my grandfather

[Becky Smith]

I am trying to find any information I can about my grandfather Charles Widdows.  He was a Royal Engineer during World War II.  His hometown was Scarborough North Yorkshire.   If anyone can please advise...
Thank you,
Becky Smith

[sgf28]

Is your grandfather dead, as we can't name any living people on here.

If youknow for certain that he is, was he married? Do you know his approximate age?

[Spidermonkey]

Hi Becky - welcome to Rootschat!

As sgf28 has mentioned, we can't mention living people, but if your grandfather has passed away then I am sure we can help you. 

Start with what you already know about him - when he married, when he was born etc.

[Spidermonkey]

Did your grandfather die in the 1970s?  If so, that gives a birthdate of 7th Dec 1911, which is fortunate because 1911 was the first year that mother's maiden name was included on the birth index.

If you use www.freebmd.org.uk and then click on birth, you can search for your grandfather's birth.  You should then find a Charles R Widdows, birth registered at Scarbro 9d 755 (that is the reference number, should you wish to buy the certificate), but crucially that gives a mothers maiden name of Watson.

[Spidermonkey]

With regard to your grandfather's service record, you (or your father if he is still living) can apply for it as next of kin.  Information about that here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records#how-to-apply-for-service-personnel-records

[cath151]

Hi,
Welcome to Rootschat
Baptism St Paul, Scarborough... Charles Richard Widdows
Dec 28th 1911 (born 7th Dec)
Parents William Henry and Ethel May Widdows
6 Church St.
Fathers occ.  Cutler

Cathy

[Spidermonkey]

If you use www.freebmd.org.uk and then click on birth, you can search for your grandfather's birth.  You should then find a Charles R Widdows, birth registered at Scarbro 9d 755 (that is the reference number, should you wish to buy the certificate), but crucially that gives a mothers maiden name of Watson.

The bit in red above is important, because knowing the mothers maiden name can lead you to a marriage between your gt grandparents, and it could also lead to identifying any siblings that your grandfather had. 

If you go to the www.freebmd.org.uk site I mentioned earlier, you could click on birth, and then just put in the surname Widdows, and then the surname Watson in the space for mother surname.

Equally, if from the search page you clicked on marriage, you could input surname Widdows and surname Watson, and hopefully find a marriage for your gt grandparents.

[*Sandra*]

There is an ancestry tree for Charles Richard Widdows - born 7 December 1911 - Scarborough, Yorkshire, England passed away 1974 - Scarborough, Yorkshire Father William Henry Widdows
born 1890 - Leeds, Yorkshire, England and passed away 1957 - Scarborough, Yorkshire.
William and Ethel married 1909 Scarborough Yorkshire.
Tree mentions a sister - Irene May Widdows (married surname White - 1939)  born 19 June 1909 - Scarborough, Yorkshire, England passed away 1970 - Scarborough, Yorkshir.
Hope this helps.

Sandra