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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: lindyloobags on Wednesday 02 April 08 19:16 BST (UK)
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Has anyone any idea how I would find out if someone served in WW2 - my grandmother's brother, Thomas Hebron Bailey was born in Sunderland in 1907 and by my calculation should have served in WW2 but I have no idea where to start! I know my grandfather who was born in 1908 served in the RAF so it should follow that Thomas also served in some capacity. Any suggestions welcome.
Lindy ???
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Hi Lindy,
He might have been in a "reserved" occupation; do you know what his job was? Mr grandfather was in a "reserved" occupation in WW2, keeping London's buses on the roads.
Nanny Jan
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Thanks Nanny, never thought about the reserves but I don't have any information on his job except I know he obtained a copy of his birth certificate when he was 14 for the purposes of the Factory Workers Act so he must have worked in a factory. :)
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Hi Lindy,
His marriage certificate, or birth certificate for one of his children, should give you an idea of what his occupation was. If he was in a factory he could have been on "essential war work".
Any familiy memories or photos of him in WW2?
Nanny Jan
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Hi Nanny, sorry I have nothing on him that's why I thought if I could find out if he was in WW2 I would be able to try and find out something about him. My gran never ever spoke of him and it wasn't until I started doing the family tree thing that I found out about him - can't find a marriage or death certificate either. Anyway thanks for your help on this. Cheers, Lindy :)
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Hi Lindy,
Another thought; medical; my father could not serve in WW2 due to a perforated ear drum but he was doing essential work on radar anyway!
Could he have emigrated if he wasn't spoken about? I hate to mention it but ......prison?
He's not helping you is he?
Nanny Jan
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Hi Nanny, again something I hadn't thought of, but maybe..... who knows and no he isn't helping me much I'm afraid!!
Lindy :o
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Hi Lindy,
Have you checked the Gazette? Most promotions were published there. My father joined WW2 about a year before it ended and he is in there. It just takes one promotion.
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk
Paul
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There's a T H Bailey on:
Gazette Issue 37246 published on the 28 August 1945. Page 1 of 6
Paul
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Hi Paul, thanks for pointing me in this direction, it would have taken me ages to find it. As I am not military minded, what was I actually looking at in the Gazette? I found the name and the date of 31st July 1945, am I right in thinking that it was the RAF? And the number after the name, was that the service number? Sorry if I sound stupid but I will try and search a few websites with this information. Thanx once again. Lindy :D
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Hi Lindy,
I'm no expert either but this is how I read it.
On 3ist July 1945 a T H Bailey service number 53083 was promoted from Fig. Off. ('Flag Officer'?) to Fit. Lt. ('Flight Leutenant'?).
Not sure what the (war subs.) means but I am sure someone here will know. And yes it is the RAF.
Please remember that this may not be your man!
Paul
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By the way Lindy ... :) :) Welcome to RootsChat :) :)
Paul
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Cheers, Paul - thanks again, I know it may not be who I am looking for but I can always hope...!
Lindy :D
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Sorry to lead you up the wrong path. There's a Thomas Herbert Bailey with the same service number mentioned on:
Gazette Issue 36207 published on the 8 October 1943. Page 2 of 10
So its not him I'm afraid. :)
Keep searching. :)
Paul
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Quote "of his birth certificate when he was 14 for the purposes of the Factory Workers Act so he must have worked in a factory."
Hi lindyloobags, I don't think it is necessarily always the case that they must have worked in a factory. I believe the factory act covered all trades from 1892 onwards
We are in possesion of my hubby's grandfather's proof of age Factory and workshop act paper. We know for sure My hubby's grandfather never worked in a factory. He went straight into the electricity board , He served as an apprentice straight from school leaving age with them.
Your great uncle may not have worked in a factory for sure . Does your certificate have "Factory And Workshop Act" on it or does it just have the words " Factory Act"?
Hope that is of some help
Kind regards :)
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Hi, thanks for your post, I had another look at the birth certificate and it does indeed say at the top "Issued for the purposes of the Factory and Workshop Act 1901" it also says This Certificate is not available for purposes of Secondary Education and it was issued in 1921 which would have made him 14, so who knows where he worked, but thanks for your help.
Cheers, Lindyloo :)
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hi i am looking for my grandad leonard frederick ellis born 1918 , he was in egypt for ww2 , something to do with autopsies , can anyone help me,
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looking for information on frederick george wright, born 1915, he was stationed in RAF but according to my dad never flew and never left the country