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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: bazlynda on Wednesday 06 September 23 09:31 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I'm hoping someone can help me find out some more information about this family story. The newspaper article below appeared across England in several papers in April 1918 (I've retyped it to make it easier to read )
A Family's Sacrifice (22 June 1918)
Three sons of Mr and Mrs Joseph Purdy of Cornforth, Durham have been killed in action during the past six weeks;
Private Wildred Purdy, Scots Fusiliers, aged 22
Corporal Joseph Purdy, R.F.A, aged 40
Driver Tom Purdy, aged 19
Mr and Mrs Purdy's other 3 sons are in the Army; one in France, another in hospital in Egypt; and the third on leave recovering from gas.
It mentions Joseph Purdy (1853-1928) and Isabella Purdy nee Cochrane/Corkin (1865-1934) finding out that they had lost 3 sons in the space of 6 weeks of WW1 with another 3 still surviving and 2 of those injured.
I want to find out as much as I can about the 6 brothers. I think it will be a fascinating story.
So far I have the following information;
1) Joseph Purdy - seems to have been one that died after the article (1875-1918?) but haven't confirmed his details
2) William Purdy (1877-1918) - service No - 102780 - Royal Engineers, 255th Tunnelling Co - died from injuries sustained in Flanders, buried in Belgium
3) Tom Purdy (1897-1918) - service No - 26397 - Royal Horse Artillery- died 4Jun1918 - although the article only calls him a driver with no rank
4) Wilfred Purdy (1899-1918) - service no 302386 - The Royal Scots 8th Battalion
There were two others that served, from the remaining 5 brothers; The remaining brothers were
5) Robert Purdy (1876- )
6) George Purdy (1888-1941)
7) John Purdy (1890- )
8) Arthur Purdy (1894- )
9) Jim Henry Purdy (1902-1979) - unlikely to have served - too young
The Dad (Joseph) married Emma Oxborough(1854-1885) and had Joseph, Robert, and William. He married Isabella Cochrane 2 years after Emma's death and had another 6 boys and 4 girls.
My grandmother (Jessie Smith nee Davies 1913-2002) was the daughter of one of the girls (Isabella 1892-1929) and told us lots of tales about how brave her uncles were and how sad it was when they didn't come home.
I really would like to do justice to the tale and learn as much as I can about these brave men.
Does anyone have any links to these men or can offer any advice?
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Have you checked the Surname Interests Board - scroll to bottom of this page & link is under TOOLS
Have you checked if anybody has a tree on Ancestry? I can see at least one so you may want to contact the tree owner
www.cwgc.org will give you their dates of death
As you are not related - how do you intend to use any info found?
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1911 census
Arthur Purdy Son Single Male 17 1894 Blacksmith striker Durham Spennymoor
1921 census
Arthur Purdy Boarder Male 1893 28 Spennymoor, Durham, England Blacksmith Head Wrightson & Co Ltd
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Tom Purdy was 26397 Driver in B/153 Bde. R.F.A.
I'll take a look at the others.
Added:
Wilfred Purdy 1st. attested in the 13th. Btn. Glos. Regt.
as Pte. 19977. Transferred to the 2/7/R.S. (Lothian Regt.) 16/12/16
Posted to the 8th. Feb. 1918.
Died at Bois de Pacaut (Bethune)
This was the early days of the German Spring Offensive & he was one of 20 OR's
who died while under a heavy attack.
Joseph O Purdy appears to be a bit of an odd character.
He joined the RFA in 1895 under the name Dixon although he was on the 1911 census
as Oxbrough his mother's maiden name.
He didn't die & was discharged in Oct. 1918.
He joined the Special Reserve in 1907 as Gnr. 277509.
Joseph Oxbrough.
He received the B.W. & Victory Medals to add to the Indian Medal for previous service
as 10494 (under the name Joseph Dixon) on the N.W. Frontier.
