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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Shropshire => England => Shropshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: rspltd on Saturday 08 July 17 23:14 BST (UK)

Title: Brick wall
Post by: rspltd on Saturday 08 July 17 23:14 BST (UK)
I would love to get started on my family tree but I have hit a brick wall right at the beginning!! Allegedly the mother of my mother was a Phyllis Davies - no father declared who was WAAF number 2106561 and reported living at 5  BrynCastle Terrace Gobowen, Salop. I can find no birth for this lady, no marriage subsequently anfpd the WAAF number (and name) turns up a blank. Surely all the information can't be wrong? Any help/ advice gratefully received PS 1939 registration no help either.
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: avm228 on Saturday 08 July 17 23:19 BST (UK)
At what date was Phyllis said to be resident at that address?

Also you say 1939 is no help, but you don't say why - are you saying you have found the address and Phyllis is not listed there?

Did your mother know her mother at all, or was she adopted into a different family?
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: pete edwards on Saturday 08 July 17 23:55 BST (UK)
Could be a start

Births Jun 1918   (>99%)
Davies    Phylis P    Ing_an    St.Asaph    11b   494

Pete,  :)
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: groom on Sunday 09 July 17 00:01 BST (UK)
We need to know a little more about the background - did your mother know anything about her mother eg when was she born and when did she die? Or was she adopted and you want to find her birth family?
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: crisane on Sunday 09 July 17 00:42 BST (UK)
You can apply for her service records which are still held by the MoD
The National Archives guide is here
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/womens-royal-air-force-personnel/
It gives a link to download application forms which will cost you. The only problem being that you do need  a death certificate.
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: rspltd on Sunday 09 July 17 08:27 BST (UK)
Thanks for the replies. Answering in order- this was the address given on the birth certificate in 1945 when my mother was born in an unmarried mother's hospital in London.  My Mother was adopted. I cannot find the address in  the 1939 records although it does seem to be Bryn y Castle Terrace Gobowen. My Mother didn't know or try to trace her mother until after her death - we have a death certificate so will apply for her service record.
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: avm228 on Sunday 09 July 17 08:31 BST (UK)
My Mother didn't know or try to trace her mother until after her death - we have a death certificate so will apply for her service record.

You have Phyllis' death certificate?  So you must know the name in which she died and her age at death (or even her precise birthdate, depending on when she died)?
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: rspltd on Sunday 09 July 17 22:54 BST (UK)
Duff information I'm afraid. The death certificate was offered by someone else and proved not to be the right one. I suspect the only route we can go down is the service record. Hopefully this should tell us if Phyllis was a member of the household rather than being billeted there and her birth date and place. I've not seen a service record before so am speculating. Worth a punt!
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: groom on Sunday 09 July 17 23:16 BST (UK)
The problem, as Crisane, said is that without a death certificate it doesn't look as if you can apply for her records.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-deceased-service-personnel
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: rspltd on Monday 10 July 17 07:40 BST (UK)
Many thanks for this. Having read it through it doesn't look good. Assuming an age of 20 for the birth that would give Phyllis a dob of c. 1925 which still means she could be alive. Without a possible married name it would be difficult to trace her death. I suppose I could apply to the Mod telling them of the scenario. I only want the dob and place so there may be extenuating circumstances. That seems to be my only hope. Thanks for the response.
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: Comberton on Monday 10 July 17 10:22 BST (UK)
From the 1939 Register

Phyllis Davies b1920
Living in Ellesmere RD, Shropshire
Well worth a look
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: groom on Monday 10 July 17 10:58 BST (UK)
From the 1939 Register

Phyllis Davies b1920
Living in Ellesmere RD, Shropshire
Well worth a look

Good find - looks very possible.
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: Maggsie on Monday 10 July 17 16:16 BST (UK)
Hi,
Gobowen comes under Oswestry.
There are 9 Phyllis Davies in the list.
There is one in 1923.
Bryn y Castle Terrace is still there, off School lane.
Maggsie
Title: Re: Brick wall
Post by: rspltd on Tuesday 11 July 17 12:22 BST (UK)
Thanks to everyone who replied. I am well on the way now. What a great site.