Archie Steele at Dunrowan, Langbank

Archibald William Steele, familiarly Archie, was born in Mazagon, Bombay, India on 4th December 1900 and reportedly spent the first six years of his life there. He was baptised by Robert M. Gray, Minister of the United Free Scotch Church, Bombay, on 1st January 1901.

Mahim, Bombay, 1901

At the time of the 1911 census, Archibald was living in the family home at 165, Great George Street, Glasgow. He was entered as aged 10, at school, born India.

Archibald, as ‘A. W. Steele’, then resident at 3, Caird Drive, Glasgow, acted as informant on the death certificate of his mother, Frances Dinning, in 1925.

Archibald William Steele, an aluminium works foreman (bachelor), aged 37, married Isabella Menzies McLerie on 28^th January 1938, at 248, Kenmure Street, Glasgow, After Banns According to the Forms of the Church of Scotland. Archibald was resident at 109, Hyndland Road, Glasgow. The Register was signed by W. D. Guthrie, Minister of Govanhill South Parish Church, Glasgow, and by witnesses Grace M. McLerie, of 191, Allison Street - presumably the bride’s sister - and James Strain, of 5, White Street, Glasgow.

Archibald William Steele worked for the Empire Aluminium Company, one of the enterprises established by Peter Stuart Brown.

Isa (right), with daughters Isobel and Janet at Dunrowan in the summer of 1940. It is believed that the other lady is Miss Rainey, who was employed as governess to Elizabeth Frances Stuart Brown.

Archibald and Isabella had two daughters, Isobel Frances Steele and Janet Menzies Steele.

Isobel Frances Steele was born on 17^th June 1938 at 4^h 30^m am, in the Montrose Nursing Home, at 44, Merryland Street, Glasgow. The child’s father, who acted as informant at Glasgow on 21^st June 1938, was entered as Archibald William Steele, aluminium works foreman, usually resident at 109, Hyndland Road, Glasgow. The birth certificate also contained the detail that Archibald had married the child’s mother, Isabella Menzies Steele MS McLerie, in Pollok, Glasgow.

I am most reliably informed that the family lived thereafter in Cleveden Road, albeit briefly.

Archie, Isa and Isobel at Dunrowan, probably in the latter half of 1938

Janet Menzies Steele was born on 10^th December 1939 at 9^h 30^m pm, in the Montrose Nursing Home, at 44, Merryland Street, Glasgow. Archibald, who acted as informant on the 30^th, was designated once again as an aluminium works foreman. His usual residence was entered as 99, Oban Drive, Glasgow. He was shown living at the same address in the 1940 Valuation Roll.

Archie on board S.S. Strathmore, probably sailing to India, via Aden, during the winter of 1947 - 48

Archibald, then resident at 99, Oban Drive, acted as informant on the death certificate of his sister, Frances, in 1965.

Francis Gallagher, railway signalman, bachelor, 31, usually resident at 10, Duke Street, Motherwell, married Isobel Frances Steele, secretary, spinster, 31, usually resident at 6, Caledon Street, Glasgow (the same address at which her Aunt Frances had been living at the time of her death in 1965), on 4^th October 1969, at St Charles’s Church, Glasgow, After Publication according to the forms of the Roman Catholic Church. The Register was signed by Vincent O’Sullivan, priest, St Charles’s Church, Glasgow, and by witnesses John Gallagher, presumably the groom’s brother, of 10, Duke Street, Motherwell, and Janet M. Steele, the bride’s sister, of 27, Holland Park Avenue, London.

Francis’s father was recalled as Francis Gallagher, steelworker (deceased), and his mother was entered as Catherine Bridget Gallagher, MS Logan.

Isobel’s parents were once again identified as Archibald William Steele, aluminium work foreman, and Isabella Menzies Steele MS McLerie.

Archie and Isa in later life

Archibald William Steele was already deceased when his widow passed away in 1984. His death was never recorded in Scotland; I am however most reliably informed that he died on 28^th April 1972 in the King Edward Hospital, Ealing, Middlesex. The cause of death was certified as cerebro-vascular accident, following a partial gastrectomy for a perforated duodenal ulcer. He and Isabella had been visiting their daughter Janet, who was living in Ealing at the time.