The Ient Family: Family History

Pre-war

Wilfred Batty POW – by his son, Adrian Batty

My father Wilf (Bill, Batt, Batty) was born 3 April 1918,. He was the only child to survive beyond a few weeks to parents Charles Henry and Mary Ellen Batty. After birth, Wilf with his parents lived at 1 Cliffe Terrace, Grange Street, Hull, a one up one down house with small kitchen and outside toilet.

Charlie, Nellie and Wilf then moved to 3 Grange Street, Hull where Wilf's Grandfather Daniel Batty moved in with them. Wilf could recall sitting on his grandfathers knee when he smoked his pipe and had a tot. 3 Grange Street was a big improvement, having a front room, living room and scullery with pantry off. There were 2 bedrooms with an attic. The toilet was still outside. The living room had a Yorkshire fireplace with oven at the side and boiler at the other side. It had to be black leaded regularly. Bathing was in a tin bath in front of the fire or at the 'wash house' in St Paul Street, where it cost a penny for a bath and a penny for a towel.

Wilf attended St Paul's Infant and Junior School, although for a short period he moved in with his Uncle Bill (William Batty) at 243 Grovehill Road, Beverley, when he attended St Mary's School, Beverley. While living in Beverley. Wilf attended a corrugated iron church on Sundays, known as the ‘Tabernacle’, Swinemoor Lane. He was paid a bar of chocolate for pumping up the harmonium! 

In the 1920s, Wilf's father started a business charging accumulators in a shed in the yard; the resistances were carbon lamps. He also loaned accumulators and large batteries out for 6d a week. Charlie then moved into radio and bicycle repairs and hired out radios and crystal sets which used earphones in a mug to amplify the sound. Charlie was also an agent for BTH (British Thompson Houston Co. Ltd.) Swan neck speakers and he shared a market stall at the Hull Market with a family friend, Uncle Jim Sykes, who sold gramophones and gramophone records.

Wilf worked for his father from the age of 11, carrying out electrical work. He earned 5 shillings for fitting a light socket and 10 shillings for fitting an electrical point (this would have entailed a great deal of work in those days!). Wilf completed his education at Brunswick Avenue School (now a Social Services building) in 1933, age 15. After leaving school, Wilf did not take an apprenticeship but worked for his father. However, he also had a Saturday job working in the Market (Charlie, Nellie and Wilf went on Market Trader trips). He worked for a 'snake charmer' who sold 'snake oil' for the relief of arthritis. Wilf had to make an early trip to Woolworths to buy the ingredients for the snake oil, including ammonia and soap flakes! He would mix the ingredients and pour the mixture into slim bottles which were sold for 1/6d. The snake charmer would go to the pub for lunch and on his return would sell 2 bottles for 1/6d. Wilf also had to be hypnotised by the snakes every Saturday and was paid 10/- for the day, a lot of money at that time.

Wilf continued working for his father and in 1933 the business was known as C.H. Batty and Son. However, Kelly's Hull Street Directory of 1936 reveals Charles Batty was a Cycle Dealer at 3 Grange Street, Hull, and Wilf was listed under 'Cycle Makers, Agents and Repairers' with a shop at 15 Reform Street, Hull. Wilf stated the shop was chosen to get the passing trade of Reckitt's employees who mostly travelled to work on bicycles. The shop was not too successful though, and Wilf went to work for the Valiant Cycle Company based at 11 Hessle Road, Hull. The business was owned by the Greswell family who bought in bicycles to put their own badges on them, as well as did bicycle repairs. Greswell's also arranged hire purchase agreements and Wilf worked Friday nights and Saturdays collecting debts. He said he had many stories to tell regarding debt collection, but never revealed them. Stan Greswell was my godparent (Adrian Batty). Wilf continued to live at 3 Grange Street until, with war looming, he volunteered to join the RAF in January 1940.

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