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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: skeet26 on Friday 06 February 15 12:04 GMT (UK)

Title: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: skeet26 on Friday 06 February 15 12:04 GMT (UK)
Hi, new to this.
I want to trace a relative who emigrated to South Africa after WW1.
He may have worked for a bank but not 100%certain.
I know very little else other than he died after WW2.
I was planning to start by tracing his death certificate but having difficulty navigating the archive site.
Can anyone help with suggestions as to other avenues such as professional bodies in the banking industry maybe.
I'm planning to visit South Africa later this year, so the more I know beforehand, the better use I can make of my time.
Hope someone can help. Thanks
Title: Re: Where to start
Post by: dawnsh on Friday 06 February 15 12:13 GMT (UK)
Hi Skeet26

Welcome to Rootschat  ;D

How about posting his name and date and place of birth.

We love a chellenge here and records in South Africa are a challenge

Dawn
Title: Re: Where to start
Post by: skeet26 on Friday 06 February 15 12:39 GMT (UK)
OK but not much to go on. His name was Jack( maybe John) Phillips
He was born in Edinburgh about 1891. Served in the British Army during WW1. He appears to have emigrated shortly after maybe around 1920. He worked in banking before the war so I was thinking he may have gone back into that profession.
Title: Re: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: Artkane on Saturday 07 February 15 13:13 GMT (UK)
Hi
There is a J.Phillips, Bank Clerk sailing for South Africa on the 19 Dec.1919 but his birth is shown as being in 1882. Is his birth date 1891 a definite.

John

Title: Re: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: skeet26 on Saturday 07 February 15 13:36 GMT (UK)
Hi John
              thanks. I think he was actually born 1893, but 1892 would be close. I also know now he was definately a Banking Officer as it is shown as his profession on an enlistment document for the South African defence force during WW2.
Have you any more info on the ship and where it sailed from etc.
Malcolm
Title: Re: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: Artkane on Saturday 07 February 15 14:37 GMT (UK)
Hi
His age is shown as being 37 in 1919 so this J.Phillips would be born in 1882. The ship sailed from Southampton. Destination port Cape,South Africa. The ships name was Saxon,official number 112713. Ships master T.Chope. Shipping line the Union Castle Steam Ship Co.Ltd. Number of passengers 485. J.Phillips was traveling 2nd.class and his intended country of future residence is South Africa. The original record is typed and clear so the details on the transcription are correct. This J.Phillips does not have any family with him as far as I can see.

John.
Title: Re: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: skeet26 on Saturday 07 February 15 14:50 GMT (UK)
Sorry John, I misread your first reply. Thought you'd said 1892 not 1882. In which case it's definately not him. Thanks very much for all your effort though. I have a look at the passenger lists myself. Although for some reason so far Ive only been able to view inbound ships to UK.
All the best
Malcolm
Title: Re: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: Artkane on Saturday 07 February 15 15:14 GMT (UK)
Hi
How about this one. J.R.Phillips departing 1927 age 33, last address 1 Granton ? Rd.Edinburgh. Bank Clerk. That would make his birth 1894. Destination port Cape. Future intended country of residence South Africa.

John
Title: Re: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: skeet26 on Saturday 07 February 15 15:21 GMT (UK)
That's him, fantastic! Can you tell me any more? Or better still, suggest where I should look next. I thought of trying to find out which bank he worked for and checking their archives. I  keen to find out what he got up to in S.Africa.
Title: Re: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: Artkane on Saturday 07 February 15 16:35 GMT (UK)
Hi
He sailed on the Carnarvon Castle, ships official number 148766. The ship sailed on the 4th. November 1927, from Southampton with 611 passengers.  The captain was W.F.Stanley. The shipping line was UNION CASTLE MAIL S.S. CO. LTD. The next thing I would do would be to find out what his middle name was and his exact birth date. This could mean getting a copy of his birth certificate. I would also check the incoming passenger lists for J.R.Phillips after 1927 up to the time you think he may have died. If he came back to visit he may have brought family with him which could give you more leads. Its a few years since I did any research with South African records but I got a lot of information about my ancestor from his death notice. I am sure there are people on this site who could give you more advice on how to find and get these records than I can.

John
Title: Re: Jack (John?) Phillips - Where to start
Post by: skeet26 on Saturday 07 February 15 16:50 GMT (UK)
Thanks John. You've been a big help. I've sined up to one of these archive sites and I think I've found record of him returning for a visit in 1954 which coincided with a visit to his brother on Canada.
Finding my feet slowly but making headway.