Histories

Biographical Information: JAMES FENTON PURVIS (JIM or FENTON), born 1st April 1890 at Nymagee, Balranald District, New South Wales, died 1st July 1959 (? 1958) at Thomson Hospital, Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) (shortly after he had visited Betty Joan Purvis or Harris (see 1.1.3.1.7.7.5.1.2. above) in Australia). Served in World War I with the Australian Light Horse in France and at Gallipolli, Turkey. He was proud that he started working aged 9 as a stockman and horse breaker on cattle stations in Northern Queensland. He learnt the tanner's trade, going (1919) to South Africa with his brother Julian Amourous Purvis (see 1.1.3.1.7.7.11. below) and a load of horses, to take charge of a tannery. Julian returned to Queensland but he went to work at the tannery and married the boss's daughter. Manager of Silverton Tanneries, Johannesburg, South Africa (1920-29). Living (1920) at Silverton, Pretoria, South Africa. He moved (1929) with his family to Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), where he worked on constructing the Roan Antelope Mine at Luanshya, working and living in very basic conditions. He continued to work there until he retired (31st October 1954). He was a founder member of the Northern Rhodesian Mineworkers Union (N.R.M.U.), starting a mineworkers' federation in Luanshya which eventually linked with other unions to form the all-embracing N.R.M.U. He fought fiercely for the closed shop principle. He was an active member of the Northern Rhodesia Defence Force during World War II and also took a keen interest in the welfare of displaced refugees, in particular a Polish contingent in Ndola, Zambia. He leased virgin land near Luanshya and established a farm called Yakkamunda (which means "work for your tucker" in aborigine) and was living there (1955) when Marion Heather Miller or O'Sullivan (see 1.1.3.1.7.7.10.4. below) visited him and his wife. Married (16th February 1920 at the Catholic Mission, Braamfontein, Johannesburg) Lulu Vera Willson (born 1st January 1894 in Surrey Hills, Melbourne, Victoria, died 26th January 1976 at Luanshya) who, after the death of her son (1970), moved to Brisbane, Queensland, to live with her brother-in-law Julian Amourous Purvis and his wife Agnes, returning (1974) to the farm at Luanshya, only child of Frank Willson (born 1858 in Wellington, New Zealand, married 20th April 1892 in Hawthorn, Victoria, died 3rd January 1939 in Johannesburg), carpenter and builder (from whom she inherited three houses in Johannesburg which she sold in the 1960s) and Ester Logan (born 1864, died 20th July 1941 in South Africa), having two children:-