Track down Family relatives of Ballycolla RAF warhero Sgt Martin DEA

[Ad van Zantvoort]

Dear All,

       About a proposed war memorial near an aircraft crashsite at Oirschot( 15 miles NE of Eindhoven in The Netherlands) and my research to the loss and fate of this Lancaster bomber shotdown 13 June 1944 over Oirschot I searching for the family of Sergeant Martin DEA from Ballycolla, Co.Laois, in Ireland. Martin DEA was the son of Martin and Elisabeth DEA.  Sgt Martin Dea(1798041) was the Miduppergunner of an 622 squadron Lancaster bomber which was intercepted by a German nightfighter on their way to the target area ay Gelsenkirchen. I know the rules of track down, and contacting of still living members of a family but my question is to if some one can help me they could contact me through an Personal Message.

Thank you very much for your proffesional help
Adrian van Zantvoort

[dathai]

for reference his age
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2617739/DEA,%20MARTIN

[dathai]

I wonder is there possibly a bit of mistranscription going on with his name
A Martin Day married Elizabeth Maher in Abbeyleix 14th Feb 1912
and there was a Martin Day born in Abbeyleix in 1920
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FB1Z-FTR

[Ad van Zantvoort]

Hi Dathai,
 
    Firstly I must Thank you very ,very much for your reply on my request to track down the family relatives of Sgt M. Dea. Sadly the only info which i have is from the CWGC war register of Eindhoven War cemetery.  I forgot to put his age 24 on the information and Thanks for your reminder.  It could be that there is a mistranscription on Dea's name, but i am not for sure. Ballacolla was also a mistranscription(Ballycolla) I think and also Co.Leix( Laios)?? Could be that Martin Dea was born in Ballycolla?? Maybe silly questions or remarks??!!

Cheers and many Thanks again,
Adrian

[taramcdsmall]

Hi There Adrian

Leix is the old spelling of Laois

Ballycolla / Ballacolla is one and the same place, just variants in spelling but I've only ever heard the locals pronounce it Ballacolla.

Dea / Day, again one and the same name just variants in spelling.

So, Martin Dea is a rare Laois name.

Dathai looks bang on with his Martin and Elizabeth Maher scenario.

This would be Martin in 1911.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Queen_s_Co_/Cuffsborough/Springfield_or_Knockkyle/784136/

and earlier in 1901

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Queen_s_Co_/Cuffsborough/Springfield_or_Knockkyle/1642695/

This then looks like a possible for Elizabeth in 1911

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Queen_s_Co_/Killermogh/Kilminfoyle/784841/

and earlier in 1901

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Queen_s_Co_/Cuffsborough/Springfield_or_Knockkyle/1642686/

I am attaching a google map so you can see these areas in relation to Ballacolla.

These are fairly sparsely populated farming areas so Ballacolla would be the 'slightly' bigger area name that would be given.

 http://www.rootschat.com/links/01gky/


I would recommond that you contact the local GAA club ~ if anyone can help they will.

http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/1408141200-my-club-and-i-stephen-maher/

https://twitter.com/Clough_Bcolla?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Tara

[Ad van Zantvoort]

Hello Tara,

         What a wealth of information Thank you very ,very much. I shall contact the local GAA club and see what they can do for me. Will keep you posted.

Cheers,
Adrian

[taramcdsmall]

Hi Adrian,

The family appear to go by the surname O'Dea these days.

'Tis common for the O to be added and dropped during different time periods.

I shall just post a few bits that I spotted for the name in the area.

http://announce.jpress.ie/memorial/michael-o-dea/28687136

http://alfharvey.photoshelter.com/gallery/Ballacolla-Senior-Citizens/G00006zrCfcAW8F4/C0000d5JFjAm7.eU

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/IRL-LAOIS/2008-04/1207393147

http://www.from-ireland.net/abbeyleix-old-graveyard-records-laois/

Tara

[Ad van Zantvoort]

  Today I have received an email from the grandniece of Sgt Martin O'Dea so i am in touch with Martin's relatives thanks to your concern. A BIG THANK YOU ALL(Dathai, Tara and Maggsie) for your proffesional help to tracking down this family. It's very important to keep these young airmen alive. They paid the BIggest sacrifice for our freedom and we must never forget that.

Thanks again,
Adrian van Zantvoort

[dathai]

Thank's for the update Adrian glad we were of help

Dathai