YEARS IN FOCUS

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE 1940s

PONTEFRACT IN 1946

1st MARCH 1946
AFTER NAVAL SERVICE

After Naval Service during the war, as a Lieutenant with the R.N.V.R., Mr. E.S.W. Marr, the second son of Mr. J.W. Marr, now of Scarborough, is to take control of Hague Bros., Drapers, Pontefract. He succeeds to a tradition which has continued for well over a century.

In 1823, John Shortcliffe opened a shop in Market Place, Pontefract, as draper and outfitter. In 1878 the brothers Hague took it over, and changed the name; and in 1891 their nephew, Mr. J.W. Marr joined them. When they retired, he became, and has remained, the head of the firm.

His eldest son, Lieutenant- Commander G.T. Marr, completed 22 years at sea last August, and was awarded the D.S.C. For fifteen months he has been in Japanese waters, as the Navigating Officer of an aircraft carrier; and when Japan surrendered, his ship accommodated for a fortnight over 500 released prisoners-of-war. Mr. E.S.W. Marr has spent the last three years attached to the Norwegian Navy, stationed in the Shetland Isles, and has been mentioned for ''oustanding zeal and whole hearted devotion to duty.'' When peace was declared, he went to Norway with the King's party and took part in the peace celebrations there.

The third and youngest brother, went to France in the early days days of the war; gained his commission at Dunkirk; was captured at Knightsbridge, and spent three years in prisoner-of-war camps - the last at Brunswick. He is now back in Germany with his regiment, the 5th Royal Tank Regt. (Desert Rats).

Their only sister was engaged in radio-location work with the W.A.A.F. before her marriage.

[ 1946 Index ]

Years in Focus is researched by Maurice Haigh and reproduced
with the kind permission of the Pontefract and Castleford Express.