Alfred Joseph WALTERS [????-c.1948]

Chief engineer of Charles Baudouin steam ships, Alfred Walters married Kathleen Lysaught, youngest daughter of William and Isabella Lysaught on 18 September 1909. I’m grateful to Patricia O’Sullivan for this information. The Lysaught family are well documented in her book Policing Hong Kong. In 1916-1917, Alfred’s name is given as that of the rate payer of nos. 1 & 2 “Belvedere”, Broadwood Road, but is deleted in the 1918-19 Rate Book, and replaced by that of the new owner Wong Yee Chung. It seems probable that one of the houses was the home of Alfred’s mother-in-law, Isabella Lysaught, as the date of sale coincides with her death in April 1917.

Coincidentally, I note that two other new Broadwood Road houses, (nos. 7 and 8) were also owned by members of a single family in 1916. Patrick Murray at no. 7, a marine engineer like Alfred Walters, was the brother-in-law of Annie Bond at no. 8. The two families (Murrays and Lysaughts) both owned European houses in the Wanchai Road and had built up wealth over several generations. They were probably long term friends. Both Isabel and Annie were of Macanese descent.

“Belvedere” nos. 1 and 2 are also recorded as nos. 9 and 10 Broadwood Road respectively, and as Sections K and L of I.L. 1947.  Isabella’s address at the time of her death in 1917 is given as “Belvedere”, Leighton Hill in the Carl Smith card. Although the Belvedere houses were newly built as a part of the 1915 Broadwood Ridge development, perhaps the top of Broadwood Road continued to be known as Leighton Hill.

In the 1920s jurors list, Alfred is given as an engineer with China Light and Power. Carl Smith records him marrying a second time to Emeline Fox in 1940. Kathleen, his first wife, had died in 1919.