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Topics - oldcrone

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1
Australia / My grandfather: Victoria immigrant c. 1950 - lookup please
« on: Tuesday 27 April 10 19:04 BST (UK)  »
I'm hoping someone might be kind enough to look up information about my grandfather's immigration to Australia, and also his marriage certificate.

The details: his name was William Robert Stanley Llewellyn Davies, born 1903 in Harrow, Middlesex, UK.  He emigrated in the late 1940s/early 50s (sorry, I don't have a more specific date) and I know that in 1954, he is on the electoral register in the state of Victoria (district: La Trobe, subdistrict: Croydon).  He is living with his wife, Elizabeth, in Ferndale Rd, Mt Evelyn (source: Ancestry).

Some years ago, my mother managed to get a copy of his death certificate - he died on 23 April 1958.  I know that he suffered a heart attack fighting a bush fire in Millicent, S Australia, and someone from this board a few years ago managed (quite incredibly!) to get me photos of his gravestone.

In short: my grandfather deserted my grandmother, moved to Australia (c. 1950) and married bigamously.  I would really appreciate any information anyone might be able to find on: his move to Australia and the bigamous marriage.  I have very little information about my grandfather, or even photos, as he was persona non grata within the family, for leaving my gran.  My mum was really hurt when she got a copy of his death certificate, as under the section which says 'children', it was recorded as 'none' - presumably this had come from his second wife, Elizabeth, who probably had no knowledge of his previous life in England.

Many thanks for any help.

Clara  :)

2
The Common Room / Attitudes to a suicide in the 1920s
« on: Thursday 15 April 10 17:59 BST (UK)  »
I've just found out that my great-grandfather committed suicide in 1922, fairly gruesomely.

I know that, at this time, suicide was considered a crime, but I haven't been able to ascertain (via a quick google search) whether he would have been buried in unconsecrated ground; or would he have been cremated?  Is it likely in either case that there's a headstone?

The other thing I'm wondering is the effect on his wife and children; how would they have been regarded/treated in view of the suicide?

Clara

3
Armed Forces / Boer war service: can anyone explain this?
« on: Saturday 27 March 10 19:42 GMT (UK)  »
A couple of years ago, at my late aunt's house, I found King's South Africa and Queen's South Africa medal ribbons (sadly no badges), which had been awarded to my grandfather.

I had already got of copy of my grandfather's army records from Kew and found that he enlisted into The Prince of Wales’ Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)  on 25 Oct 1900.  Obviously, the 2nd Boer War was being fought at this time, and yet after he enlisted, the next entry of him being posted is 11 Sept 1902.  The Boer War was already over, although I know that his battalion (2nd Battn, Leinsters) stayed on in South Africa until 1905, and it seems from his records that he was there until that date.

Having read about the conditions for being awarded the KSA and the QSA on Wikipedia, I'm really confused as to how he managed to be awarded these medals/ribbons.  Again, to emphasise: on his army records after his attestation on 25 October 1900, the next entry is almost 2 years later, saying that he was 'posted'  on 11 Sept 1902, presumably to South Africa.

I would appreciate it if anyone could help me understand this: did my grandfather actually fight in the Boer War?  The Wiki entries would suggest that he did, but his army records don't confirm this: there seems to be an almost 2-year gap between him enlisting and being posted.

I've tried to link the Wiki pages about the KSA and the QSA unsuccessfully, but they're not hard to find.

Any help would be appreciated  ;)

Clara

ETA: this has given me major brain-ache this afternoon...

4
Surrey Completed Look up Requests / Suicide in 1922 - Croydon newspaper search
« on: Thursday 25 March 10 18:54 GMT (UK)  »
I'm hoping someone can help me with this request.

I've just received the death certificate for a man I believe is my g-grandfather, James William Davies.  It seems that he committed suicide in Thornton Heath in 1922; there was an inquest held a few days later.  The Croydon coroner's office is conducting a search for the inquest report, but apparently there's a good chance that they won't find it as they only retain 10% of their 'older' records (more than 15 years old).

My other alternative to find out more (and more specifically, confirm that this is actually my relative) is to see if there is a local newspaper article about this death.  I live in N Lincolnshire so it's a long ride down to visit Croydon Library.  Is there anyone who might be able to do this for me?  I'm happy to reimburse any costs involved.

Many thanks for any help.

5
Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / Date for photo of motorcycle race, please
« on: Wednesday 12 August 09 20:22 BST (UK)  »
Can anyone suggest a date for this photo, please?

It was taken by a Leatherhead, Surrey, photographer and I'm hoping that one of the riders might be my father - if the date is right!

6
The Common Room / Ideas on the ethnicity of my grandfather?
« on: Wednesday 06 May 09 18:53 BST (UK)  »
A difficult one this, but when you've got a grandfather who gave different names (both forenames and surnames), different dates of birth and different places of birth, then you're stuck with a difficult family history to research.

One thing about my grandfather though, is what he looked like.  He had, according to his army records when he enlisted in London in 1900 with the Leinsters, black hair and blue eyes.  He said that his birthplace was Ottawa, Canada.  He definitely had a connection with Canada and retained a Canadian passport in later life (I haven't been able to verify whether he was actually born in Canada).  He also told his children that he's been born in Ireland (Tipperary), and then went as an orphan to Canada.  He had Dupuytren's contracture, which is more commonly a European (particularly Scandinavian) condition. 

To be honest, I've fantastised that he had a North American (Indian) background (black hair and a slightly hooked nose).  Having said that, 'hair of black and eyes of blue' sounds very Irish to me.

Here are two photos of my grandfather when he was a young man - any ideas or insights gratefully received!:

7
Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / Thank you!
« on: Saturday 28 March 09 20:32 GMT (UK)  »
I've posted loads of battered old photos over the past months, which I 'inherited' after my aunt died last autumn.  I wanted to have some of them tidied up to go into a photo-memorial that I've written about my aunt and her siblings.

I've recently sent out the memorial to family and friends, and had lots of positive feedback about it.  So I just wanted to say a general, and very big, thank you to everyone who has helped restore these photos.

THANK YOU!

Clara x

8
Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / A blob to remove, please!
« on: Wednesday 04 March 09 23:54 GMT (UK)  »
I hope this board doesn't mind me posting a photo for a touch-up again.  This is of my aunts on Brighton beach in the 1940s.  My aunt Betty (on the right) has a blob on her face, and I would be very grateful if someone could remove it!

Many thanks

Clara

9
The Common Room / Query about Egypt photos
« on: Monday 16 February 09 20:05 GMT (UK)  »
In my late aunt's effects, I found a photo stuck in the pages of a book.  It's of two women, presumably seeing the sights of Egypt, in the ?1930s.  Neither women look like anyone from my family. (I can't post this photo as yet, because Rootschat says it's too large - I need to fiddle with it!)

On the back of the photo, there is this inscription.  My French isn't too good, so if anyone could translate it?

Many thanks for any ideas about this photo.

Clarax

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