a core of experienced officers and these
came from London’s Metropolitan Police; Scottish Constabularies; the Royal
Irish Constabulary; as well as from Borough Forces throughout England. This was the first time that the south-west
of England had been targetted and it proved a rich picking ground. The Crown Agents had instructed Mr. Hogge to
contact various Chief Constables prior to visiting but he failed to do this and
the press reported that he had privately solicited officers with tempting
offers and that as a result their Force was to be decimated.
The Deputy Captain Superintendent
of the Hong Kong Police was on leave in the UK at this time and would have had
the final say on which recruits were acceptable. He required them to have at least 12 months
service and be of good physique. They
were to receive a bounty of £20 for volunteering; the pay in Hong Kong would be
30 - 35 shillings a week and after 10 years service the recruits would be
eligible for a pension.
Word spread quickly around the
Bristol Constabulary and even reached former colleagues. This was too good an opportunity to be
missed. As a result 10 serving officers
were recruited together with 3 former officers – one of whom was George GANE. George signed the Hong Kong Articles of
Agreement on 27 May 1882 in the presence of Revd. George P. Grantham, Mission
Priest of Holy Cross, Bedminster.
The
Bristol recruits travelled to London in July where they met up with other
recruits from Plymouth, Gloucestershire and Liverpool. They sailed on the ss Pembrokeshire on 22
July arriving in Hong Kong 6 ½ weeks later.
The voyage was anything but pleasant as the ship encountered
strong monsoon winds across the Indian Ocean.
Added to that it was reported that during the voyage one of their number
had fallen 25ft. down a hold and had been lucky to escape with his life. To make matters even worse the food onboard was
described as having been disgusting. It
was with some relief that they set foot ashore.
The Press reported :
Upon arrival at the Central Station their
comrades feted the new comers right royally, and the sounds of jollification
and harmony – in the quiet police style as becomes men who devote their lives
to the preservation of order – could be heard emanating from the police
quarters. There seems to be a
considerable amount of esprit de corps amongst our gallant peace and property
preservers.
 |
| Central Police Station 1880s/1890s |
Thereafter their lives took very
different paths. A couple were to die
and others lost family members to fevers and plague. A few became entangled in a corruption
scandal which rocked the Colony in the 1890s; and a handful had long and very
successful careers before returning to the UK.
George and Pamela experienced the
sadness of losing a child less than a year after arrival in Hong Kong. Jessie had been born in November/December 1882 but
died at the age of 9 months and 14 days.
She was buried in the Colonial Cemetery on 23 August 1883 in grave 4660
– her address was given as 18 Old Bailey Street, just around the corner from
Central Police Station. Records showing the location of her grave do not survive but it could well have been in the Children's Section:
 |
| Children's Section |
Pamela’s second
child arrived in 1885 – Frederick George was born on 24 May and baptised at St.
John’s Cathedral on 15 July 1885. A
second daughter, again named Jessie, was born on 29 May 1887 and baptised at
St. Johns on 23 June.
George’s first tour of duty
lasted 5 years during which time he took on the additional duties of Assistant
Engine Driver with the Fire Brigade.
As
a constable he earned $480 per annum whilst the brigade duties brought in an
additional $96 per annum.
The Police held their annual
sports day in the spring and the 1886 event saw many of the “Bristol Bobbies” participating.
The press reported
“After their Sports being deferred by the weather on Saturday the
Police were exceedingly fortunate yesterday in the state of that most important
element. The day could not have been improved
upon for the purpose, the rain having cleared off and there being just enough
cloud to temper the heat of the sun with the occasional gleams of
sunshine. The ground was a trifle heavy
which was against the making of fast times.
A more interesting and enjoyable athletic meeting has seldom been held
in Hong Kong, a number of novel sports being introduced”
From the looks of things George
was no sportsman, however, he was not about to let his fellow Bristolians down so
entered for two events – those referred to above as “novel sports”!
The Egg and Spoon Race was run over 100 yards with 15 competitors: Inspectors Quincey and Cradock, PCs McGarry,
Hannah, Niven, Dickinson, McDonald, Ford, Hadden, Ehlers, Ross, McIver,
McDougall, Gane and APS McDonald. The
event caused a great deal of laughter with most of the men losing their eggs within a
few feet of setting off.
“Inspector Cradock held out for some time but an unfortunate lurch sent
his frail cargo overboard. The first to
reach the goal without accident was A. Niven, after him coming J. McGarry and
then McDougall. Hadden came in among the
first but unfortunately dropped his egg just before reaching the goal. The second man, McGarry, it is said managed to
keep his egg steady by keeping his thumb on it.”
The last event of the day was
advertised as being the “Fully Equipped
Race over 100 yards”. This involved
the participants wearing full winter uniform plus cap, belt and truncheon in
case, lamp and regulation boots.
