Request for Info

[plod3091]

Good evening, as I am new to this please forgive any mistakes.

I am looking to trace any information on my late grandfather Thomas Danks. I know he was associated with the Bradford Pals and Leeds Pals I have camera footage of him setting off on a trip to France and the bus had a note on the window saying Bradford/Leeds Pals.

He trained at a place called Colsterworth as I remember visiting it as a young child, I know he ran communications wires in the trenches as I read that in one of his diaries many years ago. I am trying to track down which regiment he was a member of and what active service he saw.

Is this too much of an ask or can anyone help me?

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

Could you tell us your grandfathers birthyear and confirm whether he was born in Yorkshire as well as living there?

Re: active service - WW1 or WW2?

If WW2 - please see  http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=651361.0

[plod3091]

I do not unfortunately have his year of birth but would be around 1895-7. He did live in Yorkshire. His sister lived in Leeds so I am assuming a lot that that is probably where he was born as well but I cannot confirm this. I am looking for war service WW1 if this info helps.

I know also he was a private soldier

[CaroleW]

The only birth reg in Yorkshire was 1899 - Sheffield.

Let's try another way.  What was your grandmothers christian name and maiden name

What year did your grandfather die and did he die in Yorkshire?  I can only find 3 deaths for his name in Yorkshire and 2 had middle names.  None were born in the 1890's

[CaroleW]

There is a death in Bradford in 1981 for a Tom Danks b January 1895

[plod3091]

That is him. I always thought his name was Thomas!

[CaroleW]

It may well have been his christian name at birth - difficult to say without more info as there is no Tom Danks birth in 1895

It's not looking as though he was born in Yorkshire so more info is needed as there are many Thomas Danks entries on the WW1 medal roll index but no WW1 service records for his name

Over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz

From my reply above so I can see what name he married under

What was your grandmothers christian name and maiden name

[Annette7]

Checking other Danks deaths in Bradford the only likely female who could be is wife was a Mary J. R. bc.1893 (forgot to note when she died).

I then looked for a Mary J. R. who married a Danks and found Mary J. R. Jones married Thomas Danks in Mar.qtr.1920 West Derby, Lancashire.

Looking at census looks like Thomas Danks was probably born in Birmingham but there are 2/3 contenders.    If you can confirm he married a Mary you might have to purchase marriage certificate to confirm the name of his father to pin down which Thomas Danks is yours.

Annette

[Annette7]

Looks like I found right marriage but wrong Thomas.

There is an public online tree that shows Thomas Danks born (Mar.qtr.) 1895 (West Derby, Lancs) - 1901 Census states birthplace as Liverpool.

His parents are shown on the tree as Thomas Guy Danks and Aylison Mary Hulse who married 1894 Liverpool and he had a sister named Doris Aylison in 1901 so don't know if this is the sister you refer to.

He is shown as marrying 1920 to Mary Jane Rennie Jones (both of them dying in Bradford) and that they had a daughter born in 1927.

Annette