Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

VAN GUARD>?

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Kevin

Kevin Report 8 Jan 2009 00:57

Hi, does anyone know what a Van Guard is? i presume its to do with the railway but i cant find information on the job.. any help would be much appreciated

Kev x

Click ADD REPLY button - not this link!

Click ADD REPLY button - not this link! Report 8 Jan 2009 00:59

Where did you find this? Would help to know.

The van guards in 1881 worked for the railways or were car men.

Rose

Researching:
I am not related to you and I'm not your husband's first wife!

Geraldine

Geraldine Report 8 Jan 2009 01:45

Plucked this from my memory bank.

The trains last carriage/van was full of mail and parcels. This area was guarded by a staff member called the van guard.


Cheers Gerry

Heather

Heather Report 8 Jan 2009 11:53

Try googling for any information you are not sure about.

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 8 Jan 2009 12:24

I found someone's family tree online where the father is a Railway Carman and his 14 year old son was a Van Guard Boy, so I think you are right in assuming it is to do with the railways.

Kath. x

Susan

Susan Report 10 Jan 2009 12:00

Hi MY mum was a van guard, she would ride along side the Men who delivered the parcels for british railways. I know she would have ridden in the old schammell cabs which were three wheeled. My step father was a driver and when the schammells were replaced with the upto date lorries the drivers didnt appear to have van gaurds then.


yours sue ault

Kevin

Kevin Report 10 Jan 2009 14:06

Thank you all for the replies.... Rose this was on the 1901 census.

Mines kinda similar to yours kath, he was 15 and was a van guard and in brackets (carman) and the lodger of the family was a carman, so perhaps he worked along side him.

Thank you again for the replies.

Regards

Kev