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Topic: Where to start looking...... (Read 543 times)
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Mrs G
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 36
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hello, I am in need of advice, where do I begin looking for an Uncle of mine. I have his name and birthdate, place of birth, [Manchester UK] his parents names, marriage date, his wife's name, children's names and birth dates.
He lived in Durban after serving in the British Army during the first world war, he worked on "The Blue Train" [I think that was the name] He died in South Africa, I do not have place or date
I have looked on the FamilySearch site, RootsWeb site and many other South African sites without any luck.
Is there a "one stop shop" I can go to online.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Mrs G.
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Millward.Parr.Pheasey
Lancashire,Cheshire,Derbyshire,Shropshire.
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craizi daizi
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 929
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Mrs G
Have you tried the National Archive site
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl
Daizi
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Flisher : UK and Sth Africa and Australia Munro : Scotland, Inverness, Ross and Cromarty and Australia Prust : Bristol, UK, and Australia Woodburgess/Wood/Burgess/Wood-Burgess, Adcock/Brudenall in Lincolnshire UK and Australia Taylor :Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Australia Mathers : Montrose , Scotland and Australia Johnson : ?? and Australia Pascoe : UK and Australia and USA http://www.aronsfight.synthasite.com/index.php |
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Danchaslyn
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 596
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hello Mrs G
Did you know that 'THE BLUE TRAIN' was, and possibly still is, South Africa's premier, most luxurious, ***** silver service train, similar to the world famous, Orient Express. 
Have you thought of approaching the South Africa Railways HQ HR Dept for info, seeing that your uncle worked for the SAR, as they were known. 
The Blue Train used to run the 1000 miles between Johannesburg and Cape Town, and of course do the return trip, and as Durban is no where near either, wonder if he lived there after he retired? 
Do you know where in Durban he lived? 
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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MOE, Norway, Swaziland, and Zululand, South Africa
JORGENSON, Hole, Ringerike, Buskurud, Norway
AITKEN, Scotland, England, India, Island of St Helena, South Africa
LOBB, India and London
WALSH, India and England
SHORT, Yorkshire, England, Island of St Helena
BATEMAN, Island of St Helena, U.S.A.
YUILL, U.S.A.
FIRTH, Yorkshire, Engand
LIPTROT, various counties of England
SMITH, various counties of England
LYNCH, Yorkshire, England, Rhodesia and South Africa
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Danchaslyn
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 596
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hello Mrs G
So glad, and do hope that you will find your uncle's info from this Blue Train source, fingers crossed!
I feel every little bit of local info helps and may lead in the direction of answers! 
Please keep me posted if you can, I'm very curious and as I've spent years living in and around Durban in the not to distant past, may be able to help out with your uncle's info there.
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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MOE, Norway, Swaziland, and Zululand, South Africa
JORGENSON, Hole, Ringerike, Buskurud, Norway
AITKEN, Scotland, England, India, Island of St Helena, South Africa
LOBB, India and London
WALSH, India and England
SHORT, Yorkshire, England, Island of St Helena
BATEMAN, Island of St Helena, U.S.A.
YUILL, U.S.A.
FIRTH, Yorkshire, Engand
LIPTROT, various counties of England
SMITH, various counties of England
LYNCH, Yorkshire, England, Rhodesia and South Africa
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Mrs G
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 36
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thank you for all your help, The names of towns, and places in South Africa are new to me and leaves me floundering a bit, the Google Earth site comes in handy.
The other idea of getting in touch with the Transnet company came to a brick wall.
Do you know of a Durban Telephone site which lists residential address, I have cousins living in South Africa, I thought I may send a letter to some Millward's hoping to make a connection that way.
Bye for now, and many thanks, Mrs G
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Millward.Parr.Pheasey
Lancashire,Cheshire,Derbyshire,Shropshire.
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Danchaslyn
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 596
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hello Mrs G
I'll personal message you with the email address of the Blue Train itself and would recommend you email them with your request. 
I've found the White Pages South Africa, or South Africa White Pages very, very helpful for finding residential phone numbers of folk in South Africa.
Just bear in mind though, that if you can't find who you are looking for, it doesn't mean they aren't there. Lotsa people there choose to be ex-directory, .i.e. keep their phone numbers and addresses secret. 
