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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: potty5 on Sunday 09 October 16 09:04 BST (UK)

Title: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: potty5 on Sunday 09 October 16 09:04 BST (UK)
Dear forum members, been trying to locate a reference for twin boys lost in 1915 during WW1 so I can obtain their death certificates. They died on January 1, 1915 at Lyme Regis, Dorset and their bodies were taken back to their hometown in Crewe. Their names are John and Henri Villiers Russell aged 29 and born in 1885. I think they may be listed under "Russell" but they could also be listed under "Villiers Russell". I have tried findmypast and freebmd without success. Any help will be appreciated.   
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: Girl Guide on Sunday 09 October 16 09:12 BST (UK)
You need to look in the military records.  Henri is there on Find My Past. I haven't checked for his brother yet.
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 09 October 16 09:12 BST (UK)
They are registered as Russell Male on FreeBmd

Deaths Mar 1915 
Russell    Male    __    Axminster    5b   1   
Russell    Male    __    Axminster    5b   1
Edit- no ages are given in the index.
Stan
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 09 October 16 09:14 BST (UK)
Lyme Regis is in the Axminster Registration District. All deaths have to be registered in the district in which they took place.

Stan
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: Girl Guide on Sunday 09 October 16 09:15 BST (UK)
John is on the CWGC website

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2747002/RUSSELL,%20JOHN%20VILLIERS
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: potty5 on Sunday 09 October 16 09:18 BST (UK)
Unbelievable you guys. Sorted in 5 minutes!! Where do I apply for their certificates please?
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 09 October 16 09:24 BST (UK)
See https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

Stan
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: Shirley Sweetland on Sunday 09 October 16 09:24 BST (UK)
Hi if you go to www.findagrave.com you will find all the details of both twins. They died at sea.


Kind regards
ShirlinOz
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: Girl Guide on Sunday 09 October 16 09:26 BST (UK)
From the GRO

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp

Follow the instructions and you should be fine.  Make sure you have the registration details.  They both have the same details so you may only get one with both of them on there.  Unusual and I'm surprised that they are not named considering they are on the CWCG website.  Perhaps it is because they were in the reserve.  Buried at St,Michael, Coppenhall, Crewe.
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: JenB on Sunday 09 October 16 09:29 BST (UK)
More information here http://blog.nrm.org.uk/first-world-war-tragedy-lassie-and-bruce/
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: potty5 on Sunday 09 October 16 09:32 BST (UK)
Thank you all so much, a mystery solved in such a short time. What an amazing website this is!! Best wishes, Mark.
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 09 October 16 10:01 BST (UK)
I can only assume that, most unusualy, they were registered as Male Russell because as twins it was not possible to decide who was who, although you would have expected them to know their ages. The death certificates may throw some light on this.

Stan
Title: Re: Can't find a death certificates for twins lost in WW1
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 09 October 16 11:04 BST (UK)
 The Story of the Sinking of HMS Formidable
http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/History/Wrecks%20off%20Burton%20Bradstock/HMS%20Formidable.htm

Stan