Hello from Southern California, USA

[weeknightingale]

Hello to All,

Warm greetings from Sunny California!

Where do I start to find where my uncle maybe be buried?

My mother was born in Glasgow and my father was in the Polish Navy. I was born in London, England. We came to the US in 1954. Just a little background on me!

I have come here with a quest to help find my uncle's burial site. My cousin got in touch with me after many many years. He has been trying to find the place where his father my mother's brother is buried. I guess it is like trying to find a needle in a hay stack when not having all the specific details.

All I know at this time is that my uncle died in 1953 at the Seaman's Hospital located in Greenwich, Kent. He was born in Glasgow 1915 Arthur John Robin.

I will come on here again if I am able to get any other specific information and post in the appropriate forum. All comments are appreciated, thank you!
THANK YOU to all the dedicated people who have spent many hours searching and helping others find their long lost relatives.
Where do I start?

Thank you and best wishes,
Karola

[Nick29]

Karola, the first thing you need to do is to establish the exact date of your uncle's death by tracing his death certificate.  You can look this up on the FreeBMD site or on sites like Ancestry. 

Once you've established exactly when he died, you can try to find out where he was buried.  Unfortunately, all the records from the Seaman's Hospital (known as Dreadnought) pre-1948 were destroyed as a result of WW2 bombing - see http://www.seahospital.org.uk/tracing_seafarers.htm

The death certificate will at least reveal who registered the death, which may give you some clues.  It's possible that your uncle was buried in the nearest churchyard (St Alfeges, Greenwich), but it's also possible that if there were other family members involved, they may have had his body buried somewhere else.

[weeknightingale]

Hello Nick,

Thank you for your informative reply! This helps me get some ideas of what to do and where to start.
I realise it is important to have as much information to even start a search.

But a good strategy will help us  look in the right places. Thank you for your kind reply.

Nice to know there are so many dedicated people here.

Best wishes,
Karola



 

[Nick29]

I hope you're successful 

Let us know how you got on.  I noticed your family tree on Ancestry whilst trying to help.

[Arranroots]

Hi Karola (and Nick of course!)

I'll move this to the Kent board, where you might get some more specialised local knowledge to add to what Nick has already told you.

Kind regards, Arranroots 

[ricky1]

Hi Karola


Welcome to Roots, I have checked the BMD's for an Arthur Robin death from 1945 to 1950 and couldnt see one

regards
ricky

[casalguidi]

There is a Merchant Seaman's  pouch for R109897 ROBIN A J  born 20/03/1915 GLASGOW at the National Archives, Kew, London - would that be him?  Search the catalogue of the National Archives for (name) ROBIN A J http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/

The pouches vary as to what they may contain see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=128#4

I could see what I think could be him on a crew list 1943 so searched deaths 1943 and 1944 but couldn't see him

Casalguidi

[weeknightingale]

Hi Karola (and Nick of course!)

I'll move this to the Kent board, where you might get some more specialised local knowledge to add to what Nick has already told you.

Kind regards, Arranroots 

Thank you, Arranroots.
 Sending my happy thoughts through the looking-glass.
♡ ƙarola                           

[weeknightingale]

Hi Karola


Welcome to Roots, I have checked the BMD's for an Arthur Robin death from 1945 to 1950 and couldnt see one

regards
ricky

Thank you, Ricky for the warm welcome!  Thanks  for checking I really appreciate your help!
Wish I could send a big HUG through the looking-glass but my computer is limited!

Karola