Fromelles Missing - UK lads in the AIF

[fedelmar]

This original list was posted by me as being one of the two researchers in Australia working on the family history of the 191 Australians.  I will put up what I have to date on these men.

[majm]

Progress Report

OH and I are getting very disappointed in the way these lads AIF records have not got the same info as on that list.  We are disappointed in the lack of care that who-ever transcribed them in the initial forming of that list.  

Here are some examples that we have noticed, and we hope these will NOT deter our rootschatter friends from figuring out how to help Liverpool Annie, cause it's not her errors, its just disappointing.

397 Private Douglas CASWELL
Born: Powyke, Worcestershire, England
NOK: Eberron and Sophie CASWELL (parents)
Stockton, Newcastle
Douglas’ Occupation in AUS – butcher,
N o K addresses: are for NSW Stockton Newcastle, NOT for NEWCASTLE UK. Douglas St, Stockton Newcastle NEW SOUTH WALES, clearly shown on page 1 of his AIF enlistment papers. He was 21 years, no months when he enlisted on 16 July 1915.  His place of birth is shown several times as POWYKE, WORCHESTERSHIRE ENG.
On Feb 6th 1923, his mother signed for his medal, and in earlier years for other memorials, her first name clearly Sophie, and her middle initials were M and C. His father signed for some medals too, in earlier years and on 2 Feb 1923.

889 Private Henry GARDINER (GARDNER)
Born: Whitewell, Yorkshire
NOK: Elizabeth Ann ASHTON (sister)
Address: 92 Victoria Rd, Walton Le Dale, Preston, Lancashire
Henry GARDNER (NO “I” IN HIS SIGNATURE)’s birth place shows on enlistment as Bowland Forest PARISH, at Whitewell, Yorkshire. He was 28 years 11 months when enlisting on 20 July 1915 at Liverpool NSW. He worked at an Asylum in Parramatta (Sydney NSW), and his employer wrote and enquired after him.  Mrs E A ASHTON of 92 Victoria Rd Walton Le Dale, Preston, Lancs received his effects and returned the required form for same on 14 May 1917. Yes, she was his sister, and she signed for medals in July 1922

3819 Private James John HARRIS
Born: Kingston, Dublin, Ireland
NOK: James and Kate HARRIS (parents)
Address: East Pier Battery, Kingston, Dublin, Ireland
James John was aged 26 years 7 months on enlistment on 1 November 1915.  He was born in the parish of Christchurch in Kingstown, Dublin, Ireland. His N O K was his mother Kate, of East Pier Battery, Kingstown, Dublin.   This was also the address that his father (James.) wrote from in Feb 1920. Jas Harris (father) was then aged 73, and Kate (mother) was 60.

Ummm, we will continue to go through each lad.  We have NOT found Sydney Dennis yet, but we are trying, and we are hoping others will help too.

Just Moi and my OH

[majm]

This original list was posted by me as being one of the two researchers in Australia working on the family history of the 191 Australians.  I will put up what I have to date on these men.

Hope you understand that we are NOT disappointed in you, but we are in A W E of your efforts and are trying to help.

Just Moi and OH

[fedelmar]

We have been working for 18 months on this research sometimes 7 days a week and 14 hours a day.
The research has been compiled from various sources and taking the most recent information as opposed to the oldest and ages were purposely rounded off to the nearest year.

Bright Blessings
Sandra

www.fromelles.net

[fedelmar]

There is a specific methodolgy with the research (Ideally we need to follow the lineage of a female line) and our need to locate family in the UK for these men. 

This is what we have put together for WASS.

NOK   Father: Germain Wass
   Known address: Morend Farm Chellaston Derbyshire England
   
   Mother: Harriett Wass

   Brother: Herbert Wass

   Brother: Arthur Wass

   Sister: Margaret Wass

   Sister: Ellen Wass

   Sister: Lizzie Wass

   Brother: George Wass
   Known address: 2nd Street Pelaw Main NSW

[silvery]

SYDNEY DENNIS

1901
24 (no street name)
Streatham
RG13/474/101/43

William Dennis head mar 32 milk carrier b London Brixton
Nellie E wife 27 b Bucks n/k
Dorothy daur 4  B London Balham
Sydney W son 1 do
Marle Johnson visitor single 27 living on own account b Oxon Oxford

Can't see an obvious marriage for Dorothy. Lets hope this couple had more children after Sydney ... 

When I look in 1911 there seems to be another family in Wandsworth, all b earlier
But these are the names we've got.

William Dennis 41 b 1879
Nellie 36/1875
Dorothy 14/1897
Sydney W 11/1900

[fedelmar]

NAME   Caswell, Douglas            
SN   397            
RANK    Private            
UNIT   30 Battalion            
HONOUR   Standard entitlements            
BORN   Powyke Worcestershire England            
OCCUPATION   Butcher            
RELIGION   Anglican            
               
DOE   16.07.1915 Liverpool NSW            
AGE   21            
               
               
STATUS   KIA            
DATE   20.07.1916            
AGE   22            
BURIED   Unknown
MEMORIAL   VC Corner Cemetery Memorial panel 2
   AWM 116
   
DESCRIPTION   5 foot 8 with fair hair
   
NOTES   
   
   
NOK   Father: Eberron Caswell
   deceased on enlistment
   
   Mother: Sophie M C Caswell daughter of Peter (Gateshead?)
   She died 1953 aged 87 Newcastle Reg No 29366
   Douglas Street North Stockton Newcastle NSW
   

[majm]

Hi Sandra,

The AIF records actually have the details that these lads supplied when enlisting, documents filled out in their own hands, and while some may have fibbed about their ages to make themselves eligible (either upped or lowered at either end of the "scale") there are valid reasons to go straight to "primary" records from these lads.   We both salute the 18 months of research, and we are only trying to help now, as we were unaware that there was not a definite DNA match for each lad.  We had understood from various media coverages here in Australia that DNA had been obtained for some possible 400 lads who may have been killed in action there.  

Good thoughts from us both, and we will continue to try to glean other clues from those AIF enlistment records, as the rootschatters do need that type of detail to "isolate" the various census records from other likely families/possibles.  

Just US.

[fedelmar]

NAME   Gardiner, Henry (AKA Gardner)               
SN   889               
RANK    Private               
UNIT   30 Battalion               
HONOUR   Standard entitlements               
BORN   Bishop's House Dunsop Bridge Yorkshire               
   Bowland Forrest Whitewell Yorkshire               
OCCUPATION   Asylum Attendant               
RELIGION   Roman Catholic               
                  
DOE   14.07.1915 Liverpool NSW               
AGE   29               
   Residence on embarkation:               
                  
STATUS   KIA               
DATE   20.07.1916 (19.07.1916)               
AGE   30
BURIED   Unknown
MEMORIAL   VC Corner Cemetery Memorial Panel 2
   AWM 117
   
DESCRIPTION   6 foot with dark hair
   
NOTES   CAUTION: George Gardiner 8th Bn has service number 889
   
   Henry has filled in his form as GARDNER
   Sister has filled in form as GARDNER
   Attestation is GARDINER
   NAA is GARDNER
   CWGC is GARDINER
   Part of AWM is GARDINER and rest is GARDNER

NOK   Sister: Elizabeth Ann Ashton 92 Victoria Rd Walton Le Dale near Preston Lancashire