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Thank you for that great start Jim, Softly Softly, and CaroleW.
That gives me quite a bit to work with.
I am related to the brothers - they are my Great GrandUncles (my Great Grandmothers brothers), so my Ancestry tree is linked with other family members trees.
It's just there have been a few dead spots and given the amazing story I was hoping to find any other link I can to this side of the family.
Wow - I am still amazed at how great this RootsChat resource is!
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Now I am more intrigued.
The newspaper article lists Cpl Joseph Purdy (aged 40) dying within 6 weeks of Wilfred and Tom.
We can confirm Wilfred and Tom, both in genealogy and military records.
But Joseph is a mystery.
As Jim has shown, he changed names a few times and enlisted under different names.
The genealogy supports that , as do the military records?
So who was the Cpl Joseph Purdy that died? And surely the newspaper wouldn't link it to the Purdy family in multiple article entries across the country if it wasn't true???
Was it just a simple mistake?
A Joseph Purdy (241995) from Northumberland Fusiliers died on 26 Oct 1917 - was this one of the other Purdy brothers adopting Dad's name? or is it just a different Purdy family and a simple error was made?
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OXBROUGH, JOSEPH - no mmn "Illegitimate"
GRO Reference: 1874 J Quarter in STOCKTON Volume 10A Page 171
Married Ellen Mary Malloy dq 1905 Dover.
On 1911 census with wife and 1 daughter
On 1921 census with wife and 1 daughter & 1 son
1939 register surname (Jose M Oxbraugh) dob 10.4.1874
Died 1955
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added
Parents marriage(mistranscription)
Registration Year 1874
[1874]
Registration Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration district Stockton
Inferred County Durham
Volume 10a
Page 63
Records on Page (Name)
Emma Oxbrough
Joseph Turdey
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Births of 2 half brothers of Joseph
PURDEY, ROBERT OXBROUGH
GRO Reference: 1875 S Quarter in STOCKTON Volume 10A Page 185
PURDEY, WILLIAM OXBROUGH
GRO Reference: 1877 D Quarter in STOCKTON Volume 10A Page 116
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It only takes 1 mistake by 1 newspaper as all the others
would have just copied it.
Tom Purdy died as a L/Bdr. His Brigade were on the Ypres Salient
on the 4th. June 1918. Strangely no casualties are mentioned.
I can't nail his exact position except it was N. of Ypres.
William is even harder as there are no war diaries for 255th. Tunnelling Coy.
However in May 1918 having been pushed back during the German Spring Offensive
they were employed along a 50Km. line from Reningelst (Belgium) to St. Omer (France).
digging & wiring trenches along with a large number of other Tunnelling Coys.
As he's buried in Lijssenthoek Cemetery you can safely say somewhere between
Reningelst (Belgium) & the French border.
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jim1, you are far more experienced than me with ww1 records. Can tell you John Purdy 1890 has a military number 173419.
He married Margaret Ann Twitty 12th October 1914 West Cornforth. Sedgefield. A son Alan born dq 1921-died 1933.
1921 census
John Purdy Head Male 1890 31 Spennymoor, Durham, England Horse Keeper Above Ground North Bitchburn Coal Co
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I've only looked at the one's that died so far.
John Purdy was also in the R.E. as a driver.
Considering that 70% of WW1 service records were destroyed in WW2
I've managed to find 3 for the Purdy's so far John being one of them.
Enlisted Dec. 1915 went through training & posted to R.E. G.B. 20.
I'm not familiar with that unit yet.
Posted to 519th. Field Coy.
Posted to Salonica & Egypt & ended up in V Corps Signals.
He's the one in the article in hospital in Egypt.
How interesting is this ?
Also says 3 brothers killed.
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PURDEY, ROBERT OXBROUGH
GRO Reference: 1875 S Quarter in STOCKTON Volume 10A Page 185
Married Margaret Wright sq 1897
Appears on 1901/11/21 census
1939 register dob 25th August 1875
Died dq 1951 Durham SE
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So what we have is John, Tom, William, Wilfred & Joseph.
