Search for father

[sparrett]

Hi All,
Would just like to add that LARRY according to my understanding anyway, is not a usual given name.
It is a diminutive of Lawrence/Laurence.
Just wondering if others agreed and if using the fuller name might turn up anything.
Sue

[regross]

Hi,

I had done lots of searching with Lawrence, Laurence, Laurie etc without finding a match. I was looking at Harry becuase if it has been gathered from old handwritten material it may have been mis read as Larry inplace of HArry.

Just looking outside the box.

Robyn in Australia

[joygee]

Many thanks Sleat, I am very grateful for any help

[joygee]

Also many thanks to you regross, I think she made a deliberate mistake with my name, because at this time all divorces were printed in the paper. She was using her maiden name in the town so the local community wouldn't know who it referred to when the divorce (for desertion) was reported, and by this time she already had another child, less than 1 year old.  Having thought long and hard about this, its the only reason I can come up with.
Also regarding your other posting, The name I have for my father came from a copy of the marriage certificate, written in copy-book handwriting. It definitely says Larry. Some one else told me that it is an unusual name and maybe it should be Lawrence, but I can only go by what the legal document tells me.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers Joy

[joygee]

Thanks Sue (Sparrett)  I have looked for this, but not had any luck.
Thanks for the suggestion

Cheers Joy

[joygee]

Thanks Jenn, (tropicalj) I will think about your suggestion and maybe try that some time down the track. I almost give up searching and then I think of something else. Heavens, I've been doing this type of thing since 2001 and still haven't made any progress.

Always grateful for any suggestions

Cheers Joy

[JAP]

Hello Joy,

You certainly have a difficult task.

Grasping at straws I'm afraid ...

1.  I notice the following entry on the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) site.
Name: LANE (no given names or initials listed)
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sailor
Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy
Unit Text: S.S. Maas (Netherlands)
Date of Death: 11/09/1940
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 131
Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial

The site advises that "The Tower Hill Memorial commemorates men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and who have no known grave. It stands on the south side of the garden of Trinity Square, London, close to The Tower of London. The Memorial Register may be consulted at Trinity House Corporation, Trinity Square (Cooper's Row entrance), Tower Hill, London EC3 N4DH, which will be found behind the Memorial. Tel: 020 7481 6900."

Googling finds the following site:
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/ww2_u-boats.htm
which indicates that the SS Maas in Convoy OA210 was sunk by UBoat 28 in the Atlantic Ocean.

2.  I wonder whether you have consulted the NSW Post Office Directories for ARMSTRONGs (or even LANEs) in Halley St, Five Dock in the 1900s?  They are often available in State Libraries.

3.  It is interesting that there is an ARMSTRONG-LANE marriage in NSW (posted earlier by regross) - 1912 in Ashfield (not far from - virtually adjacent to - Five Dock).
Perhaps if you are in funds it might be worth getting a transcription of the marriage certificate just in case there are any clues ...  Or perhaps even to eliminate these people.

Best of luck,

JAP

[joygee]

Many thanks to you JAP,

During my many years of searching, I did come across this lane on CWG Memorial and sent an email asking for more details of this Lane but did not get a reply, so I am very pleased to have your information.
Even though my funds are limited I shall search the Armstrong-Lane marriage. Its not easy being in Australia when I expect most of the information is stored somewhere in the UK, and not being able to find  DOB, doesn't make it any easier.
Hope one day to find the needle ! Thanks again
Cheers, Joy 

[JAP]

Hello again Joy,

As the CWGC has only the surname of this Mr LANE, I suspect that there may be no more information to be had in the UK records - but who knows.

However, it was interesting to note from the entry that the SS Maas was possibly a Dutch ship.  So there might perhaps be further records in the Netherlands?  Perhaps posting on some of the forums which deal with Ships, Mariners, Mercantile Marine etc might elicit some information about SS Maas and about Dutch records?

I have never needed to obtain a NSW certificate but everybody on RootsChat seems to advise using a transcription agent (rather than purchasing the actual certificate) as it is much cheaper.

I too an in Australia (Adelaide).  All I'd have to do in order to look at the NSW Post Office directories would be to go into the State Library (and, of course, keep my fingers crossed that their holdings were complete).

Best of luck,

JAP