Solidarity Park

      Henry Madden

      Henry Madden was born on 19th May 1891 to John and Mary Ann Madden of 27 Back John Street, Seaham Harbour, he was baptised at St. Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Church in Seaham on 18th September 1891, he was the seventh of their eight children. John, originally from Whitehaven in Cumbria was employed as a coal miner, he was highly skilled because later he was employed as a mine sinker. In April 1896 Henry’s mother, Mary, died. The 1901 census shows Henry as a ‘Pauper child’ in St. Mary’s workhouse, Easington, Durham.

      In 1911 Henry was living with his father at 9 Purdie Street, Burnbank, Hamilton in Scotland and like his father he was employed as a coal miner. On 11th October 1913 Henry married Sarah Ann Postlethwaite in the Catholic Chapel in Crosshill, Lochore, Fife; of note is that Sarah had been born in Sunderland and was living in Ryhope in 1911. Henry enlisted into the 2nd Battalion the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) in August 1914 and disembarked in France on 25th November 1914. In April 1915 a son Henry Jr was born in Hamilton; Sarah would go on to give birth to seven children.

      Henry was discharged from the Army on 7th March 1919, he returned to Sarah living at 269 Nuneaton Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow. On 17th May 1924 Henry embarked onto the SS Tuscania at Glasgow, the ship was bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia. Henry then travelled onto Glace Bay Nova Scotia to work in the Cape Breton coal mines. The family of four moved back to Glasgow in December 1933 where Henry joined the Communist Party.

      Henry was enlisted into the British Battalion on 11th February 1937 he gives his address as 34 Howick Street, Sunderland and his profession as motor driver; a pencil note against his name states that at 46 years he is “too old.” A report dated 18th June 1937 shows a medical decision for repatriation, the reason given for repatriation was “Myasthenie Cardiaque” – a weak heart. Special Branch note his return from Spain on 29th June 1937.  The 1939 register shows his address as 6 South Durham Street, Sunderland.

      Compiled by Tony Fox