Laurence Samuel Borg, aka Lorry, Pro, Grumpa.

Laurence Samuel Borg was my Grandfather. My Mum's Dad and a major part of my life after the death of my own father when I was just a small child. At this point in time I was eighteen months old, and along with my mother, we returned to the heart of her family. For many years "Grumpa" was the only father figure I knew. 

Family photograph c. mid 1980's

The Laurence Borg I knew was a vastly different man to the stories and remembrances told by his own children. He was first and foremost a family man, a manual labourer, hard working and uncompromising in his views and attitudes.  My Mum, Aunt and Uncles retell stories of hardship and tough love that would not be viewed favourably in today's world, born predominantly from his own tough childhood. But from my perspective as a child, he and my Gran were the centre of my small world. Always around, in the garden, going on outings to the city, around the kitchen table with family and friends and holidays together. He enjoyed a bet on the ponies and he was gruff and grumpy (hence the name Grumpa!) and was forever threatening to trade my Gran in for a twenty-one year old! Yes he was tough, but there was always the underlying sense of love, acceptance and support.  However as I matured I could sense the hard man he would have been and did in fact have a number of run ins with him as a teenager, outraged by his archaic views on many topics. There are many aspects of Laurence's early years that are still a mystery and many conflicting stories and events recalled by various family members. The following facts try to piece together the life and times of a man that had a great influence on my life and someone that I still miss greatly everyday.

Laurence Samuel Borg was born on the 27th March 1919 in Broken Hill, New South Wales, the eldest son of Elizabeth Louisa May and Giuseppe Vincenzo Paolo (Joseph) Borg. The marriage of his parents six months prior to his birth could be an indicator of the life he was about to embark upon. Within eighteen months, and now residing in Knightsbridge ( Leabrook) Adelaide, South Australia, the birth of Laurence's younger brother Joseph Michael Borg on the 21 August 1920, completed the family.

Laurence and Joseph Borg c.1921

The Sands and McDougall directories for South Australia indicate that the family probably lived at the same address in Knightsbridge until at least 1924. By 1926, however the family appear to be living at 601 Spencer Street, West Melbourne, Victoria. Both parents Elizabeth and Joseph are listed in the electoral rolls for this address in both 1926 and 1927. The following photograph supports the theory that the family are all together at this point in time.

St. Mary's, W. Melb., 1st grade, 1926

Laurence's recollections of this period of his life include stories of roaming the docks of Port Melbourne, parental neglect and loose living by his mother. 
It is not clear how long the family remained in Victoria, but by 1930 Laurence's parents are living at separate addresses in Broken Hill, New South Wales and Laurence is attending Broken Hill Technical School. It appears that in this period Laurence has gone to live with his great Aunt, Elizabeth Ellen Larsen and her husband Oscar.

Elizabeth Larsen is the Aunt of Laurence's Mother and by this time is on her third marriage. She has no children of her own and during this period, Laurence is found to be known by the surname of Larsen. Elizabeth Larsen had moved several times in her life between Adelaide and Broken Hill and the next record we find of Laurence is a leaving certificate from Broken Hill Technical School at the end of 1930 and his subsequent enrolment at Scotts Bottom Public School in South Australia at the start of the 1931 school year. Elizabeth Larsen is the person enrolling Laurence and they are living in the hundred of Noarlunga at the time. Laurence often spoke of living with an old Tatar of an Aunt in the Cherry Gardens area and told a stories about sleep walking   waking in the brambles and blackberry bushes on the property.

Laurence completes his education at Scotts Bottom and at the end of 1933 and receives a letter of recommendation from his former teacher E. C. Moore in 1934.

Letter of recommendation Scott's Bottom Public School, E. C. Moore 1934

It is an assumption that Laurence started his working life at this point, however, oral family history relates stories of him being in the Sisters of St Joseph orphanage at Largs Bay until his mother retrieved him when he was old enough to work. I have not yet arranged to view the orphanage records so it will be interesting to see if this adds up with other records.

By the time of the outbreak  of World War II, Laurence is living at 27 King Street, Alberton, South Australia and is employed as a Labourer by W.K Thomson, David Street, Queensberry, South Australia. Further research shows this to be a Kapok and Flock manufacturing business providing stuffing for automobile seats. The actual address differs between the three different sources I have located however I believe the factory would have been located at a site that is now Davidson Ave, Hendon, South Australia today.

To be continued.....