Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Looking for an obituary  (Read 545 times)

Offline GillianF

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 197
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Looking for an obituary
« on: Thursday 02 January 25 14:57 GMT (UK) »
My brother-in-law remembers sitting with his mother in 2009 or 2010 and looking at obituaries in The Daily Telegraph.  It was her habit to check them daily (probably making sure she wasn't in them!) and there was an obituary of a Flight Lieutenant which featured a photograph of a plane and the young chap standing beside it or on the wing in shorts was my father-in-law as a young man/new recruit.

I have been trying to find the obituary/photo.  So, does anyone have access to the newspaper's archives or can suggest where I might look?  I have looked on the website of 'Aircrew Remembered' but not found anything.

Father-in-law was based with air sea rescue in Tenby in 1942 and we think that was what/where the photo referred to.

Thank you!

Offline *Sandra*

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 60,365
  • Marie Curie
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for an obituary
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 02 January 25 15:03 GMT (UK) »


Do you have a name, that we can check ?
"We search for information, but the burden of proof is always with the thread owner"

Census information is Crown Copyright  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

British Census copyright The National Archives; Canadian Census copyright Library and Archives Canada

Offline GillianF

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 197
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for an obituary
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 02 January 25 15:06 GMT (UK) »
No, sorry.  My brother-in-law describes the obituary as "a random Flight Lieutenant" and a photo of a bi-plane or seaplane in the background with his father standing on the wing in shorts.  Father-in-law was 'Fleming' but I don't think he would have been named.  Best guess on date is 2009 or 2010 but could have been 2007 or 2008!

I have found lots of obituaries on the 'Aircrew Remembered' website but none of those relating to Flight Lieutenants show a suitable photograph.

Offline Comberton

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 2,338
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for an obituary
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 02 January 25 15:21 GMT (UK) »

Offline CaroleW

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 73,818
  • Barney 1993-2004
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for an obituary
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 02 January 25 17:38 GMT (UK) »
Hi Gillian

I have asked the moderator to consider locking this thread to prevent duplication of info already posted on last years thread

Without a name or date it's virtually "Mission Impossible" as I suspect you have already found via your own efforts to find it
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Carlin (Ireland & Liverpool) Doughty & Wright (Liverpool) Dick & Park (Scotland & Liverpool)

Offline GillianF

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 197
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for an obituary
« Reply #5 on: Friday 03 January 25 11:03 GMT (UK) »
A good idea to link the two threads - thank you.

Advice has been that without a name for the obituary it is hard (impossible) to search.   I have looked at my father-in-law's memories and although he talks about his time as air sea rescue in Tenby in 1942 (which my brother-in-law says was a feature of the obituary) he doesn't mention any names.  I have looked at his military service records which I have and, again, no names of commanding officers etc. mentioned.

So frustrating!

Offline GillianF

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 197
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for an obituary
« Reply #6 on: Monday 06 January 25 14:44 GMT (UK) »
An Update after a weekend of searching.  I have looked at a lot of online DailyTelegraph obituaries and on the website of 'Aircrew Remembered'.  I contacted the latter website and they suggested that with my father-in-law's military records I could identify the relevant RAF Squadron and get the Operational Service Records to identify Flight Lieutenants to search in the obituaries.

I have looked at father-in-law's service record and memoires and cannot see any mention of RAF Squadrons or people by name.

He does say he was conscripted on 15th December 1942 and reported to RAF Cardington and then the Marine Force Division (RAF) at Tenby in Wales.  He also mentions being at Weston-Supermare and RAF Locking for training but that's it!

Any suggestions please ............
Pages: [1]