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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: David Van Coolwijk on Wednesday 04 July 18 20:02 BST (UK)
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I am looking for living relatives of Raymond Shepherd, Service Number 929961, Son of Ada Shepherd, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
we have found some possible relatives and found out that Ada was widowed. No living family members yet.
Some information can be found here: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2620180/shepherd,-raymond/
Information on memorial we are building can be found here: https://davevancoolwijk.wixsite.com/halifaxmonument
I am looking for background stories and photographs of Raymond.
Any information or help is more than welcome!
Kind regards,
David van Coolwijk
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I might have found Ada as a Red Cross volunteer in WW1; working 1916-1918 as a laundress (similar occupation in 1939) in Woodbastwick Hall, Norwich.
Not really what you are looking for but just a bit of background.
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I have found an address in an old archive.
It says:
Mrs. A. Shepherd, mother,
28 Belfort Place
st. Nicholas Road
Gt. Yarmouth
Maybe that is helpful?
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The address 28 Belfort Place matches where Ada is on the 1939 register. Frustratingly, there is a 'closed entry' below her name that is probably Raymond. I can see the end of the 'y' in Raymond if I look closely. It looks like he may have been an only child as Ada was already a widow by 1939 and the household only consists of Ada and one other person (probably Raymond). I still cannot find a record of either Ada's marriage to 'Mr SHEPHERD' or a record of Raymond's birth. I have contacted a few relatives of the CORKE family through Facebook and ancestry.co.uk but so far no one has any additional knowledge of Ada's generation.
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Still no news I am afraid. I think I will file a request for his service records at the national achives in the near future.
I have written an email to several local newspapers, but I haven't had a reply from any of them unfortunately.
I am afraid Raymond might've been forgotten by his family.
He is either one of the two I encircled.
I think the right one, the left one looks more Scottish to me.
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Raymond's service record is held by the MOD, not the archives.
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In that case I will contact the MOD. Thank you!
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This link gives details of how to apply:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=651361.0
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The address 28 Belfort Place matches where Ada is on the 1939 register. Frustratingly, there is a 'closed entry' below her name that is probably Raymond. I can see the end of the 'y' in Raymond if I look closely. It looks like he may have been an only child as Ada was already a widow by 1939 and the household only consists of Ada and one other person (probably Raymond). I still cannot find a record of either Ada's marriage to 'Mr SHEPHERD' or a record of Raymond's birth. I have contacted a few relatives of the CORKE family through Facebook and ancestry.co.uk but so far no one has any additional knowledge of Ada's generation.
I can't see a remarriage or a death for Ada H. Shepherd and where does the name 'Corke' come from? I'm confused.
Annette
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Hi Annette
Appears it is from Anc.tree http://www.rootschat.com/links/01myd/ (http://www.rootschat.com/links/01myd/)
F= Shepherd
M= Edith Hannah Corke
B= 1922
D= 1/5/1943
Ray
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Apologies, I should have clarified that CORKE was Ada/Edith's maiden name. There seems to be variations in her name. Sometimes it is Ada Edith, or Ada Hannah, sometimes Edith Ada and now Edith Hannah! I'm pretty sure it's the same person though! On the 1939 register it's written as Ada H Shepherd with a d.o.b of 14-01-1887, although the year is dubious.
I've re-sent messages via Facebook to 3 people who I think are descendants of Ada's brothers, so will let you know if I get any responses.
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Where does the proof of the name "Corke" exist?
R
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Where does the proof of the name "Corke" exist?
R
Hard to prove definitively but it comes from a couple of other Corke-related trees on ancestry. I also contacted someone on there who sent me this exhaustive reply which helps explain...
"Andy,
Ada Hannah Corke's birth was registered in 1st Q 1884 in Yarmouth mothers maiden name was England (Volume 4b Page 26).
She was baptised as Edie Hannah Cork on 7 Feb 1884 with a birth date given as 14 Jan 1884 (Norfolk, England, Bishop and Archdeacon Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1600-1935). Her parents were given as Charles & Eleanor Corke.
