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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: Catherine Wait on Wednesday 17 January 18 08:44 GMT (UK)

Title: Militray Records
Post by: Catherine Wait on Wednesday 17 January 18 08:44 GMT (UK)

Hi, I am trying to get copies of Military records from the  Dept of Defence Archives.  I know you can e-mail the request directly to them which I have tried and ultimately got no response.  Does anyone know of a researcher that could help?

Thanks
Catherine

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: 3sillydogs on Wednesday 17 January 18 11:26 GMT (UK)

 Hi there



Nel - Medal Research   has a Facebook page, he is a genealogist,  specialising in the Military.  There is a contact adress on the Facebook page or you can post on the page itself or use the contact number, but it is for a mobile phone. 

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: Catherine Wait on Wednesday 17 January 18 17:25 GMT (UK)

Thanks, I'll give him a try.

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: 3sillydogs on Tuesday 23 January 18 12:37 GMT (UK)

Just a thought, how far back are the records you are looking for?

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: Catherine Wait on Wednesday 24 January 18 05:42 GMT (UK)

Hi, WW1 and WW2. Have contaceted Dewald, waiting for him to get back to me.

Thanks
Catherine

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: Catherine Wait on Wednesday 24 January 18 06:32 GMT (UK)

Hi again, I see you are in Durban, do you know if it is possible to get copies / info from any Durban newspaper for  27/2/1940?  Looking for a incident, a 9year old boy was hit and dragged under a truck outside the Alhambra theatre (well, that is what the family tells me!!!).
Thanks
Catherine

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: 3sillydogs on Wednesday 24 January 18 08:50 GMT (UK)

The are likely copies of newspapers in the Archives, not sure if they would be in Durban or Pietermaritzburg.  The genealogy site www.eggsa.org has some newspapers that have been transcribed on the site.

Genealogybank also seems to have some, but it is a subscription site.

If you have his name it may make the search easier.

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: Catherine Wait on Wednesday 24 January 18 11:55 GMT (UK)

Hi there, have tried eggsa - not much transcribed and pretty random date wise, will have a look at the other site - Thanks.  His name was James Wait, and I would think it would have been reported on as it was tragic.

Thanks
Catherine

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: 3sillydogs on Wednesday 24 January 18 12:12 GMT (UK)

Hi

The link to James' grave in the Stellawood Cemetery in Durban, don't know if you have it.

http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=3238627

The report would most likely have been either in the Natal Mercury or the Daily News, the Durban daily newspapers.

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: Catherine Wait on Wednesday 24 January 18 16:05 GMT (UK)

Hi, Yes I do have the grave - my thoughts exactly, one of the Durban papers must have published something, maybe even the PMB based papers as well. Would be great if our newspapers were digitised as Australia's are - amazing research tool and interesting as well.  If only someone would pay me to do it!!!! Thanks for the ideas

Regards
Catherine

Title: Re: Militray Records
Post by: 3sillydogs on Thursday 25 January 18 08:36 GMT (UK)

You could try contacting one of the local Durban papers directly and ask what the process would be to get information from their archives, even a back copy of the article, as you say there most likely would have been one.  You have the date so it shouldn't be difficult for them to find any information.

If you Google the names of the papers there are contact details.  There may be a small fee involved but would be considerably less I think than asking a researcher to do it.

Sue