I think the 6th. brother is Arthur.
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John Purdy 1890, details as per previous post died 22nd February 1954. Probate attached. Mentions brother Arthur Purdy, so he's still alive in 1954.
There are 3 records of Arthur travelling 1926,1928 & 1929 where his occupation is recorded as Erector & Foreman Erector., gives an address of 87 Robert's Street SW
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I can only conclude that the Joseph Purdy mentioned is another man
as we know the correct Joseph was using his birth name of Oxbrough.
The information may have come from a third/fourth party.
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Arthur Purdy 1890.
In 1928 aged 35 travelling to Calcutta as a foreman Erector. He gives an address of 87, Robert's Street, YMYSTBWL.
1939 register has Ada M Purdy dob 22.2.1898 living at number 89, Robert's St YNYSYBWL. Next door at no. 87 are her parents Ernest and Mary J Waite.
Marriage
Marriages Jun 1923
Purdy Arthur Waite Pontypridd 11a 1083
Waite Ada M Purdy Pontypridd 11a 1083
Daughter born 1924.
Death of Arthur
Deaths Sep 1966
PURDY ARTHUR 73 PONTYPRIDD 8B 487
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added: image records Erecting Engineer. Image available on FindMyPast & Anc*
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68P4-QG8P
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So the 3 brothers that died were William, Wilfred & Tom not Joseph.
Joseph, John & probably Arthur survived.
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There are 7 Arthur Purdy's (no middle name) on the Rolls.
I was drawn to this man:
Pte. 640083 Labour Corps previously with the 5th. Btn. Lancs. Fus. (242407).
Still with the Lancs. at least until the re-organisation of the TF early 1917.
The L.C. was a typical route for men who had been wounded & no longer fit
for the front line.
Many men who had been gassed fell into this category.
During April 1918 the 5/Lancs. were under attack from the Germans during
(the previously mentioned Spring Offensive).
Gas was first mentioned on the 5th. April so we know there were gas attacks
during that period.
Circumstantially this man fits.
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In chronological order
Wilfred d. 11/4/1918 - 8th. Btn. Royal Scots - Bois de Pecaut France.
William d. 31/5/1918 - 255th. Tunnelling Coy. - between Riningelst Belgium & French border.
Tom d. 4/6/1918 - B Bty. 153 Bde. R.F.A. - Ypres Salient N. of the town.
The 3 that survived:
John - 519 Field Coy. R.E. & R.E. Signals France & Egypt.
Joseph - R.F.A. & R.G.A. India.
Arthur - possibly 5th. Btn. Lancs. Fusiliers & Labour Corps.
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Arthur's death plus marriage of daughter.
Marriages Jun 1946
Munro Donald Purdy Pontypridd 11a 1137
Purdy Mary Munro Pontypridd 11a 1137
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I think it's time the poster came back to let us know if this is
what they're looking for.
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Thanks Jim1 and softly softly,
You have been an incredible help and I can't thank you enough.
I am in awe of how much info you have both uncovered in such a short time.
The problem I now have is that you have opened up a whole new range of rabbit holes for me to disappear down!
All my existing data fits with the rationale that Jim1 offered with the 6 serving brothers.
I'm still intrigued as to why the oldest brother changed his name from Joseph O Purdy to Joseph Dixon to enlist, and then after serving with Distinction in India and Aden he came back and re-enlisted as Joseph Oxenbrough.
But it's given me lots of strings to continue to unravel.
Thank you again!
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I believe Dixon was the name of his Grandparents.
It could be he fell foul of the law as a young man &
decided to lose himself in the Army.
A very common occurrence.
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A bit more about Joseph.
I've been holding off as his service records are a bit complicated.
In Jan. 1902 his RFA Bde. was transferred to the RGA Mountain Div.
so all service after that is with the RGA.