She is found with her parents on the 1891, 1901 & 1911 census returns, as Edith A Corke in 1891 and Ada on 1901 & 1911. All three give a birth year of 1884.
All of this information is on my Ancestry tree (with sources) which you have obviously found. The tree also shows the relatives of Ada, descended from her parents. However, it does not give the names and details of living relatives.
Until I received your message I had no information on Ada beyond the 1911 census that I could be sure of. I had not found a marriage that I could reliably attribute to her, I couldn't find her in 1939 as a Corke nor could I find a death as a Corke.
I have found the 1939 Reg. that you have referred to where an Ada H Shepherd (Widow) is living at 28 Belfort Place, Great Yarmouth C.B., Norfolk, England with a closed record (assumed to be a child), however the date of birth is 14 Jan 1887, not 1884. The day and month of birth provide good circumstantial evidence but the year is a problem. It could be Ada Hannah Corke as I have found other 1939 Regs. where the day and month are correct and the year is incorrect. However, I was still not totally convinced.
I have also found the death that you have referred to where the death of an Ada Shepherd was registered in the 1st Q of 1865 in Yarmouth. The age at death was 82. If this was Ada Hannah Corke she would not have turned 82 until January 1966. This does not match but could be within the bounds of error.
I have now found further evidence that appears to confirm a link between Ada Shepherd & Ada Hannah Corke. Ada Hannah Corke had a younger brother named Victor Corke (See 1901 & 1911 census on my tree). His British Army Service record gives his address on enlistment as 28 Belfort Place, St Nicholas Rd Gt Yarmouth (See my tree). This is the same address as Ada Shepherd in 1939. This takes the link beyond coincidence and into the realms of 'on the balance of probability' if not 'beyond reasonable doubt'.
We now have the task of linking the Raymond Shepherd on the CWGC site to the Ada Shepherd nee Corke in 1939. I would normally find his birth registration which would give his mother's maiden name, then use this to find the marriage of his parents at an appropriate time and place.
The CWGC record gives Raymond's age at the time of his death as 21. As he died on the 1st May 1943 he would have been born between the 1st May 1921 and the 30th April 1922 (2nd Q 1921 to 3rd Q 1922 allowing for six weeks to register the birth). Unfortunately there are no obvious candidates with a first name of Raymond.
Raymond Shepherd 2nd Q 1921 mother's maiden name Swales Middlesbrough Yorkshire
Raymond L Shepherd 3rd Q 1921 mother's maiden name Tilley St. Thomas Devon
Raymond Shepherd 4th Q 1921 mother's maiden name Gregory West Bromwich Staffordshire
Raymond P Sheppard 2nd Q 1921 mother's maiden name Bishop Devizes Wiltshire
Raymond Sheppard 4th Q 1921 mother's maiden name Moran West Bromwich Staffordshire
Raymond Sheppard 3rd Q 1922 mother's maiden name Adlam Isle of Wight Hampshire
I can't find a record of a marriage of an Ada (Eadie or Edith) Corke to a Shepherd.
The CWGC record give Raymond's mother as Ada Shepherd with no father mentioned. This could imply that there was no father. If we look for births of a Raymond Corke during the same period we get:-
Raymond S Corke 3 1921 mother's maiden name Corke Rochford Essex
This record gives a birth of a Raymond during the right time period with a connection to the Corke name. Could the initial stand for Shepherd? This is of course only a theory but are there any other options? It explains the lack of a appropriate marriage, the lack of a birth record for a Raymond Shepherd and also why his father wasn't mentioned on the CWGC record.
I'm not sure what other records are available that would give any further information.
Get back in touch if you want to discuss this further, or want help tracing living relatives. My tree only has information on relatives with the Corke name. I have not followed maternal lines."
Phew!
I would add that on the 1939 register, the closed entry below Ada does look like it might say 'Shepherd, Raymond' as you can just see the tails of the letters 'p' and 'y' in the right places. It seems likely that he was an only child.