“A good deal of curiosity was evinced as to this race and it is a great
pity that not more of the Force in full uniform exhibited their capabilities of
making chase after a prisoner. As it was
only four fully equipped defenders of the peace competed: John McDougall, H.G.Baker, G. Gane and Moran. McDougall was the best runner of the quartette
and although his heavy boots nearly brought him down at one time he managed to
steady himself and came in two or three yards in front of Baker who was second
and who was closely followed by Gane.
Time 14 seconds”
Later in the year our lads were on
display again this time for the Hongkong Fire
Brigades Annual Inspection and Drill Competitions.
“Yesterday was quite a gala day for the members of the Government and
Volunteer Fire Brigades in this colony.
It has been usual for the Governor of the colony to hold an annual
inspection of the brigades but this year the inspection has been made something
of a great deal more importance than it has hitherto been. Mr. J.S. Brewer (Government Marine Surveyor)
who has held charge of the Government Brigade since the departure of the
Superintendent Mr. H.E. Wodehouse CMG for England has worked in a manner in
this line of work which shows that his heart is thoroughly in it. During the whole time he has held charge of
the brigade he has been introducing improvements in the machinery and
appliances, the modes of using them, and the organisation of the men, and the
step he took in turning the annual inspection into something more than a mere
parade is not one of the least of the good things he has done in this
direction. Competitions of the kind to
be found below tend above all other things to perfect the men in the handling
of their fire extinguishing appliances and the smartness they will thus acquire
will doubtless be turned to good account whenever the men are called out for
active service. We are now at the beginning
of the fire season and anything likely to tend to the quicker and more
effective grappling with the devouring element is a decided public benefit. The work done yesterday shows that the men
are well up to their work and that when the occasion demands there is a large
body of men ready to turn out at a moment’s notice to arrest the havoc to
property by the flames that may have broken from control.”
George was part of PC J.
Johnstone’s team which also included Constables J. MacDougall, W. Robertson and
H. Wood.
The main event which they took part
in was “Get Manual all ready for work with dam and one length of suction and
two delivery with branch pipe”.
The
teams received penalties of 2 seconds for a twist in the hose or slack
joints or if any gear was not efficient.
There would be a prize of $25.
Five
teams entered and PC Johnstone’s team was the winner coming in at 48.1. seconds
with no penalties.
The last event of the afternoon saw
individual steam engines being brought up to steam in the quickest possible time.
“This was a very interesting event the competitors being Nos 2,3 and 4
Government Steamers and the Hongkong Fire Insurance Steamer. The want of a wind prevented a good draught
for the furnaces and water was not got into play so quickly as would otherwise
have been the case. No. 3 Government
engine was the first to get up steam, take water and spout it, the latter being
done in 9m 23sec from start. This was
under charge of PS Campbell. It had
steam enough to blow its whistle in eight minutes. In nine minutes she drew water and in 9.23
was playing it. The Volunteer engine
worked by Mr. Ramsay, the Acting Engineer, and worked by volunteer firemen was
soon after in full swing, very closely followed by No. 4 Government steamer
worked by PC James, No 2 under PC Gane being only a second or two behind.”
At the close of the drill HE The
Governor inspected and thanked the men. Being
the winner in the main event PC Johnstone’s team was lined up to the front of
the Government Brigades. Mr. Brewer
explained to His Excellency that he had devised medals as the rewards of the
winners of this event as he considered it the most important. The men had completed the work in 48 seconds
which was a most creditable performance and compared favourably with that done
in England. His Excellency presented the
medals to the men.
In 1887, having completed 5 years service, George was entitled to Home Leave. On 9 September 1887 the GANE
family boarded P&O ss Peshawur
for their homeward voyage to London.
 |
| P&O Peshawur |
|
The
ship reached Singapore on 15 September, Penang on 17th. , Colombo on
22nd., Aden on 29th, ,
Suez Oct 4th. , Marseilles Oct 12th., Plymouth at
4am on 19 October before leaving at 7.15am for the Royal Albert Docks in
London.
George enjoyed 6 months Home
Leave before returning on P&O ss
Nepaul which left London on 3 May 1888 arriving in Hong Kong on 11
June.
Joining George on his return
journey were 4 of his colleagues:
Hadden, Paull, Miners and Ford. There
is every likelihood that Pamela remained in the UK for a while because a son,
Victor Archibald was baptised on 12 December 1888 at St. Matthews in Moorfield,
Bristol.
During George’s second tour of
duty he again took on additional duties with the Fire Brigade being advanced to
Engine Driver. In his police role he
became Acting Police Sergeant for a couple of years earning $510 per
annum.
By 1891 Pamela had returned to
Hong Kong and she gave birth to a daughter named Florence on 24 February. Florence was baptised at St. Johns Cathedral
on 1st. April 1891.
George completed his 10 year period
of service on 26 January 1893 and having earned his pension retired back to
England. On the morning of their departure
members of the Police Force assembled at Central Police Station to bid their
comrades farewell. Messrs. Gane, Paull
and Miners were each presented with a gold watch chain and pendant bearing a
suitable inscription.
