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Messages - Grandpa Canuck

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Armed Forces / Re: SS Scillian
« on: Wednesday 30 November 11 20:30 GMT (UK)  »
My uncle was on board the SS Scillian. 
George R Gitsham
Service Number 3055228
Unit: 8th Kings Royal Irish hussars, part of the 4th Armoured Brigade - The Black Rats.

Another uncle Pte. Gordon Booth, Durham Light Infantry, was on one of the other two ships and told me the story of the sinking many years ago.  George and Gordon met up before the crossing and George tried to talk my uncle Gordon into coming with his group.  My uncle stayed with his friends and the rest is history.

I see from official records the government only made the sinking by HMS Sahib public information in 1996 after repeated requests for information from the families of the drown men.

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Family History Beginners Board / Re: Alfred Gitsham (b 1883)
« on: Friday 25 November 11 19:50 GMT (UK)  »
Regarding George Gitsham:
Quote from: Gail2005 on Saturday 02 April 11 11:14 BST (UK)

My Dad was only 1 when his father (George) died and his mother (Veronica Spenceley) remarried John (Jack) Evans in 1945.  My grandmother has since passed on and we are finding it extremely difficult trying to go back further then Alfred.

I was told the transport he was on was sunk while crossing from Libya to Italy.  My uncle Gordon was also a POW and was friends with George.  The group were all taken prisoner after the battle of Tobruk.  I heard the story several times when I was young from my uncle, father and mother.  I believe my uncle and George were all in the 6th Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial unit that was part of 50 Division.

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Yorkshire (North Riding) Lookup Requests / Re: Spenceleys
« on: Friday 25 November 11 19:07 GMT (UK)  »
To: Gail2005

This family tree is way too familiar.

My Mother was Catherine Eudora Spencley born Jan, 1918.  she had a sister Veronica "Ronnie" and at least 6 other siblings, Raymond, Tommy, Jim, Elizabeth, Arthur and George.  Their parents were Earle Spencley and Catherine "Kate"Prest.  Earle's father was George and his father Joseph.

Are we cousins?  If you think so we need to get in touch.

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