After his service (1st. time) he came out in 1903 & went into reserve.
In 1908 he re-enlisted in the Special Reserve no. 2509.
Completed his time in that in 1911.
4th. Nov. 1914 he re-enlists again no. 277509.
He spends the next couple of years on coastal defences mainly
Harwich.
In 1915 he transferred to the 3rd. Btn. Beds. Regt. no. 21242.
They were also based as Harwich.
In mid 1916 he transferred back to the RGA & posted to 112 Heavy Bty.
& sent to France.
Mid 1918 he's transferred to the 1st. Res. Bde. Winchester.
Discharged later that year.
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Wow!
Thanks Jim1 - that is some great information, and lots more for me to follow up.
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Something I noticed on his service record is that when he
joined in 1895 he lists his NOK as Charles Randall (uncle).
Then that's crossed out as deceased & his G/mother is listed
as his NOK named as Hannah Dixon.
I'm assuming this is Ann Randall who married Henry Oxbrough but you
will know better than me.
No mention of Jos. Purdy.
It may be after his mother's death & Joseph's re-marriage he felt a bit
of an outcast.
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Interesting. I'll chase up the Randall link.
Of note is that he was a labourer in the mines in West Cornforth /Durham in 1891 Census (aged 17) and the following year was the 3 month Durham Coal Miners Strike of 1892 that saw 400,000 miners strike.
I wonder if that event, given his whole family was involved in the mines, was the trigger to see him change names and enlist in 1895?.
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And yes, I have confirmed the Charles Randall listed as NOK is the brother of his grandmother Ann Randall.
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So his Greatuncle.
Strange he would list him as NOK & not his Grandfather/mother
as they would have been closer related.
I'm assuming they were still alive in 1895.
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Charles Randall died in 1901.
I still can't locate a Hannah Dixon.
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Her address was given as 3 Foster Terrace Crosdale Sunderland.
Probably should be Croxdale.
Henry & Ann Oxbrough were living there in 1891 & 1901.
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So I've checked the census of 1881/1891/1901 for the address given.
And as you pointed out, Henry and Ann Oxborough were living at Foster Terrace Crosdale Sunderland.
I checked all the surrounding streets and addresses and there was no Hannah Dixon.
I thought she might be a matriarch or something.
So I am thinking now that maybe Ann Oxborough was Hannah Dixon???
It was his Grandmother and no-one else lived at that address in any census
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I'm more convinced that he was trying to hide himself.
Wanting to avoid using the Purdy or Oxbrough names
He's first put Charles Randall as his NOK but dying left
him with a problem so made up the name Hannah Dixon
as that was the surname he used but gave Ann Oxbrough's
address.
When he got married as Oxbrough he would have had to notify the Army
& that's when his record changed to that name.
He probably thought he was in the clear by then.
Sounds like a good story anyway.
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Worth checking out the excellent North East War Memorials project website,you can search by name or town.Cornforth includes a photo of Toms original grave before the standard stone was erected.He&
Wilfred are named on the village and church memorials in the village.They are both on the memorial for Coxhoe village council school old boys.
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Hi,
Not sure if it's related or not, but within the Independent Methodist Church in Hetton Le Hole, there is a brass plaque dedicated to Joseph and Robert Purdy, who were former Sunday school scholars.
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Just found this 2 years later. I’m a relative of William purdy he was my great grandfather. I don’t know much about him and his family. I know he is buried in Belgium and left a few children as my Grandad who I never got to meet was his Son. He was I think 2 when his father died. I recognised the Emma Oxborough name from my family tree.
What happened to all these family members. I know my Grandad had brothers that lived in London area. Wimbledon I think as my dad used to go down and visit them. I’d love to find out any information on George Purdy’s Brothers and their families . I think he was born in 1916 I know he died in the 60’s not sure when as I’d have to dig out my documents. I’d love mire on this family to share with my Dad.