RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: susieroe on Friday 31 May 19 18:47 BST (UK)
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Just listening to BBC West Midlands News. Sandwell Council are appealing for relatives to come forward to claim the ashes, and attend the funeral, of WW2 veteran, George William Ambrose Mills. George was the first man on Sword Beach during the D-Day landings, being commemorated this year.
Can we help, Rootschatters are brilliant at this kind of job?
I've just written what they know about him:
George was born in Wales and married Gladys. The lived in Tipton and she died in 1982. George lately lived at a nursing home, where he enjoyed dancing, even though confined to a wheelchair. That's it for now.
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A bit more info on George -
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/heartbreaking-story-one-eyed-hero-16353094
JJ
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George was the son of William G Mills and Rosina D Mills (nee Alford)
It would appear that he had no siblings or children.
JJ
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I think I've found a nephew of George, on his mother's side. I don't have a subscription to A-y or FindMyPast at the moment and I'm wondering if someone could check my findings?
Which are:
Albert Wood married Bertha Wilson, Reg. Dudley, 1919. They had 2 daughters:
Gladys Mary, Reg. 1919, Dudley. She went on to marry George W A Mills at Wednesbury in 1945.
Her sister was Mona E Woods, Reg 1921, Dudley; she married William Wasdell at Wednesbury in 1943. They had a son and 2 daughters. It is the son I have found, and I think, from what I've read, that he would be proud of his uncle.
This might be all wrong of course! I'm lost without the census and 1939!
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I think I've found a nephew of George, on his mother's side. I don't have a subscription to A-y or FindMyPast at the moment and I'm wondering if someone could check my findings?
Which are:
Albert Wood married Bertha Wilson, Reg. Dudley, 1919. They had 2 daughters:
Gladys Mary, Reg. 1919, Dudley. She went on to marry George W A Mills at Wednesbury in 1945.
Her sister was Mona E Woods, Reg 1921, Dudley; she married William Wasdell at Wednesbury in 1943. They had a son and 2 daughters. It is the son I have found, and I think, from what I've read, that he would be proud of his uncle.
This might be all wrong of course! I'm lost without the census and 1939!
George's mother's maiden name was Alford, therefore are you sure the nephew is on George's mother's side?
According to newspaper articles Gladys Mary had a brother George Thomas Wood born 22 Feb 1910 and two sisters- Nora Peacock (nee Wood) born 26 Apr 1915 and Edith M Palmer (nee Wood) born 11 Mar 1918.
JJ
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Nora Wood married Sidney Peacock -
q2 1944, Wednesbury
Vol 6b Page 1754
Edith M Wood married Harold E Palmer
q2 1943, Wednesbury
Vol 6b Page 1788
JJ
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George's mother, Rosina Daisy Alford, was one of 12 on 1901 census. There must surely be some cousins on the Alford side of the family.
Annette
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George's mother's maiden name was Alford, therefore are you sure the nephew is on George's mother's side?
According to newspaper articles Gladys Mary had a brother George Thomas Wood born 22 Feb 1910 and two sisters- Nora Peacock (nee Wood) born 26 Apr 1915 and Edith M Palmer (nee Wood) born 11 Mar 1918.
JJ
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You're quite right, I meant on his wife's side :-[. Thanks for pointing it out.
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JJen and Annette, yes there must be more living descendants, even though the reports say they've tried and can't find any. I think I've found the first one, but I need to know for sure if Gladys Mary and Mona E were sisters. As they were both registered as marrying at Wednesbury, in 1943 and 1945,it might be possible that they are listed on the 1939 Register, hopefully with parents and other siblings.
Meanwhile, I know how to contact this nephew, which is why I concentrated on proving him.
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Gladys Mary and Mona E are with separate families in 1939 and don't seem to be sisters. I will a PM with 1939 info.
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Many thanks, Comberton, I've read your message. Very grateful for that. Back to square one then :(,
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Just to say that relatives of George have been found, 3 nieces on his mother's side who saw the RBL appeal. So this brave veteran of D-Day will have a fitting send-off.
Many thanks to you all who helped; would have liked it to be Rootschatters who solved it, but they've been found, which is the important thing.
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Just to say that relatives of George have been found, 3 nieces on his mother's side who saw the RBL appeal. So this brave veteran of D-Day will have a fitting send-off.
Such wonderful news!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-48525323
JJ