The STRONGs of Ulster, Ireland, Chapter 10

The "STRONG Family" section of this site is divided into 11 chapters and 8 appendices. Please read in sequence by following the links at the bottom of each page or use the "Quick Nav" at top right. If you wish to select individual chapters, please click on the top left link to the "Sitemap" page. Note that the chapters develop the story of our family and the appendices contain supporting data… for example the Descendancy Report in Appendix 1 with BDM records and photos of family members.

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Lives of William Aberdare STRONG’s Sons

Joseph Lane (Joe) STRONG

Joseph Lane (Joe) was born on 3 Jan 1917 in Drury, NZ. It is probable he was named after his uncle Joseph LANE who may have visited NZ from England as a ship's engineer. He attended Drury School from Feb 1922 to Dec 1929, and then Auckland Grammar. In the book "Chalk Cheese and Chimney Pots- A History of the Drury School and Districts (1857-1882)" p 9, Joe was recorded as winning a Gillies Scholarship at Drury School for a Science study at Auckland University. He may not have obtained his BSc, since Joe said when he was aged 23, that he had 1.5 years work needed in 3 more subjects to complete his degree. Joe's interests during his University days included service in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) between the ages of 18 to 21 when he became a signaller.

The photograph below shows Joe STRONG at various stages of his life. Photos courtesy of Brian STRONG. From left to right: 1940 (Marriage), c1935 (young man), 1945 2nd Lt in NZ, 1941 (from Hospital in Cairo). Note the difference in appearance caused by glasses, age, differing weight and physical condition.

Joe STRONG Joe STRONG at various stages of his life.
Courtesy: Brian Strong

When WWII broke out Joe attempted to re-join the RNVR in February 1940, however he was rejected as unfit. Later, on 17 July he was successful in enlisting in the army. Perhaps the set of five photos above might explain why he was rejected then accepted. In 1940 Joe wore heavy horn-rimmed glasses. However, photos of Joe in army uniform in 1941 and 1945 show he no longer had glasses! When Joe enlisted in the Army, he was a Civil Servant with the Audit Office, Wellington. Several weeks later on 3 Aug 1940, Joe married 21-year-old Marjorie Lucy GRIFFITHS, and their new address was 93 St Stephen's Ave, Parnell, Auckland.

Marjorie Lucy STRONG Marjorie Lucy STRONG at various stages of her life.
Courtesy: Brian Strong & Marion Lissington.

The photograph above shows Marjorie at various stages in her life: From left to right: 1940 (Marriage), 1945 and c1978. Marjorie Lucy STRONG (née Griffiths) Photo 1,2 Brian STRONG, Photo 3 Marion Lissington.

Joseph LANE (Joe) STRONG in Cairo Joe STRONG in Cairo.
Courtesy: Brian Strong.

Joe entered the Papakura Army Camp in Jan 1941. After basic training, he left Wellington with an early reinforcement in April, 1941. When his 14th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment disembarked, Joe was admitted to the Military Hospital in Cairo in May for 15 days. Joe sent an undated postcard photo of himself from Cairo to his new wife (see photo on left). From Joe's army record, the only time he was in Cairo was when he was at hospital in 1941. Note his underweight appearance.

Joe took part in all the North African campaigns with the Eighth Army. In Oct 1843 Joe left the Middle East theatre to Italy and was promoted to Bombardier the next month. He was recommended for a commission and was sent to the Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU) in Wrotham, Kent, Great Britain in Feb 1944.. He then returned to active service in the Middle East 4 months later, was promoted to Sergeant, Warrant Officer II, and finally received his commission in Dec 1944. Off to another OCTU course in Jan 1945. Shortly after in April, the war was effectively over for Joe.

Arrangements were made to withdraw Joe's unit to New Zealand by Sept 1945. Joe received 91 days overseas leave in NZ, and posed in his 2nd Lieutenant's uniform with his wife Marjorie for the photo beneath. Photo: Courtesy Brian STRONG.

Joe and Marjorie STRONGJoe and Marjorie STRONG after the war.
Courtesy: Brian Strong.

