James Shirra

GEDCOM Note

!REGISTRAR GENERALS OFFICE FALKIRK, STIRLING SCOTLAND PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF FRANCIS COWAN SHIRRA. See his biography in possession of Graham F Shirra. !He was a Gratefitter at the Grahamstown Ironworks but earlier was a soldier in the 42nd Black Watch Regiment and fought in the Egyptian and Sudan Campaigns under General Kitchiner at Khartoum and Tel El Kaber,Sudan in 1882 when he was 17. .IGIa shows marriage date "abt 1889",F#455259 !The 1881 Census shows him living with his parents at 107 Bainsford, Falkirk, Scotland.

DEATH: Jane McIvor Shirra has the date of death as 18 Nov 1956 and his plaque at the Mount Thompson Crematorium states that he died 17 Nov 1956.

At the age of 17 James was in the Scottish Army in the 42nd Black Watch Regiment and went to Egypt under General Kitchener in the relief force to retake the Sudan after General Gordon had been murdered at Khartoum. He fought in the batgtle for Khartoum and at Tel'el'Kebir in 1882.

After his military service, was foreman at Grahamstown Iron Foundry, Falkirk.

Caretaker of the Oddfellows Hall on Grahams Road, Falkirk.

James and Agnes together with Edward Thorsell, Nellie, mary and Francis migrated to Australia on 29 July 1909 from Glasgow on the SS Karoola.

The trip took 7 weeks arriving Sydney. Then travelled on the ship Arawatta to Brisbane.

The family lived for a short time at Bowen Bridge, then moved to Milton. Then James bought a house at Jurgens St and Balaclave St Wooloongabba.

In 1918 they moved to Lincoln and Flora Streets, Stones Corner.

James in his later years was very active in the Masonic Lodge and attached to a high order.

Every year he marched in the ANZAC Day Parade in Brisbane.

James and Agnes attended the Royal Ball at the Brisbane city Hall during the Royal Tour of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in 1954 by special invitation and James was presented to the Queen at the ex-serviceman's rally at the Exhibition Grounds, Brisbane.