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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Dublin => Topic started by: IAFC55 on Wednesday 20 September 17 11:17 BST (UK)
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Hi, I am the chairman of the Dublin branch of the Western Front Association and have been contacted by the Fromelles Association of Australia with regards to the above man. They are the group that are trying to identify the bodies Australian soldiers of WW1 that were discovered in a mass grave near Fromelles in France a few years ago. They know from a German casualty list that James was buried in the grave and are trying to find a descendant to do DNA tests.
They gave me the following info:
An OPW memo dated 1948 reads: "These quarters [residential buildings in the battery] were occupied by Mr. James Harris up to the date of his death on 31/1/36 at a rent equivalent to the rates assessable on a P.L.V of 'a37.. His widow was allowed to remain at the premises at the same rent until her death on 9/9/39. Subsequently the premises were occupied by Mr. Thos. Sutherland, a grandson of Mr. Harries until 1940.....
Another interesting memo of 1948 reads; "James Harris was placed in the quarters by the British War Office. He was employed by the Bd. [Board of Works?] as a labourer from 1891 to 1920 when he was appointed caretaker of the Battery. His services were dispensed within 1933, but he was allowed to remain on a tenant in view of his advanced age"
They also tell me that they have had no luck tracing descendants of his siblings and are now looking for info on his father and grandparents.
Regards
IanC
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What relation to the James Harris buried in the mass grave is James Harris the caretaker?
Or is that what they are trying to find out?
James Harris is recorded as 89 on his death cert in 1936
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1936/04811/4295291.pdf
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His wife was Kathleen
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1939/04741/4269256.pdf
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possible marriage 1885 to Kate Smith
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1885/10859/5965232.pdf
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This might be James in 1911
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Kingstown_No__2/Patrick_Street__East_Side/95732/
and as dathai posted wife is Smith, (on son's birth.)
This James was born in England.
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Think the penny is finally dropping,
This couple are the parents of James buried in the mass grave. Correct?
If we have the correct couple in the census there is another child alive in 1911.
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Is this the family in 1901
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Dublin/Glasthule/Burdett_Avenue/1321097/
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If that is the correct family, Anne appears to be the child that died.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1902/05688/4603279.pdf
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William Sutherland 1915
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1915/09822/5566387.pdf
Kate 1911
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Kingstown_No__2/Glenageary_Road__Part_of/96656/
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It does look like we have the correct family.
The question now is, was Kathleen and William already traced and led nowhere?
Should it be the parents John and Kate Smith that need to be worked on?
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Unfortunately the death of Kate HARRIS was in a hospital and the informant was not a family member - LINK (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1939/04741/4269256.pdf)
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It does look like we have the correct family.
The question now is, was Kathleen and William already traced and led nowhere?
Should it be the parents John and Kate Smith that need to be worked on?
I believe that William Sutherland was at Thorncliffe Road, Bradford in ther 1930s
He was a railway porter and pensioner of the RIR reg#9046
He possibly died in 1959 but require the certificate to be sure
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I believe I am a direct descendant of both men .