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I have recently been doing some research on a Frederick Richard Winkel Crump who married my great aunt in 1922 in Dorking, Surrey. I have always been curious as to how the couple met as my great aunt lived in Northern Ireland and Winkel Crump (the name we knew him by) was English.

 I was trying to find  where he was living before his marriage and to my surprise (and delight) the 1921 census showed him in the Royal Engineers and resident in Victoria Barracks, Belfast. He was a Private, a Writer in the Corps of Military Acc, 6th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers.

I have been unable to find a service number for him and wonder if anyone might be able to help? With a name like that I am almost sure I have the correct man! However, although he is the right age, his place of birth does not seem to be correct. I have his baptismal record in Middlesex.

I would  be interested to know what Winkel as a 'writer' in the army might have been doing  and would also like to know when this company of the Royal Engineers began their tour of duty in Ireland. 

Any help would be gratefully received.

I'll see what I can find out. Did Lorna by any chance give you any  dates? McLaughlin is such a common name in this area some dates would be helpful.

Catherine Street, Limavady, was actually where my grandmother's family lived. The town of Limavady is about 3 miles from Robert Patton's family home.

I will get back to you if I find anything.

Thank you everyone for all your help. I just didn't expect to find out so much about Robert. It is a strange feeling being in the same house where Robert would have grown up and taken leave of his family all those years ago to head off to Australia for a new life!

Ruskie. I would very much appreciate it if you could do a look up at the State Archives for me. I have information about his siblings - a sister Mary who predeceased him and a brother Joseph who was a lawyer in England. I found from one of the Australian newspapers that after his death Robert's land was transferred to Joseph Patton who would have been his next of kin.

Bee. You are amazing! Thank you so much for this. I can't believe that your contact's ancestors came from this area. A small world. I don't have any information about the ship Robert emigrated on and would love to have details of this and any other Limavady people who may have travelled with them.  McGonigle is quite a common name in this area but if I am able to help this lady in any way I would be delighted to do so! I have a feeling there is someone in our FH Society who is researching this name. I look forward to hearing from you after your visit to Springsure.

Hello bee,
Thank you so much for your kind offer. I live in Northern Ireland so am a little distance away. I emailed the Woolshed Information Centre as Gerry suggested but as yet have had no reply.

I would very much appreciate any help you are able to give. I am trying to tie up a few loose ends. Robert Patton was brought in the house which is our family home and I am trying to put together a short history of his family.