RootsChat.Com

I have recently begun to investigate my late mother's early life. I knew that she was living in Horsham, Sussex, on the death of her mother and that as her father could not cope alone with the younger members of the family, my mother (aged 4) & at least two of her brothers were placed in a Barnardo's home in the general area.

She was always very reticent about those early days, but shortly before her death in 1982, she revealed to a member of the family that she had been taken to Norfolk for an unknown period of time and that she had a photo of the house that she stayed at which also showed the Head of the family. At one time, during the early 1980's while visiting friends in Norfolk, she asked to be driven round to see if she could see the house - of course to no avail!

This photo has recently come into my possession (temporarily) & whilst I grapple with the intricacies of scanning & importing a replica on to this very helpful site, I wonder, as the photographer is listed on the back as "W. Saunders, Photographer, Dickleburgh", if anyone knows about this firm, or anything about Barnardo holiday children (presumably in the general Dickleburgh area) in the years around 1918 - 1928.

Vic

Hello Kev,
 The details, from CWGC site are:

Second Lieutenant Frederick Thomas Edwards
                                MC
8th Bn., The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
who died age 33
on 20 October 1918
Son of etc....................
Tournai Communal Cemetary

I don't have his number or anything other than this. I wonder if he was commisioned in the field as he seems a little old to be a 2nd Lt?!

Much obliged for the assist.

Vic

Yes  Mack - that was Dad!

Harribob - I had a "senior moment"!! DC equals Death Certificate right ?   Derrrrr!!!!

Thanks both,

Vic

Thanks Harribobs

I am indeed proud. My brother & I found some years ago that his exploits re. Merville had been written about in one book and repeated more recently in another!
Like many armed service personnel, he found it very difficult to describe to his children what he was called upon to do, and although we have some very basic information, Army records are probably the best bet to get a much clearer picture of such a long & widespread career.

Vic

Would someone be kind enough to give me assistance with finding out the correct way of obtaining my late father's army service records?

I know that he had a long career spanning 25 years, from joining the South Staffordshire Regiment as a boy soldier, becoming a PTI & founder member of the Parachute Regiment, (taking part in the D-Day assault on the Merville Battery for which he was "mentioned in dispatches" what does that mean?) receiving a commission & finally working at the MOD offices in Harrogate in the mid 1950's.

Between us, my brother & I have his service number from Military Identity Card & Certificate & his medals & miniatures, but not a comprehensive transcript of  the wheres & whens, which would answer so many questions for us.

The MoD site seems very contemporary; is the Subject Access Requisition Form the way forward?

I would be much obliged to receive assistance from those in the know!!!!

Vic