Birth of Thomas Joseph William Hallam at Hamilton Victoria to William Frank & Marguerite Hallam (May 07 1920) John Joseph & Lucy Troy celebrate with the arrival of a baby girl Theresa Mary Troy (later Hallam). Theresa grew up on our farm until she was 14 years. Life on the farm unrelenting with the milking of 40 to 50 cows and it was an irrigation property. Though Theresa enjoyed the farm and had a pet cow. Mum has noted she remembers when autumn came and it was time to plant crops after a fall of rain. I would carry this with a bottle of cold tea to my father. There were nights when irrigating a paddock of crops when Dad would have to get up in the night and walk with shovel in hand to cut the water off or divert the flow. (Jun 25 1922) Thomas was born in Hamilton and lived in Cavendish Victoria some 20 miles out on a sheep and oat farm. Dad started school at 7 years of age at Loretto Convent boarding school for girls but they also took boys also at Junior school up to 12 years of age. Dad (Tom)says he was a good student and as a kid would talk a lot. He went as far as intermediate year 8/9. Thomas's ambition as a child was to be a solicitor. (Feb 01 1927) Thomas started work at 15 years of age. (Jan 01 1935) The occupation of the Baltic states ( Latvia where Anita Hallam"s birth parents were born) involved the military occupation of the three Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—by the Soviet Union under the auspices of the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact in June 1940 (Jun 01 1940) Soviet Mass Deportations from Latvia Historical Background A declared neutral country during the early phases of World War II, Latvia fell prey to the realpolitik of both Nazi Germany and Communist Soviet Union, who concluded a Non-Aggression Treaty on 23 August 1939, known as the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The Pact allowed Germany to invade Poland on 1 September 1939. Among its secret provisions was the establishment of a Soviet Sphere of Influence in Eastern Europe, which included Latvia and allowed the Soviet Union under various pretexts to invade Latvia on 17 June 1940 and annex the country on 5 August 1940. The illegal takeover was never recognized de jure by major Western powers. Immediately after establishing its rule through its collaborators and proxies, the Soviets began deporting the elites to the Soviet Union, culminating in the mass deportation on 14 June 1941 of more than 15,000 people. (Jun 14 1941) Ernest Embriks -(Anita's Maternal grandfather) was arrested 22nd June 1941,taken away at night from his family home in accordance with the Communist Party FR criminal code 58-10 by USSR Internal Affairs-Police & KGB. Statement- " negative attitude to the soviet system/State systemically continued anti soviet agitation, expressed dissatisfaction with Soviet State initiatives,praised the old fascist regime of Ulmanis. Continued anti soviet talk with other inmates in the Novosibirsk Prison. Ernest was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment at re-education Labour camp"- Siberia. Died 2nd December 1942 in re-education labor camp. Ernest was presumed Not guilty by the Latvian Soviet Socialist republic Prokuratura on 1st September 1989. (Jun 22 1941) The occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany was completed on July 10, 1941. Latvia became a part of Nazi Germany. Anyone not racially acceptable or who opposed the German occupation, as well as those who had cooperated with the Soviet Union, were killed or sent to concentration camps in accordance with the Nazi Generalplan Ost. Latvians in the German army Main article: Latvian Legion Nazi Germany, on arrival in Latvia looked to recruit Latvian units to act in accordance with the Nazi Generalplan Ost which required the population of Latvia to be cut by 50%,[1]:56 they quickly located Viktors Arājs who was leading a unit that became known as the Arajs Kommando. It became infamous for its actions against the Jewish population, such as the burning of the Riga synagogues with people still inside and being active in the Rumbula massacre the 500 men executing an estimated 26,000 Jews, Gypsies and others deemed undesirable.[1]:141 Latvian Auxiliary Police battalions were raised from volunteers, the first sent to the front was involved in heavy fighting in June 1942 and acquitted itself well. Latvia however wanted to raise a Latvian Legion, under the command of Latvian officers, offering to raise an army of 100,000. In January 1943, becoming short of troops, Hitler agreed.[1]:143–4 This took away the need to conscript Latvian men, which would have been an illegal act.[1]:144 So was born the 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian). Two police battalions fighting near Leningrad with Dutch and Flemish soldiers were pulled back in May 1943 and with reinforcements from Latvia and a change of uniform, transformed into the 2nd Latvian SS Volunteer Brigade and made part of 2nd SS Infantry Brigade. The senior Latvian commander Lt Col Voldemārs Veiss being awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in January 1944. The brigade was expanded into the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian) in January 1944. (Jul 01 1941) (Mum's diary-At the end of 1944 a letter came from Tom saying as the end of world conflict was insight and planning for peace had began and he was engaged in food production at the time on his enlistment, the RAAF was going to discharge him at the end of the year to return to essential services. One first regret was that I would be unable to have a family wedding. So many restrictions applied. Clothing coupons were rationed, so too was food coupons, petrol ration tickets, travel restrictions, no interstate travel.We saw the Parish Priest at Oakleigh and planned the day 18th November 1944. The day came when Tom did come home , we were busy trying to book a taxi , they had all limited area’s to service and limited petrol . With food coupons we bought a wedding cake from Patterson’s traditional wedding cake specialists.) Thomas Joseph Hallam married theresa Mary Troy at Sacred Heart Church Oakleigh Victoria. Witnesses Mary Bennett & Jack Hallam. Thomas's listed address noted on Wedding Certificate was Group 248 RAAF Townsville Queensland. Theresa's was 22 David st South Yarra 22 Davies Ave where she shared an upstairs unit with 2 sisters Noreen and Eileen whose family lived in Arnaud. After the time Theresa sat for the exam was shortly appointed to the Taxation Office where she was very happy for the years 1944... (Nov 18 1944) At end of WW2, Janis Apsite met Ingrid Embriks in a German displaced persons camp,married and came to Australia. In 1962 had a wonderful daughter named Anita. (Jan 01 1945) Tom & Terri’s first child Kevin was born in 1946. (Jan 01 1946) Thomas and Theresa welcomed the birth of another son William Thomas (Aug 04 1948) Thomas & Theresa welcomed the birth on another boy- Barry James. (Oct 31 1949) Thomas & Theresa moved to Alexandra for 9 months - Work promotion. (Jan 01 1950) Elizabeth their fourth child was born in Stawell in 1954. (Jan 01 1954) On the 01.02.957, Thomas and Theresa had a surprise as did the other 4 siblings with the birth of triplets, Joseph, Gerard and David born 5 weeks premature. Thomas and Theresa had 7 children under 11 years. (Feb 01 1957) Thomas left the Department of Agriculture in 1960 and joined Western District Co-op as Assistant Manager and later became Manager of Western Star Butter Factory in 1967, located in West Melbourne. Thomas enjoyed his job as assistant then Manager of Western Star Butter factory. Later the factory expanded as it amalgamated with other Dairy Corporations within Victoria and was later known as ACMAL- Amalgamated Corporate Marketers Australia Limited. (Jan 01 1960) Thomas and Theresa move and purchase 27 Kevin Ave Blackburn North where they lived the most years in this location. (Feb 01 1974)