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On Tv the other night was a documentary about the SS Gairsoppa sunk by a uboat on on February 16, 1941 and the recovery of silver ingots from the wreck. During the programme a plaque tribute to the crew was laid. My wife was astonished to read that one of the crew members was a Henry Odd. As Odd is her maiden name and it is quite a rare surname, she wondered where on her family tree this person may lie. We have done quite a bit of research on my wifes family tree with help from members of this forum and we know where she lies in the tree, but where is this Henry Odd ? He does not appear on any of the trees I have access to.

Heres what I found out about Henry Odd : (Full name Hugh Henry Odd ) reference ... http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl/mem/64_1.htm

ODD , Fourth Engineer Officer, HUGH HENRY, S.S. Gairsoppa (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. Died 16th February 1941.

Named on Tower Hill memorial http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=odd&GSfn=hugh&GSiman=1&GScid=859739&GRid=15243585&
no age is recorded.

He is one of the few British officers whose age is not recorded, not even on http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship765.html

A wide search on Free BMD finds only one Hugh Henry Odd :- Births March 1890 Odd Hugh Henry Worksop 7b 27 , making him 51 when he died, however there is no recorded death at or around early 1941 for a Hugh Odd. There is a death for Henry Odd in jun qtr 1941 but he's 59. Are wartime deaths at sea recorded in the normal way or not ? would he be presumed to be alive for a while ?

So I'm wondering if anyone can track him down in any census or other document I haven't thought of that may back up the theory that He was born in 1890 and joined the Merchant Navy or trace his parentage and place him somewhere I recognise in the Odd family tree please ?

This relates to him.
On the original image it states missing presumed drowned, 16/2/1941 Gairsoppa

Last name:ODD

First names:Hugh Henry

Age:

Day of birth:14

Month of birth:August

Year of birth:1915

Place of birth:Burton upon Trent

County/country of birth:Staffordshire

Card type:CR1

Discharge number:R 113897

Identity certificate no.:

Series:BT349

Date range:1921-1941

Piece number:


George

I can send you the original image, just let me know

Births Sep 1915 (>99%)
Odd Hugh H Spencer Burton 6b 742

Birth record

Civil Registration event: Birth
Print Close Name: ODD, Hugh H
Registration district: Burton upon Trent
County: Staffordshire
Year of registration: 1915
Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Mother's maiden name: Spencer
Volume no: 6B
Page no: 742

George

His parents marriage. Perhaps this is the Hugh Henry born 1890 you found.

Marriages Mar 1913 (>99%)

Odd Hugh H Spencer E.Retford 7b 14

Spencer Florence M Odd E. Retford 7b 14

Well that is useful information, it states a date of birth as 14 Aug 1915 in Burton on Trent. Can I ask what document this is please ? Some kind of merchant Navy records? Thank you very much for this information.

The Hugh Henry Odd born in Worksop died in 1967 Richmond upon Thames. There is a tree on Ancestry with this information.

He can be found in the 1891, 1901and 1911 censuses. In 1911 his occupation was solicitor's clerk.

Frank

The info I posted was Merchant Navy records on FMP, I will send you the original shortly.

George

Original image sent

Thanks everyone for this info so far, so we have his birth and his parents marriage, and His father, ( a solicitor) died in 1967. His mother was Florence E Spencer. Great information !

Thank you George, I have received the Image you sent. :-)

I need to find out who the parents of Hugh Henry Odd born 1890 (HH Odds father) were in order to find a link to my wifes tree, can anyone help with this please ?

The 1891 has him with his Uncle and Aunt

1891 census transcription details for: 3, Olive Street, Broughton, Salford


National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG12
Piece: 3210
Folio: 125
Page: 42
Reg. District: Salford
Sub District: Broughton
Parish: Broughton
Enum. District: 5
Ecclesiastical District: Ascension
City/Municipal Borough: Salford
Address: 3, Olive Street, Broughton, Salford
County: Lancashire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
OWEN, John Head Married M 57 1834 Labourer
Bettws, Merionethshire
OWEN, Annie Wife Married F 32 1859
Bryn-Eglwys, Denbighshire
OWEN, Edith Daughter F 4 1887
Salford, Lancashire
OWEN, Daisy Daughter F 2 1889
Salford, Lancashire
ODD, Mary Sister Married F 31 1860
Bettws, Merionethshire
ODD, Elizabeth Sister Single F 28 1863 Cook
St Mary Cray, Kent
ODD, Hugh H Nephew M 1 1890
Worksop, Nottinghamshire

The 1901 has him as Son in Law which in this case possibly means Step Son so his mother may have re-married.

1901 census transcription details for: 26, Chapelgate, East Retford

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG13
Piece: 3121
Folio: 12
Page: 16
Reg. District: East Retford
Sub District: East Retford
Parish: East Retford
Enum. District: 4
Ecclesiastical District: East Retford St Swithin
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: 26, Chapelgate, East Retford
County: Nottinghamshire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
NEAVE, Joseph Head Married M 41 1860 Coachman Domestic
Reepham, Lincolnshire
NEAVE, Mary Wife Married F 40 1861
Corwen, Merionethshire
ODD, Hugh H Son-In-Law M 11 1890
Clumber Pk Worksop, Nottinghamshire
DINDALE, Alice Servant Single F 21 1880 General Servant Domestic
Broughton Brigg, Lincolnshire

It looks as if they married in 1899

Marriages Dec 1899 (>99%)
Neave Joseph E. Retford 7b 28
Odd Mary E. Retford 7b 28

Hugh b1890 in 1911:

1911 England Census

Name:Hugh Henry Odd
Age in 1911:21
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1890
Relation to Head:Stepson
Gender:Male
Birth Place:Elumber, Nottinghamshire, England
Civil Parish:East Retford
County/Island:Nottinghamshire
Country:England
Street Address:Chapelgate House Retford
Marital Status:Single
Occupation:Solicitors Clerk
Registration District:East Retford
Registration District Number:426
Sub-registration District:East Retford
ED, institution, or vessel:4
Piece:20198
Joseph Neave 51
Mary Neave 50
Hugh Henry Odd 21
Bernard Richard Neale 34

Possible marriage

Marriages Dec 1889 (>99%)
Booth Albert Edward Salford 8d 1
>>Odd William Henry Salford 8d 1
O'KELL Hannah Salford 8d 1
>>OWEN Mary Salford 8d 1

Wow! That was quick, it will take me a moment to get my head around this, thank you all so much!

Wow! That was quick, it will take me a moment to get my head around this, thank you all so much!

Youngest Owen child was born Salford - there is this marriage:


Marriages Dec 1889 (>99%)

Booth Albert Edward Salford 8d 1 Scan available - click to view
*********Odd William Henry Salford 8d 1 Scan available - click to view
O'KELL Hannah Salford 8d 1 Scan available - click to view
*********OWEN Mary Salford 8d 1

Lancashire BMD confirms the above marriage:

ODD William Henry OWEN Mary Broughton St John Salford C41/2/399