Andy
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Select Cemetery records on Ancestry also show the addresses for Charles Corke bur.7/7/1934 and wife Eleanor Corke bur.17/1/1931 (both buried at Gt. Yarmouth) as being 28 Belfort Place. Since Ada H. Shepherd is living there in 1939 I think it's pretty certain that she was their daughter, birth registered as Ada Hannah, who from baptism cited, was born 14/1/1884 (not 1887 as on 1939 register). However, women often - deliberately or otherwise - get their birth year wrong, but not their actual birthday.
Since a) it seems pretty evident that Raymond was the Raymond S. (for Shepherd?) Corke, mmn Corke, Sept.1921 Rochford Registration District (no amendment to birth entry and birth certificate no doubt would only have a line through father's details) and b) no marriage to a Mr. Shepherd after Raymonds's birth, it sounds like Ada maybe returned to Yarmouth between 1921 and 1931, perhaps to care for her ailing parents. I would suggest that 28 Belfort Place was originally the home of Charles and Eleanor and taken over by Ada after their deaths in 1931 and 1934. I have no doubt that a 'Mr.' Shepherd was Raymonds's father, but if not named on the latters birth certificate (which is extremely likely) and with no subsequent marriage for his parents it seems like Ada (and her young son) returned to Yarmouth where she passed herself of as Ada H. Shepherd, a widow. I doubt there is any way at all to even establish who 'Mr'. Shepherd was, and whoever he was I doubt he was dead by 1939.
Therefore, finding any family for poor Raymond Shepherd can only be found on his mothers Corke line. There were plenty of Shepherd's living/dying in the Rochford Registration District but unless Raymond S Corkes's 1921 birth certificate is ever purchased we don't even know the name of the actual place where he was born, let alone who his father was.
Annette
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Annette's summary, to me, cannot be bettered without documentary proof.
The father's name may actually be the same name as the son.
RIP Raymond Shepherd.
Ray
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I have got a lead! A member sent me a private message with some names (Corke) and addresses of living relatives.
I have sent a letter to them, now we wait.......
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An interesting development; thank you for the update. :)
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Hopefully it's a match! In that case I have 7 out of 7 family's!
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The Great Yarmouth Mercury picked up my research!
https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/dutch-villagers-great-yarmouth-world-war-2-raf-air-gunner-1-5866326
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Exciting news; thank you for the update. :)
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Not sure where I got this from, but could James Shepherd be the father of Raymond?
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Not sure where I got this from, but could James Shepherd be the father of Raymond?
It came from here: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8081744
What is your man's connection to Australia? James Shepherd was born in Belfast but his wife, Ada, lived in Balmain, NSW, Australia.
DTD
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As far as I know there is no connection with Australia, but I probably downloaded this image because I made a connection with this Shepherd with his wife Ada Shepherd.
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Some information can be found here: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2620180/shepherd,-raymond/
Information on memorial we are building can be found here: https://davevancoolwijk.wixsite.com/halifaxmonument
I am looking for background stories and photographs of Raymond.
Any information or help is more than welcome!
Kind regards,
David van Coolwijk
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Hi David,
As one who was casually browsing down the WW.II threads & a lifelong fan of the Handley Page Halifax myself, I was naturally drawn to your thread.
I did click on your 'memorial' thread link, but it isn't working as of April 2019.
I was however interested finding another Dutch 'nl' link, giving the Squadron-codes, serial number & full crew list & further details.
I naturally assume that you've already seen this & know all the details anyhow ?
I figured I'd pass the link along, if not, just in case it might be overlooked or not known of ?
It might also be of use to those reading this thread & not knowing the back-story, or full crew.
http://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/68.html
Date: 1943 May 01 A/C Type: Halifax II Serial: JB803 Code: KN-G A/C Nickname:
File: 68 Airforce: RAF Sqn/Unit: 77 Sqn Mission/Raid: Essen
1 Pilot Sgt. Gordon Watson KIA, buried Muiden
2 CP/Obs Sgt. Ian Crawford KIA, buried Muiden
3 Fl Eng/AG F/O Arthur E. Parsons RCAF KIA, buried Muiden
4 WO/AG Sgt. William R. Louth MIA
5 WO/AG Sgt. Raymond Shepherd KIA, buried Muiden
6 Gunner Sgt. Leon Hannan KIA, buried Muiden
7 Rear Gnr Sgt. Thomas D. Scarff RCAF KIA, buried Muiden
Night 30 April/01 May 1943, on route to Essen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Essen was the target, so it's almost certain the aiming-point would be the town's famous "Krupp" works.
