Find Living Relatives

My Mum served in the army during WW2. She was called Gladys Spear but was known to her friends as "Mickey" . Mum served on Anti Aircraft Guns. We have lots of Photos and information, could someone please give me some guide lines as to how to go about serching for any information or hopefully maybe someone who may have known her. The Photo shown in my Profile photo is of my Mum in the hope that someone may recognise her. terry

Thanks Terry

Start with Forcesreunited, although anyone who served alongside your mother would now be in her late 80's or 90's

How much info are you hoping for?

Her service record will be available to purchase for £30.00....if you can provide her service number

Check for details at........................

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html


Don't expect too much from the records, if my husband's RAF record is anything to go by.........

Many thanks for the info

I would also like to contact any friends she served with is there a site this would be listed on or how much info can I place on here to help trace her

I have photo`s but no names things like that any ideas are good one as I am new to this

http://pub34.bravenet.com/guestbook is the site address for the ATS throughout WW2 and after. Tis a bit difficult to get to the site so if the addy I've shown doesn't turn up a result try goggling "ATS" or "ATS World War 2"

Hope this helps. From an ex Sapper 1956-72

Do the maths.........and read the advice I gave

Hello, Sorry for the delay, I had to get more information to post so that anyone who is able to help me in my search would have something to help them in helping me. my mum called Gladys Spear, but known as Mickey to all her friends. She joined the Auxilliary Territorial Service and posted to 3rd Training Centre on 1st April 1942. Posted to 474th Battery on May 6th 1942. Posted to 209th Heavy Mixed Anti Aircraft Training Regiment on 10th May 1942. Posted to 570th Heavy Mixed Anti Aircraft Battery and appointed Acting Lance Corporal on 16th July 1942. Appointed Lance Corporal 16th July 1942. Posted to 570/172nd Regiment on 21st September 1942. She was discharged for family reasons on 18th December 1944. I have photos of her friends taken in Whitby which is where she served for at least part of her time.While at Whitby she was in "B" Company. She had a friend called Beryl Tosiland or possible Taseland. Thanks Terry. The photo in the profile spot is of my mum in the hope that someone will recognise he. Thanks Terry

Hello Terance,

I think it would be helpful to you to read the advice which has been given you by Fick and Ronald.


Sadly, it is not very likely that many of her friends will still be alive. As Flick says, any who are left will be well into their 80's and 90's.


Cx.

Hi All

Thank you for the advice but I will leave this on here in case anyone has any further ideas

Terry

You could search trees for her friend's name. If someone on here has her on their tree, they may be closely related. If Beryl is still living, they may be able to ask her. One day, someone may do a general internet search for their Mother's/Aunt's/Grandmother's name and this thread will come up.

Make sure you keep GR informed of an updated email address, even if you let your subscription lapse.

If you haven't already, you do need to recognise that the generation who were old enough to serve in WW2 are becoming rarer every day.

Some good replies here Terance.

Have you tried The Wartime Memories Project on www.wartimememories.co.uk and choose the World War 2 war project. There maybe someone interested and can make a connection on the information you have.

It is a great site - go in and have a look. It takes some navigating around, but some really useful and great information on both World Wars.

Maria

Hi all many thanks to you all the ideas and links

They will be followed up

I do of course understand the age and just hoped somewhere a tree may have her but the friend idea is a good one

I have a photo of an RAF boy friend of hers I will enter here later to see if there are any members with a link to him as well a very handsome chap he is too !

Merry Christmas Happy New Year to everyone

Terry

Terance

It is very unlikely that anyone knowing these people will see this post, you need to look for them in the search trees.

If you know the names but unsure of the date of births try freebmd first

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/

jax

Tosiland/Taseland doesn't seem to be a current surname. The nearest I have got is Toseland including varients. There are 4 Beryls born but unless the 1929 one lied v. well about her age, all too young to have served WW2.
3 have B as middle initial, but again time frame doesn't fit.
Next nearest is to try inputting male surname Toseland marrying a Beryl.
Beryl Stevenson b 1910 m Charles F Toseland 1931. Both have died. There were children born 1932 (with his children 1955 and 1957) and 1936, I don't know if having children would preclude war service! All registered Chesterfield, Derbys. Can't find deaths up to 2005 of any of these.
You may find entries in search trees in the Chesterfield area, or phone book or I may be barking up the totally wrong tree!!

Hi, I would like to thank everyone for helping me but due to Christmas flu I have not been on line of late
So does anyone recognize the good looking chap in this photo.
I think he may have served with my Mum and he was called Mike, this was written on the back of the photo which I have.
It would be great if anyone does recognize him, as it may bring to light some more information about Mum.

Thanks Terry

Terance,

Jax is so right, adding this photo is great, but you need to add this to one of rhe Wartime relevant sites. It is unlikely to be a responded to on this site.

There are a huge number of photos and stories on the wartime site and great responses as are all the sites mentioned here.

Good Luck,

Maria

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/living_relatives/thread/1289383