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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: scotchmist on Friday 04 July 08 00:03 BST (UK)
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Hi everyone,
I have quite a bit of information on my grandfather William McDonald, but just don't know what to do with it. Where and when born, date of marrage, and date of death. I vaguely remember him and was told by my mum that he was a hero during WW1. As far as I was told he was buried with his medals in 1974, but I would like to know what regiment he was in. Where would I find this out?
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Welcome to RootsChat
if you would like to post details -d.o.b., p.o.b. etc - we may be able to find his medal card/ pension record or service record if it survives
If you have a photograph of him in uniform, and post it in the Armed Forces section, there are some very experienced rootsChatters who may be able to identify his uniform
Suz
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Hi Scotchmist and welcome
I think if you go on the UK National archives site, it will have some details of his regiment, you can look up Medal Cards - of which medals he had and that may tell you, may even have his service records there,
And also there are some excellent researchers on here they
are great with all the army / war stuff too
Craizi
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There are medal cards for 6 different William McDonalds
and WW1 pension records for 20+
so his date and place of birth are needed -and any middle name
Suz
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Hi suzard,
Thanks for helping, this is what I've got so far,
William McDonald: Born 24th October 1887 in Elgin, Moray, Scotland.
Married 2nd June 1944 in Glasgow to Mary Drummond
Died 24th October 1974 in Foresthall Hospital
The address they lived at on my mum's birth certificate was 510 London RD, Bridgeton,Glasgow on 20th August 1948, and his profession at that time was, Painter/Journeyman (whatever that means?)
craizi daizi,
would you have a web address for the UK National archives site please as I would like to follow up your sugestion.
As for his medals, I'm afraid I remember playing with them as a kid but don't know exactly what they were for, I have only a picture of them in my head.
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Ooops!
craizi daizi, I've just noticed the address I asked you for under my name .
Sorry about that.
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Journeyman means that he has completed his apprenticeship and is employed, rather than being a master craftsman probably with his own business.
Its origin is in the French journee meaning paid by the day.
David
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Hello
As you've got his birthdate, you can get a copy of his birth entry as an extract - from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk It's a pay per view site - min. spend £6 - this will allow for 5 downloads. The birth entry will give parents names - including mothers maiden name - address and occupation/s. There is a good site for Moray which has a lot of free info on it - well worth giving a try - at
http://libindx.moray.gov.uk/mainmenu.asp
Did he die in Glasgow? If in Aberdeen it would have been Foresterhill Hospital. Keep posting....
Regards, Steve :O)
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Hi Scotchmist,
Here is the link you wanted for the National Archives!
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/
Rabbit B :)
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HI guys,
This is fantastic, I will certainly take up all your advice and links,
I have three wee ones so I can't do much at the moment but as soon as I get them into bed tonight I will be back online and get a chance to talk some more. Thank you all so much for your help, this more than I expected. I only wish I had known of this site a few years ago.
Talk again tonight
Take care
Marie ;D
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Hi all,
The partners in crime are all in bed,so here goes. :P
I think the first thing I'll do is get a hold of my granda's birth certificate, and find out more about his parents and grandparents etc. The more I know about who he was the better chance I have finding his regiment. I am going on the assumption that it was a Scottish one as he was a very proud Scot as is his grand daughter ;D ;D ;D. He, unlike me was fluent in Gaelic. (I only know how to curse your sole in it.) :o :D
Oh, I just remembered, my mum told me that he was one of the guys that painted the King's ship (the Queen Mary, I think it was ???) battleship grey to ferry troops into battle in WW2.
Does anyone know what shipyard did this? Yet another piece of my puzzle.
You guy's have been very patient and helpful with me so if there is anything I can help anyone with on this side of the puddle (N.Ireland) please feel free to ask and I will do my best to help. ;)
Take care ;D
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Hi scotchmist,
Have a look at these!
http://www.rootschat.com/links/03rv/
I also found this one which has far more information on it. http://www.ssmaritime.com/queenmary.htm This is a complete History of the liner from Birth to Berth!
Enjoy
Rabbit B ;D
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Hi Rabbit B,
thanks for those links, they were really interesting.
I always assumed the Queen Mary was painted battleship grey somewhere in Glasgow, but now I see it was in fact Australia.
That Granda of mine certainly got around, but I suppose he was still single and fancy free. ;D
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Hi scotchmist,
My Dad and the American relis loved that ship, they used to go back and forth to the States on her. And the later QE2
It was my pleasure to find that link for you because, I learned a lot as well. She was a wonderful ship!
Rabbit B ;D
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Hi Piglet01,
Since your on line now I thought I would post this to you.
I checked with my mum about the name of the hospital my granddad was in and she said that it was Forest Hall hospital in Springburn in Glasgow. It was for terminally ill people, and there was another part of the grounds that housed a homeless place with .the same name. This is also where he died.
Ive also found out from scotlandspeople that his mother was called Margaret and his grandfather was called James. I am about to go back there and see what else I can find out.
I will keep everyone updated as and when.
I have also found out from talking to my mum that my granny (William's wife) has/had a brother in Dumbarton and the names of his kids, so I am going to see if I can find living relatives., again I will keep you all posted on how I get on. I'm afraid I can't give out their information in case they object but I will let you know if I find them.
This will mean a lot to my mum, so thanks on her behalf too.