(singlehandedly, the No.1 target, in Essen)
Lastly, I made a 1/72nd scale Merlin-engined Halifax myself, many years ago....
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/13340755914_477e3508a3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/mjSRX1)My RCAF Matchbox kit I made in 1989/1990 (https://flic.kr/p/mjSRX1) by Hornchurch_Aerodrome (https://www.flickr.com/photos/77325174@N05/), on Flickr
To all intents & purposes, it's the same as the plane involved in this thread, but it has the slightly later "oblong" fins, rather than the earlier type "triangular" fins of Raymond Shepard's Mk.II, "JB.803", in which he sadly lost his life.
Please forgive me if any of the above links or picture is of no use.
Would still be keen to know of the memorial that you mentioned you were building....
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Hi,
That is a very nice build! I have not been able to find a Halifax with Merlins, let alone the right tail!
Anyways, thank you for links to those websites. I am already in contact with the webmaster of zzairwar, because we are trying to locate where the missing air man may have been buried. We are getting cloase to that.
The link to my website is an old one, I will adjust that. It is now:
https://www.halifaxmonumentmuiden.nl/
There is also a facebookpage: https://www.facebook.com/HalifaxMuiden/
The reveal date for the monument will be May 1st 2020, we had some setbacks because of some permit troubles...
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Hi,
That is a very nice build! I have not been able to find a Halifax with Merlins, let alone the right tail!
The link to my website is an old one, I will adjust that. It is now:
https://www.halifaxmonumentmuiden.nl/
There is also a facebookpage: https://www.facebook.com/HalifaxMuiden/
The reveal date for the monument will be May 1st 2020, we had some setbacks because of some permit troubles...
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Hi again David,
Many thanks for your kind words about my elderly 1/72nd scale kit, plus your important updates
It is always really nice to see a WW.II Bomber crew being honoured for their sacrifice to make Europe free.
I am very glad to see you & the guys associated with you for so doing this memorial.
As for the kit I built, it is the older Matchbox brand released around 1979 & is still a good kit.
https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/4/8/0/114480-10000-pristine.jpg
Revell took over the molds, then later released another 'newer' Merlin-engined example, but it got heavily criticized as the Merlin's were considered to be too fat, bulky & inaccurately portrayed.
I think the older Matchbox kit is still valid & brings across the shape of the Bomber really well.
I was smitten on the Halifax, after building several of the (much older) AIRFIX B.III versions.
Then, even more so, in 1973 when they raised W.1048 'S-forSugar' (35 Sqdn),
from Lake Hoklingen, in Norway.
(it now resides in London, within the Hendon RAF museum collection)
Ironically, there is also yet another of the same raid, that night, also shot-down by "Tirpitz"
It is also a sister-ship of W.1048, but carries the serial of "W.7656"
(just like W.1048 - But this one still remains beneath the lake, today, as of 2019)
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/545963/Second-World-War-British-bomber-found-Norwegian-Fjord
Incidentally, If you do ever buy the Matchbox "Merlin" Halifax, it DOES come with the Triangular tails
I just chose to make mine with the larger & more stable later lozenge tail-fins.
Here's a better photograph of it, taken the same day in 2008, although I built it in 1989/1990.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7921/40556981173_07b88bf00b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24MT8w6)My Matchbox Handley Page Halifax (https://flic.kr/p/24MT8w6) by Hornchurch_Aerodrome (https://www.flickr.com/photos/77325174@N05/), on Flickr
Many thanks for your thread David & your efforts towards the memorial - it's much appreciated.
.
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I love it, mine isn't as nice, mine should reperesent JB80, I just Merlins from a Lancaster kit and cut the fins myself.
Friend and foe.....