After the war, Joe returned to civilian life in NZ as a businessman and accountant. Joe's brother, Wallace, told the story of visiting Joe in his office when he would have the pounds shillings and pence ledgers on his desk running his finger down the page quickly adding the three columns at the same time. Wallace once asked Joe why he didn't use an adding machine and got the answer "too slow". The account of this conversation is a rare insight into what Joe was like. It is hoped that people reading this page can contribute similar stories which give a glimpse of the real person. Joe was initiated as a Mason in the Wellington Lodge 1521 E.C. on 19 July 1972, on the proposal and seconding of the partners who owned his company. Joe did not take office (apart from Treasurer 1977-78). A friend recalls that he was a regular attender of meetings. Joe kept up his Masonic membership for 17 years until his death, when he was given a Masonic service.

On the business front, Electoral Rolls showed Joe's changing occupations as follows: Joe (company secretary) and his wife Marjorie (married) lived at 36 Ponsonby Rd., Karori Wellington in 1969, and then the 1972 roll shows Joe (accountant) and Marjorie (married) and daughter Penelope Ann (typist) still living at 36 Ponsonby Rd. (Military correspondence showed Joe lived in Ponsonby Rd in 1950). In the 1975 Electoral Roll, Joe (general manager) and Marjorie (married) are listed as living at 129 Nevay Rd Mirimar NZ. Joe finally achieved the position of managing director of a major NZ national company, and retired in 1982, before computerisation of records and changing corporate attitudes transformed the business landscape.

Joe's brother Robert William STRONG wrote to his cousin Olive LOWE ( née STEEN) in 1982:

"Early in February 1978, Joe and his wife Marjorie were returning to their home in Wellington when they were struck down in broad daylight in Foxton by a drunken driver. Both were severely injured, his wife was hurled through the windscreen of the car and Joe was badly hurt. Marjorie died from her injuries eleven months later. Joe spent ten months in Palmerston North Hospital; he had a number of operations on his leg and is still on a walking stick. He has since married, a widow with two grown sons, and retires March 1982 as the Managing Director of a large Wellington firm. The drunken driver was not severely punished for what he had done."

Source: Strong RW. Letter to Olive Lowe. 1982.

Marjorie's inquest fills out the details. The accident occurred on 3/2/1978 at about 3:30pm in Foxton in a 30mph zone. According to a witness, who was a hitchhiker in the car that hit Marjorie and Joe, they were crossing the road, and were hit as they crossed over the centre line. The driver did not see them until his passengers yelled "look out!" The driver was driving at a speed of over 30mph and also was under the influence of alcohol. Marjorie was thrown onto the bonnet and against the windscreen of the car. Another passenger in the car said that Marjorie and Joe did not look to their left at all when the crossed the road and only saw the car when it hit them. The passenger said that it was a nice sunny day and visibility was good. The driver stated that he was a truck driver by occupation and was driving a Vauxhall Viva, and also that he had been charged and convicted of the offences relating to excess alcohol and careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury.

Marjorie Lucy died as a result of her accident in Wellington Hospital, on 1 Jan 1979; she was 60. Her ashes were scattered on the Rose Garden of Karori Cemetery, Wellington on 5 Jan 1979. In 1980 when Joseph Lane (Joe) was 62, he second married Marie Patricia Wooton (Molly) BROSNAHAN, in Wellington NZ. Joseph Lane (Joe) died in Wellington Hospital, on 8 Dec 1989; he was 72. His ashes were buried in the soldiers ash plot at the Makara Cemetery, Wellington on 27 Dec 1989.

Acknowledgements
Brian STRONGBrian STRONG

I am most grateful to William Aberdare STRONG's grandchildren, Heather TRIGG and Brian STRONG and his wife Irene. My cousins have freely shared their photos, news clippings and detailed knowledge of their section of our family. Brian made available his father's photos and news clippings as well as photos and interviews with his uncle Robert William STRONG.

Brian's material also covered other sections of our study including the coloured photo of our g-grandfather: Robert in Belfast, the clue to where our family came from ..... Knocknancy, various early Robert William STRONG interviews: Emigration, newspaper article on Joseph STRONG: Joseph. In addition I have been most fortunate in corresponding with William Aberdare STRONG's niece, Olive LOWE (née STEEN), who brought the first hand information of an earlier generation.

The Story Continues