RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: LAS1015 on Tuesday 24 March 09 00:04 GMT (UK)
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Hello,
My late Grandfather, Frank Hershel PRIOR was a Major in the I.A.O.C based at Fort William, Calcutta. My father was born at Fort William in 1934 and his brother was born 3 years earlier at Ranikhet in 1931. Sadly, my father's sister Eileen Iris PRIOR, (born 8 October 1929), died 7 May 1930 at the British Military Hospital, Kasauli. Where would I be able to find a death certificate for Eileen Iris PRIOR? Also, does anybody know if there is a cemetery nearby where she may have been buried?
Many thanks,
Lesley
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Lesley, I don't know anything specific about Kasuali but from the little that I do know about the Raj, I'll bet there was a British cemetry somewhere close by. That there was a hospital there suggests a British presence in that area at the time... .
The Bristsh Library has a section that stores records of the Raj days... and maybe also you could search on National Archives site.
this is all very general but maybe it will give you some ideas.
let us know how you go.
charlotte
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Hi again,
Just had another thought--- there is a site or blog that is about British Families in India... maybe if someone can tell you about that there could be info there. It's the sort of site where people with very close knowledge of the days of the Brits in India post.
charlotte
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Hi Charlotte,
Thanks so much for that ... a chap at the British Library did find a fair bit of info - the Kasauli connection and my late Aunt's name, her birth & death dates. I'd really like to find out where/how to find her death certificate as I think this would be so helpful.
Thanks again for contacting me - that was very kind of you.
Best wishes,
Lesley.
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Hullo again, I'd hazard a guess that your Aunt's death as a baby was in some way registred with British registrations abroad.
Maybe if you got in touch with GRO at Southport by email if you live outside England or by phone if you live in England and asked them where you would apply to get the cert. they would be able to tell you.
It's almost certain also that there would have been a Garrison Church somewhere near the hospital and that's where the funeral would have been held.
If I were you I'd also hunt on the net via google for that email group concerned with British Families in India- that will be a source of authoritative knowledge and experience.
Keep us posted on how you go.
charlotte
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Hello Again Charlotte & Thank you for your advice. I'll certainly keep you updated on any progress!
Many thanks,
Lesley
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leslie,
my name is puneet and i have been posted to kasauli recently. i want to know why you need the death cert of your aunt?
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i am very much doubtful if the hospital or any other agency will be maintaining such old records. but you know the army anything is possible.
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leslie,
my name is puneet and i have been posted to kasauli recently. i want to know why you need the death cert of your aunt?
It's curiosity really, (as to the cause of her death). She was only a few months old when she died & she died at the hospital. I'd like to try & find out where she was buried too. When my grandmother was alive she never spoke of the daughter she lost - and I was too young to ask her. Sadly, there is no-one left now to ask.
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Hullo dew and welcome to rootschat.
Lesley's curiosity is what drives so many of us in family history... and in her query I'm sure there is also her feeling that she wants to pay respect to her grandmother's feelingsthat were never uttered.
charlotte
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Lesley - May I suggest you browse the resources at the top of the board and in particular
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,30580.0.html
and perhaps this may be useful also
http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/Home.aspx
Cheers
Cando
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Cando - Thanks so very much for your message & the links ... I shall certainly have a good browse at those!
CharlotteCH - The comments you wrote to dew are 'spot on'. Thank you.
Best wishes ... & again, many thanks!
Lesley
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Lesley, I understand your feelings here. My grandmother[ whom I never knew as she'd died by my birth] sought to discover where her father was buried in Canada- she never knew him except for his name.
On the net I discovered his grave in a Cem. in Ontario, and on a trip to Canada I went to the grave and stood there in her place, for her- it was a vicarious visit and I have been so glad I did that.
charlotte
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Charlotte - That must've been such an emotional journey for you, representing your grandmother at the graveside of her father ... and offering up a prayer for them both.
I'm sure that some people think that genealogy or family history is just about relatives that died way, way back in the mists of time ... and of course that is partly true, but really, family history affects all our lives on a daily basis. Forgive me, I'm beginning to waffle!!!
I am happy for you, that you made that journey.