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Hello everyone,
Thanks again for the earlier help with my research into Sgt. Raymond Shepherd (Service No. 929961), air gunner of Halifax JB803, 77 Squadron RAF. With your assistance I have confirmed that his mother was Ada H. Shepherd (née Corke), listed as a widow in the 1939 Register, living at 28 Belfort Place, Great Yarmouth. She is recorded by CWGC as his mother and next of kin.
However, one puzzle remains:
In my Air Ministry correspondence from April 1946, a letter is addressed to “B. Shepherd, Esq.” — presumably Raymond’s father or possibly a guardian. Yet CWGC lists only Ada.
Renewed Research Question:
Does anyone have access to Raymond Shepherd’s birth certificate (likely c.1921–22, Great Yarmouth) which should confirm his father’s full name?
Could the 1939 Register or earlier census/voter rolls provide more clarity on who “B. Shepherd” was?
Was Ada a widow before or after Raymond’s birth?
Why this matters:
Establishing exactly who the official Next of Kin was helps to complete both the genealogical and commemorative record.
Understanding why the Air Ministry wrote to a “B. Shepherd, Esq.” while CWGC only lists Ada may shed light on family circumstances, legal guardianship, or administrative inconsistencies.
What I already have:
CWGC entry: “Son of Ada Shepherd, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk” (no father mentioned).
IBCC Losses / MREU records confirm his grave at Muiden, the Netherlands.
Forum discussions suggest Ada was a widow in 1939 with one closed entry in the Register at her address (likely Raymond).
A possible connection to a James Shepherd has been suggested but is unconfirmed.
What I am hoping for:
Someone with access to GRO records who can check/order Raymond’s birth certificate.
Any lookups from Ancestry/Findmypast for Norfolk parish records, probate, or newspapers that mention a B. Shepherd linked to Ada and Raymond.
Leads on family notices or obituaries that might clarify parentage and NOK.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. If I receive concrete details (certificate, scans, records), I’ll gladly share them here to close the loop for future researchers.
With thanks in advance,
David van Coolwijk
(Netherlands – independent researcher into Halifax JB803)
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Hello again David
I found Ada on 1921 census as Ada H. Corke single Tailor's Stitcher (out of work) born Yarmouth, Norfolk - she's a boarder at a Boarding house run by a Beatrice Fortescue at 20 Richmond Street, Southend on Sea, Essex (Rochford registration district) and her age is even further out, this time given as 28 years 6 months ie.bc.1893. 1921 census was on 19th June and her age should have been 37 years 5 months!!!!
I then looked at the GRO index which lists full christian names and the illegitimate birth of a Raymond S Corke in Sept.qtr 1921 Rochford (which I mentioned before) was indeed for a Raymond Shepherd Corke. I have ordered a PDF copy of certificate and will post the outcome in due course (will be around 4 days).
His entry on 1939 register with mother Ada is no longer redacted and he appears as Raymond Shepherd with a birthdate of 2nd August 1921. His occupation given as 'Shoe and Slipper Clicker'. Hopefully this will agree with birthdate on the birth certificate.
As to Mr. B. Shepherd - I have no doubt that someone with such a name was Raymond's father but can find no likely candidate in the Yarmouth or Southend on Sea areas whose Christian name began with a B. I fear he will forever remain an enigma.
Annette
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Have received the PDF of Raymond Shepherd Corke's birth certificate and as you can see he was indeed born on 2nd August 1921 at Southend on Sea, Essex, illegitimate son of Ada Hannah Corke (who later lived as Ada H Shepherd, widow although she never actually married).
One can only speculate as to what Raymond was told by his mother. Did he know he was actually born illegitimate or was he told his father was a Mr. B. Shepherd and believed he was dead since his mother lived as a widow? Who can say.
At least we have his correct birth details now.
Annette
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Thank you so much for all your efforts and for sharing this valuable information. Thanks to you, we now at least have clarity regarding Raymond’s birth details. I fear that Raymond Shepherd will always remain something of a mystery, but your research has certainly brought us a step further. Unfortunately, I can’t see any further leads either, and it does seem likely that he may have been an only child.
Once again, many thanks for all your help!
Best regards,
David