On 22nd October 1917, Marie (Shanks, born 30th May 1874) gave birth to a daughter, Rosa, bringing James McGee's family to seven children.

On 15th February 1918, Marie died. As far as I know, the cause of her death was childbed fever, in those days a fairly common cause of a mother's death soon after giving birth to a child.

(As an unimportant detail, I was born on 22nd August 1918.)

It was fairly standard practice then for the eldest daughter to take her mother's place in looking after the family, so Margaret, then 16 years of age, assumed the care of her father, Ritchie, John, Bill, Hilda, Tom and 4 month old Rosa.

James soon decided that this was too much for a teenage girl and decided to ask one of his relations to lighten the load for a few years by taking charge of the baby. I'm not sure of the exact relationship but he asked a cousin of sorts, possibly a Colvin second cousin, who agreed to take that responsibility. So probably about the beginning of June 1918, Rosa was brought up (probably by her father) to Baillieston to Mrs McIlhatton.

The family consisted of her husband James, herself, a teacher in St Bridget's Primary School, Baillieston, and a teenage daughter Margaret.

So that was Rosa in Scotland.

It was then a tradition in the Glasgow area for families to take a fortnight's holiday every year at one of the Clyde resorts, and the McIlhattons had already arranged their holiday so Mrs McIlhatton arranged to leave the child with the Rogan family at 97 Causewayside Street in Tollcross during the holiday. The Rogans were cousins of the McIlhattons but not of the McGees.

So that was Rosa brought into Glasgow.

The Rogan family consisted of father, mother, and three or four adult children and they spoiled the baby shamelessly. If she squeaked there was a rush to pick her up. If she cried, everybody wanted a turn to nurse her. If she fell, everybody shared in the picking up. And so on, and on and .....

The fortnight passed, the McIlhattons came home and in due course collected the baby and took here home to Baillieston. But not for long.

Being a primary teacher, Mrs McIlhatton had firm ideas about discipline and life changed for Rosa. When she squeaked, nobody rushed to lift her. She reacted in the only way she knew - she cried. But nobody seemed to notice. A wee lift and turned round and back down maybe, but that wasn't enough, so she screamed.

After about a week, Mrs McIlhatton reappeared at Rogan's with Rosa on one arm, Rosa's belongings in a bag on the other arm and an air of being dog-tired. She dumped the baby on the bed, the bag on the floor and said "Keep her. None of us have had a decent sleep since we took her". And the Rogans were delighted.

Manchester was kept informed of course and as the years went on James McGee said it was time Rosa returned to her family, but every time he did, the Rogans produced reasons why she couldn't possibly do so just now - maybe next year. She had just started school, she was being prepared for her First Communion, it would soon be time for Confirmation, she was just about to start secondary school etc., etc.

Relations remained excellent - presents were posted in both directions - visits were regular in both directions - but Rosa remained in Glasgow in St Joseph's parish.

In 1929, we moved from Shotts to Tollcross to St Mark's parish. In 1935, we moved house into St Joseph's parish and - well!!!!

William Reynolds
June 1998