Allan Neill Private Royal Army Service Corps service number 224240/ 2202110

[dbree]

Hi,

I think the PVT notation beside Marga's name means a private internment (non military). Perhaps
the long delay in her burial was because Arlington National Cemetery has the strictest rules of
any cemetery and burials cannot be pre-arranged, only at time of death. Lots of paperwork,
especially as she remarried and divorced.

Lt. Col. Carl Colson and Captain Russell Johansen were killed in a military plane crash on a test
flight in the Catskills, in NY November 1, 1962.
https://www.meetup.com/hvhikers/events/228893284/

From the Schenectedy, New York Gazette, November 2, 1962
Kingston, NY, Nov. 1, Two veteran pilots were killed today when their T-33 Air Force jet trainer crashed and burned in a densely wooded area 30 miles from here. An official at Stewart Air Force Base identified the two pilots as Captain Russell Johansen of Plainsville, Connecticut, father of three and Lieutenant Colonel Carl Colson of Cocoa, Florida, father of two children. The Air Force said both pilots were instructors.

DB

[dbree]

Hi,

There is an obituary for Marga in the Detroit Free Press, Dec. 28, 1999, snippets only I'm afraid.
2nd one down, and use the arrows to toggle. There is mention of two daughters, a sister or two
and five brothers.
https://freep.newspapers.com/search/#query=marga+h.+colson&ymd=1999-12-28

DB

[dbree]

Hi,

There is a large sheet manifest for the 1948 NY arrival. It is fuzzy and hard to read.
Colson, Carl, age 26, occupation pilot, b. US
Colson, Margaret, age 23, housewife, b. Brit.
Colson, R, (female) age 7, b. Brit.
Colson, C, (female) age 12 months, b. Brit.
Address 65 Buckley Ave, Merton Park

DB

[SHUSHIE]

Hi,

There is a large sheet manifest for the 1948 NY arrival. It is fuzzy and hard to read.
Colson, Carl, age 26, occupation pilot, b. US
Colson, Margaret, age 23, housewife, b. Brit.
Colson, R, (female) age 7, b. Brit.
Colson, C, (female) age 12 months, b. Brit.
Address 65 Buckley Ave, Merton Park

DB

Can not find a birth for the child R Colson? that would make her born in 41, and don't explain why she gave away a child born 42 father Allan Neill?

[groom]

Gosh, this woman is a real mystery isn't she, look at all the different names she uses or is known under?

The fact that she uses the maiden name of Milroy looks as if she may have been born out of wedlock as well.

So it now looks as if she remarried after Carl's death, divorced and reverted back to the Coleson name.

[groom]

Can not find a birth for the child R Colson? that would make her born in 41, and don't explain why she gave away a child born 42 father Allan Neill?

I can't find a birth either, but it's a bit difficult not knowing the child's first name or where she was registered.

However, could that be why she gave the Neill child away? She was in a relationship with Carl, who was away fighting in the war. She met Allan Neill, a British soldier and had his child, but had her fostered or adopted so that Carl wouldn't know? On his return she had another child with Carl, married him and went to America.

[SHUSHIE]

Can not find a birth for the child R Colson? that would make her born in 41, and don't explain why she gave away a child born 42 father Allan Neill?

I can't find a birth either, but it's a bit difficult not knowing the child's first name or where she was registered.

However, could that be why she gave the Neill child away? She was in a relationship with Carl, who was away fighting in the war. She met Allan Neill, a British soldier and had his child, but had her fostered or adopted so that Carl wouldn't know? On his return she had another child with Carl, married him and went to America.

         

That sounds likely, according to the newspaper snippet from what I can see the child R is Rosalind? the Child R and the child she gave away were very close in age My lady was 1942 and I think child R was before 41 so she was with Colson 1st  so it sounds like she was having a relationship with Allan Neill while Colson was away for certain......

[groom]

This could be a complete red herring, but on Googling Carl Colson, this came up

https://www.carlcolsonknives.com/

It's based in Florida where Carl lived, so I wonder if there is any connection as it's an unusual name? Might be worth emailing them and asking?

[Annette7]

Going back to Margaret's arrival in 1948 her mother shown as a Mrs. McClure - just checked SP and a Jeanie McGuffie Milroy married a Walter McClure 1924 Maybole (the year after Margaret's birth).

And now for the object of this thread - Allan Neill - and 'eureka'!!

Margaret Handlin Milroy married said Allan Neill 30/1/1940 Carrington, Midlothian, details as follows:

Allan Neill 22, plumber, of 11 Sanghree (??hard to read) Cottages, Rosewell, son of Allan Neill, coal miner, and Agnes nee Houston
Margaret Handlin Milroy 17, of Edgelaw, Gorebridge, dau. of Jeanie Milroy, afterwards married to Walter McLure, ploughman (fathers details just has a line through it).

Witnesses were a Jessie R G Milroy and Thomas Cooke.

(His parents married in 1917 at Galston (Ayrshire) and as he was 22 in Jan.1940 when he married Margaret he was probably born late that same year - SP shows an Allan Neill birth in 1917 Hamilton (Lanarkshire) which may possibly be him.

Possible birth for a daughter with the Christian name previously mentioned plus initials J.R in 1941 at registration district George Square (Edinburgh).

So, did Allan Neill and Margaret divorce?   I can't see any casualty for this name being killed in WW2.

Just checked on SP for a death entry for an Allan Neill bc.1917/8 and there is just one in 2009 Edinburgh Central so possibly him and if the couple did divorce he probably would have remarried too.

Whatever happened, clearly Margaret had care of her firstborn daughter and presumably something happened around/soon after the birth of their 2nd child so without knowing the details don't think we should malign the lady too much.   Allan could have deserted her and she simply couldn't cope with a newborn baby and a toddler.

So, at least we now know who Allan Neill was and that he and Margaret had indeed been married.

Annette