The following is a positive answer from his UK family;
.........................................................................................
Hi Joe,
I have been in contact with Norman and Alan, Albert's sons. This is their
reply...
"We have decided that this is our dad! On three counts:-
The signature on the back of the photo is identical in style to the one
he was still using right up to the end of his life.
Alan, my brother, looked at Mum's marriage certificate, and there he is
described as a corporal.
Although at first I did not think the photo looked like him, a
comparison with the other one you mentioned shows that the chin and cheek
line are very similar, as well as the nose. It's the hat that makes him look
different.
The signature really confirms it.
Why the photo is with Joe 's folk we can only guess. The card
is from France, but not written on, so I guess Dad sent it to Australia in
and envelope. The number by his signature is probably his number as a
soldier, and is included for the censor's satisfaction. Maybe there was a
letter with the card, but the rather formal 'Sincerely yours' suggests to me
that he may not have known the addressee very well.
Dad's best friend in the army was Norman Drummond, a
Methodist whom befriended him on the troop ship going to Europe. (I was
named after him.) Norman was later an executive in the Far West Children's
Charity. If that rings any bells with Joe's folk that may explain the
connection. But that is a long shot. Dad must have had many other contacts
back home."
Norman!
We would be interested in finding the connection to your family. Does any of
that information help?
Cheers,
Scott.
.......................................................................................
So it looks like this will be an ongoing project
I have responded by providing the following;
...............................................................................
I am so glad that the image has come home to roost.
The question now is 'How did it arrive with my folk?"
I can be eliminated from the equation as I am a 'blow in' and arrived in
Australia in 1947 as a Royal Marine and married an Australian girl.
The family names in her family were;
Finch;Harding;Bell;Gill;Muir;McGee and Clarke
My best guess is with the Muir McGee group who were closely related and I
have attached a newspaper clipping that is relevant to this group.
William Crawford Muir father of the Muir that died at Gallipoli married into my wife's family.
............................................................................................
Joe
