Alexander Edwin Brock was my wife Jane's father. He was born in April of 1916, Toronto, ON, and died in May of 2001, in Toronto.
The father of Alexander Brock was Andrew Brock (b. 2 October, 1888, 566 New Keppoch Hill Road, Glasgow, Scotland). Andrew Brock's married into the Smith family of the Isle of Wight. He married Maud Smith (b. 20 November, 1889, Newbridge, Shalfleet parish, Isle of Wight, UK. Maud Smith died in 1946 in Toronto.
Jak Barnard (brother of Evelyn), with Unknown and Phyllis Brock
Until his marriage, Alex Brock lived in several homes. Many of the moves were necessitated by the hard times of the 1930's depression years. He first lived at 48 Balfour Avenue, Toronto (1916 - 1922) when the family moved to 2743 Gerrard Street, E. (from 1922 - 1931). This was a fine house with French doors dividing the two larger front rooms.
From 1931 to 1936 they lived in various homes - one on Lawlor Avenue, near Coxwell. During this time, Alex got his first job at a knitting factory on King Street. Subsequently, he was employed as a bell-hop at the Waverly Hotel, at College and Spadina.
The family moved again - to Dentonia Park, for a short time; then to a house on Balfour Avenue, then to a home on Scarborough Road; and then back again onto Balfour (in 1936). Alex's was still living there with his parents when he was married in 1941.
Alex (Alec) Brock was married to Evelyn Blanche Barnard, born in London, Ontario. They met in Toronto, Ontario.
Alec and Evelyn Brock - honeymoon
During WWII, Alex had to go to War Training Classes, for six weeks. There he discovered his talent in the machine shop, and thus went to work at a company named John Inglis. There he was involved in 'war work' from 1941 until 1944. The army wanted him, but the company kept going to fight for him to remain employed with them, since they saw his skilled help as essential to what they were doing.
Alexander Brock holding daughter Jane, ca 1945
In 1944, Alex joined the Royal Canadian Navy, enlisting at the York Armoury in Toronto. he took basic training at the Hamilton Barracks and was sent to Halifax (Stadacona naval base), and Lunenburg, in postings from 1944 until 1946. Whle in the Navy, he served as a Military Policeman. When his mother was diagnosed as having cancer, Alex was granted compassionate leave in order to care for her; soon, he was granted a full discharge.
Alex Brock was a manager at SKF, a Swedish ball-bearing manufacturing plant, in the Scarborough area of Toronto.
Evelyn was a milliner in the early years of their marriage.
Home of the Brocks
- 19 Orchard Park, West Hill (Toronto), ON - The house was built by Alex Brock for his family.
Evelyn and Alex Brock
They also have a daughter, Lois Alexandra, who is married to Terrence Donaldson, of Timmins, ON. Their children are Meredith and Graeme.
Lois Alexandra Donaldson
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