Mr & Mrs GANE and 4
children are shown as passengers on the
Ancona
leaving Hong Kong on 1 February 1893.
At
Colombo they transferred to P&Os
Australia
arriving back in England on 10 March 1893.
Pamela had been pregnant throughout the voyage and gave birth to a son a
few weeks after arrival.
Ernest was
baptised on 9 July 1893 at St. Matthews, Moorfield in Bristol but he only
survived a few months and was buried at Avonview Cemetery towards the end of
the year.
Little Florence died a few
weeks later and was also buried at Avonview.
Pamela’s childbearing days were
far from over. Herbert Walter was
baptised on 5 April 1895; George was baptised on 9 May 1897 (and was buried at
Avonview towards the end of 1898); Annie was baptised on 10 July 1898 and
Christopher Kitchener baptised on 29 November 1901. The youngest member of the family, Lily Rose
was born in Chipping Sodbury district in 1905.
The 1901 census shows the family
living in Church Road, Moorfields with George earning his living as a Grocer
and Dairy Shop Keeper.
His Hong Kong
pension was not as much as he had been expecting – in fact as soon as he
arrived back in England in 1893 he and a colleague had been forced to employ a
solicitor to enquire as to why their pensions had been reduced.
The reply from Hong Kong was to the effect
that as neither’s constables service had been “uniformly good” the pensions had
been reduced accordingly.
George’s
pension came in at $50 pa and this amount remained unchanged for the rest of
his life.
 |
| Milk cart from early 190ss |
Life back in the UK was not without
its problems. In 1899 “The Milk Mystery”
case hit the headlines and George found himself up in court on the charge of selling
milk adulterated with 14% of added water.
“The defendant gave evidence on his own behalf and said that he had a
general shop and a small milk round amounting to about 14 gallons a day. He had been in business about 6 years and for
about 5 years had had his milk from Frank Didham. He had a verbal arrangement with him and
expected to get pure milk. During the 5
years he had his milk taken several times by the Gloucestershire police and
once by Mr. Simpson (the Inspector), but he heard nothing more of
the matter. On Feb. 5th he bought his milk from Didham having 6
gallons in his 2 cans. He sold the milk
just as he received it. He was in the
Bristol Police Force for 3 years and then went to Hong Kong and entered the police
force there, remaining for 10 years.
Cross examined – He knew Didham had been summoned but he did not
examine the milk and did not get a guarantee to protect himself. Re-examined – There was nothing in the
appearance of the milk to show it was good or bad. He had been thinking about changing his
dealer.
The defendant’s son having given evidence Mr. Taylor urged that it was
a technical offence only. No doubt water
had been at one time or another added to the milk but he submitted he had shown
that Gane had not been guilty of fraud or of adulterating the milk.”
The magistrates decided to
convict but reserved sentencing until they had heard the case
against Didham.
Having presented the case Didham’s
solicitor also urged that the offence was a technical one.
“There was no intention to defraud anyone and no cream was taken from
the milk with the idea of rendering it inferior. The mere fact of dipping to serve the first
customers tended to take the cream which had risen to the top. They served
customers till there was only a gallon and a half left when the inspector met
them and the milk so left was not of course as good as that which had been on
top.”
The magistrates felt that the
public must be protected and pointed out that the sellers of milk must be very
careful. They fined Gage £2 and costs or
one month’s imprisonment. Didham was
fined £3 and costs or one month’s imprisonment.
The electoral rolls for 1907 show
George living at Hares Pit in Westerleigh, Gloucestershire. As the birth of
Lily Rose had been registered in Chipping Sodbury District in 1905 it is likely
that Westerleigh was their place of residence at the time. Later in the year George and his eldest son,
Frederick George, sailed for Canada – the rest of the family joined them in
1910.
To encourage settlement in
Western Canada the Dominion Government offered a grant for a free homestead of
160 acres for a $10 registration fee to those families who were prepared to live
and cultivate land during a qualifying period of time. The Homestead process began with entry, which
was a term used to describe the act of physically going to the Dominion Lands
office and filing for a claim to a particular parcel of land. By 1908 the applicant had to be a British
Subject.
The following details relate to
George’s application for Homestead land.
Full details are available from the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan.
File Number
|
Name
|
Part
|
Section
|
Township
|
Range
|
Meridian
|
|
|
Gane, George
|
NE
|
19
|
51
|
26
|
W2
|
|
|
Gane, George
|
NE
|
25
|
51
|
27
|
W2
|
|
|
Gane, George
|
NE
|
31
|
49
|
3
|
W3
|
The 1911, 1916 and 1922 census
returns list George and his family in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
The Hong Kong Pension Register show that
George died on 9 February 1932 at the age of 74.
The Saskatchewan Burial Index confirms that
George C. GANE was buried in Prince Albert in 1932.
If anyone should have any additional information on George GANE I would love to hear from you
