In about 1970 volumes 2 and 3 of a diary were bought for a few pence from a car boot sale in Eastwood Notts.

They were beautifully bound and are a wonderful piece of social history.

They cover the journey of the writer as he joins the (first) SS Manipur (Brocklebank Line) at Birkenhead in 1914 on a return voyage to Calcutta.

The previous keeper of these volumes had done some research and managed to obtain the ship’s Particulars of engagement, but the missing first volume meant that the mystery of the author’s identity remained. There are 3 pictures of him within the 2 volumes, and on one of them he refers to himself as “JHD”. With just 3 pictures and 3 initials, it seemed there was little or no chance of ever identifying the author. With this in mind I decided to concentrate on finding out more about the ship’s captain.

The Captain is named as W.O.Tyers. Research shows him to be William Oliver Tyers. He was born in April 1871, married 14^th September 1907 to Edith Mary Fewkes and had two daughters, Marjorie born in 1909, and Hilda Beatrice born on the 21^st September 1912 and who died on 15^th January 1925. Hilda is buried in Rake Lane cemetery Wallasey. William was mortally injured in the blitz on the night of 20^th December 1940 and died 5 days later on Christmas day. He is buried with Hilda but sadly is not named on the gravestone, although I have made arrangements for this to be done.

The breakthrough occurred when William’s probate notice was acquired. I had already read the notice a couple of times, but in a moment of excitement I realised I had identified the Author! William’s executor is named as John Hilton Davies.  JHD now had a name!

Whilst in Calcutta, JHD meets an old colleague Bertie Lindsay with whom he had worked for many years at “No.1 North John Street”. This, I discover, was the Royal Insurance building in Liverpool. So “The Royal” that JHD refers to in Calcutta would have been the Royal Insurance offices in Calcutta.

It seems that Bertie Lindsay then worked for “Messrs Martin’s” in Calcutta, “one of the leading firms here”. I understand Martin’s were a construction company.

JHD and WOT were obviously well acquainted. They dined together on the Manipur and spent much time together in Calcutta.

JHD was born in 1872. He married Minnie Sophia Craston (born Q1 1869) on 11^th May 1898 at St Simon and St Jude Anfield. They were living at 2 Matlock Avenue Walton on the Hill, Liverpool in 1901 and in Sudworth Road New Brighton Wallasey in 1911. They had a son Harold John Craston Davies (born 11^th May 1899, died. Q4 1982). Harold married Mary E Davenport in 1930. Minnie died 19^th November 1919 and John died 26^th December 1954.

John and Minnie were cremated at Anfield and their ashes rest in the crematorium crypt.

Here are pictures of Captain Tyers and Uncle John.