False Death Report

[Clarencep]

Hi
I was wondering if anyone knew where I could find out about false deaths, that were reported during the first world war.

My husbands Grt Grandfather William Edward Graham (b. 1888) was in the Durham Light Infantry (Reg Number: 22234) and during the WW1 he was believed to have been gassed and declared dead.
His wife Margaret Anna McGowan (b. 1890) receiving this information remarried, but then William turned back up.

I really need to know when this incident happened so that I can find out the new marriage dates for Margaret.... If anyone can help I would be very grateful.

Thanks
Clare x

[mmm45]

Clare
cant see his record surviving With his date of Entry 11/9/15 I suspect he was in either 14th or 15th Battalion
Theres nothing on his card that helps if he went missing presumed dead it MAY be reported in local papers with an obituary?
If he was captured and spent time as a POW he wouldve been released in Nov 1918
so you have about a 3yr window to look at bmds.

Poor bloke..she didnt spend much time grieving  but there may have been young mouths to feed..and im sure he wouldnt be the only one tto suffer this unfortunate turn of events but fair  enough on  her remarrying if she thought he was dead but im sure it caused a lot of friction when he came home alive.
Hope it was resolved

Ady

[fifer1947]

William and Margt Anna married in South Shields in the mar quarter of 1910.

I can't find any further marriages for Margt or Margt Anna McGowan after that up to 1930 in South Shields.  Do you know who she married?  I'm trying to narrow the window of opportunity.

There's a marriage Margt McGowan to an Isaac Slack in 1915 in Durham, but I have to say there are several marriages for Margaret McGowan up and down the country.

[fifer1947]

Ah! now I understand.  There are at least two children to William and Margaret,  so this is a young mum who had to find an income to feed and keep her very young children after her husband's "death".  Army pension was pathetic.  There was no welfare state, benefits back then just parish relief and it was a pittance.   

Births Jun 1912 GRAHAM    Margaret A    Mcgowan    S.Shields   
Births Sep 1914  GRAHAM Wilhelmina H    McGowan  S.Shields   

[fifer1947]

Could this be her marrying in her married surname?

Marriages Jun 1918
Graham    Margaret A    Morton    S.Shields   
Morton    Robert T            Graham    S. Shields   

[fifer1947]

It might be a good idea to get the 1911 census date in case there were other children too.

What facts does his service record contain?

[mmm45]

Theres an Henrietta aged 10 on the 11 census plus the two just found post 1911
34a Maxwell Street is address

Ady

[fifer1947]

Is this too much of a coincidence? 

Births Dec 1916
Morton    Joseph M    McGowan    S.Shields   

[fifer1947]

Births Jun 1900
GRAHAM    Henrietta        S. Shields

So his child but not Margaret's?

Can't be William was only 12 when she was born - sister?

Her marriage

Marriages Sep 1925   
Graham    Henrietta    Smith    S.Shields
Smith    John G    Graham    S.Shields