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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Trees on Thursday 20 February 25 15:37 GMT (UK)
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My God mother was from Dundee but in 1942 was a WREN serving in Birmingham.
Yesterday I watched a program about HMS Unicorn in Dundee.
Does any one know what Wrens were doing in Birmingham and how can I find if she trained on HMS Unicorn?
I have a beautiful photograph of her in uniform.I sadly don't have her service number or much else other than her name.and happy vague childhood memories to help find her
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Hi,
I don't think it is worth speculating where in Birmingham she may have served or in which capacity. Have you thought about applying for her service record which is held with the Ministry of Defence. Full name and date of birth required but service number not necessary. Copy of death certificate required to get full details.
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-service/apply-for-the-records-of-a-deceased-serviceperson
Regards
Hugh
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My problem is I know she marriedd between 1948 and 1954but I don't know who to neither do I have a birth year for her so I cant get the service record or know when she died .I know it sounds daft but we moved from Birmingham when I was 4 I remember mum having letters and I even had Christmas presents from her but when we again moved when I was 10 and had a baby brother I think my parents just got out of touch with her I vaguely remember some one saying her husband 's name was Keller but that may not be too accurate
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Birmingham Daily Post, 3 Feb 1942
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Her service record would have been in her maiden and assuming that she was no younger than 18 when she joined up in 1942, that would put her year of birth around 1924 or earlier, that is to say, over 100 years ago. On that basis you may not need her death certificate. Have you found her in the 1939 Register? If her record is open, the change of name after she married is likely to be shown against her entry.
As Hugh says, speculating about where she might have been employed is not worthwhile until you have a few more solid facts about her. Does the photo of her in uniform show any rank or trade badges?
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I am not sure if this has changed but nevertheless it is still listed as a requirement on the form, so I would suggest the d.c. copy is required to ensure nothing is held back.
You do not have to provide a death certificate. But without one, information may be withheld unless the person either:
died in service
was born more than 116 years ago
Regards
Hugh
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Did the 1939 register include Scotland? Its a good idea but I can't find Dundee on either F.M.P. or A..ry Is there an equivalent to GRO Index or Free BMD for Scotland?
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Yes, the the 1939 register included the whole of Great Britain and Northern Island, as well as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. However the part which applies to Scotland is held by the National Library of Scotland and it is not searchable online. You have to submit the details of the person you are looking for, pay a fee and they will return the results to you.
To find BMDs for Scotland you need tio use the Scotlands People (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/) website operated by National Records of Scotland
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Sorry! Thats incorrect.
Quoting The National Archives:
(https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/1939-register/)
3.1 The civilian population
These records do include the civilian populations of:
England
Wales
These records do not include the civilian populations of:
the Channel Islands
the Isle of Man
Scotland (for information relating to records of individuals in Scotland at the time of the 1939 Register please contact National Records of Scotland)
Northern Ireland (for information relating to records of individuals in Northern Ireland at the time of 1939 Register please contact Public Record Office of Northern Ireland)
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Sorry! Thats incorrect.
Quoting The National Archives:
(https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/1939-register/)
3.1 The civilian population
These records do include the civilian populations of:
England
Wales
These records do not include the civilian populations of:
the Channel Islands
the Isle of Man
Scotland (for information relating to records of individuals in Scotland at the time of the 1939 Register please contact National Records of Scotland)
Northern Ireland (for information relating to records of individuals in Northern Ireland at the time of 1939 Register please contact Public Record Office of Northern Ireland)
I think you are misreading what TNA is saying. They do not hold the 1939 Register records for N Ireland, Scotland, and the Crown Dependencies of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. These places hold or once held the copies of returns relevant to their territories. See: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=797627.0
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It appears that the Channel Islands were not included in the 1939 Registration. See the forward to the Government report on the results of the 1939 National Registration exercise: https://archive.org/details/b32170130/page/n3/mode/2up
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Andy,
I can assure you that there are no 1939 Register records for IOM.
I have asked, in person, at The Manx Museum (which doubles as the Manx State Archives).
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I don't want to get into a long argument about this, but for the sake of others who may want to search on this topic, the Isle of Man did conduct their version of the 1939 Registration; I never maintained that the records for the IoM still exist. And according to the website The Genes Blog (https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2015/11/more-on-findmypasts-1939-national.html) the Channel Islands also conducted their own version of the National Registration in 1939, although the results were not included in the British Government report I linked to earlier. Again it appears the CI registration has not survived, possibly due to the occupation of the islands by the Germans.