Perhaps if you tell me in personal messaging, or obviously post it here, if you like, who it is in Durban, you wish to write to, I could ask my family there for help?
I know SA like the back of my hand, so anything you wish to know, don't hesitate to ask!
Good luck
Danchaslyn
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MOE, Norway, Swaziland, and Zululand, South Africa
JORGENSON, Hole, Ringerike, Buskurud, Norway
AITKEN, Scotland, England, India, Island of St Helena, South Africa
LOBB, India and London
WALSH, India and England
SHORT, Yorkshire, England, Island of St Helena
BATEMAN, Island of St Helena, U.S.A.
YUILL, U.S.A.
FIRTH, Yorkshire, Engand
LIPTROT, various counties of England
SMITH, various counties of England
LYNCH, Yorkshire, England, Rhodesia and South Africa
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Danchaslyn
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 596
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Mrs G
Had another idea, as your uncle served in the British Army, I presume this was in SA?
In Durban itself, is a wonderful museum (the city museum and art gallery are there as well), called THE OLD FORT. It was a British Garrison! Just like Pietermaritzburg (35 mls) was known as a British garrison town (during siege of Ladysmith etc!!)., but the Old Fort was actually a fort.
Wonder if the curator of the Old Fort Museum would have your uncle's war/service records?
I wish I knew how to post links, need to learn from my kids, could have done it for you... 
Good luck
Danchaslyn
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MOE, Norway, Swaziland, and Zululand, South Africa
JORGENSON, Hole, Ringerike, Buskurud, Norway
AITKEN, Scotland, England, India, Island of St Helena, South Africa
LOBB, India and London
WALSH, India and England
SHORT, Yorkshire, England, Island of St Helena
BATEMAN, Island of St Helena, U.S.A.
YUILL, U.S.A.
FIRTH, Yorkshire, Engand
LIPTROT, various counties of England
SMITH, various counties of England
LYNCH, Yorkshire, England, Rhodesia and South Africa
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Danchaslyn
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 596
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Mrs G
You will find that the old Fort mainly was constructed during 1842 and initially had many Irish soldiers, but after its was besieged by the Afrikaners, after their success in the Battle of Congella, it was kept on as a British military garrison.
Good on you you've checked the British Army records, remember to that Grahamstown, in South Africa, was also very English and had their British garrison as well.
There's an organisation, M.O.T.H.S. in SA, branches absolutely everywhere, membership of ex-soldiers, they have archivists, many direct descendants of Brits, if you contact them, am sure they would help.
Have a good holiday......
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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MOE, Norway, Swaziland, and Zululand, South Africa
JORGENSON, Hole, Ringerike, Buskurud, Norway
AITKEN, Scotland, England, India, Island of St Helena, South Africa
LOBB, India and London
WALSH, India and England
SHORT, Yorkshire, England, Island of St Helena
BATEMAN, Island of St Helena, U.S.A.
YUILL, U.S.A.
FIRTH, Yorkshire, Engand
LIPTROT, various counties of England
SMITH, various counties of England
LYNCH, Yorkshire, England, Rhodesia and South Africa
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rutti tutti
Moderator
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 822
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What was his name? If you have living relatives that you know of, you can send me a personal message. I live in Durban.
Ruth
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Danchaslyn
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 596
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hello Mrs G
I do get your point about the last male dying in 2000, but you know, Millward in SA, is not a common name, and I found that most of them, not more than 20 listed in the phone books, live around Cape Town, in the Western Cape.
There was about one only in Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State, and about one in Pretoria, near Johannesburg, and only about three in total, round about Durban, and Pietermariztburg, KZN, one on the South Coast.
Some descendants possibly amongst the three in KZN?!
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Logged
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MOE, Norway, Swaziland, and Zululand, South Africa
JORGENSON, Hole, Ringerike, Buskurud, Norway
AITKEN, Scotland, England, India, Island of St Helena, South Africa
LOBB, India and London
WALSH, India and England
SHORT, Yorkshire, England, Island of St Helena
BATEMAN, Island of St Helena, U.S.A.
YUILL, U.S.A.
FIRTH, Yorkshire, Engand
LIPTROT, various counties of England
SMITH, various counties of England
LYNCH, Yorkshire, England, Rhodesia and South Africa
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