RootsChat.Com

Hi Elsie
It was wonderful to get a message from you and thanks to Dollylee for contacting me. I am sending a personal message to you and look forward to hearing from you soon.
From Maurine

Hi Pete,Phil & Ken
Many thanks for all your help in this query. I don't know how you find out all these details but am sooo! glad you do. As I have said James Johnston is my brick wall and although he was my grandfather, he died in 1923 and I never heard any mention of him while my father and grandmother were alive. All the information I have on him is contradictary as to his age. The paper work that I have is his marriage certificate to my grandmother which says he was 35,that was in 1916 after three children. The 1911 census which says he was 42 and his death certificate on which he is 57. It has always seemed strange that on the 1901 census my grandmother was at home with her family in Ilford,Essex but in 1905 she was with James in Laindon,Essex having their first child. My father's name was William Charles Frank but he was born in 1913 so not named for a previous F Johnston. My uncle was named Horace Stanley Lorraine Johnston and the rumour is that the Lorraine was because someone in the family was killed at the battle of Lorraine but I haven't been able to find out if this is fact or fiction. I am not sure if any of this waffle is of use to anyone but I thought it might give some background to what I know about James.
Thanks again to everyone who has replied and I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Maurine

Hi
Can anyone please indentify the badge on my grandfather's lapel? I do not know if it is a military badge or civilian but thought I would try this link first. The photograph was taken in 1916 when he was about 50 years old. He was living in Manor Park, Essex at the time . Hoping that someone will be able to help me as he is my solid brick wall!!

Maurine

Hi K

Yes you have got the correct Matthews. He was one of my grandmother's younger brothers. I have the details of him from the CWGC site thanks. I don't think that I can go any further with this query now as I won't be sending for Leonard Frederick's service record but if Leonard was Frank Robert's son then they had two deaths in the family in a short space of time. Many thanks to everyone who has replied.

Maurine