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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cambridgeshire => Topic started by: genealogistsykes on Tuesday 12 June 18 13:10 BST (UK)
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Good afternoon,
I am after information on a Mr Ivor Mills. He was supposedly from the Cambridge area and was supposedly (or his family ) engaged in horse racing or horse breeding during the Second World War (perhaps even as early as the 30s and as late as the 50s and 60s).
I would expect this gentleman to be in his mid-late twenties (maybe early thirties) towards the end of the War. So we are looking for a gentleman born in c.1920 who during the War (early 40s) resided in the Cambridge area, on first glance there aren't that many 'Ivor Mills' born around this period, or earlier.
The clue to finding this gentleman would be to review those of his name (Ivor Mills) living in the Cambridge area during this time. There shouldn't be many!
Perhaps there was a Mills family who were involved in the horse trade during this time in the aforementioned area?
I'd be grateful if somebody could assist with this query.
Best wishes,
GS
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Have you checked 1939 register?
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I have, I cannot seem to find an Ivor Mills or a Mills family having association with the industry/trade.
Best wishes, GS
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'He was a very attractive man, fair, about 5ft 6inc and so very well spoken' - according to a letter describing him.
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If he was in his twenties during the war, wouldn't he be away fighting?
Emeltom
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Have you tried Freembd.Margaret.
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That's a fair point with regard to his age - however, according to the letter that I have referenced below it goes on to say 'his parents never approved' with regard to an association with a young woman (24). To me, that would infer he was a young man, but then again, not necessarily.
Perhaps I should look at older men by the name of Ivor Mills, though I have looked from a birth date range of c.1911 - 1924, and no luck.
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However, I thought the 1939 Register would be the best option but, again, it produces poor results and nothing associated with an 'Ivor Mills' / Mills family and the 'horse trade', or anything of the sort.
Any other ideas to try?
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If he was born in the 1920s he could be still blacked out on the 1939 register under the 100 yr rule.
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Indeed, but based on the letter which suggests his family were engaged in the horse trade, or similar, you would expect them, a family by the name of Mills, to appear on the 1939 Register with a connection to horses etc.
Also, the Cambridge Archives have searched the 1938 - 40 Spalding’s Directory and Kelly’s Directory of 1948 for horse slaughterers, dealers etc by the name of ‘Mills’, their efforts have produced a nil return. There do not appear to be any families by the name of ‘Mills’ engaged in the equine industry in Cambridge during the period 1938 - 48, according to the efforts of the Archives.
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Travellers???????
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Again, this letter suggests that 'he was very well spoken'. By way of context, the author of the letter had met Mr Mills who spent several days with her and her friend. I wouldn't have thought he was a traveller, or his parents.
There are a few Ivor Mills born in Wales. Could he have been a Welshman? Though, I would have thought that this lady would have noted that he was Welsh, a defining characteristic. Perhaps, he could have merely been born there?
Incredibly confusing to say the least.
Perhaps he had returned from the War - we're looking at the date of visitation as Spring of 1945 in Essex based on the letter.
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Could the name be MILES, just a thought.
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I had thought that. It is possible. The letter was written in c.1970, some thirty years after the event.