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Author Topic: Where do I start - update  (Read 2129 times)

Offline sarahkirton

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Where do I start - update
« on: Sunday 04 July 10 15:05 BST (UK) »
Hi,

I have a family legend that tells of my great uncle born in 1895, who went away to fight in the war, met an African girl and fell in love, he emigrated and married her. Obviously I don't have much to go on, I know his date of birth, parentage, where he was born, siblings. But not much else, I don't even know which War he was in, but think it was WW1, what can I do to try and start some sort of research on this character, my Mum was the prson who told me the story, but sadly she now has alzheimers so can no longer help me with my research. Only her youngest 2 siblings are still alive, and neither of them new of the story, because my Mum was older than them, she knew alot more of the family stories than they did, and she told them too me, I am now trying to follow up some of them. I know this is a needle in a haystack job, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sarah

Offline Hackstaple

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Re: Where do I start
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 04 July 10 15:50 BST (UK) »
It could hardly have been anything other than WWI. British army personnel were in various African countries during that war - South Africa, German South West Africa [now Namibia], German East Africa [now Tanzania], Egypt, Bechuanaland are those that readily come to mind.

He is more likely to married a girl in Africa than an African girl. There is a difference.

Unless he had  a very distinctive surname he will be hard to trace after emigration.

However, your best chance is to post what you do know about him here - name, date of birth and so on.
Southern or Southan [Hereford , Monmouthshire & Glos], Jenkins, Meredith and Morgan [Monmouthshire and Glos.], Murrill, Damary, Damry, Ray, Lawrence [all Middx. & London], Nethway from Kenn or Yatton. Also Riley and Lyons in South Africa and Riley from St. Helena.
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Offline sarahkirton

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Re: Where do I start
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 04 July 10 23:49 BST (UK) »
Thank you for the advice, I knew nothing of where Britain fought in Africa, so that's interesting to know, unfortunately for me his surname was Turner, but just incase anyone can help, here is what I know.

Charles Edward Richard Turner
Born 21/February/1895 in Dover, Kent
He was the son of Charles Edward (Richard) Turner and Sarah Ann Goodson, his father had the same name, although on his birth certificate it only states Charles Edward Turner, and on his later documents he has added the name Richard. Charles Snr was a soldier in both the Boer war and the first World War, and served with the Army Service Corps amongst others. Although born in Dover, they eventually moved to Reading in Berkshire, where most of the family settled, Charles Jnr is thought to have returned to England on visits at least twice, once after 1931, because he took with him his mothers salvation army bonnet after she had died, and again possibly in the seventies, on both these occasions he returned to see family in Reading. Not sure if any of this is any use, but would be glad to know anything at all.

Thanks
Sarah

Offline rutti tutti

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Re: Where do I start
« Reply #3 on: Monday 05 July 10 08:00 BST (UK) »
Hi there,
our local National archives gives references for the documents held in the archives themselves. There is a death notice reference for him dying in 1974 in Natal. If you order the death notice copy which has lots of details , there may be a will attached. You can order these very cheaply through EGGSA - see stickys at the top of this board.
Ruth

This is the info you need to order the document

DEPOT     NAB        ( Natal - Pietermarizburg repository)                                                           
SOURCE    MSCE                                                                 
TYPE      LEER   ( File)                                                               
SYSTEM    01                                                                   
REFERENCE 1567/1974      ( Needed to order notice )                                                       
PART      1                                                                     
DESCRIPTION          TURNER, CHARLES EDWARD RICHARD. BORN IN DOVER. WIDOW. DECEASED       
           ESTATE.                                                             
STARTING  19740000                                                             
ENDING    19740000                                                             
REMARKS   PREDECEASED SPOUSE UNKNOWN.     
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Offline sarahkirton

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Re: Where do I start
« Reply #4 on: Monday 05 July 10 12:00 BST (UK) »
thank you so much

Offline sarahkirton

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Re: Where do I start
« Reply #5 on: Monday 26 July 10 00:49 BST (UK) »
Hi,

Thanks to your fantastic help I have today recieved my death certificate and other document photo's from eggsa.

All the information matches, exact date and place of birth, fathers name, but the mothers name is different, Margaret Maud instead of Sarah Ann, is this a huge co-incidence and I have the wrong person, or is it likely they may have put the wrong name on the death certificate.

Thanks in advance for any help

S
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