Genealogy Chat

Hi

Whilst looking at a parish website yesterday, I came across my great grandfather, who's name along with his brothers was on a parish war memorial. Although I know his brother died in the war, when I click on my great grandfathers name it says that there is no other information available. The website says that the memorial is for those who served in the great war from that parish. Then it has added my great grandfathers name along with others with the date between 1939 and 1945. And that they are not buried in the parish church. I know my great grandfathers brother is buried in Salonika. What are your thoughts. My great grandfathers name is Smith and I have never found his death registration, and not alot is known about him. I have found his army records at the National Archives, but was unable to read them all and had trouble printing them, was hoping Ancestry would add them soon, but they are badly damaged.

Looking forward to your thoughts
Regards
Tracie.

Hi Somerset Girl

I hadn't checked find my past until you mentioned it, but I have just searched and did not come up with anything.

Regards
Tracie.

Thanks Von for that suggestion, looks like I am gonna have to book a holiday. lol.

Hi,
you probably already have,but have you checked the cwgc,for second world war deaths
good luck

Hi Blue

Yes I have, and not found anything.

Regards
Tracie.

Hi

His name is Sydney (Sidney) Joseph Smith. When he married my great grandma he was in the Queens Royal West Reg. He signed on in Oxford and then got transferred. His army number was 202269. As I said before I didn't get to read all his records, they were quite badly damaged and I couldn't get the print resolution right when I tried at Kew. I am waiting for Ancestry to load them. His brother was Eustace Smith and he was in the Oxford and Buckinghamshire reg, he died in Salonika.

Thanks again
Tracie.

P.S The war memorial is in Castlethorpe, Buckinghamshire.

We have a relative named on a memorial in Herefordshire, but that village chose to honour those who fought, and not only those who died. We know this relative died in 1972.

Was your relative mentioned on his childrens' marriage certificates...Was he a witness?
.....When was he last KNOWN to be alive?
Maybe he survived the war and died alot later than you think.
Was there a newspaper arcticle about his brother which gives reference to him?

Gwyn

HI Gwyn

All I know about him is that he married my Great Nan in 1918 in Tonbridge. I have found 2 children for them the last being born in 1921.
He is on my nans marriage cert but not as deceased. My nan married in 1943. He was not a witness though.
My mum believes that my nan was placed into care when she was young, and the story we have been told is that it was because her mum was a "lady of the night".

This is all I know, apart from when he was very young.

Best wishes
Tracie.

Pictures of the memorial here...

http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/cv/docs/warmemorial/warmemorial.html

You can click for more detail about Eustace.

Gwyn

Hi Gwyn

Thanks for that, I have looked at that link, but I am really keen to know whether having S.J. Smith on the memorial, does it mean that he went missing during the war and was never found, or is it simply that he fought in the war. I have yet to find his death registration. Oh well as more info gets released hopefully something will turn up to lead me in the right direction. lol.

I read the memorial page as if the names to the left are the ones who died, but the other men are listed and honoured too if they fought.
I clicked on one of the names MARKHAM and the information shows that he didn't die in the war, although he is named.

I think your relative survived that war. The memorial was unveiled in the 1920s, when he was presumably alive to have offspring.

Gwyn

Thank you Gwyn for all your help, least thats one puzzle cleared up.

thanks again
Tracie.

found this WW2

4 SMITH, STANLEY JAMES Private 6106046 24/10/1942 34 The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) United Kingdom Column 56. ALAMEIN MEMORIAL

Thank you Ann for looking for me. Unfortunatly my relative is Sydney Joseph Smith.

Best wishes
Tracie.

It's possible that he had already died by the time his daughter married. They did not necessarily state "deceased" against father's name - I think it depended on the questions they were asked.

(My mother did not show her father as deceased on her marriage cert even though he had been dead for 20 years by then!)

Jill

Tracie,
I'm not an expert, but as he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, that would suggest to me that he survived to see the victory (I'm sure someone with more knowledge will confirm / refute this).
Source is Ancestry's Medal Cards by the way.

Contact the British Legion local to the area...they might be able to help.

Thank you Rob and Ann for you suggestions. Will keep looking.