No trace - what else can I try?

[yorkierose]

 I really don't know where to look for my great grandfather Bertram Horace Wilkes.  I found his marriage record for 1917, Hemsworth showing his age as 22 and occupation Private in the KOYLI  so looked for a medal card, which I found, but it wasn't clear to read from the downloaded record.  I then found his death record and sent off for that - but as he died in 1952, his birth date and place was not recorded.  I have been unable to find any more information - no sign of him on the 1901 census.  All entries followed up from the CRI haven't turned up anyone - the nearest was Bertram Horace Wilkes in Leicester 1896 - but it would appear he died age 1.  On Berts marriage record it shows his father as Samuel Wilkes (deceased) Shingler (Foreman).  I know that he had a brother, Abraham Wilkes and two sisters, Maud & Mary Wilkes, but haven't found anything on them either.


Any suggestions as to where else I can look?
 

[Graham Whitehead]

If you were unable to read the Medal Card, you could obtain the information on it by writing to ARMY NAVY & AIRFORCE MEDALS Dept, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL2 1DW.  They will supply medals to the next of kin (which might be someone closer (say your father or grandfather) in relationship if these have not been issued before. You need to be next of kin to obtain information, or think you are next of kin.
Armed with this information and his ARMY number you can then research at the PRO Kew to find his record.  Hope this helps. Graham

[Graham Whitehead]

Sorry, Innsworth is GL3 1DW for postcode.

[Hackstaple]

I tried hard on this - all the names on freeBMD - 1901 census, 1891 census, 1881 census, even just under Occupation Shingler, residence Yorkshire.
I am now thinking aloud - the Yorkshire marriage was because he was in the KOYLI, not because he was born there. He may have enlisted elsewhere altogether, even in Ireland where recruiting was strong. That would mean a Protestant family, probably from Ulster. at that time very few Irish Catholics would enlist in the British Army. That is all guesswork but it may give you some direction.

[casalguidi]

I have also tried hard on this - the other week and this morning.

Not being sure what a shingler was, I looked that up to see if it would give me some idea of where I should be looking.  Like Hackstaple, I couldn't find any reference to a Samuel WILKES with shingler as occupation in the 1901 census.

I came across this description:

Baller ; iron industry worker
"When the metal begins to melt it is the business of the puddler to watch it from time to time until it is ready for what is technically called BALLING, i.e. dividing the metals into separate balls or quantities or puddle-rolls; which having been done, they are handed over to the shingler, who has the direction of a large and heavy hammer worked by steam or water power, and the rough hot metal is, by repeated blows brought to a more compact form for the rolling mill." From the Employment Commission reports 1842

The other shingler was a manufacturer of wooden roof tiles. 

Of course you may already know all of this but just in case .....

Best wishes

Casalguidi

[yorkierose]

Thank you everyone - I will look at all your suggestions carefully this weekend.

[Hackstaple]

I checked. The 2nd Battalion of the KOYLI were in Ireland from 1889-1914.

[C P Rayson]

On FreeBMD there is a reference to BERTWIN Hoarace Wilkes, birth registrered March Quarter 1897 Walsall 6b 775 there are also references to Abraham and Maud

In the 1901 census (looking online) there is no suitable reference for Wilkes BUT trying WILKS there are a number of possibilities.

It may not be the answer (sorry) but it may be a lead

Happy hunting

Chris

[casalguidi]

Hi Shelly

Just another thought.

Have you any further information on any of Bert's siblings ie. did any of them die in England 1969 or later when index entries give date of birth.

Might it be easier to track one of them back?

Yorkshire libraries should have street directories for the date in question (1917) which will list head of household but I'm not sure which library Hemsworth would come under.  Electoral registers are also a good lead - especially from 1918 when all males over 21 and women over 30 had the vote.

http://www.familia.org.uk/services/england/north_yorks.html

Best wishes

Casalguidi