Finding date of birth for war records

[willingtonguy]

Hi, I believe that I have located someone in both forces-war-records website and commonwealth war graves commission site. But neither site lists the birth date of the person I am researching - and neither does the photo of the grave (in Ramleh, Egypt). Without the birthdate, or some other corroborating information such as name of parent, I can't be sure that I have the correct person. Can anyone advise what next to do ?

Grateful thanks

Tony

[Milliepede]

Hi

Do you have an age for the person and a full name? 

How about looking for the person on family trees, that might corroborate what you have found 

[willingtonguy]

Thanks. Here's my siftuation. I am investigating a family with connections to my village - not my own. Winifred Joyce Forder  was born 28 July 1918, to a family with military connections. There is no record of her death in UK, or any other activity related to her, with the possible exception of a 1939 Register entry, and no other Winifred Joyce Forders in UK at all. But a Joyce Winifred Forder died on 25 Nov 1944 while with the WAAF working in accounts at El Gedida. Not, apparently, through enemy action and presumably therefore by illhealth. She is buried at Ramleh War Cemetary, Egypt. Three brothers also served in the forces.

Now there is no record of any Joyce Winifred Forder being born or existing in UK. So I have to wonder whether Winifred Joyce's names got transposed, either by her, or the enlisting officer, and once got wrong, would be stuck and near impossible to change.

So the only proof that Joyce Winifred is the same woman as Winifred Joyce would be a matching birth date. But there is no birth date in the War Graves records, or on the grave itself. No newspaper report or obit at the time.  So far I only have a hunch to go on!

I'm not aware of anyone publishing a family tree that would give a clue.

Thanks and best wishes

[Jool]

Hi Tony,

It's not unusual for people to swap their names around.  If I have followed the correct family, it seems Winifred Joyce's sister swapped her names around.  It doesn't prove anything but maybe it was common in their family.  It may give you more confidence that you have found the correct person.

Birth
Elizabeth A Forder (mmn Tait)
Dec Q 1912 Guildford 2a 196

Marriage
Elizabeth A Forder
David B L Hibbert
March Q 1949 Kensington 5c 2155

Their marriage announcement refers to her as Andrea, not Elizabeth - Kensington Post 04 February 1949.

[willingtonguy]

Thanks for posting that wedding announcement. Yes, that's the same family, and the older sister of Winifred Joyce. There were, amazingly three sets of twins born after her! One brother was to die at Anzio in 1944. Another survived to old age, having been in the Royal Artillery. And a third who was in the RAF sadly died in flying accident in 1948.

And also, there is a Brit WAAF still living in Canada, hale and hearty, who worked with Winifred Joyce Forder in the accounts department in the war and remembers her.

[Jool]

There's a pattern forming here, her brother Frank C T Forder also appears to have used his middle name (Carol) on his marriage announcement too.

Marriages
Frank C T Forder
Eileen Carroll
Sept Q 1939 London C

[barryd]

"Now there is no record of any Joyce Winifred Forder being born or existing in UK."

Free BMD Joyce W. Forder registered June Qtr. 1922,  Hackney,  mothers married  name Payne.

[willingtonguy]

Thanks Jool, certainly a trend there!

And thanks Barry, I couldn't find that one, so possibly have been on the wrong track. But only a birth date will be the final answer!

Very grateful for you taking the time to look these things up.

[medpat]

Name:   Winifred J Forder

Jul-Aug-Sep in Skipton Yorkshire West Riding
Mother's Maiden Name:   Tait

Twin Jean W A

the same mother as

Frances C A  - 1914
Frank C T  -  1914
Elizabeth  A  - 1912
Margaret K M  -  1911
Robert A D  -  1925
Alfred S D  -  1919
Kenneth A D -  1919