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Author
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Topic: My mystery POW (Read 358 times)
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rancegal
RootsChat Extra
 Offline
Posts: 92
Georgiana Smith, my great-grandma
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I used to know a lovely lady called Miriam who died in 1992. She told me this story. Her first husband, Arnold, was captured by the Germans at Dunkirk (I got that wrong; he was shot down) and was held as a prisoner of war. Towards the end of the war they were being marched westwards when an RAF plane came over and strafed them, thinking they were Germans. Arnold was killed.
I have always been moved by the story and would love to find out more about him, BUT this is the sum of my knowledge:
Her name was Miriam, maiden name unknown. She was possibly from somewhere near Rotherham. Married again to a Reg (?) Smart. Died 1992
His name was Arnold, surname unknown, probably from Northampton. Probably died 1944/45
Her second husband was ?Reg Smart whom she may not have married until the 50s or later, as she said she was by then too old to have children. He died suddenly in the 1980s
It's not much, I know. I can access Ancestry at my local library, but I would be really grateful for any suggestions as to how I can go about it. I have to use online info as much as I can both for financial reasons and because I can't get to the RO. I'm posting this in the Common Room in the hope that more people will see it. Thanks in anticipation.
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« Last Edit: Friday 25 July 08 17:26 BST (UK) by rancegal »
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Bridge: GT Catworth, Hunts, and surrounding area
French: Blisworth, and W. Northants
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mangomania
RootsChat Senior
Offline
Posts: 477
Me and three Nains, pic restored by rootschatters
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Hi Rancegal
Working backwards I'd look for Miriam's death, which may give her birth date.
Then look up her birth.
Then I'd trawl through the marriages from 18 years after her birth, which would give possible surnames for Arnold.
Then perhaps the commonwealth war graves commission site to look for Arnold amongst the casualties.
Hope this helps
Ian
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Co-ordinator of North Staffs (41, 61 & 91) Middlesex 61, 91 & Cambs 61 for FreeCEN Researching: Cameron, Slator, Keep, Bramidge, Kirk, Mellor, Cox, Howse, Cordell, Clayton, Jones, Evans & Williams Census information posted is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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glenclare
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 75
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Miriam Doris Smart
born 11/1/1911
died jan 1992 in Northampton
age 81
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glenclare
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 75
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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I think I have found your missing POW.
I will post the details for you unless you would prefer to search for him yourself.
Glen
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kyt
RootsChat Veteran
Offline
Posts: 553
WW2 Chat Forum http://ww2chat.com/
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Hi Rancegal
Was just browsing around the forum when I came across this thread. I think I have the same man as Glenclare found for you. If you would like details about how he was captured then I can PM the details. There is also a picture of him available, if you haven't already found it.
If you would like to explore the forced marches undertaken by the POWs in the closing months of the war (some marched over 1000 miles), then I would highly recommend The Last Escape: The Untold Story of Allied Prisoners of War in Germany 1944-1945 Tony Rennell and John Nichol. I can't get at my copy at this precise moment and so cannot check if that particular strafing attack is mentioned (sadly there were a number of such incidents because the long columns of POWs often looked like marching Germans and some guards refused to allow the prisoners to display Red Crosses to warn off aircraft)..
K
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