Lesley
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Lesley, You're not waffling... just saying what so many of us are thinking and feeling as we come to learn about our ancestors and their daily lives.
charlotte
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hi lesley,
there is a estate by the name of priory estate in kasauli which may have been your grandfathers. the birth records are maintained by the local cantonement board office here. the death and burrial records are maintained by the local priest of the churches in kasauli. i could not get enough time till now but will definitely help you out.
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Hello Dew,
How very kind of you to think of me ... I'm extremely grateful to you. Sadly, my grandfather didn't have any land in Kasauli ... he was just a serving Officer in the Indian Army Ordnance Corps. His name was Frank Prior. His daughter, Eileen Iris Prior died at the British Military Hospital Kasauli on 7 May 1930, (she was a baby, about 7 months old). I'm wondering if there is a cemetery nearby where she may have been buried.
Once again, I thank you so much for thinking of me.
My warmest & best wishes,
Lesley
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Hello Lesley,
Several of my family were stationed or were born at the hill station Kasauli in the 1870s, I believe that it is still a Hospital today dealing with malaria. Some interesting facts can be seen by putting the name into the Google search bar, you may even find reference to the cemetary there.
David,
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Hullo again,
dbee7 mentions a cemetery... if there was a hosspital, a hille station, s garrison, there almost certainly will be a cemetery. Finding the records is the challenge.
charlotte
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Thanks so much David & Charlotte for taking time to reply - as always you're very kind!
Best wishes
Lesley
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hi lesley,
i like helping people out so don't mention it. there is an old cemetery just below the military hospital . i went there today looking for the grave but the cemetery had been neglected for a long time. most of the graves have been vandalized and the marble/granite slabs bearing the names of the deceased are not there. still about 60% of them had readable names.many were covered by thick layer of soil and one cannot even make out if walking over it. i was half way over when a forest fire broke out nearby and i had to leave because of the smoke. the approach to the cemetery is also very tough and rarely any one goes there any more. also there are two more cemeteries nearby which i will check out soon.
regards dew
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Dear Dew,
You really are such a dear person - I am extremely grateful to you for taking time to look. I would absolutely love to be there looking as well! My father has often wondered what it would be like to go back to India. Although he was a little boy when he left India, he still has some quite vivid memories.
Again, I do thank you so very much for your kindness!
All good wishes,
Lesley
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Hello,
I was born in Kasauli 1957. Kasauli is till date governed by Cantonment Board,
Kasauli, Distt Solan Himachal Pradesh. Write to Commanding Officer, Cantt Board, Kasauli reg all your details; he'll definitely help you.
Good Luck!
praxon
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Hi Praxon, and welcome to rootschat ;D
Great you are able to help and give that info to Lesley.
Hope you enjoy being part of RC :D
charlotte
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Thanks Chaelotte! CO, Cantt Board will be a great help. I live at Chandigarh
about 60 kilometers from Kasauli. Postal Code of Kasauli is 173204 Himachal Pradesh India.
Regards
praxon
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Hello Praxon,
I've been without internet for a week :o( So I'd now like take this opportunity in saying a huge THANK YOU sooo much for your help - you are VERY VERY KIND!
Best wishes always,
Lesley
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Hii David,
Still there is a Military Hospital functional in a same in a old but magnificent building . But it doesn't serving as specialised malaria Hosp. Is there any record avlbl that proves at any point of time the Hosp was malaria Hosp?
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Sometimes I am lucky with this site. Sometimes not. A Captain has a better chance of being on the site than a Private.
http://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_person_search.php
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Hii
I can check if the death has been registered with the local Church there. Cemetery is in Kasauli itself.. You may mail to contact@christchurchkasauli.org
Tell me the Date of Death and Full Name
Hello,
My late Grandfather, Frank Hershel PRIOR was a Major in the I.A.O.C based at Fort William, Calcutta. My father was born at Fort William in 1934 and his brother was born 3 years earlier at Ranikhet in 1931. Sadly, my father's sister Eileen Iris PRIOR, (born 8 October 1929), died 7 May 1930 at the British Military Hospital, Kasauli. Where would I be able to find a death certificate for Eileen Iris PRIOR? Also, does anybody know if there is a cemetery nearby where she may have been buried?
Many thanks,
Lesley