Attic discovery leads to search for wartime resident
Family seeks help to find out more about young boy
by STACEY HEANEY
Tommy Haydock and Gina Everett, with their daughter Maddison, examine old World War II gas masks they found in the attic of their home at Kesh Road, Lisburn. US3711-582cd
A LOCAL family's discovery of wartime mementoes in their attic has led to a search for the former resident of their home.
The discovery has captured the imagination of Gina Everett and her family, leaving them curious about the owner of a child's gas mask which they uncovered with other items.
The family, who live on the Kesh Road, Maze, discovered the gas mask in its original box dated 1943, whilst an adult's gas mask was also discovered later, along with papers from Wallace High School from the 1950s.
Following the find, Gina and her family are keen to find out about Denis A. Adams, and they hope Star readers can help them to get in touch with Denis or his family.
Gina explained; "Recently my partner Tommy was up in the loft and we found a box. We discovered it was a child's gas mask in its original box dated 1943. On the box was the name 'Denis' written in a child's hand writing. We were left wondering who Denis may have been.
"Some weeks later Tommy was up in the loft again and found another box, this time with an adult's gas mask in its original box. Inside the box there were some Grammar School Exam papers dating back to 1953 for Wallace High School. The name on one of the papers was Denis. A. Adams.
"When we found the child's mask we were immediately saying, 'I wonder who this belongs to? Then when we saw the child's name it was, 'Aw, it must have been a wee kid who lived here during the war.' Weeks later we found the other one and inside were papers, one is a certificate of grammar school for Wallace High School. There are some actual grammar papers in French and a couple of others that Denis must have sat. It is really interesting."
Gina was delighted to make the discovery and had no idea about the
history of her
home.
"We've lived here for 18 months" she said. "My son Reece is 15, he goes to Laurelhill and is really into history. He immediately said, 'It would be great to find him.' It would be lovely to locate Denis or his family. If that had been mine I'd like it back and it would be really nice to meet him.
"My daughter Maddison is five and she wants to take it into school to show her class, it really is a big talking point in the family." Gina added: "The mask is in perfect condition and it has been kept in its original box, the ones they carried around. I've never actually seen one in real life.
"If we could find Denis or his family it would be great. He might have a son or daughter or grandchildren. There has been so much interest in my family, I'm sure it would be the same for them. I don't feel this is rightfully ours and it will stay on here as part of the house if we leave."
Gina concluded: "Can you help us to find Denis or a member of his family, who lived at our address out at the Maze, Lisburn? We would like to return these possessions to him and possibly hear some stories about living in our house at wartime."
* If you can help Gina to get in contact with Denis or his family please email her at ginaeverett57@yahoo.co.uk
stacey.heaney@ulsterstar.co.uk
Ulster Star
23/09/2011
