RootsChat.Com

I have been searching for this man's origins on and off for years.

He first appears in the 1841 census for Duckinfield living as a lodger.  By 1851 he is married and on this and all subsequent census returns until his death he consistantly gives his birthplace as Stockport and ages indicating a birth year around 1820.  He remained in Duckinfield for the rest of his life.

I know where and when he was married and buried but where did he begin?

There are times, Annie, when what I say and what I mean to say are two different things - something to do with engaging the brain before trying to use it.     I knew about the pencils - I have a few postcards written in pencil.  What I meant to say was that the word PIAVE is written on both cards in exactly the same place and could even be the same handwriting which seemed to be too much of a coincidence so I wondered whether it had been added to all the cards before they were issued.

I wonder if he did know your Robert Stead - all I know about my grandfather's service record is what appears on these pages but if your Robert was having Christmas dinner in 1918 with B Company in Gambellara......

Phil - I've checked out that link to the service records and I think it could well be him.  When I finally absorb all of this I will follow up on it.

C

OK, so I'm probably approaching this military research backwards.  The truth is I hadn't even thought of it until I discovered Rootschat a few weeks ago and wondered about the Italian medal.  So I have never even seen a medal card, Phil, or indeed know what one is!

I've looked at the link to the other Christmas cards - I only have 1917 and 1918.  The interesting thing is that the reverse of the 1918 card already posted has PIAVE hand-written under Assiago Plateau and so does mine.  It's written in pencil.  I wonder if they all do.

As to grandfather's identity - his name was Robert Potts Redford and he received his (temporary) commission as a 2nd lieutenant on 7th April 1915 - I have the original document.  He would have been 23 at the time.  I know he was in the Sherwood Foresters because he  called his house Sherwood.  As a child I remember asking why and that was his explanation.  I never heard him talk much of the war but then I was only 18 when he died and probably wasn't interested enough to ask.  He also served in WW11 - RAF that time.

C

Certainly is - minus the safety pin!

Thanks Annie

C