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Record #16252
Name :
: Charles TOWNLEY (1912 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1912 (approx.)

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 18 May 1930
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Montrose

Placement Family
: Cramp
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Labourers & Domestics
NotesIn 1930, Charles Townley, 18, arrived at Quebec, Canada, in a group of 25 young persons who were under assisted passage and en route to various locations.

On Thursday, February 24, 1938, in the Toronto Star, it was reported that:

YOUNG FARMER BRAVES FLAMES TO SAVE CHILD

Taken From Second Storey by
Ladder After Entering
Second Time

CREPT ON FLOOR

Special to The Star

Meaford, Feb. 24.--Charles Townley, a young Englishman, rescued two-year-old Gordon Cramp from the blazing home of Bryan Cramp in St. Vincent township.

Through smoke and flame, Townley, hired man on the Cramp farm, crawled to the youngster, who was trapped on the second floor of the brick farmhouse. Back through the thick smoke he carried the child until both fell down a flight of stairs to safety.

To-day The Star found Mr. Cramp and Townley standing guard over the still warm ashes of their home. Inside a brick fireplace was all that was left. The two men had watched the blaze all night for fear a wind would carry sparks to a nearby barn.

On three farms scattered over the township Mrs. Cramp and her six children were given shelter. At the home of Betty Johnson, Cramp's hired girl, young Cramp showed his scorched boots.

Blaze Started Quickly

"I was talking on the telephone when I heard a crackling noise," Mrs. Cramp said, "I went back to the kitchen and opened the door and the smoke just poured out. I didn't know what could have happened. There was nothing on the stove and it wasn't the pipe. I rushed to find the three children who were playing downstairs to get them outside. When they were safe I remembered I had left Gordon sleeping upstairs a half-hour before the fire started.

"I called Charley Townley from the barn. I couldn't remember in which room I had put Gordon so Charley wasn't sure where to find him. He hurried upstairs, crawling on his hands and knees to escape the smoke. He heard Gordon crying and was able to save him. As he came downstairs he stumbled and the pair of them fell down teh flighte of stairs. Thank goodness they were saved.

Entered Second Time

"As soon as he rescued Gordon," Mrs. Cramp continued, "Charley dashed into the house again to see what he could save. He was trapped on the second floor. By that time the neighbors had arrived and they got him down on a ladder."

Banks [Cramp] is one of the younger farmers of the district. Last December, when robbers held up a bank at Maple, Mr. Banks [Cramp] pursued them in his car. He was unable to halt them.

"I may as well walk off the place," he said as he watched the flames, "Everything I have is in there."

Formed Bucket Brigade

"We thought we had the blaze under control at one time," Townley said, "The neighbors formed a bucket brigade while we waited for the Meaford fire department to come. Somehow the Meaford boys missed the turn and were late in arriving, The fire was out of control when they reached us.

"When Mrs. Cramp called me I just ran upstairs and found Gordon. The smoke was very thick. I didn't take time to cover up my face, I could hear the boy crying and choking. Once I got to him I ran outside as fast as I could.

"Luckily the telephone was still working and I called the operator. About that time part of the roof fell in and the flames leaped out. I got some water and ran upstairs to try to get at the flames, I opened the door of a room and the smoke and heat almost knocked me over. It was then that I was trapped and had to escape down the ladder. Fortunately I was not hurt."

Bryan Cramp feels a close kinship to-day for the man who saved the life of his child. Together they were standing watch over the ruins. Cramp built most of the house himself four years ago. It was only partly covered by insurance. The farm is three miles from Meaford. 
ContributorsCreated : 2012-05-21 21:37:57 / From original database

Last Updated : 2012-05-21 21:47:01 /

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  30 Entries        
Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 219 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
22564 ADEY, W S1909ENG,     Jul 1922 : Montrose CAN MacPherson Homes  
6640 ALEXANDER, John1913ENG, LDN, London Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
7895 ALLDRIDGE, George Gage Notcut1910ENG, SAL, Newport (Salop) Jul 1925 : Montrose CAN Salvation Army  
22774 ALLEN, Charles1911ENG,     Apr 1926 : Montrose CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
6641 ANDERTON, Albert1912ENG, BRK, Reading Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6642 ANDERTON, Charles 1912ENG, BRK, Reading Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5072 ANDREWS, Hugh1912ENG, LAN, Liverpool Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5073 ARMSTRONG, John 1912ENG, LDN, London Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6643 AUSTIN, John1913ENG, LDN, London Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5074 BABB, William1911ENG,    , Islington Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
7860 BACON, Ivy Lilian1913ENG,    , Edmonton Jul 1923 : Montrose CAN Salvation Army  
5123 BARKER, Frances1911ENG,    , Fulham Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
18478 BARNES, Amy V1897ENG,     1912 : Montrose CAN   
18506 BARNES, Edward1907ENG,     1923 : Montrose CAN   
6644 BATES, Rose1913ENG,    , Cheltenham Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5075 BATES, Thomas1912ENG,     Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6723 BEADLE, Walter1911ENG, LDN, London Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN National Childrens Home  
19546 BEATLEY, Thomas1910ENG,     Apr 1926 : Montrose CAN Unknown  
5076 BEATTIE, Leslie1911ENG, LAN, Liverpool Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6724 BENNETT, Ernest1913ENG,    , Bolsover Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN National Childrens Home  
5077 BENNION, Charles 1911ENG, LAN, Liverpool Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6645 BERRY, Daniel1914ENG,    , Dalton Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6646 BERRY, Robert1919ENG,    , Dalton in Furness Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6647 BERRY, William1913ENG,    , Dalton in Furness Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
5078 BIRKENHEAD, Joseph1910WAL,    , Hazel Beach Aug 1926 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
10463 BISHOP, George1908ENG, LDN, London May 1924 : Montrose CAN Sailing Alone  
22906 BLACKLEDGE, Doris May1917ENG,     Jul 1923 : Montrose CAN Salvation Army  
14821 BLOOMFIELD, Harold1915ENG,     Jul 1923 : Montrose CAN Salvation Army  
6648 BOWDEN, Leslie1913ENG,    , Torquay Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN Barnardos  
6725 BOYD, William1911IRL,    , Colerain Mar 1927 : Montrose CAN National Childrens Home  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 219 Entries        
Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  30 Entries