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Author Topic: Granddad a big mystery!  (Read 2301 times)

Offline sherrbert

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Granddad a big mystery!
« on: Sunday 31 December 17 23:59 GMT (UK) »
My Granddad died in 1975 and was born I believe in 1891. I've been told he fought in both world wars. I cannot find a record for WW1 which I know isn't unusual. I know he lied about his age ( and probably everything else) to get into WW2 and joined up with his eldest son. He served in France and set up home with a local woman ( there were possibly children as well), my Nan didn't find this out until he died and her suspicions were confirmed by her step son. Any ideas how I can follow this up? Cheers and Happy New Year!

Offline wrjones

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Re: Granddad a big mystery!
« Reply #1 on: Monday 01 January 18 00:20 GMT (UK) »
Happy New Year to you.Your Grandad will remain a mystery to us if you don't tell us his name and exactly what your looking for.

Regards
William Russell Jones.
Jones, Griffiths. Stephens, Parry, Gabriel, Conway, Hughes, Evans, Roberts, Lea, Hanmer. Peake, Edwards. Newnes, Davies. Thomas. "Blythin".
All North Wales.
Conway, Durber, Cartlidge, Lovatt, Bebington. Brindley, Sankey, Brunt. Dean. Clewes. Rhodes. Mountford,Walker,Bache, "Gibbons"Hood. Taylor
All Stoke-on-Trent.
Francis - Nantwich Cheshire.
Dennell - Cheshire/Staffordshire.
Talbot-Shropshire
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Offline groom

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Re: Granddad a big mystery!
« Reply #2 on: Monday 01 January 18 00:21 GMT (UK) »
Do you want to give us a name and place of birth?
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Offline sherrbert

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Re: Granddad a big mystery!
« Reply #3 on: Monday 01 January 18 00:52 GMT (UK) »
His name was Harry Cole born 1891 in Ramsey, Essex (according to the birth certificate I ordered by working back from his death). He died in Newham in 1975. He married my Nan in Gravesend in 1933, he apparently a bachelor and Chief Engineer for a bus company. They had nine children, all still living and my Granddad had two children from a previous relationship. I have little memory of him so, other than that he is a mystery to me and everyone else. So anything I discover will be a revelation. Cheers

Offline groom

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Re: Granddad a big mystery!
« Reply #4 on: Monday 01 January 18 01:17 GMT (UK) »
This looks like his birth from the GRO site

COLE, HARRY    mother's maiden name    MARJORAM     
GRO Reference: 1891  J Quarter
TENDRING  Volume 04A  Page 588

Ramsey is in the Tendring registration district
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Offline maddys52

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Re: Granddad a big mystery!
« Reply #5 on: Monday 01 January 18 01:20 GMT (UK) »
John COLE married Elizabeth MARJORAM registerd in Sept qtr 1890 at Ipswich 4a/1255.

This appears to be them in 1891 at Wrabness

John Cole           34    Great Oakley, Essex  (gamekeeper)
Elizabeth Cole    29    Dennington, Suffolk
Harry Cole    9    Harwich, Essex
Daisy Cole          8    Ramsey, Essex


Modified to add: they are in Great Bromley in 1911, Harry is a general labourer.

Offline groom

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Re: Granddad a big mystery!
« Reply #6 on: Monday 01 January 18 01:22 GMT (UK) »
Is that your tree on Ancestry, if so I see you have quite a bit of information re his parents, grandparents etc, so is it just his army career that you are after?
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Online crisane

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Re: Granddad a big mystery!
« Reply #7 on: Monday 01 January 18 01:28 GMT (UK) »
Even though your grandfather's service records probably didn't survive the bombing/fire of WW11 there should still be a Medal Roll Index Card record and possbly an Award and medal record.
Very rarely do these have any personal information on them though.
The problem is sorting him out from the others when we don't have a service number or regiment.

Offline sherrbert

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Re: Granddad a big mystery!
« Reply #8 on: Monday 01 January 18 01:32 GMT (UK) »
Yes that's what I came up with and yes my tree is on Ancestry. I've gone back through census and stuff with his father John and Mother Elizabeth but I really feel like I'm flying blind and not 100% sure of what I have. I would dearly love to find something about his life after 1911 which would give me a better sense of who he was. His army days would be brilliant. Cheers
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